Tayrona National Natural Park

🇨🇴 Colombia

🦎 Green Iguana Paradise in Tayrona
🌍 #92 Global · 4.2 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #12 in South America #40 in Tropical Forest
Caribbean Coast, Colombia 1023 spp. recorded

Tayrona National Natural Park spans 15,000 hectares where the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta drops to the Caribbean, protecting tropical dry forest, palm-backed beaches, and coral reef. It is one of Colombia's most visited national parks, drawing more than 600,000 visitors a year to its coastal jungle trails.

11.324° N   74.043° W

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

Santa Marta White-fronted Capuchin ★
EN

Santa Marta White-fronted Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus malitiosus

60–70% · Likely
Cotton-headed Tamarin ★
Endemic

Cotton-headed Tamarin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saguinus oedipus

40–50% · Likely
Green Iguana ★
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

60–70% · Likely
Colombian Red Howler Monkey ★
LC

Colombian Red Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta seniculus

70–80% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Gaige’s Rainbow Lizard

Gaige’s Rainbow Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Cnemidophorus gaigei

70–80% · Very likely
Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis episcopus

70–80% · Very likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

70–80% · Very likely
Yellow-striped Poison Frog
LC Endemic

Yellow-striped Poison Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Dendrobates truncatus

60–70% · Likely
White-throated Gecko
LC Endemic

White-throated Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gonatodes albogularis

60–70% · Likely
Bicolored Wren
LC

Bicolored Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campylorhynchus griseus

60–70% · Likely
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

60–70% · Likely
Magdalena River Tegu
LC

Magdalena River Tegu

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Tretioscincus bifasciatus

50–60% · Likely
Guayaquil Dwarf Frog
LC

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Engystomops pustulosus

50–60% · Likely
Crimson-backed Tanager
LC

Crimson-backed Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus dimidiatus

50–60% · Likely
White-tipped Dove
LC Endemic

White-tipped Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leptotila verreauxi

50–60% · Likely
Orange-chinned Parakeet
LC

Orange-chinned Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Brotogeris jugularis

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Santa Marta White-fronted Capuchin ★
EN

Santa Marta White-fronted Capuchin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Cebus malitiosus

60–70% · Likely
Cotton-headed Tamarin ★
Endemic

Cotton-headed Tamarin

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Saguinus oedipus

40–50% · Likely
Colombian Red Howler Monkey ★
LC

Colombian Red Howler Monkey

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alouatta seniculus

70–80% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Central American Agouti
LC Endemic

Central American Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta punctata

30–40% · Possible
Brown-throated Sloth
LC Endemic

Brown-throated Sloth

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Bradypus variegatus

30–40% · Possible
Red-tailed Squirrel
LC

Red-tailed Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Sciurus granatensis

30–40% · Possible
Crab-eating Fox
LC

Crab-eating Fox

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Cerdocyon thous

10–20% · With luck
Northern Tamandua
LC Endemic

Northern Tamandua

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tamandua mexicana

10–20% · With luck
Long-tailed Porcupine

Long-tailed Porcupine

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Coendou longicaudatus

10–20% · With luck
Common Opossum
LC

Common Opossum

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Didelphis marsupialis

Insufficient data
Pacific Tent-making Bat

Pacific Tent-making Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Uroderma convexum

Insufficient data
Common tent-making Bat
LC

Common tent-making Bat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Uroderma bilobatum

5–10% · With luck
Grey-handed Night Monkey
VU

Grey-handed Night Monkey

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Aotus griseimembra

Insufficient data
Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo
LC

Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Cabassous centralis

Insufficient data
Lesser Sac-winged Bat
LC

Lesser Sac-winged Bat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Saccopteryx leptura

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Blue-gray Tanager

Blue-gray Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis episcopus

70–80% · Very likely
Black Vulture
LC

Black Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coragyps atratus

70–80% · Very likely
Bicolored Wren
LC

Bicolored Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campylorhynchus griseus

60–70% · Likely
Crimson-backed Tanager
LC

Crimson-backed Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ramphocelus dimidiatus

50–60% · Likely
White-tipped Dove
LC Endemic

White-tipped Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Leptotila verreauxi

50–60% · Likely
Orange-chinned Parakeet
LC

Orange-chinned Parakeet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Brotogeris jugularis

