Arrecifes is one of the beautiful white sand beaches you can visit in the Tayrona Park.  

The main entrance of the Tayrona Park, called "El Zaino," is 45 minutes by road from the city of Santa Marta. Once you reach the entrance, a small bus takes visitors for a ten-minute ride to the park's parking lot.  

The area called "Cañaveral" is the first to visit. Visitors can discover a paradisiacal beach filled with live corals, near which are the cozy bungalows or ecohabs nestled in the thick slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta.  

This accommodation mimics the homes of the Tayrona indigenous people and, due to its height, offers a permanent view of an unmatched landscape. 

You can visit the Chairama Archaeological Museum, located in this area, to immerse yourself in Tayrona culture through the exhibition of elements belonging to their heritage. 

This natural park is part of the ancestral territory of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta , where several indigenous ethnic groups from the same family have lived for thousands of years. Only four remain: the Kankuamo, the Kogui, the Wiwa, and the Arhuacos, who are the guardians of this land, which contains sacred territories to be known and respected as a World Heritage site. 

Near these strips of white sand, there are archaeological remains of this culture in sacred places meant to store the remains of their deceased and perform spiritual ceremonies.

Arrecifes Beach

These uniquely beautiful beaches can be visited as part of a tour that includes Cañaveral, Piscinas, and Cabo San Juan del Guía beaches.  Arrecifes is located about an hour's walk along an ecological trail from the Cañaveral area.  

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To reach the vast Arrecifes beach, you must take a path that will take you through dense tropical rainforest for about an hour. On the “Kogui Trail” or “Knowledge Route,” you will encounter beautiful cliffs and stones, with a “journey that will take you to discover the magic of the Tayrona Park” (sign at the beginning of the trail).  

There, more than 770 plant species, over 390 bird species, and 59 mammal species, including deer, anteaters, monkeys, and numerous reptiles like caimans, snakes, and frogs, await you.

Arrecifes Beach is the largest one you can visit on your journey through the Tayrona Park. It is a special place for contemplation, as the strength of its waves does not allow its territory to be used as a bathing area.

This constant rage of the sea is due to the beautiful coral reefs and marine reefs found under its waters, which not only give it a unique color but also make it highly dangerous for those who dare to challenge it.  

However, you can still take a walk on the beach, observe the huge rocks found there, and let the ocean foam caress your feet, a free massage offered by nature, which, along with gazing at the horizon to see the most beautiful sunsets, compensates for not being able to enter the sea. On this beach, you will find 350 species of algae and numerous animals like turtles, various species of mollusks, and crustaceans.

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Those who arrive at Arrecifes will find an excellent lodging option in cabins and farms that are not close to the beach. There is also a splendid camping area that can accommodate up to four hundred travelers, with a restaurant and a resting area with hammocks equipped with mosquito nets, to stay overnight on one of the most exotic beaches in the world. 

Arrecifes, a wonderful experience

Going to Arrecifes is an experience to enjoy nature, hundreds of meters of clean and peaceful beaches, ideal for relaxing while walking with the view of an immense blue ocean. The walk along the beach, always accompanied by a professional guide, can take you to trails that lead to places of unique beauty like La Piscina and the Cabo San Juan beach del Guía.

The natural beauty combines with the warmth and attention of the people who live there and who develop sustainable ecotourism to support local economies. This beach is a place where you will meet numerous foreign travelers who, enamored with the country, share a passion for adventure and majestic places of beauty. 

To visit this place that seems straight out of a dream, we recommend bringing a change of clothes, comfortable shoes, swimwear, items to protect yourself from the sun, and a camera. It is necessary to have the yellow fever vaccine.

This beautiful journey will take you to more places of unexpected beauty where you can enjoy the wonders of the Caribbean Sea and its culture. Come to Arrecifes and recharge with the energy of the holy land of the Tayrona!