Palomino, Colombia: beach, river and the gateway to La Guajira
What to do in Palomino, when to stay out of the sea, where to sleep and how to continue from there to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas.
In short
- Palomino is on the road from Santa Marta to Riohacha and is visited for its beach and for tubing on the river.
- Every Punta Gallinas Tours trip to Alta Guajira leaves Riohacha at 8:30 a.m., so from Palomino it's best to reach Riohacha the day before.
- The 2-day Cabo de la Vela tour, the shortest from Riohacha, costs from COP 409,500 per person in groups of 6 or more.
Palomino, Colombia, is a beach and river stop for travelers heading from Santa Marta to Riohacha and Alta Guajira. Two nights are enough to walk the beach at Palomino, float down the river on an inner tube and reach Riohacha the day before your tour to Cabo de la Vela or Punta Gallinas.
Where Palomino is and how to get there
Palomino is on the road from Santa Marta to Riohacha. From Santa Marta, take an intercity bus or a private transfer: when you buy your ticket, ask whether the bus stops in Palomino and where it drops you off. To continue, the same road runs on to Riohacha.
For what lies farther north, our guide to La Guajira covers what to see in the department, and our Santa Marta to La Guajira guide sums up the whole trip to Riohacha.
Things to do: beach, river tubing and around
In Palomino, you can count the plans on one hand: the beach, the river, a walk around town and rest. That slow pace is the reason to stay two nights before the desert, especially after several days of city or jungle.
The beach (and when not to swim)
Palomino beach is for walking and resting. Decide about swimming day by day: if the sea is rough, if there's a red flag or if people in town tell you not to go in, stay out. Conditions on the beach change with the season, so if swimming in the sea matters to you, ask your lodging how the beach is before you book.
River tubing on the Palomino River
In Palomino you can go river tubing: floating downstream on an inner tube. Book it in town with an operator who gives you a life jacket and explains where to get in and out of the river. If it has rained heavily in the previous days, the river can run high; in that case, save it for another day.
Buritaca, Quebrada Valencia and nearby
For a day out from Palomino, Buritaca and Quebrada Valencia are two options. Your lodging can tell you how to get there, how long it takes and what transportation costs that day. If you're coming from Tayrona National Park, you can combine the park and Palomino on your way to Riohacha.
When to go
In Palomino, what changes most with the date is the river: after heavy rain it rises and tubing may not run that day. To continue to Alta Guajira, message us on WhatsApp with your dates: in the rainy season the desert tracks change, and we'll tell you how they are before you book.
Where to stay
Palomino has lodging of several kinds, from hostels to beachfront hotels. For options, see where to stay in Palomino and near Tayrona on the Hotel Parque Tayrona website.
The night before a tour to Alta Guajira, sleep in Riohacha, not in Palomino: tours leave Riohacha at 8:30 a.m.
From Palomino to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas
From Palomino, the next step is Riohacha. The La Guajira tours from Riohacha are private, travel in an air-conditioned 4×4 and spend the nights in chinchorro hammocks in Wayuu rancherías (settlements). All three stop first at the Manaure salt flats, Colombia's largest salt works, and then in Uribia. Beyond Uribia there is no paved road: the rest of the way is by 4×4 on desert tracks. The driver-guides are from the region and speak Spanish; a translator is not included.
| Tour from Riohacha | Duration | 2 travelers (COP per person) | From (COP per person, 6 or more) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabo de la Vela tour 2 days | 2 days / 1 night | 803,250 | 409,500 |
| Punta Gallinas tour 3 days | 3 days / 2 nights | 1,650,000 | 900,000 |
| Punta Gallinas tour 4 days | 4 days / 3 nights | 1,874,250 | 955,500 |
With two nights in Palomino, the route looks like this:
- Day 1. Arrive in Palomino and spend the afternoon on the beach.
- Day 2. River tubing, or a day out to Buritaca or Quebrada Valencia.
- Day 3. Palomino to Riohacha by road. Night in Riohacha.
- Day 4. The tour leaves Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. for the Manaure salt flats, Uribia and Cabo de la Vela.
The Santa Marta to La Guajira guide describes the 2-, 3- and 4-day tours day by day. Bring the cash you'll need from Palomino or Riohacha: there are no cash machines or card payments on the Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas route. To choose a tour, message us on WhatsApp from Palomino with your dates and the number of travelers.
The tour for this guide
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.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Palomino in Colombia?
Palomino is on Colombia's Caribbean coast, on the road between Santa Marta and Riohacha. From Santa Marta you get there by intercity bus or private transfer; when you buy your ticket, ask whether the bus stops in Palomino and where it drops you off. The same road continues to Riohacha, where tours to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas leave at 8:30 a.m.
What is there to do in Palomino?
In Palomino you go to the beach, go tubing on the Palomino River and rest. For a day out, Buritaca and Quebrada Valencia are two options: ask your lodging how to get there. Whether to swim in the sea is a call you make each day, based on the waves and what people in town tell you. If you're heading to Alta Guajira, Palomino is a good stop before Riohacha, where the tours leave.
Can I go from Palomino to Punta Gallinas?
Yes, via Riohacha. From Palomino, continue by road to Riohacha, where tours to Punta Gallinas leave at 8:30 a.m., so it's best to arrive the day before and sleep there. The 3-day Punta Gallinas tour reaches Punta Gallinas around 2:00 p.m. on day 2 and is back in Riohacha around 3:00 p.m. on day 3.
Can I go from Palomino to Cabo de la Vela?
Yes. The 2-day Cabo de la Vela tour leaves Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. and reaches Cabo de la Vela around midday, after the Manaure salt flats and Uribia. From Palomino, get to Riohacha by road, ideally the day before. Beyond Uribia there is no paved road: the rest of the way is by 4×4 on desert tracks.