November 9, 2011 - Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona

 Parque Tayrona

Playa Cañaveral

Arrecifes

Our tent

Sweaty but happy

Night in Cabo San Juan

Playa Piscina

Playa Piscina

Map of Parque Tayrona

Trekking through mud

Red ant super highway

Almost there...

Made it!

"Where the jungle meets the sea," we arrived at Tayrona National Natural Park, approximately one and half hour bus ride from Taganga. From the moment the bus dropped us off at the entrance, we were on our own. Not knowing what to expect and slightly sick of beaches, we started our three hour trek through the jungle to arrive at the famous beach of Cabo San Juan. On flip flops and Steve Madden sandals, we trekked through mud, rocks, sand, red ant super highways, and horse shit to get there.  One of us, without mentioning any names, started to lose HER temper. For the first time on this trip, things started to suck real bad. Bitching and complaining our way through, we made it to Arrecifes, known for being the best base to explore the park. Exhausted and barely speaking to one another, we sat down and chugged an ice cold Aguila. Having time to relax, we finally realized where we were and who we were with, and resumed our journey hand in hand. On the last leg of the trek, we started noticing that most travelers were literally in the same "shoe" as us and some without. When we arrived at Cabo San Juan, we set up camp. It was a hard night. A crappy tent, heat, mosquitos, and our sweaty, stinky bodies prevented a well-needed night's rest. We were tired and uncomfortable, but as the pictures show it was all worth it. We would do it all again in a heartbeat.