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Visit Cabo de la Vela 【On your own】 Alta Guajira, Colombia
In the extreme north of Colombia, where the desert meets the Caribbean Sea, There is a magical and little explored corner: Alta Guajira. This region It is a rarely visited natural and cultural treasure that offers a very different experience from others that you can live in Colombia and takes you on a cultural immersion through the Wayúu culture. In this guide on how to visit Cabo de la Vela we tell you what you will be able to see, the best way to get there and where to stay whether you decide to go on a tour or on your own.
TIPS TO VISIT THE ALTA GUAJIRA
Let's start with some initial practical tips on how to visit Alta Guajira since it is a remote region and not widely visited by foreigners.
- It is an area with a lot of poverty and without any luxury, if you go keep in mind that there will be no comforts.
- Before going I recommend you buy enough water and some food in Riohacha or in Uribia, since there the selection is limited and everything is considerably more expensive caro.
- You will not find ATM and nothing can be paid by card so go with cash.
- The connection is not very good but there is coverage and you can find some wifi.
- The climate is warm and dry although at night the temperature drops a lot and there is a sea breeze. Bring light clothing, sunscreen for the day and a warm layer for the night., especially if you are going to sleep outdoors in the traditional hammocks known as chinchorros.
- The routes are in 4×4 with hardly any suspension and very busy, if you have a lot of back pain or other injuries it is not a good idea to go.
CULTURE WAYUU
La Alta Guajira is the home of the Wayúu community, one of the largest and oldest in Colombia. This community has maintained its traditions and lifestyle for centuries. When visiting Alta Guajira, you will have the opportunity to interact with the Wayúu, learn about their culture, their crafts, their colorful clothing and their historical language. It is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in an ancient culture.
But as is the case with indigenous communities in many places, the Wayúu are an ethnic minority at the national level without government support, They live almost isolated and in conditions of extreme poverty. Alta Guajira is a very arid region with few or no services in which even finding drinking water is an almost impossible mission, especially since the government diverted some sources of drinking water that were intended for industrial interests.
The lack of water prevents them from exploiting large crops, so they are forced to subsist on their herds of goats, small plantations, and fishing in coastal areas. Living in such an isolated area the Wayúu community gathers in rancherías United by family ties where they share a water well, a flock, a cemetery and a small garden.
One of the largest sources of income for part of the population is crafts they sell. Both in Cabo de la Vela As in other parts of the country you will find bags, necklaces and chinchorros the most colorful and 100% handmade.
When touring La Guajira you will see these rancherías spread throughout the landscape and close to them you will find children who only talk wayuunaiki creating checkpoints with ropes to stop cars and ask for water, money or sweets. It is important to avoid giving candy or money to these children since their parents will see begging as a better reward than going to school or playing.
HOW TO VISIT THE ALTA GUAJIRA
Is it necessary to book a tour?
You will see tours advertised in tourist places such as Perlino, Coin or Santa Marta and the price of these is quite high, partly due to the distance at which it is located. That's why I recommend that if you want to go on a organized tour at a good price you hire it in Riohacha or Uribia and go there by public transport.
In both towns you will find options with transportation, accommodation and excursions in the area. You can book it once you arrive or by bus.car agencies on Google Maps and contact in advance, the price at the exchange rate is around €90-120.
But if you don't want to go on a tour and you prefer to go on your own (cheaper) you can do it without problem. What you do need is hire transportation in one of these agencies, since you can only reach Cabo de la Vela by private 4×4 vehicle.
How to get to Cabo de la Vela, Alta Guajira?
As you have already guessed, getting to La Alta Guajira is not an easy task, but without a doubt the journey is part of the charm and adventure.
Normally you visit Alta Guajira from the Santa Marta area, if that is your case you will have to take a bus to the city of Riohacha. In our case we went from Palomino where the bus that leaves from Santa Marta also stops.
Once in Riohacha, take the opportunity to buy water, snacks and have a meal. After Near the terminal there are shared cars that make the journey to Uribia for one 25 thousandCOP (€5,70). Don't forget to ask more than one driver the price and negotiate if you think it is more than it should.
The tours that I mentioned before leave from Uribia, but it is also where you can hire only 4×4 transportation to Cabo de la Vela if you decide to go on your own. The price per trip and person is around 40milCOP (€9,50), you can take one way and you will book the return there. Many cars return so you won't have a problem because they always try to fill them with loose people.
If you go in the morning you have to tell the driver who makes the trip from Riohacha to Uribia that you are going to Cabo de la Vela to drop you off at the intersection where the vans leave. If you go in the afternoon, it is possible that vans will no longer leave from the crossing, so you will have to hire transportation from the tour companies in Uribia.
