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Destinations: La Guajira and Santa Marta

Two regions on Colombia's Caribbean coast and their places. La Guajira has Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, and its tours leave from Riohacha; Santa Marta has Tayrona National Park, Minca and Ciudad Perdida, with tours that leave from the city.

  • 2 regions
  • 9 places
Top-down view of three white 4×4 vehicles on dry, cracked earth in the La Guajira desert, taken from a drone.6 places

La Guajira

Desert and sea in northern Colombia. Tours leave from Riohacha by 4×4.

  • Cabo de la VelaPilón de Azúcar, Playa Arcoíris and the lighthouse where you watch the sunset.
  • Punta GallinasThe northernmost point of mainland South America, with its lighthouse and Bahía Hondita.
  • Taroa dunesDunes that drop toward the Caribbean Sea, near Punta Gallinas.
  • La Guajira desertThe stretch of desert tracks between Uribia, Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas.
  • Manaure salt flatsColombia's largest salt complex and the first stop on the tours.
  • RiohachaThe capital of La Guajira: flights arrive here and tours leave from here.
La Guajira, Colombia: travel guide
Aerial view of tall buildings facing a turquoise beach in Santa Marta, with neighborhoods on the hillside and green mountains behind.3 places

Santa Marta

Caribbean coast at the foot of the Sierra Nevada. The Ciudad Perdida trek and the day tours leave from here.

  • Tayrona National ParkCabo San Juan, Playa Cristal and Playa Gairaca, on day tours from Santa Marta.
  • Ciudad Perdida (Teyuna)The 3-, 4- or 5-day trek through the Sierra Nevada to Teyuna.
  • MincaWaterfalls and coffee in the Sierra Nevada, in one day from Santa Marta.

Closures: Tayrona National Park, from October 19 to November 2, 2026; Ciudad Perdida (Teyuna), from September 28 to October 15, 2026.

Santa Marta, Colombia: things to do and what to see

How La Guajira and Santa Marta connect

Both regions sit on the same Caribbean coast. From Santa Marta the road continues to Palomino and Riohacha, and the 4×4 tours to Alta Guajira leave from Riohacha.

Santa Marta to La Guajira: how to get there, times and tours
Caribbean SeaLa GuajiraSanta MartaVenezuela
Coastal road4×4 route of the toursIllustrative map, not to scale.

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