What's on in Santa Marta (Tayrona), Colombia through the year

Peak crowds — Colombian high season, Year-end holidays in Colombia

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Colombian high season (20 Dec – 15 Jan)

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

• Closure

  Tayrona shut: February

  1–15 Feb · usually

  The first of the park's three annual rest periods, agreed with the four indigenous peoples of the sierra. Exact dates are announced each year, so check before booking anything built around the park. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Semana Santa, Semana Santa recess in Colombia

• Holiday

  Semana Santa

  20 Mar – 25 Apr · usuallyEaster & Holy WeekCrowdedBook early

  Colombia's second travel peak lands here: the coast road backs up, Tayrona hits its daily cap by mid-morning and hotel rates match Christmas. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Semana Santa, Semana Santa recess in Colombia

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Semana Santa (20 Mar – 25 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Busy — Mid-year recess in Colombia, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Closure

  Tayrona shut: June

  1–15 Jun · usually

  The midyear rest period closes the beaches and the campsites inside the park for a fortnight. Minca, the Quebrada Valencia falls and the city beaches carry on as normal. Source ↗

Busy — Mid-year recess in Colombia, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Busy — October recess week in Colombia

• Closure

  Tayrona shut: October

  15 Oct – 5 Nov · usually

  The last of the three closures falls in the wettest stretch of the year, which is the half of it nobody minds. Dates shift, so treat the whole late-October fortnight as uncertain. Source ↗

Busy — Year-end holidays in Colombia

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Tayrona shut: October (15 Oct – 5 Nov (usually))

Peak crowds — Colombian high season, Year-end holidays in Colombia

• Season

  Colombian high season

  20 Dec – 15 JanSchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  The driest weeks and the national holidays arrive together, so Rodadero fills, the Tayrona entrance queue starts before dawn and the Minca jeeps run all day. Book the park day, not the beach day.