What to see IN THE ALTA GUAJIRA
The landscape of Alta Guajira is diverse and fascinating, a few hours ago you were between palm trees in Palomino or mountain jungle in Minca when you suddenly appear in the middle of a desert kilometer bathed by the Caribbean Sea.
It is full of sandy roads that run through Guajira to the beaches with crystal clear waters and As always happens in the deserts sunsets are you impressed, but here they are also on the Caribbean Sea. Seeing them from Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela is an unforgettable experience.
Cabo de la Vela.
Cabo de la Vela is a fishing town and a landmark in Alta Guajira. It is from where the excursions to the other points of interest in the area depart. The atmosphere is calm and life is distributed in wooden cabins built along the coast. In Cabo de la Vela you can enjoy a very long beach, practicecar Enjoy kitesurfing or watching it from the shore with a juice in hand, try fresh seafood dishes right on the beach and watch a magical sunset over the Caribbean. It is a perfect place to disconnect from the world.
This town is a common place to spend the night and The most typical way is to sleep in hammocks. (hammocks) outdoors. You will see them everywhere in front of the beach and Apart from being the traditional way, it is also the most economical option. Sleeping in front of the sea without any wall in between listening to the sound of the waves is an experience that may not be for everyone, but it should be because it is very special.
Excursion around Cabo de la Vela
One of the best ways to To explore the surroundings is by hiring a half-day tour because the distances are a bit long and although there are some points that you could do on foot, it is very hot.
I don't remember the price exactly but it is cheap, about €8-10 in exchange and lasts either all morning or all afternoon, you can ask at your accommodation or anywhere in town to hire it.
1. The Sugarloafcar
It is a mound located a few kilometers north of Cabo de La Vela that rises above the sea, offering a unique landscape. When climbing to the top you will feel the strong gusts of wind and you will get a privileged view of the Caribbean Sea and the Guajira coast.
Getting here from Cabo de la Vela is quite simple since You can hire private motorcycles or tours that leave daily and they tour the coast stopping at the most interesting places.
2. Pilón de Azú Beachcar
From the name you may have guessed that this beach is located right next to the famous Pilón de AzúcarThe visit to both points is done at the same time and you can go down to the sand to take a bath and sunbathing.
3. Rainbow Beach
This other beach is also visited during the excursion but it is not suitable for swimming as it is very rocky and the waves break strongly on it. In fact this is what gives the beach its name, the water particles that are distributed through the air when the strongest waves break together with the powerful sun of La Guajira, causing them to be seen Rainbow constantly.
4. Cabo de la Vela Dunes
These small dunes are located not far from the rainbow beach and are a taste of what you will see when you visit the Taroa Dunes. It is about some mounds of very fine sand along the coast and is usually the last stop before returning to town.
Punta Gallinas and Taroa Dunes
One of the best things to do in La Alba Guajira is the trip to Punta Gallinas, a most remote and iconic place for being ehe northernmost point of South America.
To get to know this area it is necessary to book a tour, again, you will easily find it by asking in the town.
Getting to Punta Gallinas can be challenging as it takes about 5 hours on unpaved roads and many potholes, but the reward is a surreal landscape of dunes, cliffs and an iconic lighthouse.
Due to the distance on the tours, it is offered to spend a night in Punta Gallinas sleeping in hammocks.
Near Punta Gallinas you will visit the Taroa Dunes, immense dunes of fine golden sand that act as a natural barrier between the desert and the sea. Here they take you to enjoy the landscape and the beach, take photos, try sandboarding, enjoy or simply walk barefoot to feel the sand on your feet knowing that you are in one of the most remote areas of the continent.
WHERE WE TO STAY
IN CAPE OF THE SAIL
When visiting Alta Guajira The best and most typical option is to stay in Cabo de la Vela. In this fishing town there are many accommodation options, although they are very simple. You can choose between sleeping in a hammock, in a chinchorro, which is an "XL hammock", or in private cabins.
The hammocks are the cheapest option and you can get them for about 20 thousand COP (€4,60), the hammocks for 30 thousand (€7) and the cabins around 110 thousand (€25,50) per cabin for two.
You also have to keep in mind that this type of accommodation They do not have showers, You will have to wash with semi-sweet water that they keep in large barrels, the bathroom does not have a cistern either; it works by throwing water with a basin.
Accommodation in Cabo de la Vela: Rainbow Beach Hotel
If you prefer a little more comfort you can book a private room with sea views at the Hotel Playa Arcoiris, which also includes continental breakfast.
Generally, in the rest of the accommodations it is not necessary to book in advance since hammocks, hammocks and small cabins are offered along the entire beach.
I hope that this guide to visiting Cabo de la Vela helps you organize your trip to this little-known corner of the country. Remember that we have many other items from Colombia which could be interesting if you are organizing your trip or looking for inspiration. And for any questions you can contact us and we will try to help you in any way possible.
