2 Days
Trek Duration
8 max
Group Size
4.9/5
Traveler Rating
100%
Passionate Guides
Hidden inside Tayrona National Park lies one of Colombia’s best-kept secrets: the secluded beach of Cinto, reachable only on foot through lush jungle trails. Over two days, you’ll hike deeper into the park than most tourists ever go, sleep steps from the sea, and visit a living Kogy (Kogi) indigenous village — one of the very few tours that opens this door respectfully and authentically.
Tayrona Park
The world's highest coastal mountain, untouched and preserved.
Secluded Beach
Not an agency — a collective that celebrates our heritage and directly benefits Sierra families.
Kogy Village
Three days off-grid, around the fire, under Kogi stars.
Who are we?
Ancestral Hike is a collective of local and international guides passionate about the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and its history. We are not a conventional travel agency — we are residents who open the doors of our territory, our culture and our Tayrona ancestral traditions to you.
By choosing Ancestral Hike, you directly fund local families and contribute to the preservation of this unique cultural heritage. Every trek is an authentic encounter, never a performance.
“Where the Jungle Meets the Sea — and Ancient Wisdom Lives”
A protected path, a pristine beach, a living culture.
The Day-by-Day Program
Itinerary A — Classic Tayrona: Calabazo, Kogy Village & Playa Brava
The classic route — easier walking, a full cultural visit and lunch in the Kogy village of Teyku, a night on secluded Playa Brava, then an easy coastal trail past Cabo San Juan with snorkeling at La Piscina.
6:30 AM — Pick-up from your Santa Marta hotel.
7:30 AM — Enter Tayrona National Park at the Calabazo entrance (KM 20 on the coastal road), the classic gateway to the heart of the park.
Morning — Climb steadily through tropical dry and humid forest toward Teyku. Your guide reads the trail for you: medicinal plants, howler monkeys, toucans, iguanas, and the ecology of this protected territory.
Midday — Arrive at the Kogy (Kogi) village of Teyku. Our guide has a long-standing relationship with the community, so you are welcomed respectfully: traditional architecture, the Kogi cosmovision, and their role as guardians of the Sierra Nevada. Lunch is served in the village.
Afternoon — Roughly 2 h of hiking down to Playa Brava, one of the wildest and most secluded beaches inside Tayrona. Swim, rest, watch the surf.
Evening — Dinner and a night on the beach, with the jungle behind you and the Caribbean in front.
🕡 Pickup 6:30 AM · 🥾 ~4 h hiking · 🏘 Kogy village of Teyku · 🍽 Lunch + dinner included
7:00 AM — Breakfast on the beach as the park wakes up around you.
Morning — An easy 2 h 30 hike along the coast, moving from cove to cove with the sea on one side and the forest on the other. Plenty of stops for photos and swimming.
Mid-morning — The trail crosses the headland and drops down to Cabo San Juan del Guía, the iconic twin-bay beach of Tayrona with its lookout hut perched on the rock. Time to swim and take it in before we carry on.
Late morning — Arrive at La Piscina, a natural pool sheltered by a rock barrier and one of the few beaches in Tayrona where swimming is safe and easy. Snorkeling equipment is included — take your time in the water.
Lunch — Served before we leave the park.
Afternoon — Exit the park and transport back to Santa Marta, with a drop-off at your hotel.
🏖 Cabo San Juan · 🥾 ~2 h 30 easy coastal hiking · 🤿 Snorkeling gear included · 🍽 Breakfast + lunch included · 🏠 Back in Santa Marta
Itinerary B — Secluded Cinto: New Mexico Entrance, Playa Cinto & Boat to Playa Brava
The wilder route — longer and more demanding, far from the crowds. Deep jungle to the hidden beach of Cinto, a boat transfer along the coast, the Kogy village, and an exit at Calabazo.
6:30 AM — Pick-up from your Santa Marta hotel.
7:30 AM — Enter Tayrona National Park at the New Mexico entrance — quieter and less visited than El Zaino, this is the gateway to the secluded western side of the park.
Trek through dense tropical jungle: towering ceibas, howler monkeys, toucans, iguanas. Your guide explains the medicinal plants and the ecology of this protected territory. The trail is shaded and completely inside the park.
1:00 PM — Lunch break in the forest.
Early afternoon — Arrive at Playa Cinto: one of the most secluded beaches inside Tayrona National Park. Crystal-clear water, white sand, almost no other visitors. Swim, snorkel, rest — you’ve earned it.
