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Western Park Tayrona

Anyone been to the western section of Park Tayrona, ie. the area around Bahia Neguanje and Bahia Concha? I've been to the Arrecifes area already, and would like to check out the other, western end of the park.

Is it easy to access from Santa Marta? Are there many paths to explore this area, or is everything cut off? Any restaurants, or campsites?

Cheers!

By chris932 on Mar 26, 2008, 08:44 in Travel tips.

bufalo says on Mar 26, 2008, 11:46:

restaurants???

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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robi666 says on Mar 26, 2008, 11:55:

Yes, restaurants both in Neguanje and Concha. No camp sites that I remember, but maybe you can camp in Neguanje.

To get to Concha, there's a long rough road that goes from Santa Marta, that starts not far from the road that leads to Taganga.

To get to Neguanje, you go from half km before the toll on the Troncal del Caribe. A rough road leads you to the bay and then you can take a boat to Playa del Muerto.

Also, you can take an half an hour boat to Cinto, which I highly suggest to do. In Cinto, you can rent an house there and sleep over. Beautiful.

"I am a citizen of the most beautiful nation on earth. A nation whose laws are harsh yet simple, a nation that never cheats, which is immense and without borders, where life is lived in the present."

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nueva york bombero says on Mar 27, 2008, 14:46:

This is the reason I log onto this site and search for meaningful posts!!!
Thanks robi! Any other info about that area is tremendously useful for me.

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chris932 says on Mar 27, 2008, 19:12:

robi nice tips - thanks... are those "rough roads" taxiable from Santa Marta, or is a 4x4 necessary?

Any showers?

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robi666 says on Mar 27, 2008, 22:07:

The road to Concha is worse. I guess you still can find a taxi driver willing to go.
But, I'd believe there are cheaper ways to get there and Neguanje, especially on weekends.
Also, I'd believe that an organized excursion to Neguanje by bus will cost less than take a taxi.
I always went by my car, so I don't really know.

Remember that there's an entrance fee for both persons and cars, and that foreigners pay 3 times more than Colombians (I guess that with an organized excursion they don't check).

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vicshere says on Mar 28, 2008, 04:58:

robbie i think there is a bus that goes to Neguanje......at least i have seen buses go down that road...and they werent toruist buses

listo

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PaisaTours.com says on Apr 13, 2008, 19:48:

Both Neguanje and Concha have campsites, easily accessible by road. there's no showers though.

Having just been, you can find extensive advice at http://www.paisatours.com/park_tayrona.htm

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robi666 says on Apr 14, 2008, 05:26:

Paisa, let me understand...
Camping sites with no water or any facilities, it is like if you set your tent anywhere in the Park, o no?

I was reading your site. Good work.
Something to correct:
-Playa Crystal (cachaco-gringo name) = Playa del Muerto, marked on the map: it is the little bay that you can see inside Neguanje in your map, on the east coast of the bay itself.
-Canaveral is not there on the map, nowhere near Rio Guachaca, but much further West, west of Rio Piedra, near Arrecife. The site on the map is Guachaca (or Puerto Nuevo).
-To have a look at Eco-Habs have a look at Aviatur site.

Aviatur is managing the whole Parque Tayrona (through a Concession), including the hotel. Jean Claude Bessudo, French and CEO of Aviatur, is a good friend of Alvaro Uribe.
I believe they are getting the concession for the beach west of Rio Piedra and taking over the Mendihuaca resort, which, by the way, is a beautiful and much cheaper alternative (not for a long time) to Eco-Habs, just 4 kms on the main road from the entrance of the Park.

Near Mendihuaca, a few hundred meters east, there is a good camping site with bungalows, Casagrande, which is arguably the best surf spot in Colombia.

Furher east, the beach gets further from the main road. You can take a sandy road through the platano plantation that leads to Tayrona Country Club. Last time I was there, one year ago, the place looked a bit run down, but, still you can sleep there and for cheap.

Further east, at the estuary of Rio Buritaca, there is another great and cheap spot to stay: Cabanas de Buritaca, with cheap hotels and restaurants. if you go there, do not miss Quebrada Valencia, 30 minutes walk from the mainroad. Going to the waterfall, stop on the way to ask an old lady in a finca, half way, to prepare a sancocho de gallina for you. You'll be eating it on your way back. Great.

