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  • COP · Colombian peso
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La Guajira, Colombia: travel guide

La Guajira is the department in northern Colombia that holds Punta Gallinas, the northernmost point of mainland South America. Its capital, Riohacha, has an airport and is where the tours leave from. Alta Guajira, with Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, is crossed by 4×4, and nights are spent at Wayuu rancherías.

  • 2 places
  • 3 tours from Riohacha
  • 2 to 4 days
  • 7% deposit
Places in La GuajiraThree routes from Riohacha
Top-down view of three white 4×4 vehicles on dry, cracked earth in the La Guajira desert, taken from a drone.

Northern Colombia, Caribbean Sea

La Guajira at a glance

Where it is
Northern Colombia
Home to Punta Gallinas, the northern tip of mainland South America.
Getting there
Plane or road
An airport in Riohacha, or by road from Santa Marta.
How many days
2 to 4 days
How long the Alta Guajira tours last.
Where you sleep
Wayuu ranchería
In a chinchorro hammock, or in a bed for an extra fee.
Departure point
Riohacha
All three 4×4 tours leave from here at 8:30 a.m.

Alta Guajira: which is which

The tours on this site cover Alta Guajira.

  • The one the tours cover

    Alta Guajira

    The north of the peninsula, where the tours continue by 4×4 on desert tracks from Uribia. It holds Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, the northernmost point of mainland South America.

    Places in this guide

    Cabo de la Vela, Punta Gallinas.

Places in La Guajira: the route from Riohacha to Punta Gallinas

There are two, in the order the route links them. Each number matches the map and each place has its own page.

Illustrative map, not to scale.

  1. Cabo de la Vela

    Night at a ranchería

    Pilón de Azúcar, Playa Arcoíris and the lighthouse where you watch the sunset.

    Cabo de la Vela: travel guide

  2. Punta Gallinas

    Night at a ranchería

    The northernmost point of mainland South America, with its lighthouse and Bahía Hondita.

    Punta Gallinas: travel guide

Three routes from Riohacha: 2, 3, and 4 days

All three cross Alta Guajira by 4×4, with nights at a Wayuu ranchería. What changes is how far you go.

  • Aerial view of the village of Cabo de la Vela: rows of guesthouses with tin and palm roofs, sandy streets and a beach of turquoise water.2 days and 1 night

    Alta Guajira

    Cabo de la Vela tour 2 days from Riohacha

    The 2-day Cabo de la Vela tour is a private 4×4 trip that leaves Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. It stops at the Manaure salt flats, Uribia, Pilón de Azúcar, the lighthouse and Playa Arcoíris, with a night in a chinchorro hammock in a Wayuu ranchería (settlement). The Cabo de la Vela tour costs from COP 409,500 per person for groups of 6 or more, with a 7% deposit to book.

    • 1 night in a hammock
    • Leaves from Riohacha
    • 4×4 with air conditioning

    Next departure: Mon Oct 12

    Per person, group of 2

    COP 803,250

    COP 409,500 per person in groups of 6 or more.

  • Two wooden boats pulled up on a beach in La Guajira at sunset, with a calm sea and palm fronds in the upper corner.3 days and 2 nights

    Alta Guajira

    Punta Gallinas tour 3 days (with Cabo de la Vela)

    The 3-day Punta Gallinas tour is a private 4×4 trip from Riohacha, leaving at 8:30 a.m. It covers the Manaure salt flats, Uribia, Cabo de la Vela, Bahía Hondita, the Taroa dunes and the Punta Gallinas lighthouse, with two nights in chinchorro hammocks in Wayuu rancherías (settlements). The 3-day tour costs from COP 900,000 per person for groups of 6 or more, with a 7% deposit to book.

    • 2 nights in a hammock
    • Leaves from Riohacha
    • 4×4 with air conditioning

    Next departure: Mon Oct 12

    Per person, group of 2

    COP 1,650,000

    COP 900,000 per person in groups of 6 or more.

  • The red-and-white lattice tower of the Punta Gallinas lighthouse beside a white 4×4, on a sandy plain with scrub under a cloudy blue sky.4 days and 3 nights

    Alta Guajira

    Punta Gallinas tour 4 days: Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas

    The 4-day Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas tour is private and leaves Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. by 4×4. It follows the 3-day route and adds a second night in Punta Gallinas and sunset at Punta Agujas, with three nights in chinchorro hammocks in Wayuu rancherías (settlements). The 4-day tour costs from COP 955,500 per person for groups of 6 or more, with a 7% deposit to book.

    • 3 nights in a hammock
    • Leaves from Riohacha
    • 4×4 with air conditioning

    Next departure: Mon Oct 12

    Per person, group of 2

    COP 1,874,250

    COP 955,500 per person in groups of 6 or more.

