🐫 La Guajira – Colombia’s Desert, Dunes & Wayuu Magic

If you're craving something raw, remote, and soul-stirring, head to La Guajira—Colombia’s northernmost region, where the Caribbean Sea meets endless sand dunes and Indigenous traditions shape daily life.

This is not a beach vacation. It’s a 4x4 road trip into the desert, sleeping in hammocks under the stars, eating lobster for the price of a latte, and visiting one of the last matriarchal societies in the world: the Wayuu people.

🧭 Where Is La Guajira?

It’s far north—beyond Santa Marta and past the last stretch of paved road. The adventure usually starts in Riohacha, a small coastal city that feels like the last stop before the wild.

📍 Base: Bona Vida Hostel – Great location + clean + comfortable

🛻 How to Explore It

Option 1: 3- or 4-Day 4x4 Desert Tour

The most popular (and honestly, best) way to visit:

• Cabo de la Vela

• Bahía Honda

• Dunas de Taroa

• Punta Gallinas (northernmost tip of South America)

• Optional: Wayuu community stay

💬 Book directly with:Alta Guajira Tours📞 +57 300 800 16 19

⏳ Tour length:

• 3 days = desert highlights

• 4 days = includes Indigenous community and more time in each spot

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Option 2: Short Day Trip to Cabo de la Vela

If you're short on time, a 1–2 day trip to Cabo is doable from Riohacha. It’s also a kite-surfing hub!

🏜️ What You’ll See

🐚 Punta Gallinas

Wind-swept cliffs, golden beaches, and surreal solitude. You’ll feel like you’ve reached the end of the world.

🏄 Cabo de la Vela

Chill coastal town, good for kite-surfing, hammock naps, and sunrise/sunset hikes.

🌊 Bahía Honda & Bahía Hondita

Salt flats, flamingos, and epic light at golden hour.

🐪 Dunas de Taroa

Massive sand dunes that drop into the sea—yes, you can sandboard!

🧕 Wayuu Communities

The Wayuu are Colombia’s largest Indigenous group. Matriarchal, colorful, and deeply spiritual, they craft the mochilas you’ll see all over Colombia—but here’s where they’re truly made.

🧳 What to Pack

• Lightweight long sleeves (sun protection + modesty in Wayuu towns)

• Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen

• Flashlight or headlamp

• Cash (NO ATMs once you leave Riohacha)

• Light sweater (it gets chilly at night)

• Power bank (limited electricity)

• Dramamine if you're prone to motion sickness

  
  

🍤 What to Eat

Food is simple but fresh:

• Lobster or fish (crazy affordable—like €8 extra to upgrade)

• Rice, yuca, plantain, and salad

• Vegetarian options are limited—bring snacks if you have dietary restrictions

💡 Bring snacks and water. Your driver will provide the basics, but stock up in Riohacha.

🛏 Where You’ll Sleep

Rustic and beautiful:

• Hammocks in communal shelters

• Shared dorms in desert lodges

• No hot water—but also no need

You’re sleeping under stars. It’s magical, not glamorous.

👜 Souvenirs: Buy Directly from Wayuu Artisans

This is the best place to buy an authentic Wayuu mochila bag. Don’t haggle aggressively—the money goes directly to the women who make them, often taking 2+ weeks to complete one.

🧉 Tips for Travelers

• Download offline maps before you go

• Get ready for zero signal for most of the trip

• Learn a few words in Wayuunaiki (even "hello" and "thank you" go a long way)

• Be respectful—this is not just a tourist zone; it’s sacred ancestral land

• Don’t expect AC or Wi-Fi—expect perspective

  
  

  🌅 Final Word

La Guajira is not for everyone—and that’s the point. It’s not polished, comfortable, or easy. But it’s real, humbling, and unforgettable.

You’ll leave with sand in your shoes, windburn on your cheeks, and a sense of awe you didn’t see coming.

Next up: Post 8 – Providencia: Colombia’s Caribbean Secret