El Pueblito Hike in Tayrona National Park
Read our hiking guide to El Pueblito, an indigenous village in Tayrona National Park, Colombia. Hike from El Cabo San Juan Beach to El Pueblito and back or continue to Playa Brava. What to expect and what to pack? We've got you covered.
Tayrona National Park is one of the most popular parks in the country that offers its visitors plenty of sunshine, stunning beaches, but also a few hikes through the jungle.
Tayrona attracts crowds, both international visitors and locals vacationers alike, and the reason is obvious. Just search for the photos - we believe the park will immediately ignite your wanderlust.
But what if you are the type of traveler who prefers to spend time actively and cannot lie on the beach all day long?
In that case, we have a great tip for you. El Pueblito hike. This hike from Cabo San Juan Beach to an indigenous village deep in the jungle was one of our favorite things to do in Tayrona National Park.
Moreover, you can continue from El Pueblito to Playa Brava, and then either retrace your steps or get out of the park via the Calabazo entrance.
We visited Tayrona National Park from the main El Zaino entrance, based ourselves in the campsite in Arrecifes, and did all one-day hikes and exploration of the park from here, including the El Pueblito hike.
However, there is one catch. We could recently read that it is not possible to hike to El Pueblito anymore.
Based on our research, it is still possible to hike from Cabo San Juan Beach to El Pueblito or from Playa Brava to El Pueblito, but the local indigenous people do not want travelers to enter the actual site of the village.
So you can do the hike, but the village is closed.
We think the hike through the jungle was very rewarding and is worth the effort even without exploring the small village, that consists of only a few houses.
To be honest, when we were there before the closure, we did not feel very welcomed, and that's why we did not wander around much anyway.
Anyway, let us know in the comment section your experience from hiking to El Pueblito we will be happy to update this post!
In this blog post, we would like to walk you through everything you need to know about the El Pueblito hike in Tayrona National Park, including tips on where to start, what to pack, or what to expect.
TRAILHEAD
Most of the visitors to Tayrona National Park enter the park via the El Zaino gate, and we did the same.
From here, it takes about two hours' walk to get to Cabo San Juan beach where you can find the trail turning inland, that will take you to El Pueblito.
If you have more days in Tayrona, you can stay at Cabo San Juan beach, where is located by far the most popular campsite in the park, and split the hike into more days.
We stayed at Arrecifes, which is approximately one hour from Cabo San Juan.
In case you plan on entering the park via Calabazo, then expect to walk also about two hours to Playa Brava, from where you can start the climb to El Pueblito.
It is possible to stay overnight at Playa Brava as well.
TRAIL DESCRIPTION
The hike from Cabo San Juan to El Pueblito is approximately 2.4 kilometers long, one way, with an elevation of 250 meters.
The terrain is quite challenging as it includes hiking over big rocks, and the climb took us a bit less than two hours.
The return journey took about the same. Even though this time, the trail led downhill, rocks were quite slippery (although it did not rain), and we proceeded slowly.
Expect that the hike will take you about four hours in total, and it is also advised not to start the trek after 1 PM, so you do not get caught by dark.
The profile of the hike is very similar from Playa Brava to El Pueblito, the climb also takes about two hours. In case you want to start at Cabo San Juan and spend the night at Playa Brava (or vice versa), the trek will take you 4-5 hours.
EL PUEBLITO HIKE
Ok, so you are at the trailhead to El Pueblito on Cabo San Juan and wonder what to expect? Read on.
The trail led us inland from the very beginning. The first part was flat, but it did not take long, and we reached the more challenging section, which basically ended a few kilometers later, in El Pueblito.
The first challenge was a couple of giant stones that blocked the path, and we had to crawl under those huge cave-like boulders.
There is a short detour through the forest, where you can bypass them if you don't like narrow and dark spaces. From there, the trail became even steeper, and immediately the sweat was pouring off us.
Hiking over big rocks, slippery stone steps, and crossing deep gaps and pits was definitely harder, than what we have expected.