Compare the three routes

Cabo de la Vela, 2 daysPunta Gallinas, 3 daysPunta Gallinas, 4 days
Nights1 night, in Cabo de la Vela2 nights: Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas3 nights: Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas
How far it goesCabo de la VelaPunta Gallinas, with Bahía Hondita and Dunas de TaroaPunta Gallinas, with Bahía Hondita and Dunas de Taroa
Back in RiohachaDay 2Day 3Day 4
What's includedAll three include 4×4 transport from Riohacha and the nights at Wayuu rancherías. Meals and entry fees are detailed on each tour page.

Book with 7%7% deposit of the total. An advisor confirms within 12 hours at most.

All Alta Guajira tours

What to see in La Guajira

Four images of the route. Each one leads to its place.

When to go to La Guajira

La Guajira's rainy and windy months aren't in this guide yet, because we only publish them with an official source. What does matter when you choose a date is the road: beyond Uribia you travel on desert tracks, so in the rainy season, message us on WhatsApp before you book and we'll tell you how the tracks are on your date.

How to get to La Guajira

Tours leave from Riohacha. There are two ways to get there.

  • By planeRiohacha has an airport, Almirante Padilla Airport, with commercial flights.
  • By roadFrom Santa Marta, along the coastal road, through Palomino.
Santa Marta to La Guajira: how to get there, times and tours
Colorful chinchorro hammocks under a palm shelter facing the sea at sunset, with the low sun between the posts, in Cabo de la Vela.

Before you arrive

Responsible travel in Wayuu rancherías

On the tours you spend the nights in Wayuu rancherías, in chinchorro hammocks, and the regional food is cooked by local cooks. When you arrive at a ranchería, keep these practices in mind out of respect for your hosts:

  1. Ask permission before photographing anyone.
  2. Don't enter a home unless you are invited.
  3. Buy crafts from the people who make them, and bring cash for it.
  4. Take your trash with you: the tour packing list includes a bag for it.
  5. At the ranchería, follow the directions of your driver-guide and your hosts.

Useful tips for traveling to La Guajira

  • Cash

    There are no cash machines or card payments on the route. Uribia is the last stop to get cash.

  • Water

    Bring a reusable bottle. In Uribia you can buy water, snacks and food before the desert.

  • Documents

    A photocopy of your passport or ID is enough; the authorities may ask for it on the way.

  • Sun

    The tours' packing list asks for high-protection sunscreen, a cap or hat and sunglasses.

4.9out of 5 on Tripadvisor

Reviews of Expotur Eco on Tripadvisor

6,458 reviews of Expotur Eco, the operator of these tours. Checked on October 7, 2026.

Read the reviews on Tripadvisor(opens in a new tab)

The other destination

Santa Marta: Tayrona National Park, Ciudad Perdida, and Minca

1, 3, 4, and 5-day tours from Santa Marta

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

Frequently asked questions about La Guajira

What is La Guajira known for?

La Guajira is known for Punta Gallinas, the northernmost point of mainland South America, and for the Manaure salt flats, Colombia's largest salt works. In Alta Guajira, Cabo de la Vela has the Pilón de Azúcar hill, its lighthouse and beaches such as Playa Arcoíris, and on the tours the nights are spent in chinchorro hammocks in Wayuu rancherías.

What is the capital of La Guajira?

The capital of La Guajira is Riohacha, according to the Riohacha mayor's office. Riohacha is also the city that Punta Gallinas Tours trips to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas leave from, at 8:30 a.m., and the city they return to. The tours don't leave from Santa Marta, so if you're coming from there, you need to reach Riohacha first.

What can you do in La Guajira in 4 days?

In 4 days in La Guajira you can travel from Riohacha to Punta Gallinas and back. The 4-day tour covers the Manaure salt flats, Uribia and Cabo de la Vela, with its lighthouse, the Pilón de Azúcar and Playa Arcoíris; then Bahía Hondita, the Taroa dunes, the Punta Gallinas lighthouse and Punta Agujas. It spends one night in Cabo de la Vela and two in Punta Gallinas, starting and ending in Riohacha.

What is the most beautiful place in La Guajira?

Which place in La Guajira you'll like most depends on what you're looking for. For the sea and the sunset, Cabo de la Vela, with the Pilón de Azúcar and its lighthouse. For the northernmost point of mainland South America, Punta Gallinas. For sand, the Taroa dunes, which run down to a beach. All three places are on the 3-day tour, which leaves Riohacha at 8:30 a.m.

How many days do you need to see Alta Guajira?

Alta Guajira takes 2, 3 or 4 days, depending on how far north you go. With 2 days you see Cabo de la Vela, with one night there. With 3 days you reach Punta Gallinas by way of Cabo de la Vela, with one night in each place. With 4 days you add a second night in Punta Gallinas and Punta Agujas. All three tours leave Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. and return there.

Can you visit Alta Guajira without a 4×4?

No. There is no paved road from Uribia to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas: the trip is made by 4×4 on desert tracks. If you don't want a tour with meals and lodging, Punta Gallinas Tours offers private 4×4 transport between Riohacha, Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, quoted on WhatsApp or through the form.

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