Parque Tayrona to close for indigenous spiritual ceremonies

Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona in Santa Marta will undergo its third and final scheduled closure of the year from October 19 to November 2. During this 15-day period, all visitor access via land and sea will be suspended, and all accommodation and camping services within the protected area will be unavailable.

The closure is part of an agreement between Parques Nacionales Naturales and the four indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: the Kogui, Wiwa, Arhuaco, and Kankuamo. This period, known as Nabbat or spiritual rest, allows these communities to perform traditional spiritual ceremonies, such as 'pagamentos', which they consider essential for maintaining the spiritual balance of their sacred territory.

In addition to the spiritual observances, Parques Nacionales and Corpamag will utilize the closure to conduct environmental maintenance. This includes beach cleaning and ecosystem recovery efforts as part of the #RespiraTayrona strategy. The park is scheduled to reopen to the public on November 3.