It is still unusual for a national government to make a conservation deal with indigenous groups, even more so when it means repeatedly shutting down a heavily visited national park. The team from Colombia’s Tayrona park explains this successful agreement.
In Tayrona, Colombia, Indigenous Values Give a National Park Time to “Breathe”
“The Law of Origin is embedded within the ancestral territory itself—in every sacred space, in the sound of the wind, in the song of the birds, in the water, in the animals, in the lands, and in their arrangement and interconnections. It forms the foundation of our worldview.” In keeping with this description,* the four Indigenous peoples of Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta consider it their duty to grasp and embody this law.
That ancestral territory, home to the Kogui, Wiwa, Arhuaco, and Kankuamo people, is also home to the popular Tayrona National Natural Park. Now, in a notable agreement between a national state and Indigenous citizens, the Law of Origin is at work in a place with a unique mix of nature and culture.
Dramatic Topography
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta towers above the Colombian Caribbean, one of the highest coastal mountain ranges in the world. The altitudinal gradient fosters extraordinary ecological diversity and rich ecosystems, ranging from its submerged foothills in the Caribbean Sea to the perpetual snow of its peaks. This territory is a designated biosphere reserve, including two protected areas within Colombia’s National Natural Parks System: Tayrona and the less-visited Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park. The mission of these parks is to conserve the ecosystems within their boundaries.
The richness of this place is amplified not only by its biodiversity but also by the living culture of the four Indigenous Peoples native to it. Through their ancestral knowledge, recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, these peoples contribute to the safeguarding of their ancestral territory, bounded by the Black Line or Séshizha in the Kogui language.
For Colombia’s National Natural Parks, joint management with the Indigenous Peoples of the Sierra represents an important opportunity to advances the mission of conserving protected areas; and for the Indigenous Peoples, this collaboration helps ensure that the principles of territorial protection established in their Law of Origin are fully respected and implemented.
This interaction and intercultural dialogue have resulted in a Management Plan that was jointly developed with a vision of environmental, cultural, and spiritual interconnectedness in the territory. The plan provides a guiding framework for action and conservation management in both protected areas.
Tayrona National Natural Park, situated in the department of Magdalena in the lower foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, was designated as a protected area in 1964. The introduction of environmental legislation through time, as well as the natural beauty and biodiversity of the territory, led to the development of recreational, leisure, and educational activities within the framework of ecotourism as a conservation strategy. This has resulted in Tayrona Park being the second most visited protected area in the country, with sustained growth in visitor numbers since 2005. In 2024, the park recorded 615,731 visitors, both domestic and international.
* “Law of Origin, or Own Law, refers to the knowledge that regulates the order and function of the entire Universe, the territory, and natural systems. This knowledge is reflected in the social, political, economic, and cultural organization of our people to ensure the permanence and harmony of all that exists.” —Mestre Yanelia, Rawitscher Adams, Peter. 2018. Shikwakaka: The Cracking of Mother Earth. Santa Marta, Colombia. Kogui-Malayo-Arhuaco Reserve, p. 14.
The Respira Tayrona Strategy
Given the dynamics of tourism in the region, which has even bolstered the local and regional economies, a measure was established under “Prior Consultation” agreements to protect and restore the environmental, cultural, and spiritual balance of the territory. This measure involves temporarily closing Tayrona Park three times a year for 15 days each time in accordance with the cultural and ecological calendar managed by the Indigenous Peoples.
This strategy, known as Respira Tayrona (literally, “Breathe Tayrona”) began in 2015 with a single annual closure lasting 30 days. The success of these temporary closures has relied heavily on the support and involvement of the local community. Initially, the initiative was met with resistance from stakeholders whose livelihoods economically depend on tourism. However, the initiative has gained acceptance over time through dialogue, educational efforts, and the promotion of cultural and historical exchanges with the communities of Tayrona National Natural Park. In 2024, the sixth edition of these exchanges was held, fostering reconciliation between the conservation goals of the environmental authority (National Parks), the ethnic authorities of the territory, and the participation of the local community.
As a result of this process, Colombia’s National Natural Parks permanently adopted the temporary closures through Resolution 005 of January 2024. It established the following closure dates:
Kugkui Shikasa Season
Closure Period: February 1–15
Meaning: A time of purification and renewal.
Activities: Rituals to cleanse the spirit and environment, reflecting on the past, and renewing commitments to nature and the community.
Environmental Importance: February is the driest month of the year, resulting in a water deficit. During this time, water resources are prioritized for sustaining the ecosystem rather than tourism activities.
Saka Juso Season
Closure Period: June 1–15
Cultural Meaning: A time for planting and fertility
Activities: Rituals to ensure a bountiful harvest, harmonizing the relationship between humans and the land.
Environmental Importance: Transition period with some rainfall, though dry conditions still prevail.
Nabbatashi Season
Closure Period: October 19–November 2
Meaning: Time of connection with the ancestors.
Activities: Ceremonies and rituals to honor ancestors, strengthening familial and community bonds.
Environmental Importance: This is the peak rainy season, crucial for replenishing the park’s water systems. The focus is on ensuring the natural functioning of the ecosystem and maintaining sufficient water reserves for tourism use.
During these closures, ecotourism activities in the protected area are suspended to allow the territory to rest and to facilitate environmental, cultural, spiritual, traditional, and territorial strengthening activities. While a complete recovery from the impacts of tourism cannot be achieved during in 15 days, the strategy does allow nature and its ecosystems to “breathe,” to take a break from the constant strain caused by human activities.
To do so, the Respira Tayrona (Breathe Tayrona) agreement integrates various components into a comprehensive strategy for territorial protection:
- A holistic vision (connecting the spiritual and material aspects of the land)
- Water as the essential principle of life
- Governance
- Territorial education
- Intercultural relationships
- Monitoring and research
- Restoration
The Respira Tayrona strategy has provided numerous lessons and insights. It highlights the importance of balancing conservation with tourism development, demonstrating that reducing the human footprint on nature is possible. Implementing it has strengthened the cultural practices of Indigenous Peoples by ensuring access to their ancestral lands. Equally important, it promotes sustainable and responsible tourism in Colombia’s second most visited protected area.
On May 29th, 2024, National Natural Parks of Colombia agreed that Tayrona would join the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC ) Early Adopter Program in implementing the GSTC Attractions Criteria with continued support and monitoring. The aim is to further enhance sustainable practices within the park.
Basically, the Breathe agreement aims to create a harmonious and understanding relationship between nature and humans. It stands as an inspiration not only for other protected areas within Colombia but also for those across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the world. It calls for respectful behavior toward all of nature, building integrated awareness of the importance of protecting water and biodiversity.
Let’s allow the planet to breathe.
Authors:
Nasly Judith Cantillo Mercado – Tayrona National Natural Park
Juan Carlos Rodríguez Aguiar – Tayrona National Natural Park
Yanelia Mestre Pacheco – Liaison with the Peoples of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
Patricia Saldaña Pérez – Tayrona National Natural Park