How to Get to Bahía Concha, Tayrona: Prices 2026
Three ways to reach Bahía Concha by sea: 25 minutes by boat from $130,000, catamaran with lunch, or a full-day sailboat. Real prices with park entrance included.
Bahía Concha is the Tayrona National Park beach closest to Santa Marta, and the only one you can reach three different ways by sea. What separates them is not just price: it is 25 minutes on a boat versus 90 minutes under sail, and a completely different day depending on which you pick.
This guide compares all three with real prices and what each one includes, so you don't book the cheapest and work out on board that you wanted the other one.
Where Bahía Concha is
Bahía Concha sits inside Tayrona National Natural Park, in the sector nearest the city — about 25 minutes' sailing from the bay of Santa Marta. It is the closest of all the park's beaches.
The shape of the bay shelters it from open swell, so the water is noticeably calmer than at Cabo San Juan or Playa Cristal. That, plus full services — restaurants, tents, toilets — is what makes it the obvious choice for families with small children and for anyone with only half a day.
The three ways in by sea
| 🚤 Boat | ⛵ Catamaran | ⛵ Sailboat, full day | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | $130,000 | $152,000 | $246,000 |
| Sailing | ~25 min | from El Rodadero Norte | ~90 min |
| Departure | La Bahía (Santa Marta) | El Rodadero Norte | Santa Marta Marina |
| Lunch | Not included | Included + drink | Included + snack, fruit and drink |
| On-board activities | — | Welcome drink | Free paddle and snorkel |
| Tayrona entrance | Included | Included | Included |
| Best for | Half a day, tight budget | Families who want lunch sorted | A whole day at sea |
All three include the Tayrona National Park entrance, the park insurance and marine insurance. None of them charges you anything at the gate.
1. By boat: fastest and cheapest
$130,000 per person, round trip, about 25 minutes from the bay of Santa Marta. The tour leaves in the morning and returns around 4:00 pm.
It suits families and beginners: no previous experience is needed to snorkel, and the guides give the basics. Children 0 to 4 travel free; from age 5 they pay for transport.
If your plan is beach, swim and back, this is the one. Check availability.
2. By catamaran from El Rodadero: lunch sorted
$152,000 per person, leaving from the north pier at El Rodadero rather than the bay. For $22,000 more than the boat it includes a welcome drink of your choice, lunch with a drink, and logistical support on the day.
It makes sense if you are staying in El Rodadero — you skip the transfer to the bay — or if you would rather not depend on the beach restaurants.
3. By sailboat: the full day
Here the nature of the plan changes. The sailboat is not a transfer: it is the plan. Ninety minutes under sail on a Formosa 1979 with professional crew, and the day includes:
- 🍽️ Lunch, served an hour after arrival
- 🥤 Snack, fruit and a drink served on board
- 🏄 Paddleboard and snorkeling gear, free to use all day
- 🎫 Marina access by QR code
- 🏥 Tayrona National Park assistance insurance included in the fare
It is a shared group tour with a maximum of 26 people — not a 40-passenger launch. Children 3 to 13 pay a child fare and under-3s go free, under constant supervision.
One practical thing worth knowing beforehand: you cannot bring your own food or drink on board, because both are included.
$246,000 per person. Set against the boat, you are not paying $116,000 more to arrive at the same place: you are paying for a long six hours at sea, food on board and water gear included. See the full experience.
What about by car or bus?
Bahía Concha does have overland access from Santa Marta, and it is the only park beach this close to the city that can claim it. But count what comes with it: the park entrance is paid separately at the gate ($27,500 to $96,500 per person depending on nationality, age and season), plus road transport, and the condition of the track drives how long the trip takes.
Check current overland rates and access conditions directly with Parques Nacionales Naturales, the authority that sets them. By sea, the entrance is already inside the price in all three options above.
What nobody mentions: the daily quota
Bahía Concha has a daily visitor limit and set operating hours. It is not a formality: in high season the quota fills, and arriving without a booking means being turned away.
And one more thing, which is why booking by sea lowers your risk: if the park closes for maintenance, for indigenous community rituals or for weather, the tour is rescheduled or refunded in full.
Tayrona National Park closures in 2026
- 1 to 15 February
- 1 to 15 June
- 19 October to 2 November
These are periods agreed with the indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada. Confirm exact dates before buying flights.
What to bring
Swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a cap, sunglasses, a light change of clothes and cash. You can bring your own snorkeling gear if you prefer.
If you are sailing, add a dry change and comfortable clothes — and remember food and drink are on board, so there is nothing to carry.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to get to Bahía Concha?
By boat, $130,000 COP per person round trip, with park entrance and insurance included. By catamaran from El Rodadero, $152,000 with lunch. By full-day sailboat, $246,000.
How long does it take?
About 25 minutes by boat from the bay of Santa Marta — it is the Tayrona beach closest to the city. By sailboat it is around 90 minutes, because the crossing is part of the plan.
What time does the tour leave and return?
The boat tour leaves in the morning and returns around 4:00 pm.
Is it suitable for children and beginners?
Yes. It suits families and beginners; no previous experience is needed to snorkel and the guides give basic instructions. On the boat, children 0 to 4 travel free. On the sailboat, ages 3 to 13 pay a child fare.
What happens if the park closes or the weather turns?
The tour is rescheduled or refunded in full.
Is there a visitor limit?
Yes. Bahía Concha has a daily visitor cap and set operating hours, so book ahead.
Is the sailboat private?
No. It is a shared group tour with a maximum of 26 passengers. If you want the whole boat for your group, private sailboat options appear on the destination page.
Book your day at Bahía Concha
If you want the beach and an early return, the boat to Bahía Concha at $130,000 is the most direct. If you want the whole day to be the plan — sailing, lunch on board, paddle and snorkel — take the full-day sailboat. Both with park entrance included, certified captains and confirmation on WhatsApp.
