Colombia Caribbean coast itinerary with La Guajira: 7, 10 and 14 days
One route along Colombia's Caribbean coast: Santa Marta, Tayrona National Park and Minca, Palomino, Riohacha, Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas. Seven days cover the essentials, 10 give you a slower pace and 14 make room for the Lost City trek.
7-day plan
3 days in Santa Marta, 1 travel day and 3 in La Guajira.
10-day plan
3 days in Santa Marta and Minca, 2 in Palomino, 1 travel day and 4 in La Guajira.
14-day plan
4 days on the Lost City trek, 3 in Santa Marta, 2 in Palomino, 1 travel day and 4 in La Guajira.
- Santa Marta
- Tayrona National Park
- Minca
- Ciudad Perdida
- Palomino
- Riohacha
- Cabo de la Vela
- Punta Gallinas
Illustrative map, not to scale.
7-day plan, day by day
Santa MartaDays 1 to 3
- Day1
Day 1: Arrive in Santa Marta
The historic center and sunset on the camellón, the promenade along the bay.
Night in Santa Marta
Map stops: 1
- Day2
Day 2: Tayrona National Park: Cabo San Juan
A day tour with the park entrance fee included. Before you pick the day, check that the park is open on your date.
Night in Santa Marta
Tour that covers it: Cabo San Juan, 1 day
Map stops: 2
- Day3
Day 3: A free day or a second day trip
Playa Cristal or Minca in a day. If Tayrona didn't work out on day 2, this is your backup day.
Night in Santa Marta
Map stops: 1
- Day4
Day 4: Santa Marta to Riohacha
By road, by bus, private transfer or car, with a night in Riohacha. Bring the cash you'll need, because there are no cash machines or card payments on the Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas route.
Santa Marta to La Guajira: how to get there, times and toursMap stops: 5, 6
La Guajira by 4×4Days 5 to 7
- Day5
Day 5: Riohacha to Cabo de la Vela
Leave Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. Manaure salt flats, Uribia and Cabo de la Vela, with Playa Arcoíris, the Pilón de Azúcar hill, Playa Dorada and sunset at the Cabo de la Vela lighthouse.
Night in a chinchorro hammock in a Wayuu ranchería
Tour that covers it: Punta Gallinas, 3 days
Map stops: 6, 7
- Day6
Day 6: Cabo de la Vela to Punta Gallinas
Bahía Portete, Bahía Honda and Bahía Hondita, arriving in Punta Gallinas around 2:00 p.m.
Night in a Wayuu ranchería
Tour that covers it: Punta Gallinas, 3 days
Map stops: 8
- Day7
Day 7: Back to Riohacha
The Taroa dunes, the Punta Gallinas lighthouse, lunch in Uribia and back in Riohacha around 3:00 p.m.
Tour that covers it: Punta Gallinas, 3 days
Map stops: 8, 6
10-day plan, day by day
Santa MartaDays 1 to 3
- Day1
Day 1: Arrive in Santa Marta
The historic center and sunset on the camellón, the promenade along the bay.
Night in Santa Marta
Map stops: 1
- Day2
Day 2: Tayrona National Park: Cabo San Juan
A day tour with the park entrance fee included. Before you pick the day, check that the park is open on your date.
Night in Santa Marta
Tour that covers it: Cabo San Juan, 1 day
Map stops: 2
- Day3
Day 3: Minca
Waterfalls and coffee on a day trip from Santa Marta, or one night there if you prefer a slower pace.
Night in Santa Marta or Minca
Tour that covers it: Minca, 1 day
Map stops: 3
PalominoDays 4 to 5
- Day4-5
Days 4 to 5: Palomino
Two days of beach and river before Riohacha. If you want a slower pace, take a day from Santa Marta and add it here.
Nights in Palomino
Map stops: 5
- Day6
Day 6: Palomino to Riohacha
By road, with a night in Riohacha so you leave at 8:30 a.m. the next day.
