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.
- Duration
- 2 days and 1 night
- Departure
- 8:30 a.m., Riohacha
- Return
- Day 2, after lunch
- Guide
- In Spanish
- Age
- 6+Ages 6 and up
Tour code: CB2. Itinerary from https://puntagallinastours.com/en/tour/cabo-de-la-vela-2-days. Printed on October 9, 2026. Check prices and dates on the tour page before booking.
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What you will see
- Manaure salt flats and Uribia, the stops before Cabo de la Vela
- Playa Dorada and sunset at the Cabo de la Vela lighthouse on day 1
- Pilón de Azúcar, Playa Ojo de Agua and Playa Arcoíris on day 2
- A night in a chinchorro hammock in a Wayuu ranchería
- Private tour: only your group travels in the vehicle
The route heads north
Departs at 8:30 a.m. The drive back to Riohacha is on day 2, after lunch.
Illustrative map, not to scale. Select a stop to move the 4×4. The drive back to Riohacha is on day 2, after lunch.
Open in Google Maps(opens in a new tab)Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1
Riohacha, Manaure salt flats, Uribia and sunset at the lighthouse
- 8:30 a.m.Departure from Riohacha a.m.
- Manaure salt flats
- Uribia
- Cabo de la Vela around midday, lunch
- Playa Dorada
- Cabo de la Vela lighthouse at sunset
- NightNight in a Wayuu ranchería
You leave Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. The first stop is the Manaure salt flats, Colombia's largest salt works. The second is Uribia, known as Colombia's Indigenous capital and the last stop before the desert, where you can stock up on water and snacks. From Uribia on there is no paved road: the rest of the way is by 4×4 on desert tracks.
You reach Cabo de la Vela around midday for a typical Guajira lunch and a short rest. In the afternoon you go to Playa Dorada and end the day at the Cabo de la Vela lighthouse at sunset. Dinner and the night are at a Wayuu ranchería, in a chinchorro hammock.
Day 2
Pilón de Azúcar, Ojo de Agua, Playa Arcoíris and back
- Pilón de Azúcar in the morning
- Playa Ojo de Agua
- Playa Arcoíris
- Lunch
- Return to Riohacha
After breakfast, the day starts at the Pilón de Azúcar hill. From the beach at its foot, a wooden staircase climbs to the top, which looks out over the desert and the Caribbean Sea. Playa Ojo de Agua and Playa Arcoíris come next, both near Cabo de la Vela.
After lunch, the 4×4 heads back to Riohacha. If you are catching a flight or a bus the same day, pick one with a comfortable margin: the drive back only starts after lunch.
Upcoming departures
- Monday, October 12Back: Tue Oct 13Choose
- Tuesday, October 13Back: Wed Oct 14Choose
- Wednesday, October 14Back: Thu Oct 15Choose
- Thursday, October 15Back: Fri Oct 16Choose
- Friday, October 16Back: Sat Oct 17Choose
- Saturday, October 17Back: Sun Oct 18Choose
Dates updated on October 9 at 3:30 PM. The calendar confirms availability and the price for each day.
Another date, a larger group or a custom trip?
What the price includes
Included
- Transport: 4×4 with air conditioning, leaving from and returning to Riohacha
- Meals: 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner (breakfast on day 1 is not included)
- Lodging: 1 night in a chinchorro hammock in a Wayuu ranchería
- Guide: local driver-guide who speaks Spanish
- Insurance: medical assistance insurance for the duration of the tour
Not included
- Breakfast on day 1
- A bed instead of a chinchorro hammock: COP 30,000 per person per night
- Kitesurfing and other activities outside the itinerary
- Translator (the driver-guide speaks Spanish)
- Transport to Riohacha
- Crafts, extra meals and personal expenses
Optional extras
- Bed instead of a hammockCOP 30,000 per person per nightRequested when you book, subject to availability.
Trip details
- Tour code
- CB2Quote it on WhatsApp or by phone.
- Group
- Private: only your bookingFrom 1 person per booking.
- Insurance
- Included in the price
Is this tour right for you?
The Cabo de la Vela 2-day tour is for travelers with two days who want to see Cabo de la Vela without arranging transport, meals and lodging on their own. It is the shortest of the three routes: it reaches Cabo de la Vela and returns to Riohacha without continuing to Punta Gallinas.
From Uribia on, you travel by 4×4 on a desert track. Days are hot and nights can be breezy. There are no ATMs or card payments on the route, so bring the cash you need from Riohacha.
The tour is for travelers from age 6, with no child rate. The driver-guides are from the region and speak Spanish; a translator is not included.
What to bring
- Photocopy of your passport or ID (the original is not needed on the tour)
- Cash (there are no ATMs on the route)
- Light, comfortable clothes for hot weather
- Swimsuit
- Towel or sarong
- Sandals and closed-toe walking shoes
- High-SPF sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Cap or hat
- Sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Snacks
- Flashlight or headlamp (useful at the ranchería)
- Power bank
- Camera or phone, fully charged
- Light jacket for the evening (it can get breezy)
- Dry bag for your belongings
- Bag for your trash
- Basic toiletries
- Any medication you take
- Extra cash for crafts, food and local expenses
Meeting point
Departure
Departure from Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. Meeting point: Hotel Laguna Salá, Cra 3 #4-81, Riohacha. Your advisor confirms the departure point for your date.