50–60% · Likely
Turkey Vulture
LC

Turkey Vulture

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cathartes aura

50–60% · Likely
Tropical Kingbird
LC

Tropical Kingbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tyrannus melancholicus

50–60% · Likely
Buff-breasted Wren
LC

Buff-breasted Wren

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Cantorchilus leucotis

50–60% · Likely
Palm Tanager

Palm Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Thraupis palmarum

40–50% · Likely
Pale-breasted Thrush
LC

Pale-breasted Thrush

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turdus leucomelas

40–50% · Likely
Red-crowned Woodpecker
LC

Red-crowned Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melanerpes rubricapillus

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Green Iguana ★
LC

Green Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Iguana iguana

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Gaige’s Rainbow Lizard

Gaige’s Rainbow Lizard

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Cnemidophorus gaigei

70–80% · Very likely
White-throated Gecko
LC Endemic

White-throated Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Gonatodes albogularis

60–70% · Likely
Magdalena River Tegu
LC

Magdalena River Tegu

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Tretioscincus bifasciatus

50–60% · Likely
Common Basilisk
LC

Common Basilisk

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Basiliscus basiliscus

50–60% · Likely
Gaige's Anole
LC

Gaige's Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis gaigei

40–50% · Likely
Common House Gecko
LC Endemic

Common House Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Hemidactylus frenatus

40–50% · Likely
Turniptail Gecko
LC

Turniptail Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Thecadactylus rapicauda

40–50% · Likely
Cope's Ameiva
LC

Cope's Ameiva

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Ameiva bifrontata

40–50% · Likely
Neotropical Green Anole
LC

Neotropical Green Anole

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Anolis biporcatus

40–50% · Likely
Venezuelan Cat-eyed Snake

Venezuelan Cat-eyed Snake

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Leptodeira ashmeadii

30–40% · Possible
Grass Anole
LC

Grass Anole

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Anolis auratus

30–40% · Possible
Violet-bellied Whorl-tailed Iguana
LC

Violet-bellied Whorl-tailed Iguana

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stenocercus erythrogaster

30–40% · Possible

📊 Most Spotted

Yellow-striped Poison Frog
LC Endemic

Yellow-striped Poison Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Dendrobates truncatus

60–70% · Likely
Giant Marine Toad
LC

Giant Marine Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella horribilis

60–70% · Likely
Guayaquil Dwarf Frog
LC

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Engystomops pustulosus

50–60% · Likely
Spotted Foam-nest Frog
LC

Spotted Foam-nest Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus insularum

30–40% · Possible
Rivero's Toad
LC

Rivero's Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Rhinella humboldti

30–40% · Possible
Yellow Treefrog
LC

Yellow Treefrog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Dendropsophus microcephalus

20–30% · Possible
Colombian Four-eyed Frog
LC

Colombian Four-eyed Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Pleurodema brachyops

20–30% · Possible
Whistling Grass Frog
LC

Whistling Grass Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus fuscus

20–30% · Possible
Savage's Thin-toed Frog
LC

Savage's Thin-toed Frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Leptodactylus savagei

20–30% · Possible
Chirique-Flusse Tree Frog
LC

Chirique-Flusse Tree Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Boana pugnax

20–30% · Possible
Banana Tree Dwelling Frog
LC

Banana Tree Dwelling Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Boana platanera

20–30% · Possible
Milk Frog

Milk Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Trachycephalus macrotis

20–30% · Possible

Animal Events

🐦

Lance-tailed Manakin Courtship

AprMayJunJulAug

Male lance-tailed manakins gather at forest leks, where pairs of males leap in synchronised courtship dances to attract a female.

Lance-tailed Manakin
LC

Lance-tailed Manakin

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chiroxiphia lanceolata

40–50% · Likely
🐸

Poison Frog Rainy Season

MayJunJulAugSepOctNov

Yellow-striped poison frogs and túngara frogs call from the leaf litter and streams by the trails.

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog
LC

Guayaquil Dwarf Frog

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Engystomops pustulosus

50–60% · Likely
Yellow-striped Poison Frog
LC Endemic

Yellow-striped Poison Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Dendrobates truncatus

60–70% · Likely
🐦

Migratory Bird Season

OctNovDecJanFebMarApr

Yellow warblers and summer tanagers forage the canopy while ospreys hunt over the bays.

