punta gallinas

Me and my friend booked a 3day/2night tour with Macuira to Cabo de la Vela & Punta Gallinas. We were two girls with not so much time, so we opted for the tour instead of doing it DIY. We got a fine 4x4, friendly driver (do not expect a guide, specially if you don't speak Spanish), fruit and water. We honestly had nothing to complaint about. Cabo and Punta Gallinas are just incredible. And the sky at Punta Gallinas is one of the most beautiful things I've seen on earth (not joking) - just make sure you don't go on a full moon, so that you can enjoy the stars. Tip for the tour: there are plenty of Wayuu people on the road collecting tolls. Some ask for water, but they are usually OK with some sweets for children (which you can buy in Uribia before the trip starts). Just make sure you bring more than what you think, there are really loads of them.

We organised our trip to Punta Gallinas via Expotur in Santa Marta, we were a group of 5 all together and our guide was Reuben who we met in Riohacha (a bus collected us from our hotel in Santa Marta at 4.20am to get there).We started with breakfast (incl) and then set off on our 3 day trip through the desert.Reuben didn't speak any English (which we were expecting), thankfully there were others on our trip who could speak both English and Spanish and were happy to translate, I think it could have been difficult at times otherwise :-) He was a good guide though and we always felt safe and looked after.This is quite a long and difficult trip, in that yo do a lot of driving through a lot of desert. But it is worth it, the scenery is spectacular and the scenery is completely different to that in other areas of Colombia. Even the indigeious people you meet look different too. And of course the spectacular sand dune at Punta Gallianas its self were mazing, dropping into the carribean sea. Its a widl part of the world alright and must be a hard place to live.Would recommend Expotur, meals were included, were generally very good, we slept in hammocks (vey comfortable) and everywhere we stayed had showers and clean loos. The 4x4 was modern and well kept with air-con (essential lol).

