Colombian travel agency Aviatur operates the only hotel-style accommodation within the park's boundaries. Amid the trees in the eastern Cañaveral sector of the park are 14 indigenous-style cabanas, or huts, known as 'Ecohabs'. They may appear rustic, even primitive, from the outside, but within they are fitted out with all the amenities you'd expect from a smart modern hotel, such as hot showers, plasma TVs, coffee makers and mini-bars. The Ecohabs, some of which have spectacular sea views, give visitors a way to experience the heart of the forest without sacrificing comfort. Food is available on a nearby beach.
The ecotourism concession Aviatur has a second branch, in the Arrecifes sector of the park. This takes the form of six cabins, sleeping up to four people each. The cabins may not be as visually striking as the Cañaveral Ecohabs, but the Arrecifes cabins offer similar levels of comfort, and represent another means of enjoying hotel-style luxury within the forest itself. A good restaurant is onsite. Arrecifes is a 40-minute walk from La Piscina, one of the few beaches in Tayrona that are safe for swimming.
The city of Santa Marta is outside the park boundaries, a short drive from Tayrona. One Santa Marta hotel is La Casa, in a historic 18th century building restored in 2007. A small boutique hotel, La Casa has only three bedrooms, each with a private bath. The staff at this intimate hotel can help organize your Tayrona trip.
Architect Patrick Fleming provides a warm, Dublin welcome at the Aluna, a hotel he designed and built himself. While the hotel does offer a full complement of amenities and facilities, including a bar and cafe, its true selling point is Patrick himself. Anybody wishing to use Santa Marta as a base from which to explore the forests and beaches of Tayrona will want to take full advantage of the hotel owner's two decades of local knowledge.
