
How To Get From Cartagena to Tayrona Best Way – You can go by bus, shared van, car and private transfer.
What Is The Distance From Cartagena to Tayrona?
The distance from Cartagena to Tayrona is 233 kilometers. Click here to book online Santa Marta activities and day trips
The travel time by car from Cartagena to Tayrona is around 4 hours and the taxi fare is around $210 USD. Read here a comparison Santa Marta vs Cartagena
What Is The Cheapest Way From Cartagena to Tayrona?
The cheapest way from Cartagena to Tayrona is by bus for $17 USD you can book online and it will take 7-8 hours since you have to transfer buses.
What Is The Best Way From Cartagena to Tayrona?
The best way from Cartagena to Tayrona is by shared van for $250 USD you can book online up to 6 people and it will take 5 hours and 30 minutes.
Read here how to get from Cartagena to Santa Marta, Cartagena airport to city center, Cartagena to Bogota, Cartagena to Palomino and Cartagena to Barranquilla
WHERE TO STAY IN TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK
There are numerous hotels and B&B that you can choose from especially in the Tayrona area. Accommodation price can take you around $10-20 USD if you sleep in a hammock or a tent. For mid-budget accommodation starts at $40-60 USD with a cottage.
CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR ACCOMMODATION IN TAYRONA
BOOK YOUR TRAVEL INSURANCE
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HOW TO GET FROM CARTAGENA TO TAYRONA
Shared Transfer From Cartagena to Tayrona (Best Way)
The best way from Cartagena to Tayrona is by shared van for $250 USD you can book online up to 6 people direct from your hotel to Tayrona National Park entrance. It will take 5 hours and 30 minutes!
Bus From Cartagena to Tayrona (Cheapest Way)
The cheapest way from Cartagena to Tayrona is by bus. There is no direct bus from Cartagena to Tayrona and you will have to get a bus going from Cartagena to Santa Marta Bus Terminal.
Once in the Bus Terminal a taxi for $5-10 USD to Santa Marta city center. From Santa Marta, the bus is going to Tayrona National Park.
BUS SCHEDULE FROM CARTAGENA TO SANTA MARTA
The Expreso Brasilia bus schedule from Cartagena to Santa Marta is running 14 times per day starting 6 30 am to 10 30 pm. You can check Expreso Brasilia bus schedule website!
The travel time from Cartagena to Santa Marta by bus is around 5 hours. The bus fare is around $10-14 USD. You can book online to avoid the hassle.
The main problem with the bus you will have to get a taxi to reach Cartagena Bus Terminal (check the exact location) and Santa Marta Bus Terminal (check the exact location) and it will cost around $5-10 USD each way since the Terminals are outside the city.
COOTRANSORIENTE BUS SCHEDULE FROM SANTA MARTA TO TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK

The Cootransoriente bus schedule from Santa Marta to Tayrona is running every 15-30 minutes (when the buses are full) starting from 5 am to 7 pm from Carreta 9 with Calle 11 (check here in Google Maps)
The bus travel time from Santa Marta to Tayrona is around 50 minutes. The bus fare is $2 USD.
The total travel time will from Cartagena to Tayrona is around 8 hours. The total bus fare is $18 USD plus the taxi fare depending if you can split with more people.
TAXI FROM CARTAGENA TO TAYRONA
The taxi or shared transfer from Cartagena to Tayrona will take around 4 hours and the taxi fare is around $210 USD you can book online up to 4 people.
BEST WAY FROM CARTAGENA TO TAYRONA BUS VS VAN
The best way from Cartagena to Tayrona is by a shared van for $250 USD you can book online up to 6 people and it will take 5 hours and 30 minutes but from your hotel in Cartagena direct to Tayrona National Park.
The best way from Cartagena to Tayrona is by bus for $18-25 USD (book online here) if you are on a budget. But it will be 8 hours of travel time since you have to take two buses and transfer to the Bus Terminals!
Happy Travels!
About the Author: Ruben, co-founder of Gamintraveler.com since 2014, is a seasoned traveler from Spain who has explored over 100 countries since 2009. Known for his extensive travel adventures across South America, Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and Africa, Ruben combines his passion for adventurous yet sustainable living with his love for cycling, highlighted by his remarkable 5-month bicycle journey from Spain to Norway. He currently resides in Spain, where he continues sharing his travel experiences with his partner, Rachel, and their son, Han.