What was on the other hand rewarding, was the lack of people, the wildlife we could spot along the trail, and the mysterious atmosphere.
Also, this trail paved with granite stones is entirely made by indigenous people of Tayrona, so we felt privileged to walk on it, but also in awe when we imagined the hard work behind it.
We started our hike after lunch at around half-past twelve, and if you want to avoid the unforgiving afternoon heat, get up early in the morning when the air is slightly colder and the sun not that strong and start your trip before it gets hot.
The trail is quite well-signposted and it is easy to navigate through the forest, and the path is clearly visible all the time.
There are signs on every 10% of the trek's distance.
There is only one part, where it is hard to navigate, and we actually met two people, who got lost, and followed the wrong path for about 45 minutes before they realized it is incorrect, and they must've headed back (hadn't we met them, I believe, we would've done the same mistake).
This place is right before you reach Pueblito, on the 90% mark.
It seems that you should go left, but you must take the path on your right which is a bit hidden behind the rock. Once you pass the only tricky part, the village should be within 15 walking minutes from this point.
After almost two hours of sweating in the jungle, we finally emerged in the prehispanic village of Pueblito.
It's not that impressive as the recently discovered Lost City, but on the other hand, we think it is a great alternative for those who are traveling on a budget and can't afford an expensive trek.
The village looked almost deserted except for a person selling water bottles and snacks in a small stall.
There are only a few huts left, so we roamed the surroundings for some time and explored some really cool ancient ruins and abandoned terraces.
The place is much bigger than what we have expected, and you can climb several stairways leading to grassy platforms, where former dwellings used to stand - use your imagination because nature already claimed some parts of the village back.
We imagined how the place must have looked like hundreds and hundreds of years ago when about 2000 Tayrona people used to live there.
From the village, we took the same way back and met a guy, who got lost at the exact place, as the two girls before. It was getting late, and we could hear wildlife waking up in the jungle and slowly getting ready for the night.
We walked carefully downhill and could not wait to take a dip in the sea, which we definitely deserved.
Our tip: You might meet a few indigenous people on the way to the village, or near the village. Please, be respectful and do not take photos, the community obviously does not want any attention.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
WHERE TO STAY IN TAYRONA NATIONAL PARK
Tayrona National Park is dotted with campsites that usually have to be reserved directly or work on a first-come-first-served basis.
In case you prefer to stay in a more comfortable place, do not worry, Tayrona offers even more luxurious accommodation together with a few budget options.
Budget | Eco Hostal Yuluka - Great location for visiting Tayrona NP, air-conditioned rooms, and accommodating staff.
Mid-range | Playa Brava Teyumakke - Beautiful and tranquil location ideal for couples in a remote place without crowds and with direct access to the beach. The only downside is that you have to walk there for three hours from the entrance.
Luxury | Casa Tayrona Los Naranjos - Stunning views, gorgeous location, beautiful beach, and amazing service is what you can expect in this hotel.
WHEN TO HIKE
Tayrona National Park is hot and humid almost all year round, and the best time to visit is during the dry season, from December to March, and then from July to September.
On the other hand, during this time is the national park quite crowded, although we do not think it would be the case for the El Pueblito hike.
In the offseason, you can expect afternoon showers, which can make the hike a bit more challenging - in case you will be in the park at that time, start early in the morning.
This is actually what should you do year-round. Tayrona National Park is usually closed in February to get nature a chance to restore, we recommend you to check out the up to date information before your visit.
WHAT TO PACK
Prepare for a sweaty hike, so try to pack as light as possible. We hiked in shorts and a t-shirt.
Do not underestimate this short hike, and wear proper trail walking shoes or at least runners , definitely not flip-flops.
Some people walk this trail barefoot like indigenous people, but that's not exactly our style.
Make sure to have sunscreen and bug repellent , and the most important thing is to have enough water.
We had three liters of water in our durable water bottles , and it was barely enough for both of us, as the heat that day was almost unbearable.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