Where you sleep and eat
- Night 1
- Cabo de la Vela
- Lodging
- Chinchorro hammock in a Wayuu ranchería; bed for an extra charge
- Meals included
- 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner
- Bed instead of a hammock
- COP 30,000 per person per night
Price by group size
| People | Per person (COP) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1,396,500 |
| 2 | 803,250 |
| 3 | 603,750 |
| 4 | 504,000 |
| 5 | 446,250 |
| 6 or more | 409,500 |
Price per person according to the number of people in the booking. Taxes included. Prices valid until December 31, 2026.
This is a private tour: the group is only your booking.
More about the tour
2 days in Cabo de la Vela or 3 to Punta Gallinas?
The Cabo de la Vela tour reaches Cabo de la Vela and returns to Riohacha on day 2. To also set foot in Punta Gallinas, the northernmost point of mainland South America, you need at least one more day: you can continue to Punta Gallinas (3 days) on the tour that also stops in Cabo de la Vela on day 1 and then heads north.
Tour details as of October 5, 2026. Source: Punta Gallinas Tours.
Detail | Cabo de la Vela tour, 2 days | Punta Gallinas tour, 3 days |
|---|---|---|
Nights | 1, in Cabo de la Vela | 2, in Cabo de la Vela and in Punta Gallinas |
Places | Manaure, Uribia, Playa Dorada, Cabo de la Vela lighthouse, Pilón de Azúcar, Ojo de Agua and Playa Arcoíris | The same except Ojo de Agua, plus Bahía Hondita, the Taroa dunes and the Punta Gallinas lighthouse |
Reaches Punta Gallinas | No | Day 2, around 2:00 p.m. |
Back in Riohacha | Day 2, after lunch | Day 3, around 3:00 p.m. |
From (COP per person, 6 or more) | 409,500 | 900,000 |
For 2 travelers (COP per person) | 803,250 | 1,650,000 |
With four days, the 4-day tour adds another night in Punta Gallinas and sunset at Punta Agujas beach. The deposit and cancellation rules are the same for all three tours and are set out in our booking policies.
Where you sleep and what you eat on the Cabo de la Vela tour
On the night of day 1 you sleep in a chinchorro hammock in a Wayuu ranchería in Cabo de la Vela. If you'd rather have a bed, it costs COP 30,000 per person per night; ask for it when you book.
The tour includes 1 breakfast, 2 lunches and 1 dinner: lunch and dinner on day 1, breakfast and lunch on day 2. Breakfast on day 1 is not included, so eat in Riohacha before the 8:30 a.m. start. The food is regional and prepared by local cooks. Let us know about special diets when you book.
Before departure, your advisor updates you over WhatsApp on track conditions and on what the ranchería provides on your date. For the night, a flashlight or headlamp and a power bank for your phone are useful. At the ranchería, photograph people only with their permission and take your trash back with you: the list of what to pack for La Guajira includes a bag for it.
Arriving in Riohacha, cash and language
The tour leaves from Riohacha, not from Santa Marta. If you are traveling along the Caribbean coast, plan to reach Riohacha the day before and sleep there; the Santa Marta to La Guajira guide covers that leg. Prices are in Colombian pesos per person, taxes included, and any USD or EUR amounts shown on the site are for reference only.
There are no ATMs or card payments on the route, so leave Riohacha with the cash you will need for crafts, extra meals and local expenses. On the tour you only need a photocopy of your passport, which the authorities may ask to see. The driver-guides speak Spanish and a translator is not included, so a translation app on your phone helps. Before you book, check your government's current travel advice for Colombia.
Combine it with
Kitesurfing in Cabo de la Vela
Kitesurfing is not included in the tour and is arranged separately in Cabo de la Vela. The 2-day itinerary fills the afternoon of day 1 and the morning of day 2; if you want more time on the water, Riohacha – Cabo de la Vela transport in a private 4×4 lets you choose how many nights to stay and where to sleep. It is quoted by route and date.
Cabo de la Vela guide
Before the trip, read our Cabo de la Vela guide to see what each stop on the route is like.
Places on the route
Region: La Guajira
Policies
Booking and deposit
Book with 7% of the total.
The balance is paid before or at the start of the tour, in cash or by payment link. You can also pay the full amount online when you book.
Cancellations and changes
No penalty if you cancel or change until 5:00 p.m. (Colombia time) on the business day before departure; after that, a 20% penalty on the total. No refund once the tour has started.
Confirmation
After the deposit is paid the booking is 'pending confirmation' and an advisor confirms it within 12 hours at most.
Children
La Guajira tours are for travelers over 6 years old. There is no child rate: each traveler pays the per-person rate for the group.
Guide language
On La Guajira tours, local driver-guides who speak Spanish. A translator is not included.
