Playa Cinto, Tayrona: How to Get There & Prices 2026
Playa Cinto is reachable only by sea — 50 minutes by boat from Santa Marta. Real price with park entrance included, what services exist, and the Playa Cristal combo.
Playa Cinto is the Tayrona beach almost nobody talks about, and there is a concrete reason: there is no road access. No trail from El Zaino, no car park, no buses. You get there by sea or not at all. That leaves it with a fraction of Cabo San Juan's visitors and the cleanest water in the park — and it also means that if you don't book the boat, you don't go.
This guide covers how to get there, what it costs with the park entrance included, what you'll actually find when you step off the boat, and when it makes sense to pair it with Playa Cristal.
Where Playa Cinto is
Playa Cinto — or Cinto Bay — sits inside Tayrona National Natural Park, in a wide bay ringed by rainforest. It is about 50 minutes' sailing from the bay of Santa Marta. Access is by sea only: there is no overland route.
It is a wild beach. That is not brochure language: it means there are toilets and some shaded areas, and nothing else. No hotels, no restaurant strip, no shops.
What a trip to Playa Cinto costs (2026)
| Plan | Price per person | Sailing |
|---|---|---|
| Playa Cinto, full day | $155,000 COP | ~50 min |
| Playa Cinto + Playa Cristal, same day | $170,000 COP | ~50 min |
The $15,000 gap between the two is the best value in the catalogue, which is why the combo is what most people book. More on why below.
What the price includes
- 🚤 Round-trip sea transport
- 🌿 Tayrona National Park entrance
- 🏥 Tayrona National Park assistance insurance
- 🛟 Marine insurance
- 👶 Children 0–4 travel free; from age 5 they pay for transport
The park entrance is included. You pay nothing extra at the gate — which is the most common confusion for anyone comparing with an overland visit, where the entrance is separate and runs from $27,500 to $96,500 depending on nationality, age and season.
Food and drinks are not included. Bring water, something to eat, and cash.
The Playa Cristal combo: the only pair the park allows
This is what most people ask and almost nobody explains properly. Because of the distances inside Tayrona, Playa Cristal and Playa Cinto are the only two-beach combination you can do in a single day. No other pairing leaves enough time.
The route reaches Playa Cinto first and then transfers to Playa Cristal. That order matters: you start on the quiet beach with no services and finish on the one with food stalls and snorkeling operators.
For $15,000 more you see both. If you only have one day in Tayrona, it is the easy call.
⚠️ Playa Cristal has a limited daily quota and it sells out early in high season. Booking ahead is not a sales line — it is what secures your entry to the park.
What to do at Playa Cinto
The bay is wide and the water is calm, so swimming is comfortable even with children. Dense vegetation and wildlife surround it. What you do here is exactly what you cannot do at Cabo San Juan: be somewhere with nobody next to you.
If you are after snorkeling on reef close to shore, Playa Cristal is better — another argument for the combo.
Cinto against the other Tayrona beaches
| Playa Cinto | Bahía Concha | Cabo San Juan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| From | $155,000 | $130,000 | $197,000 |
| Sailing | ~50 min | ~25 min | ~60 min |
| Services | Toilets and shade, nothing more | Full, restaurants | Camping, hammocks, restaurants |
| Crowds | Very few people | Moderate | The busiest in the park |
| Road access | None | Yes | Yes, a 2–3 h walk |
| Best for | Genuinely switching off | Families and half days | The iconic postcard |
- Travelling with small children, or only half a day → Bahía Concha: 25 minutes' sailing and full services.
- After the iconic Tayrona shot → Cabo San Juan.
- You want nobody around → Playa Cinto, no argument.
Tayrona National Park closures in 2026
The park closes three times a year, in periods agreed with the indigenous peoples of the Sierra Nevada. On those dates neither Playa Cinto nor Playa Cristal can be visited:
- 1 to 15 February
- 1 to 15 June
- 19 October to 2 November
Confirm the exact dates before buying flights.
What to bring
With no infrastructure, everything you need comes in with you:
- Water (at least 1.5 L) and food, in reusable containers
- Cash: there is no card reader
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a cap and sunglasses
- Dry change of clothes and a light towel
- A dry bag for your phone — the boat throws up spray
- Motion-sickness tablets if you are prone to it
The crossing can include stretches with swell, so go in reasonable physical shape and follow the captain's instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Playa Cinto and how do you get there?
Inside Tayrona National Park, reachable by sea only, about 50 minutes' sailing from the bay of Santa Marta. There is no road and no trail.
How much does it cost to get to Playa Cinto?
$155,000 COP per person round trip, with the Tayrona National Park entrance and insurance included. The Playa Cristal combo is $170,000 COP.
Can you visit several beaches in one day?
Because of the distances inside the park, only Playa Cristal and Playa Cinto can be combined in a single day. The route reaches Cinto first, then Cristal.
Do I pay the Tayrona National Park entrance separately?
No. The entrance and the park insurance are already in the price, so you pay nothing at the gate.
What services are there at Playa Cinto?
Basic ones: toilets and shaded areas. No hotels and no restaurants. It is a wild beach.
Do children travel free?
Ages 0 to 4, yes. From age 5 they pay for transport.
Do I need to book ahead?
Yes. The park caps daily visitor numbers, and Playa Cristal — if you take the combo — sells out early in high season.
Book your day at Playa Cinto
Pick the plan that fits your trip: Playa Cinto by boat at $155,000, or the Playa Cristal combo at $170,000 and see both. Certified captains, park entrance included, confirmation on WhatsApp.