Osprey
LC

Osprey

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pandion haliaetus

5–10% · With luck
Yellow Warbler
LC Endemic

Yellow Warbler

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Setophaga petechia

10–20% · With luck
Summer Tanager
LC

Summer Tanager

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Piranga rubra

5–10% · With luck

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
60–70
50–60
Santa Marta White-fronted Capuchin
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
30–40
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
20–30
50–60
60–70
Cotton-headed Tamarin
50–60
30–40
30–40
40–50
50–60
30–40
10–20
5–10
60–70
40–50
50–60
40–50
Green Iguana
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
30–40
70–80
80–90
80–90
60–70
60–70
50–60
Colombian Red Howler Monkey
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
Gaige’s Rainbow Lizard
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
80–90
70–80
80–90
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
Blue-gray Tanager
60–70
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
40–50
60–70
40–50
Black Vulture
70–80
80–90
70–80
50–60
70–80
70–80
50–60
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
50–60
Yellow-striped Poison Frog
20–30
40–50
50–60
70–80
90–100
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
60–70
40–50
White-throated Gecko
50–60
10–20
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
70–80
Bicolored Wren
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
30–40
60–70
40–50
Giant Marine Toad
60–70
10–20
50–60
50–60
80–90
50–60
50–60
40–50
70–80
30–40
50–60
50–60
Magdalena River Tegu
50–60
40–50
50–60
50–60
70–80
30–40
40–50
60–70
70–80
30–40
50–60
50–60
Guayaquil Dwarf Frog
50–60
40–50
60–70
40–50
80–90
10–20
30–40
40–50
50–60
10–20
60–70
50–60
Crimson-backed Tanager
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
50–60
40–50
White-tipped Dove
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
30–40
50–60
50–60
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
Orange-chinned Parakeet
50–60
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
50–60
40–50
40–50
Animal Events
🐦 Migratory Bird Season
🐸 Poison Frog Rainy Season
🐦 Lance-tailed Manakin Courtship

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Excellent
🦎 Green Iguana Paradise in Tayrona

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
668
🐒 Mammals
225
🦎 Reptiles
99
🐸 Amphibians
31
1023 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
31 Threatened 70 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.1 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
65%
📊
Coverage (198 species at ≥5% of 1023 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
19%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (4 reptile, 3 bird, 3 amphibian, 2 mammal)
46% Global avg
98%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
135
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
12
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
35

Quick answers

What animals can you see in Tayrona National Natural Park?

The most likely sightings are Gaige’s Rainbow Lizard (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Blue-gray Tanager (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Black Vulture (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Colombian Red Howler Monkey (seen by 70–80% of wildlife watchers), Yellow-striped Poison Frog (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1023 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit Tayrona National Natural Park for wildlife?

September has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see Santa Marta White-fronted Capuchin in Tayrona National Natural Park?

Yes — about 61% of wildlife watchers report a Santa Marta White-fronted Capuchin sighting in Tayrona National Natural Park, based on 71 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Cotton-headed Tamarin in Tayrona National Natural Park?

Yes — about 45% of wildlife watchers report a Cotton-headed Tamarin sighting in Tayrona National Natural Park, based on 36 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Green Iguana in Tayrona National Natural Park?

Yes — about 66% of wildlife watchers report a Green Iguana sighting in Tayrona National Natural Park, based on 84 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Colombian Red Howler Monkey in Tayrona National Natural Park?

Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Colombian Red Howler Monkey sighting in Tayrona National Natural Park, based on 98 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

Tayrona National Natural Park or ?

Compare species and sighting probabilities

Compare parks

Explore Other Parks

Darién National Park 📍 588 km 🦅 Harpy Eagle Nesting Spectacle

Darién National Park

🇵🇦 Panama 🌍 #108 Global · 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #17 in Central America #45 in Tropical Forest
Chagres National Park 📍 627 km 🐒 Monkeys & Sloths Rainforest

Chagres National Park

🇵🇦 Panama 🌍 #71 Global · 4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #10 in Central America #26 in Tropical Forest
Parque Natural Metropolitano 📍 656 km 🐒 Urban Rainforest of Tamarins

Parque Natural Metropolitano

🇵🇦 Panama 🌍 #105 Global · 4.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #16 in Central America #43 in Tropical Forest
Soberanía National Park 📍 661 km 🐦 Pipeline Road Toucan Birding

Soberanía National Park

🇵🇦 Panama 🌍 #45 Global · 4.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #4 in Central America #14 in Tropical Forest