Santa Marta to La Guajira: how to get there, times and toursMap stops: 5, 6
La Guajira by 4×4Days 7 to 10
- Day7
Day 7: Riohacha to Cabo de la Vela
Leave Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. Manaure salt flats, Uribia, Playa Arcoíris and the Pilón de Azúcar hill, with sunset at the Cabo de la Vela lighthouse.
Night in a chinchorro hammock in a Wayuu ranchería
Tour that covers it: Punta Gallinas, 4 days
Map stops: 6, 7
- Day8
Day 8: Cabo de la Vela to Punta Gallinas
Leave Cabo de la Vela around 8:00 a.m. and reach Punta Gallinas around 2:00 p.m., via Bahía Honda and Bahía Hondita.
Night in Punta Gallinas, in a Wayuu ranchería
Tour that covers it: Punta Gallinas, 4 days
Map stops: 8
- Day9
Day 9: Punta Gallinas
The Taroa dunes, the Punta Gallinas lighthouse and Punta Agujas beach at sunset.
Night in Punta Gallinas, in a Wayuu ranchería
Tour that covers it: Punta Gallinas, 4 days
Map stops: 8
- Day10
Day 10: Back to Riohacha
After breakfast, the ride back to Riohacha by 4×4.
Tour that covers it: Punta Gallinas, 4 days
Map stops: 8, 6
14-day plan, day by day
Santa MartaDay 1
- Day1
Day 1: Arrive in Santa Marta
The historic center and sunset on the camellón, the promenade along the bay.
Night in Santa Marta
Map stops: 1
Ciudad PerdidaDays 2 to 5
- Day2-5
Days 2 to 5: Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) trek
Four days on foot through the Sierra Nevada. What to pack and how to choose between 3, 4 and 5 days is on the Ciudad Perdida page.
Tour that covers it: Lost City, 4 days
Map stops: 4
Santa MartaDays 6 to 7
- Day6
Day 6: Rest day in Santa Marta
Laundry and rest after the trek, or Minca if your legs are up for it.
Night in Santa Marta
Map stops: 1
- Day7
Day 7: Tayrona National Park: Cabo San Juan
A day tour with the park entrance fee included. Check that the park is open on your date.
Night in Santa Marta
Tour that covers it: Cabo San Juan, 1 day
Map stops: 2
PalominoDays 8 to 9
- Day8-9
Days 8 to 9: Palomino
Two days of beach and river before Riohacha.
Nights in Palomino
Map stops: 5
- Day10
Day 10: Palomino to Riohacha
By road, with a night in Riohacha so you start the tour at 8:30 a.m. the next day.
Santa Marta to La Guajira: how to get there, times and toursMap stops: 5, 6
La Guajira by 4×4Days 11 to 14
- Day11
Day 11: Riohacha to Cabo de la Vela
Leave Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. Manaure salt flats, Uribia, Playa Arcoíris and the Pilón de Azúcar hill, with sunset at the Cabo de la Vela lighthouse.
Night in a chinchorro hammock in a Wayuu ranchería
Tour that covers it: Punta Gallinas, 4 days
Map stops: 6, 7
- Day12
Day 12: Cabo de la Vela to Punta Gallinas
Leave Cabo de la Vela around 8:00 a.m. and reach Punta Gallinas around 2:00 p.m., via Bahía Honda and Bahía Hondita.
Night in Punta Gallinas, in a Wayuu ranchería
Tour that covers it: Punta Gallinas, 4 days
Map stops: 8
- Day13
Day 13: Punta Gallinas
The Taroa dunes, the Punta Gallinas lighthouse and Punta Agujas beach at sunset.
Night in Punta Gallinas, in a Wayuu ranchería
Tour that covers it: Punta Gallinas, 4 days
Map stops: 8
- Day14
Day 14: Back to Riohacha
After breakfast, the ride back to Riohacha by 4×4, where the trip ends.
