Tayrona National Park to close for biodiversity protection in 2026

Tayrona National Park, located near Santa Marta on Colombia's Caribbean coast, will be completely closed to visitors from October 19 to November 2, 2026. This closure is part of the ‘Respira Tayrona’ program, which aims to provide a rest period for the area to protect biodiversity and strengthen cooperation with indigenous communities.

The closure coincides with the Nabbatashi cultural period, during which indigenous groups—including the Arhuaco, Kogui, Wiwa, and Kankuamo—perform traditional spiritual practices and rituals at sacred sites. During this time, park rangers will focus on monitoring, research, prevention, and ecosystem protection.

Authorities noted that the timing also accounts for the rainy season and the importance of protecting watersheds and streams. The park, which covers over 19,000 hectares of diverse ecosystems including forests, mangroves, and coral formations, is scheduled to resume all ecotourism services on November 3, 2026.