Explore La Guajira, the northernmost tip of Colombia, on this 3-day trip that includes visits to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas. Enjoy the natural beauty of this desert, learn about the Wayuu culture and live an unforgettable adventure.

Must-sees on this trip:

• Explore Wayuu culture: Wayuu culture is one of the most important cultures in La Guajira. You can learn about their history, traditions and customs.
• Visit Punta Gallinas: Punta Gallinas is the northernmost point in South America. It is a remote and wild place, with a rugged desert landscape.
• Explore the Taroa Dunes: this is one of the most fascinating landscapes in Colombia due to the panoramic views of the meeting between the desert and the Caribbean Sea.
• Visit the beaches of Cabo de la Vela: The beaches of Cabo de la Vela are some of the most beautiful in Colombia. The landscape is desert and wild, with impressive places such as the Pilón de Azúcar.

This experience operates all year round except for the months of May and September to November, which is the rainy season. For the months mentioned, the rainy season plan is recommended by clicking HERE .

Services included

• Transport: Transfers from your accommodation in Riohacha and back. Applies to accommodations in the urban area of Riohacha.
• Accommodation: 2 nights in a hammock in a traditional Wayuu ranch (1 night in Punta Gallinas and 1 night in Cabo de La Vela).
• Food: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners and hydration during the trip. Very basic vegetarian or vegan options can be arranged, please request this when confirming your reservation.
• Activities:
  • Visit to Cabo de la Vela, the Sugar Loaf Mountain, Ojo de Agua Beach and Rainbow Beach.
  • Visit to the Manaure Salt Flats
  • Visit to Punta Gallinas and the Taroa Dunes.
  • Visit to the beaches of Mayapo.
• Others: Community contributions, travel insurance and Spanish-speaking driver-guide.

Not included:

• Transportation: Air or land tickets to get to and from Riohacha from your place of origin. Land transportation from the airport or bus terminal to the meeting point with the tour operator if you are not already staying in Riohacha.
• Accommodation: Nights before or after the trip, it is recommended to stay in Riohacha the night before. The accommodation included in the trip is in a hammock, but if you require accommodation in a bed during the trip you can book this option: HERE .
• Food: Breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last day. Consumption of food and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary.
• Activities: Walks or tours at the destination such as sandboarding in the Taroa Dunes, among others, which are booked during the trip.
• Others: Personal expenses such as tips, souvenirs and other consumption not included in the package.

See less

Itinerary

Starting point:

Riohacha (Riohacha, La Guajira)

End point:

Riohacha (Riohacha, La Guajira)

Start time:

8:00 am

End time:

4:00 pm

The following itinerary is suggested by the tour operator, there may be changes depending on weather or logistical conditions during the trip:

Day 1 - Cape La Vela:

At 8:00 am, departure from Riohacha in a 4x4 air-conditioned truck, heading to the Manaure Salt Flats, where you can observe salt extraction and learn about the Wayuu indigenous culture. The journey continues to Cabo de La Vela through the desert landscape. Lunch at a ranch in Cabo de La Vela. In the afternoon, visit Rainbow Beach and Pilón de Azúcar, a 20-meter-high rock formation to appreciate the landscape, and finally enjoy Ojo de Agua beach. Sunset from the Lighthouse. Dinner and accommodation in a hammock at a ranch in Cabo de La Vela.

Day 2 - Punta Gallinas:

We have an early breakfast to start the trip to Punta Gallinas, around 7:00 am. Throughout the trip we can see the Alta Guajira desert and natural viewpoints such as Bahía Honda and Bahía Hondita. We have a traditional lunch at Dunas de Taroa and enjoy this set of sand dunes that extends along the coast. In the mid-afternoon, we leave for the Punta Gallinas Lighthouse to enjoy the sunset and the exotic beach. Dinner and accommodation in a hammock at a ranch in Punta Gallinas.

Day 3 - Mayapo Beaches:

Breakfast is taken as early as possible to begin the return to Riohacha (7:00-8:00 am), making a couple of stops at some natural viewpoints in the area. Lunch in Mayapo, an unmissable beach destination in this area of the country. Return to Riohacha with an estimated arrival time of 4:00 pm End of services.

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided in rancherias, traditional Wayuu homes adapted to receive travelers. You sleep in a hammock, under a roof, and share spaces with other travelers. The rancherias have public bathrooms, but it is also possible to stay in a bed with a private bathroom for an additional cost. There is electricity in the rancherias, you can charge your phone or camera at certain times. There is no fan, air conditioning or TV in the rooms or common areas.

How to get there?

From Bogotá, you can reach Riohacha by air with Avianca or LATAM airlines, the trip duration is approximately 2 hours. You can also reach Riohacha by land using public transportation or your own vehicle, the closest tourist destinations are: Santa Marta (3 hours) and Palomino (1.5 hours). If you are traveling by public transportation from Santa Marta, buses leave from the Public Market in the city center or at the bus terminal between 6:00 am and 8:00 pm. If you are in Palomino or Buritaca, you can take the bus from Santa Marta on the Troncal del Caribe, very close to the town.

