Search hotels in El Zaino

First off, the hostel itself is incredible. It is extremely easy to access by bus from Santa Marta - we took the shuttle from the market downtown and we arrived at the El Zaino entrance within 40 minutes for 12 000 COP. From then it's a 350m walk to the hostel which is located above a few flights of stairs. The hostel is extremely clean and offers a panoramic view on the surrounding mountains. There is a pool and spa which are extremely well taken care of and the rooms are also very clean and spacious. While being well protected from the outsides at night, you get to fall asleep to the sounds of the insects and birds surrounding the hostel which was pretty cool. There is also a restaurant there where the employees cook fresh food for breakfast (free) and diner when your order. The food was amazing and cooked with love and at a cheaper price than at any other hostel we visited. Where the place shines above all however is the personnel and the customer service. Suzanna and Abraham are the only two people working there from our understanding and they make everything work perfectly. Both were very serviceable. Suzanna (I hope I am writing it correctly) went out of her way multiple times to make sure we had everything we needed and more. Not only does she offer 5 stars customer service, she cooks the food, works the reception, prepares the rooms, and offers massage services. From all the hostels / hotels we've visited while traveling, never have I written such a positive feedback on the property's staff and I mean every word of it. If you plan to visit Tayrona or the surrounding area, be sure to book your stay at this place.

We reserved two nights but couldn't make it for the first due to a family emergency. Despite explaining, they said there were no options. After a phone call, someone promised to find a solution, but no one remembers the conversation. The location is terrible, far from the nicer beaches in Tayrona. Overpriced food; 40 meters away, you can get better food and an amazing view for the same price. WiFi doesn't work properly, but surprisingly, 40 meters away, it works perfectly. If you seek cheap accommodation, welcome, but don't expect anything more.

The location in the park was second to none. The walks were excellent. The accommodation was lacking. We did a 12k walk to another beach which was lovely but I was informed there weren’t many other trails - that would be a shame if true.

we hike tayrona park, if you want to hike go to Calabazo to avoid the crowds at the main entrance! (note many hotels don't have much parking, use the bus or taxi! easy!) you will pay 5000 cops for the entrance then you can take a motor bike ride for around 50000 cop to save you 2 hours to the split at San jose and brava playa. The entrance to the park is around 85000 per person but you can stay over night. Get there early if you need a tent otherwise you will be stuck with a hammock at around 40000 cop. The food is costly I heard, but keep in mind they have to haul stuff in which is costly. Especially to the top of the mountain! We climbed and climbed then at the top there are places to grab a bite to eat, bring some money to buy some food and goods. Then its down and down to the point your toe nails hurt. Then the beach appears around 3 hours afterwards. Do stop off at the lookout at the top its amazing! The beaches are too rough to swim. The undertow is huge. So do beware. We've seen a couple of people having some problems getting out as waves will sweep you back into the current... You can get to beach to beach via trails easily. But, keep in mind its around a 2 hour walk to the parking lot. There are horses, we used them near the end after walking a good 6hours. Then we took the bus. The horse ride will cost you around 40000 cop and the bus around 5000 cop. To take the bus from santa marta which runs early morning till around 7pm night will cost you around 12000 cop I heard. Lots of hostels and hotels around which are nice. Plus lots of places to sleep. Keep in mind parking is very very limited as you are on a highway and hotels on a hillside.

It was nice to take the time to explore around, crois the river on an hanging bridge and climb up to VALLEYS VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT. Go to Mandewaka beach by local bus. People around this area are very kind, and the view from Tayrona Angel Lodge was beautiful from our balcony and the pool was a plus. The owner Paola is very sweet and helpful.

Beautiful area near the Tayrona National Park and many rivers. You still have to walk or take a bus/taxi to the Tayrona National Park to hike into the park and the beaches, so plan in advance! You can also go to one of the rivers (such as the Buritaca river) to do some 'tubing' which is a lot of fun. But, you have to reserve and plan this activity in advance. Overall, staying at El Zaino is a lovely, cheap place to be very near the amazing natural wonders the Tayrona National Park area has to offer.