We (me and 3 friends) had heard of the beauty of Punta Gallinas (the most northern part of South America) and decided we needed to go there! But after some tour shopping in Santa Marta we found out an organized trip would blow our budget massively! ($COP 780.000 each for a professional three day tour, or a private tour with no references for $COP 600.000 was the least we could find) plus we also wanted to see the other pearls of northern Colombia. After some Do It Yourself research on the internet we felt discouraged, it seemed so complicated and expensive we were doubting it would be worth the effort! But we decided to definitely go to Cabo de la Vela and from there decide wether to go to Punta Gallinas or not. The reason why I write this post is because it was worth the effort 100% and we feel we should encourage everyone who is doing the north of Colombia!We started our 9 day trip taking a 9.00 a.m. bus from calle 11 y carrera 11 in Santa Marta, to Palomino; a two hour bus ride ($COP 8.000). The beautiful beach of Palomino offers a variety of Hostels/Hospedajes all charging around $COP 30.000 a night. We stayed at Tiki Hut ($COP 27.000 for a comfortable dorm bed with mosquito net), a relatively new hostel with pool (no lockers but you can leave your valuables at reception). We heard the Dreamer hostel is awesome to meet other travellers and Finca Escondida is chill and right to the beach but both were fully booked. We chilled at the beach the whole afternoon and had an awesome dinner at Finca Escondida ($COP 15.000 for delicious fish!). The next day we took off for Cabo de la Vela, an early 6.30 a.m. bus from the highway in direction of Riohacha but got out at Cuatro Vias ($COP 10.000 2hrs), from there you can either take a car ($COP 8.000) or a truck which is often cheaper, to Uribia (30 min). In Uribia we did some shopping to prepare for three days in the north. We brought 2 6l. bottles of water, a bunch of crackers, bread, peanuts, toilet paper (!) ($COP 22.000) and a lot of fruits and vegetables ($COP 18.000). From Uribia you can take a truck or a jeep to Cabo de la Vela ($COP 15.000 - 20.000 for a 2 hr drive), a bumpy ride through a deserted landscape, full of trash... But! We arrived in Cabo de la Vela before mid day for a total of $COP 33.000. Cabo de la Vela is a quiet town of nothing more than some cactus wood built hospedajes, restaurants, shops and a kite surfing school (price for a 5hr class $COP 450.000). We checked in at Jarrinapi and got a Hammock right at the beach for $COP 13.000 a night. They also provided a little cabin for us to store our luggage. We would recommend going to another place because the people were unfriendly, the toilets were dirty and you can get a hammock at the beach anywhere in the village, maybe even for cheaper. But a hammock at the beach is a must! The feeling of sleeping in open air, next to the ocean,, surrounded by a Thousand stars is incredible! And we felt very safe sleeping there.The beaches in the village are clean and quiet but not very special and the people there weren't as friendly as we are used to from Colombians! But a trip to El Faro and the beaches of El Ojo del Agua (1,5 hr walk or a motor taxi for $COP 10.000 each, return trip) makes you forget about it in a split second. A beautiful beach surrounded by some rocky hills provide a feeling of exclusiveness and the sunset was awesome! After sundown we got some food at Jarrinapi (nothing special for $COP 10.000 each) and went for some Punta Gallinas transport shopping. We found out there are several ways to get there, either you take a jeep for a six hour bumpy ride, or a 1,5 hr motor/jeep ride to the 'port' and a 1,5 boat ride. The cheapest we could find was $COP 140.000 each for a return jeep/boat trip and believe me, we bargained! No matter which way you choose, everyone starts with $COP 150.000. This price includes the transport to and from Punta Gallinas and a 4 hour trip to explore the area. It does not include the night and food ($COP 15.000 a night and the same for dinner).All jeeps leave at 5.00 a.m. We arrived at our Wayuu family in Punta Gallinas at 8.00 a.m. and took the whole morning to walk around the bay and chill at the colorful beaches. The sights are undescribably beautiful and varied. The color of the bay and beach, mangroves, rocky shores, pelicans, fisher boats and some small huts, Awesome! After we had lunch (still Uribia supplies) we took our tour at 2 p.m. which consists of a trip to the actual Punta Gallinas, a viewpoint to the bay and the Taroa Dunes. Punta Gallinas was cool because you get to stand on the most northern point of Colombia, which feels great considering the fact we have been travelling all the way from Buenos Aires. But be prepared for some trashy rocks and beaches. Nothing very special about it. The bay and the desert dunes on the other hand... Amazing! Standing on the dunes, you're not able to tell where the sea begins... You can literally roll from the desert into the ocean! We stayed there the rest of the afternoon and got to make some beautiful late afternoon pictures (no sunset in the sea). Arriving back to the hostel we ordered dinner (posta de cierro en salsa for $COP 15.000), we waited for about 1,5 hrs but got the best food we have had in ages! The fish was sooo fresh, sooo good! But our advice is to order your dinner before you go on the tour. We spend the night in a hammock again, a very quiet night and after the lights go down there is nothing more than the dark, silence, millions of stars and yourself gazing at them. This bright night took my breath away. Never have I seen anything like that in my life!We left the next morning at 5.00 a.m. again to get back to Cabo de la Vela and got to see the sunrise on open sea. We had an egg breakfast there ($COP 5.000, don't order coffee, massive desillusion!!) and later spent the whole morning sleeping on the beach before we got some energy to do something else. We had a great late lunch at the end of Cabo de la Vela, from a little hut that said 'Comida Rapida' but it wasn't fast food haha, very good though and enough to fill us up for the rest of the day. We spent the afternoon at Playa Pylon, a red sand beach surrounded by two pylon shaped hills. Very pretty place!The next morning we left Cabo de la Vela at 6.30 p.m. in a truck ($COP 13.000), did some shopping in Uribia again to prepare for Tayrona (4 6l. bottles of water because 2 wasnt enough, and furthermore quite the same) for a total of $COP 48.000. Then to Cuatro Vias again, (this time for $COP 5.000) and from there a 3 hr bus to Tayrona ($COP 25.000).To enter Tayrona national park we paid $COP 38.000 and 3.000 for a ride in a mini van to the beginning of the walking trail. From there we walked for about 45 mins to Arrecifes but there wasn't much going on there so we decided to walk 1,5 hrs more to Cabo de San Juan. The trail is well maintained and pretty easy with some minor climbes, but the air is hot and humid and with 6 liters of water in our backpacks... Well a sweaty experience! But a really nice walk and Cabo de San Juan was definitely worth it. The fact that it used to be on the Colombia Lonely Planet cover says it all I guess. Though it is a bit touristy, the ambience is great. You can choose to camp or to stay in a hammock, we tried both. The first night we stayed in the hammocks at the Mirador ($COP 25.000). A wonderful experience to sleep in an open cabaña on top of a little hill with a view on the ocean, but unfortunately we had a very stormy night. Woke up a few times which was ennoying, but when I woke up around five I was surprised by a colourful blue and pink sunrise. Bring a little blanket to stay warm if you stay at the Mirador! The next day we rented a tent ($COP 25.000) and two hammocks down at the camp site ($COP 20.000). My friends who stayed in the tent had the worst night so far (the beds were awefully thin), while me and my friends slept like babies in the hammocks. The beach was nice and pretty! tip: buy a pan con chocolate from a lady selling bread on the beach, it was awesome! If you walk to the end of the beach of Cabo, you will find a small trail that leads to another beach that isn't discovered by many others. And if you go one beach further... Well, a deserted private beach! In the evenings there is not much to do except for having an average dinner and some drinks (we brought a bottle of rum to mix). Because we were kind of ready to get social and find some other travellers to hang out with, we left the next morning to Costeño Beach. A chilled out surf spot where we found about 40 other backpackers who were just relaxing at one of the many relaxing spots or surfing a bit further down the beach. The sea was quite rough so no swimming for me, but the vibe in the hostel was amazing. Just sitting, tanning, reading a book, drinking a beer :). And at night everyone sits together to play cards or sit around a camp fire... For lunch and dinner ($COP 12.000) they ring a bell for everyone to join in. For breakfast they offer some choice (all at $COP 5.000). We once again slept in a hammock for $COP 17.000 a night. This was a great place to rest, socialize and end our 9- day round trip to Punta Gallinas!Total amount for the trip: $COP 613.500 p.pPunta Gallinas : $COP 350.000 p.p.

