Travel time: Year-round
Tayrona National Natural Park sits at a unique geographical crossroads where the world’s highest coastal mountain range, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, plunges into the Caribbean Sea. This collision of topography creates a climate that is as diverse as it is intense, characterized by high humidity, reliable heat, and distinct seasonal shifts.
The day in Tayrona typically begins with a soft, humid stillness. Mornings are often clear, but as the sun rises, the temperature climbs rapidly toward a daily high of 30°C to 32°C (86°F–90°F).
Tayrona does not follow four traditional seasons; instead, it is defined by the oscillation between wet and dry periods.
This is the most popular time for visitors. January and February are the driest months, with February often seeing the highest wind speeds (averaging over 20 mph). These winds can lead to choppy seas, occasionally making boat transport between bays like Taganga and Cabo San Juan a spray-filled experience. Rainfall is rare, and the sky is typically a bright, hazy blue.
Rainfall increases in May, often arriving as short, localized afternoon thunderstorms. This period is marked by high humidity as the landscape begins to turn a deep, lush green after the dry spells.
A brief "little summer" often occurs in July and August. While still part of the broader rainy half of the year, there is frequently a break in the heavy downpours, though humidity remains peak.
This is the peak of the tropical rainy season. October is historically the wettest month, with heavy, frequent deluges. Rivers inside the park can swell during this time, and jungle trails may become significantly muddied. However, the rains are rarely constant; they often manifest as explosive afternoon storms followed by clearing.
The park’s elevation ranges from sea level to 900 meters. This creates sharp microclimates within small distances:
The indigenous Kogi, Arhuaco, Wiwa, and Kankuamo people, descendants of the Tayrona, view the weather as a spiritual dialogue. The park is often closed for several weeks in February, June, and October/November. These closures, known as periods when the "park breathes," are timed with traditional ecological and spiritual calendars to allow the ecosystem to recover from human presence and to align with the start of seasonal rains.
Locals adapt by timing their heaviest physical labor for the pre-dawn hours. In the coastal towns nearby, such as Santa Marta, the arrival of the Brisas in December is celebrated as a cooling relief and a signal of the changing year.