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On my first trip to Tayrona National Park, my cousin Anna and I decided to take a beach tour to Playa Cristal. Our hotel was able to arrange it for us the night before.
The Tour
The tour was run by Magic Tour Colombia and costs COP$250,000 per person (as of March 2024), including transportation and the park entrance fee.
We were picked up at 8:30AM from the hotel and transferred to a bigger bus at 9AM. From there, it was about an hour ride to the park entrance where our IDs were checked. Everyone was given a chance to buy souvenirs and use the bathrooms.
Siete Olas
15 minutes from the park entrance, we stopped at a lookout point called Siete Olas. It’s a cliff overlooking a beautiful bay. There’s a beach to one side that’s too rough to swim at.
Neguanje
Another half hour later down a bumpy road, we arrived at Neguanje. Here, we boarded a small boat that was to take us to our beach for the day, Playa Cristal. The ride took about 10 minutes.
Playa Cristal
Playa Cristal is a sandy beach with calm turquoise waters and coral reefs for anyone interested in snorkeling. It’s possible to rent snorkeling equipment at the beach and a small tent to keep your valuables. The best part about it is that the park only allows a maximum of 350 people per day to visit the beach, so you won’t have a terrible experience like at Playa Blanca near Cartagena.
Lunch
A restaurant at the beach serves fish and meats. Anna and I had a very large and tasty local fish that came with coconut rice, salad, and patacón. The juice bar made fresh juices from many fruits I had never heard of. It’s more expensive than what you’d pay in the city.
Heading Back
At 3PM, our group was gathered together to take the boats back to the bus. We arrived at our hotel about two hours later. It was a very relaxing and enjoyable day and I would do it again.