Evening — Set up camp steps from the sea. Dinner by the fire. Sleep to the sound of the Caribbean and the jungle behind you.
🕡 Pickup 6:30 AM · 🥾 ~4 h hiking inside Tayrona Park · 🍽 Lunch + dinner included
7:00 AM — Breakfast on the beach as the park wakes up around you.
Morning — Board a small boat from Playa Cinto to Playa Brava (45 min) — one of the most remote and wild beaches inside Tayrona, accessible only by sea. Take in the coastline before continuing on foot.
Mid-morning — Hike from Playa Brava to the Kogy (Kogi) native village inside the park. Our guide has a long-standing relationship with the community. You’ll be welcomed respectfully: discover traditional architecture, learn about the Kogi cosmovision and their role as guardians of the Sierra Nevada, and understand what it means to live according to the Law of the Mother.
12:30 PM — Lunch.
Afternoon — Hike out through the park toward the Calabazo exit on the main coastal road — a different trail, new landscapes, easy pace on the return.
~4:30 PM — Exit at Calabazo (KM 20 on the coastal road).
~5:30 PM — Drop-off in Santa Marta.
⛵ 45 min boat Cinto → Playa Brava · 🏘 Kogy native village visit · 🏠 Back in Santa Marta ~5:30 PM
See the Trek
This trek can be done over 2 days or 3 days. Both versions follow the same trail into the jungle and up to the indigenous community.
What's Included
✅ Included
Transport from/to Santa Marta (return)
Bilingual local guide (Spanish / English / French)
Tayrona National Park entrance fees
1 night on the beach — shared dormitory, hammock or tent (private room approx. +50 USD)
All meals: Day 1 lunch, dinner — Day 2 breakfast, lunch
Kogy village access fee & direct community contribution
Snorkeling equipment at Cinto beach
Medical insurance for the duration of the trek
Small groups — 8 people maximum
❌ Not Included
International flights
Personal travel insurance
Personal expenses
Tips (optional but appreciated)
Personal hiking equipment (we can advise on what to bring)
Why Choose Ancestral Hike?
What Our Travelers Say
★★★★★
“Cinto beach was completely empty — just our group and the jungle. I’ve never felt so far from the world while only 45 minutes from most tourists.”
— Sarah T., UK
★★★★★
“Meeting the Kogy community was the highlight of my whole trip to Colombia. Our guide’s relationship with them made it feel real and respectful, not touristy at all.”
— Marco F., Italy
★★★★★
“The hike is real but very manageable. The reward — a secret beach inside Tayrona — is absolutely worth every step. Worth every peso too.”
— Jenny L., USA
★★★★★
“I’d done Tayrona before but never like this. Staying overnight and reaching Cinto changes everything — it’s like having the whole park to yourself.”
— Olivier M., France
★★★★★
“The Kogi visit was handled with so much care and respect. I learned more in two hours there than in two weeks reading about Colombian culture.”
— Sofía R., Spain
★★★★★
“A perfectly paced two-day adventure. Our guide knew every plant, every bird, every story. This is the real Tayrona experience — not the postcard version.”
— Chris B., Canada
Ready to Go? Book Now
Limited spots — Groups of 8 people maximum
Date and Number of Participants
Frequently Asked Questions
Moderate, and it depends on the itinerary you pick. Itinerary A is the easier of the two: about 4 h of hiking on day 1 and an easy 2 h 30 coastal walk on day 2. Itinerary B is more demanding: roughly 9 h of hiking spread over the two days, plus a boat transfer. Both run on jungle trails with gentle elevation inside Tayrona Park — if you can walk 3–4 hours comfortably you are ready. No technical climbing.
Lightweight backpack, solid hiking shoes or trail runners, swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen, insect repellent, reusable water bottle, headlamp, and minimal clothing. We provide tents, sleeping mats, and all meals. Less is more in Tayrona.
Yes. We visit only with the community’s full permission and under their own protocols. Our guides have long-standing personal relationships with the Kogy village. Photography rules and cultural guidelines are briefed before arrival. Respectful curiosity is welcome.
December to April (dry season) is ideal — sunny skies and firm trails. The park is beautiful year-round, but trails can be muddy October–November. Tayrona closes for a few days in February and October for environmental rest; we will flag this if your dates are affected.
Yes. We can adjust the pace, add an extra night at Playa Cinto, or combine this tour with other Ancestral Hike experiences. Contact us on WhatsApp and we will build the itinerary around your group.
Ready for the Adventure?
Join the next group. Limited to 8 people.