When requesting your reservation, you can also include ground or air transportation from your place of origin. We are a Travel Agency!

Location of activities

Travel recommendations

• Travel equipment: Bring comfortable, cool clothing, as well as sunscreen and insect repellent. It is recommended to wear cotton or quick-drying clothing in light colors to avoid the heat. Don't forget to bring a swimsuit to enjoy the beaches, as well as a cap or hat to protect yourself from the sun. A thermos or canteen to refill drinking water during the trip is useful. It is important to wear comfortable shoes for walking, as there will be a lot of sandy and rocky terrain. You can also bring sandals for the beach. A personal first aid kit is never too much. Bags to pack your wet or dirty clothes. Bring a backpack-type suitcase (maximum 8 lb). Large suitcases or suitcases with wheels are not allowed due to space issues inside the vehicle. If you have a lot of luggage, you can leave part of it at the local operator's office in Riohacha at no additional cost.

• English: Season: The best time to visit Alta Guajira is during the dry season, which runs from December to March. During this time, temperatures are cooler and rain is less frequent. The months of September to November, as well as the month of May, are usually rainy, and there may be restrictions on access to areas such as Punta Gallinas. In these cases, these activities are replaced by others that are announced days before the trip. For the rainy season, there is no possibility of getting to Punta Gallinas by land. There are boats that travel between the Cape and Punta Gallinas, but due to safety conditions, the tour operator does not include them. If your trip is scheduled for the winter season, get a quote HERE .
  
• Accommodation: Trips to Alta Guajira include overnight stays in Wayuu ranches (rustic accommodations but with everything you need for rest), generally with shared bathrooms and showers, water and electricity supply restrictions, as well as other services such as WiFi. The water flow in showers and bathrooms is low and is not fresh water, but brackish. A beach towel or microfiber towel is very useful. There is electricity in the ranches, you can charge your phone or camera at certain times. There is no fan, air conditioning or TV in the rooms or common areas.
  
• Food: The menu of dishes in this area of the country is not so extensive given the conditions of isolation of the place. Generally, proteins such as sea fish, chicken and goat are used, accompanied by rice and green plantain. The drink that accompanies lunch and dinner is usually a soda or water. Restaurants usually sell beer and other drinks at an additional cost to the package. Vegetarian and vegan menus are scarce but can be organized depending on the availability of ingredients (generally many grains). These types of menus must be requested when confirming the reservation. In some restaurants, there is the option of dishes with an additional cost such as lobster or seafood. The consumption of these is under the responsibility of the traveler, avoid consuming endangered species.
  
• Transport: The tours are carried out in 4x4 vehicles adapted to the terrain conditions, generally with air conditioning, and with capacity for up to 6 people. As it is a shared trip, the vehicle rotates during the journey. The tours range from 3-6 hours per day as long distances are covered. If the traveler arrived in Riohacha in his/her own vehicle, the tour operator will help him/her arrange a reliable parking space at an additional cost, which must be indicated in the reservation. If the traveler arrived on the same day of the start of the trip to Riohacha, he/she must arrive on his/her own to the local operator's office; the address is indicated days before the trip.
  
• Activities: Although the visit to the main tourist sites of Alta Guajira is included in the visit, they usually offer other activities such as sandboarding in Taroa Dunes. This activity is extreme and is carried out under the responsibility of the traveler, the tour operator of the trip is not responsible for any accident.
  
• Sustainability: Alta Guajira is a fragile and vulnerable territory. It is important to be a responsible traveler and contribute to its conservation. Avoid generating or throwing away trash, take it back home. Make responsible use of natural resources (water, electricity), which are scarce in the area. Respect wildlife and ecosystems. Buying handicrafts is a way to support local communities. Respect the culture and traditions of the Wayúu community. Avoid taking photographs of people without their permission.
  
• Additional pick-ups or transfers during the tour: As stated in the itinerary, the included transportation includes pick-ups at accommodations in the urban area of Riohacha. If you are located in areas such as Palomino, Camarones or Mayapo, among others, transportation is at an additional cost. As the trip ends in Riohacha at around 4:00 pm, if the traveler needs to be in the city before that time, lunch on the last day is not included and early transportation to the city has an additional cost.
  
• Other travel tips: The accommodations have lockers or luggage storage to store personal items. Keep in mind that your accommodation will be in a hammock in areas shared with other travelers. You can bring your own padlock or rent one on site. Since you will be sleeping in a hammock, you can bring a light blanket and a pillow to rest.
  
• Travelling with children: Children aged 0 to 4 years travel free of charge but share services with their parents, but this is not really a recommended trip for children of this age, given the activities and daily travel times as well as the conditions of the accommodations. Children aged 5 and up pay the adult rate as they occupy a seat in the vehicles and receive all services during the trip.
  
• Traveling with pets: This trip is not suitable for traveling with pets given the daily activities and travel times as well as the conditions of the accommodations, and out of respect for other travelers with whom the vehicle is shared.
  
• Private Tours: If you would like a private tour with this or other itineraries in the area, please write HERE .

We hope these recommendations help you prepare your trip to La Guajira, Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas. Have an unforgettable trip!