Tour that covers it: Punta Gallinas, 4 days
Map stops: 8, 6
7, 10, or 14 days: what changes
The route is the same. What changes is how long you stay on each leg.
| Leg | 7 days | 10 days | 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Marta, Tayrona National Park and Minca | 3 days: Tayrona and a free day | 3 days: Tayrona and Minca | 3 days: arrival, rest and Tayrona |
| Ciudad Perdida | Not included | Not included | 4-day trek |
| Palomino | Passing through | 2 nights | 2 nights |
| La Guajira | 3-day tour, to Punta Gallinas | 4-day tour, 2 nights in Punta Gallinas | 4-day tour, 2 nights in Punta Gallinas |
Which tour covers each leg
Legs with a tour include transportation. You travel between regions on your own.
Santa Marta · day 2
1 dayCabo San Juan, Tayrona Park: Full-Day Hiking Tour
The Cabo San Juan Tayrona tour picks you up at your lodging in Santa Marta at 7:00 a.m. and enters Tayrona National Park at El Zaino. From Cañaveral you hike about 2 hours past Arrecifes, Arenilla and La Piscina to Cabo San Juan del Guía, with free time to swim. It costs COP 223,000 per person, park entrance fee included.
- Day trip
- Leaves from Santa Marta
- Vehicle from Santa Marta or El Rodadero
Next date: Sun Oct 11
Per person
COP 223,000La Guajira by 4×4 · days 5 to 7
3 days and 2 nightsPunta 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 date: Sun Oct 11
Per person, group of 2
COP 1,650,000COP 900,000 per person in groups of 6 or more.
Santa Marta · day 3
1 dayMinca Tour: Waterfalls, Coffee Farm and Lunch
The Minca tour leaves the Expotur Eco office in Santa Marta at 8:30 a.m. and returns around 5:30 p.m. It includes a hike of about 2 hours round trip to the Cascadas Perdidas waterfalls, a traditional lunch in a bamboo house and a coffee farm visit with a tasting. It costs COP 215,000 per person.
- Day trip
- Leaves from Santa Marta
- Car from Santa Marta
Next date: Sun Oct 11
Per person
COP 215,000La Guajira by 4×4 · days 7 to 10
4 days and 3 nightsPunta 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 date: Sun Oct 11
Per person, group of 2
COP 1,874,250COP 955,500 per person in groups of 6 or more.
Ciudad Perdida · days 2 to 5
4 days and 3 nightsLost City Trek 4 Days to Teyuna (Ciudad Perdida)
The 4-day Lost City trek leaves Santa Marta at 8:00 a.m. and reaches Teyuna on day 3, after about 1,200 stone steps. You spend three nights in Sierra Nevada camps and hike 6 to 8 hours a day. It costs COP 1,860,000 per person, including transport, meals, a guide, insurance and park entry.
- 3 nights in a hammock
- Leaves from Santa Marta
- 4×4 between Santa Marta and El Mamey,…
Next date: Fri Oct 16
Per person
COP 1,860,000Santa Marta · day 7
1 dayCabo San Juan, Tayrona Park: Full-Day Hiking Tour
The Cabo San Juan Tayrona tour picks you up at your lodging in Santa Marta at 7:00 a.m. and enters Tayrona National Park at El Zaino. From Cañaveral you hike about 2 hours past Arrecifes, Arenilla and La Piscina to Cabo San Juan del Guía, with free time to swim. It costs COP 223,000 per person, park entrance fee included.
- Day trip
- Leaves from Santa Marta
- Vehicle from Santa Marta or El Rodadero
Next date: Sun Oct 11
Per person
COP 223,000La Guajira by 4×4 · days 11 to 14
4 days and 3 nightsPunta 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 date: Sun Oct 11
Per person, group of 2
COP 1,874,250COP 955,500 per person in groups of 6 or more.
Alternatives: with or without Ciudad Perdida
7 and 10 days
Without Ciudad Perdida
Santa Marta is your base for Tayrona National Park and Minca, on day tours. You get more beach time and the trip is less physically demanding.
Tayrona National Park: guide to the park and its beaches14 days
With Ciudad Perdida
The trek goes first, while you have the most energy. Then come a rest day, Tayrona, Palomino and La Guajira. It also fits in 10 days if you swap Tayrona and Minca for the 3-day trek.
