Cabo San Juan: Ultimate Private Paradise Journey

Loved my tour with Martin and Iguana tours. He is a very well organized and trust worthy guide. We had complete trust in his ability. He was flexible and very interested in our input about what we wanted to do. He is also a great story teller and has great anecdotes and a good understanding of the area. His English is excellent!

Alexis and the driver are very nice, heart warming people. The guidance was very helpful and we had an excellent time trekking in the park, swimming in crystal clear waters. Lunch was not included, but Alexis arranged we eat fresh fish in a authentic restaurant by the beach. On the way back we decided to return on horse back and we loved it! I absolutely recommend this tour!

Very good tour with Luz Marina as our guide. We didn’t have to wait in line to enter the park. Luz Marina was very knowledgeable about the area and didn’t overwhelm with information. She also made sure we had time for ourselves. Great views!

We had a great day on this private tour. Martin is a great guide and very resourceful person. He picked us up from the hotel. He gave us a nice overview of Santa Marta area on our way to Tayrona National Park. Guided hike was amazing. Saw several monkeys as well as local flora. Tayrona national park itself is beautiful. We had a great time swimming in crystal clear ocean. Lunch options were great including flavorful vegetarian dishes. After lunch break, climbed a few steps to mirador to get a great view of Caribbean Sea. We had decided to go back to Santa Marta by boat to see different side of Tayrona National park! Martin had made arrangements for the boat ride back. Boat ride was somewhat choppy but very rewarding in terms of amazing views!!

Had a great day with Alexis! Everything from pick up at our hotel to admission to the park to the hike itself was smooth and easy. The hike was breathtaking and the beaches were stunning. Definitely recommend!

Overall, the tour was great, but watch our for additional costs! I booked it the day prior and I was so happy they could accommodate me and another guest. When booking they require you add your location and our Airbnb wasn't on the list of addresses since it is a home and note a hotel. The tour operator told me this was going to be an extra 50 000 cop because it was outside of the standard pickup zone. When we got picked up the next morning our guide Alexis said this was the easiest pickup location he ever had since our Airbnb was located 3 minutes from his home and was on the way to Tayrona. I told him they wanted to charge me extra and he wasn't sure why since the driver would have had to pick up him anyways. This to me seemed really off and was Strike #1. In the tour description they say they will provide water as well, when we got in the car there was nothing, which was a bit disappointing since the drive to the park is quite long. When we arrived at the park Alexis said we could buy our own water there out of pocket. Really? Our $175 pp fee doesn't cover a bottle of water? Strike # 2. The first stop is La Piscina beach and you will need to place your lunch order well in advance so they have time to prepare it. Alexis showed us the menu and told us we could pick anything. I asked what he recommended and he said he enjoyed a particular fish meal and I said I would go with his recommendation. The other guest also chose a different recommendation Alexis made. Fast forward to a couple hours later we finished up our lunch, went for a swim, and then Alexis came up to me and said I owe him money for the bill. I asked him why since it said it was included in the description of the tour and he told me I ordered something too expensive and that I owed him 43 000 COP! This was Strike #3. Although I had a great time visiting the national park I left feeling a little bit scammed. I have higher expectations for such an expensive tour.

Great hike through beautiful jungle to beautiful beaches. Our guide was fantastic as he provided an historical perspective of the National Park and surrounding environs. He pointed out plants and fauna as well as very interesting medicinal uses for some. We got to see monkeys and a variety of bird species. Plus, we got to see indigenous peoples and learn about their history and ongoing efforts to preserve their culture and way of life.

I highly recommend Iguanas Tours if you want a more personalized exploration of Tayrona Park and Cabo San Juan. I found them on Trip Advisor and booked the tour through the Iguanas Tours website. We were able to contact Martin beforehand with our questions and were able to confirm our two pick-up locations. Alexis was our English-speaking guide since Martin was not available that day. He was fabulous! We started the tour early to beat the crowds, which was worth it! Alexis got us into the park quickly before the larger groups began arriving. As we walked along the trail listening to the howler monkeys, he told us different facts about Tayrona and the Kogi people - the indigenous people who live in the area. We made the hot trek to Cabo San Juan and immediately got into the ocean to cool off. Compared to the water around Santa Marta, this part of the coast has clean sandy beaches and turquoise blue water. We made our way back to a smaller beach and enjoyed a delicious lunch. Then, we lounged in the water before returning to the trail and spotting a few Capuchin monkeys! I highly recommend this company for an unforgettable experience! Cheers

Alexis was my tour guide and he was fantastic! Not only was he deeply knowledgeable about everything to do with Tayrona and Santa Marta, he was also incredibly helpful in efficiently navigating me through the trek. I recommend this tour 100%!

Martin was the perfect tour guide. He picked us up at our hotel and managed every aspect of the trip. When we got to the park we realized how important it was to have a guide. He knew the ins and outs of the park entry process and made it seamless. Just getting into the park was worth the price of admission. Martin was friendly, knowledgeable, flexible, and chill. The park was a little busy but that was out of our control. Great views and nice beaches. Easy hike. I'd recommend good sandals. Would highly recommend this trip and Martin as a guide.