Transport from Riohacha to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas
To get from Riohacha to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, you go by road to Uribia and, from there, by 4×4 on desert tracks, because there is no paved road. Punta Gallinas Tours offers private 4×4 transport between Riohacha, Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas for travelers who don't want a tour package; it is quoted on WhatsApp or through the form.
- Private 4×4 between Riohacha, Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas
- For travelers who don't want a tour with meals and lodging
- Priced by leg and date, with no fixed rate
The transfer route
- Riohacha
- Uribia
- Cabo de la Vela
- Punta Gallinas
| Leg | Road |
|---|---|
| Uribia to Cabo de la Vela | Desert track: 4x4 only |
| Cabo de la Vela to Punta Gallinas | Desert track: 4x4 only |
How to get to Cabo de la Vela from Riohacha
From Riohacha to Cabo de la Vela you travel in two parts: by road to Uribia and, from Uribia, by 4×4 on a desert track. For reference, the tours leave Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. and reach Cabo de la Vela around midday, with stops along the way.
From Riohacha to Uribia, by road
On the tours, this road leg stops at the Manaure salt flats and in Uribia, known as Colombia's Indigenous capital. Uribia is the last stop before the desert, where travelers stock up on water, snacks, food and cash. Along the way, the authorities may ask for ID: a photocopy of your passport or ID is enough. If you are not in La Guajira yet, Riohacha has an airport, Almirante Padilla Airport, with commercial flights, and our La Guajira travel guide explains how to plan the arrival.
From Uribia to Cabo de la Vela, by 4×4 only
There is no paved road from Uribia to Cabo de la Vela or Punta Gallinas: the way continues on desert tracks, which is why this transport runs in a 4×4. Bring the cash you will need from Riohacha, because there are no cash machines or card payments on the Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas route.
What there is to see when you arrive is in our Cabo de la Vela guide, and the route to the northern tip is explained in our guide to Punta Gallinas.
Legs and times: Riohacha, Uribia, Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas
The transfer has three legs: from Riohacha to Uribia by road, from Uribia to Cabo de la Vela on a desert track, and from Cabo de la Vela to Punta Gallinas, also on a track. You can get a quote for Riohacha to Cabo de la Vela, Riohacha to Punta Gallinas, Cabo de la Vela to Punta Gallinas or the round trip.
We give you the time for each leg and the state of the track when we quote, based on the pickup time and the stops you ask for. For Punta Gallinas, the reference is the Punta Gallinas tour 3 days: it leaves Riohacha at 8:30 a.m., sleeps in Cabo de la Vela and reaches Punta Gallinas around 2:00 p.m. on day 2.
If you are coming from Palomino or Santa Marta, the transfer starts in Riohacha. Our Santa Marta to La Guajira guide explains how to cover that first leg.
Private 4×4 transport: how it works
It is a private transfer in a 4×4 between Riohacha, Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas for travelers who don't want a tour package. Only your group rides in the vehicle, and you decide where to sleep and what to do when you arrive.
What the transfer includes
It includes the private 4×4 for your group on the leg you book. It does not include meals or lodging: you choose and pay for them in Cabo de la Vela or Punta Gallinas. When you ask for a quote, tell us the pickup time and place, how many people are traveling, how much luggage you have and which stops you want to make on the way.
How to get a quote
Message us on WhatsApp or use the form on this page with the leg, the date and the number of travelers. There is no fixed rate: it depends on the leg and the date, and we reply with the price for your trip.
Tour or transport only? What each includes
Data as of October 5, 2026. Source: Punta Gallinas Tours.
What is included | Tour | Transport only |
|---|---|---|
Private 4×4 | Yes, with air conditioning | Yes |
Meals | Yes on the 2- and 3-day tours; on the 4-day tour, confirmed when you book | No |
Night in a chinchorro hammock in a Wayuu ranchería | Yes | No: you choose your lodging |
Price | From COP 409,500 per person (2 days, 6 or more travelers) | By leg and date |
The tour also includes a driver-guide from the region and medical assistance insurance during the trip. If you would rather have everything arranged, the Cabo de la Vela 2-day tour leaves Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. with one night in Cabo de la Vela, and the Punta Gallinas tour 3 days goes all the way to the northern tip with two nights in Wayuu rancherías. All the options are on our La Guajira tours page.
Get a transfer quote
We will reply with the rate for your leg and date.
Would you rather take the full tour?
Tours include the 4x4, meals, the night in a ranchería and the driver-guide.
- COP 803,250per person, group of 2
COP 409,500in groups of 6 or more
- COP 1,650,000per person, group of 2
COP 900,000in groups of 6 or more
- COP 1,874,250per person, group of 2
COP 955,500in groups of 6 or more
- COP 1,860,000per person, group of 2
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Cabo de la Vela from Riohacha?
By road to Uribia and then by 4×4 on desert tracks, because there is no paved road to Cabo de la Vela. With Punta Gallinas Tours private transport, you make the whole trip in a 4×4 just for your group, without a tour package, and you choose where to sleep and eat.
How long does it take from Riohacha to Cabo de la Vela?
On the tour schedule, you leave Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. and reach Cabo de la Vela around midday, with stops at the Manaure salt flats and in Uribia; from Uribia the way is a desert track, by 4×4. With private transport, your arrival time depends on the pickup time and the stops you agree on when we quote.
How much does it cost to go to Cabo de la Vela from Riohacha?
Private 4×4 transport has no fixed rate: it is quoted by leg and date through the form on this page. If you would rather take the 2-day Cabo de la Vela tour, with meals and a night in a Wayuu ranchería, it costs from COP 409,500 per person for groups of 6 or more, and COP 803,250 per person for 2 travelers.
What is the difference between transport and a tour?
A tour includes lodging, a driver-guide and insurance; private transport only takes you in the 4×4. On the tours, nights are spent in chinchorro hammocks in Wayuu rancherías, the driver-guide is from the region and medical assistance insurance covers the trip; the 2- and 3-day tours also include the meals on the itinerary, except breakfast on day 1. With transport, you choose where to sleep and what to eat.
Can I drive to Punta Gallinas in a rental car?
Only in a 4×4. Beyond Uribia there is no paved road, and the way to Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas runs on desert tracks. If you don't have a 4×4, the private transport on this page takes you there in a vehicle just for your group, with the stops you agree on when we quote.
How do I get a quote for private 4×4 transport?
On WhatsApp or through the form on this page. For a private 4×4 transport quote, tell us the leg (Riohacha to Cabo de la Vela, Riohacha to Punta Gallinas, Cabo de la Vela to Punta Gallinas or a round trip), the date and how many people are traveling, and we reply with the rate for that leg and date.
Plan the trip with an advisor
A Punta Gallinas Tours advisor will reply on WhatsApp with dates and prices for your group.
Office hours: Every day, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.