Further east, Palomino is a great spot, too.

The entire area deserve to be visited: it is the most beautiful coast that you can find in Colombian Caribbean. It is not only Parque Tayrona...

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island girl says on Apr 14, 2008, 07:12:

great tipe Robi, thanks I'll be heading there and was wondering about accomodation, best spots etc ... I hope I can organize some public transport/taxi as I will not have a car .... but Im pretty good at walking once I get inside the park .... :)

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PaisaTours.com says on Apr 15, 2008, 09:12:

Yes it literally seems to be "you can put your tent here". Don't expect a shower.

My understanding is that Playa Cristal is in the large bay East of Neguanje. Check out Google maps satellite images.

I haven't been East of Canaveral - might have to go back again (sob)....Where exactly is Mendihuaca? On the coast?

Palomino.... how great? I just went to Dibulla (even further East) beautiful - but the sea was murky brown. Palomino similar?

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robi666 says on Apr 15, 2008, 13:38:

Playa Crystal, for what i know, it is the tourist name of Playa del muerto.
Playa del muerto is the little bay within Neguanje.
The large bay East of Neguanje is Bahia Cinto. The first place I saw of Colombia, getting here from Martinique with my sailboat.

Mendihuaca is just 4 or 5 kms following the Troncal del Caribe from El Zaino, the main entrance of Parque Tayrona.

Some areas around Palomino are of scenic beauty.

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robi666 says on Apr 15, 2008, 13:43:

I just checked Google Earth.
I can confirm that Playa Crystal is Playa del Muerto. It is within Neguanje bay.
You can see the Mendihuaca resort at 11°16'48" N 73°52'15'" W

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RAAAY says on Apr 15, 2008, 18:20:

Robi.............why do you never know anything..?

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

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robi666 says on Apr 15, 2008, 18:21:

Come on Ray... do you miss me? :)
Ok, i take you out for lunch tomorrow...

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RAAAY says on Apr 15, 2008, 20:30:

Ok.........time and place.............none of that f**kin greasy Italian shit.........

.

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

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robi666 says on Apr 15, 2008, 20:36:

I call you tomorrow. You have a lot of enemies on PBH, someone armed, someone with dangerous friendship, someone incredibly rich, better to not let them know where you go... especially if I am with you.

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RAAAY says on Apr 15, 2008, 20:38:

Sounds like Desi..........

.........Its useless to argue with ignorance

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 15, 2008, 20:42:

all things are being monitored all the time by some of the people. some of the people you know, some you do not and some you do not want to know, but they may wish to know you. it is better to stay unknown than known by many. and by the way, i know who knows...

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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robi666 says on Apr 15, 2008, 20:45:

I'd say, same place where we've been last time with you Tejas, 12,30. We'll collect Ray and his twingo somewhere near there.

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 15, 2008, 20:51:

let me check with alvaro u. first. i'm not sure he can pull away for lunch tomorrow. either way, sounds good to me.

;)

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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robi666 says on Apr 15, 2008, 20:52:

Fuck, not again with all those bodyguards...

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tejasmarcos says on Apr 15, 2008, 21:05:

yeah, i know. it is a frickin hastle with that guy everytime, but i feel obliged to invite him. this happens everytime you do someone a favor! i guess it was worth it though. he's done a pretty good job in office since the 2nd election.

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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sander73 says on Jun 25, 2008, 16:05:

Hi Robi,

I saw your messages on PBH. My name is Sander Gielen, I am Dutch and have been living in Colombia for the past 5 years.

Next week I am travelling to Santa Marta and me and my wife will travel through Tayrona Park and La Guajira. We are also going to look for some land to buy.......I would like to start a hostel. And this is why I am contacting you. You seem to know an awful lot about that area and if I understood correct you even have a finca there.

I would like to know if we could meet up? My telephone number is: 312-3057666 and my email is: sandergielen at gmail.com

Kind regards,

Sander

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robi666 says on Jun 25, 2008, 16:10:

Sent a PM

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