Ciudad Perdida: the 3, 4 or 5-day trek
2026 closures. Ciudad Perdida: September 28 to October 15, 2026. Tayrona National Park: October 19 to November 2, 2026.
Budget guide for 7 days
Tours are added at their per-person price for a group of 2. Flights, travel between towns, lodging and meals outside the tours depend on your dates and travel style.
Estimate
The total adds up the tours only: the rest depends on your dates and travel style.
Budget guide for 10 days
Tours are added at their per-person price for a group of 2. Flights, travel between towns, lodging and meals outside the tours depend on your dates and travel style.
Estimate
The total adds up the tours only: the rest depends on your dates and travel style.
Budget guide for 14 days
Tours are added at their per-person price for a group of 2. Flights, travel between towns, lodging and meals outside the tours depend on your dates and travel style.
Estimate
The total adds up the tours only: the rest depends on your dates and travel style.
Distances and travel times
The verified times on this route are those of the Alta Guajira tours, which leave from and return to Riohacha. For the road legs between Santa Marta, Minca, Palomino and Riohacha, ask your transport company or your lodging for the estimated time the day before.
| Leg | How it's done | Times |
|---|---|---|
| Riohacha to Cabo de la Vela | Road to Uribia, then 4×4 on desert tracks | Leaves 8:30 a.m., arrives around midday on day 1 |
| Cabo de la Vela to Punta Gallinas | 4×4 on desert tracks | Arrives around 2:00 p.m. on day 2 |
| Punta Gallinas to Riohacha (3-day tour) | 4×4 on desert tracks, then road from Uribia | Arrives around 3:00 p.m. on day 3 |
Beyond Uribia there is no paved road to Cabo de la Vela or Punta Gallinas: the trip is made by 4×4 on desert tracks.
When to go
Two things set the dates for this route: Tayrona National Park being open on your days and the state of the desert tracks in Alta Guajira. Plan around those, not around summer or winter back home. Check the park's official page before you book flights, because the park day sets the rest of the route. For Alta Guajira, message us on WhatsApp with your dates and we'll tell you how the tracks are, especially in the rainy season. The prices in this guide are valid until December 31, 2026; if you're traveling in 2027, we'll give you that year's prices when you book.
Once the order is clear, see the La Guajira tours for the final leg: all of them leave Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. and last 2, 3 or 4 days.
Frequently asked questions about this Colombia Caribbean coast itinerary
How many days do I need for La Guajira?
La Guajira takes 2 to 4 days from Riohacha: 2 for Cabo de la Vela and 3 or 4 to reach Punta Gallinas. Add the trip to Riohacha, best done the day before, since tours leave at 8:30 a.m. On a 7-day itinerary along the Caribbean coast, the 3-day tour takes up the last three days.
How many days do you need in Colombia?
For Colombia's Caribbean coast with La Guajira, plan 7 to 14 days. A 7-day trip covers Santa Marta, a day in Tayrona National Park and the 3-day Punta Gallinas tour; 10 days add Minca, Palomino and the 4-day tour; 14 days also fit the 4-day Ciudad Perdida trek. For other regions of Colombia, add the days each one needs on top: this itinerary covers only the coast from Santa Marta to Punta Gallinas.
What order should I travel the Caribbean coast in?
Start in Santa Marta and finish in Alta Guajira: Santa Marta with Tayrona and Minca, then Palomino and finally Riohacha, where tours leave at 8:30 a.m. That way every transfer moves in the same direction along the coast, and the Punta Gallinas tour closes the trip with a return to Riohacha, where you continue to your next destination.
Is La Guajira worth adding to a Colombia trip?
La Guajira is worth adding if you want to reach Punta Gallinas, the northernmost point of mainland South America, and sleep in chinchorro hammocks in Wayuu rancherías. Know what the trip is like: beyond Uribia you travel by 4×4 on desert tracks, there are no cash machines or card payments on the route, the driver-guides speak Spanish, and tours are for travelers over 6, with no child rate.