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Polaroid of the Week: Tayrona National Park's Jungles and Pristine Beaches, Colombia

Polaroid of the Week: Tayrona National Park s Jungles and Pristine Beaches, ColombiaAs this post goes live, I'm deep in the Colombian jungle, midway through my 5-day trek to Ciudad Perdida, Colombia's legendary Lost City, navigating snakes and spiders with caution.

The past week was productively relaxed. After 10 unforgettable days in charming Cartagena—which I delayed leaving—I returned to Santa Marta. Last month, I based here for quick trips to Tayrona National Park and Bahia Concha, barely exploring the city. Now, post-trek, I'll discover more. Santa Marta has pleasantly surprised me (my hostel's two pools help combat the intense heat). I finalized work projects and invoices before departing, yet enjoyed town walks, meals with new friends, and a lively night dancing to reggaeton in an open-air bar.

Being back in Santa Marta, this week's Polaroid highlights Tayrona National Park—a must-visit I experienced briefly but will detail soon. One of Colombia's premier national parks along the Caribbean coast, Tayrona blends lush jungles, idyllic beaches, and the dramatic Sierra Nevada Mountains. Visitors typically stay 2-3 nights; I opted for a single day, including a demanding 5-hour hike through jungle trails, over rocky hills, to secluded beaches. Captivating views like this one made the effort worthwhile, compensating for scarce wildlife sightings. The beaches provided perfect spots for refreshing ocean swims after the sweaty exertion.

Reflecting now, that Tayrona hike was ideal preparation for my Ciudad Perdida adventure—full story coming next week.


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