Not quite what you need?
More people than the tour allows, a closed date, a custom itinerary or a company or school group: write to us and we will reply by email.
Write to us by emailShare it with the people you travel with
Traveler reviews
Reviews from travelers who booked on this site. We publish them as written, low ratings included.
The Tripadvisor ones are reviews of Expotur Eco, the operator of this tour, posted on its profile.
5 out of 5
Visita la guajira. La Guajira is unique. When you come to La Guajira, you realize that it is another Colombia, a Colombia with more than 50 years of difference, but the nature and the customs are unique. The people are very friendly. I recommend it.
Javier friasRoute: La Guajira · Aug 26, 2025
4.9 out of 5 on Tripadvisor6,458 reviews
Rating of Expotur Eco, the operator, on Tripadvisor. Figures as of October 7, 2026.
Overall rating
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Verified reviews
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Questions about the 2-day tour
How much is a Cabo de la Vela tour?
From COP 409,500 per person for groups of 6 or more. Per person, the 2-day Cabo de la Vela tour costs COP 1,396,500 for 1 traveler, COP 803,250 for 2, COP 603,750 for 3, COP 504,000 for 4 and COP 446,250 for 5. It is a private tour; prices include taxes and are valid until December 31, 2026.
Is a 2-day Cabo de la Vela tour worth it?
Yes, if you have two days and want to see Cabo de la Vela without organizing transport, meals and lodging yourself. The 2-day tour covers the Manaure salt flats, Uribia, Playa Dorada, sunset at the Cabo de la Vela lighthouse, the Pilón de Azúcar hill, Playa Ojo de Agua and Playa Arcoíris, with a night in a Wayuu ranchería. To reach Punta Gallinas as well, you need the 3-day tour.
What does the Cabo de la Vela tour visit?
On day 1, the Manaure salt flats, Uribia, Playa Dorada and the Cabo de la Vela lighthouse at sunset; on day 2, the Pilón de Azúcar hill, Playa Ojo de Agua and Playa Arcoíris. The 2-day Cabo de la Vela tour leaves from Riohacha and returns there after lunch on day 2, with the night in a chinchorro hammock in a Wayuu ranchería.
What time does the 2-day tour reach Cabo de la Vela?
Around midday on day 1. The 2-day tour leaves Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. and stops at the Manaure salt flats and in Uribia; from Uribia it continues by 4×4 on desert tracks to Cabo de la Vela, where you have lunch. The return to Riohacha is on day 2, after lunch.
Which meals are included on the Cabo de la Vela tour?
One breakfast, two lunches and one dinner. On the Cabo de la Vela tour, day 1 includes lunch and dinner and day 2 breakfast and lunch. Breakfast on day 1 is not included, so have breakfast in Riohacha before the 8:30 a.m. departure. The meals are regional food prepared by local cooks, and any special diet should be mentioned when you book.
Is there a 1-day Cabo de la Vela tour?
No. Punta Gallinas Tours doesn't run a day trip to Cabo de la Vela: the shortest option is the 2-day, 1-night tour, which leaves Riohacha at 8:30 a.m. and returns on day 2 after lunch. If you'd rather travel on your own schedule, private 4×4 transport is quoted by route and date.
Can I go kitesurfing on the Cabo de la Vela tour?
Not as part of the tour: kitesurfing isn't included in the 2-day tour and is arranged separately in Cabo de la Vela. The itinerary has stops on the afternoon of day 1 (Playa Dorada and the lighthouse) and on the morning of day 2 (Pilón de Azúcar and the beaches), so if you want to add it, mention it when you book to see when it could fit.
Is the Cabo de la Vela tour safe?
On the Cabo de la Vela tour you travel in a 4×4 with a local driver-guide and with medical assistance insurance for the duration of the tour. From Uribia the route is a desert track, and there are no ATMs or card payments, so carry the cash you need from Riohacha. Before you book, also check your government's current travel advice for Colombia.
How much do I pay to book the Cabo de la Vela tour?
7% of the total. That deposit secures the 2-day tour, and the balance is paid before or at the start of the tour, in cash or by payment link. You can also pay in full online. After the deposit, the booking shows as pending confirmation until an advisor confirms it, within 12 hours at most.
What is the cancellation policy for the Cabo de la Vela tour?
No penalty if you cancel or change until 5:00 p.m. (Colombia time) on the business day before departure. After that, cancelling the 2-day tour carries a penalty of 20% of the total, and there is no refund once the tour has started. The same policy applies to all three tours.
Can children come on the Cabo de la Vela tour?
Yes, from age 6, and there is no child rate: on the Cabo de la Vela tour each child pays the per-person rate for the group. With children, keep in mind that from Uribia on you travel by 4×4 on a desert track and that the night is spent in a chinchorro hammock in a Wayuu ranchería.
Do the guides speak English on the Cabo de la Vela tour?
No. The driver-guides on the 2-day tour are from the region and speak Spanish, and a translator is not included. If no one in your group speaks Spanish, bring a translation app on your phone to talk with your driver-guide and with the people at the ranchería.
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