Getting there is difficult. It takes a lot of time to prepare for the trip to la Guajira and you need an experienced guide. Once you are there it's just breathtaking. We spent two nights at Luz Milas place ant it was really nice. The food was good and the prices were moderate. The first morning we made a boat trip in the lagoon and that was very nice. I would absolutely recommend this place!

There was 4 of us on the trip. We started out in Riohacha, and went all the way to La Makuira. For this review I will only write about Punta Gallinas, The northernmost point of Colombia.La Guajira itself is a place full of beautiful scenery and a mystique hard to describe. It is a region of Native Colombians (Wayuus) that feels so far apart from the rest of the country that it looks and feels from another place and another time. By the time you get to Punta Gallinas (a very long trip wherever you start) the feeling of spending countless hours in a car becomes a feeling that it was totally worth it. The place is arid and dry. There isn't much to do but see and walk around. To the left mangroves, in a deep deep clear blue water sealake, and to the right the open sea, with a feeling that you are looking at the end of the world (as if it was flat). The wind is hard and constant hiding the real heat behind the sun.There is a beach, Punta Agujas, to the north (or south, I really don't know), that becomes a perfect place to spend the last hours of daylight. Dusk is as pretty as I have seen, with a range of infinite colors forming in the sky throughout the process.Since there isn't much to do, 2 days there wil seem more than enough, and it will be sufficient time to see everything at hand. We left the following morning, after being lucky enough to have released newborn turtles to the ocean after being invited by the locals to do so. It was quite the experience... We went with Makuira Tours, I suggest you to look them up in facebook, they were greatm and it's a native/locally run agency that will send you on an unforgettable experience.

It is a place of contrasting beauty; the roughness of the desert and a beautiful see coming together in a magical combination. The scenery is breathtaking and even if the long drive can be a bit strenuous, it is worth every bit. I absolutely recommend staying at the "rancheria" of Luz Mila, where locals are welcoming, food is natural and very nice and scenery is wonderful. My advice is to check before hand because the weather is normally very nice, but traveling on the right season enhances the experience.

Everything has been said by other reviewers, and everyone is right about their visit. This experience mostly depends on your guide to Guajira. We made contact with Andres Delgado from Kaishi travel. He's an excellent and reliable tour guide, very organized, who subcontracts all services with native people, but plans every detail, making your experience a quite pleasant trip. He's honest with the kind of accommodation you will find and it actually exceeded our expectations. We were a party of 8, from a 7-year old kid to an adventurous grandma. We stayed one night in Punta Gallinas and other night in Cabo de la Vela. Andres was very considerate with the age differences and was always concerned about our comfort and safety. Recommendation: this trip should be made with a reliable and recommended guide. Otherwise, you could endure a harsh experience.

We spent the better part of 3 days to drive from Santa Marta to Cabo de la Vela (1st night) and then on to Punta Gallinas (2nd night) in La Guajira. Not much to see really. Lots of cactus (cacti..??) and low scrub, sand and sun burnt rocks. The wind was blowing incessantly which makes it somewhat unpleasant, but not unbearable. Huge sand dunes along parts of the coast is great to see. We tried snorkeling and spearfishing, but the visibility was less than 1 metre - not worth it, and we also encountered many jellyfish... However, if one wants to go to the most northern tip of South America, this is worth it.At Cabo de la Vela we stayed at Rancerita Utta. Nothing flash but at least we had clean beds and a private bathroom (cold water only but it was not a problem). Cold beer/drinks and great seafood at their restaurant. We also had some Chivo (goat) which is a speciality in La Guajira. Cost per night was COP35 000 per person, but one could go for a hammock in a communal area which is about a third of the price.At Punta Gallinas we stayed in a similar Rancherita (forgot the name) with similar prices and amenities for accommodation. Again great seafood at about half the price than in Cabo de la Vela.WARNING: Many unscrupulous tour operators operating from Santa Marta will take you for a ride...be aware that some of these guys will promise you an exclusive 4 x 4 ride, but you may end up taking a crowder hot bus to Cabo de la Vela, and an open air 4 x 4 truck (hard wooden benches on the back) to Puta Gallinas.

This four day tour was definitely one of the highlights of our Colombia trip. We booked in advance via Kai Ecotravel in Riohacha, which apparently is the pioneer in the area and certainly a serious organization but the price seems to be slightly higher than with other agencies in town. As far as I understood the advantage with Kai is that you have the guarantee to do the trip on the chosen date, whereas other agencies require a minimum number of participants. However we had a third guy doing the whole tour with us and he had booked in another agency for a significantly lower price. Details of our trip:1. Day: Pick-up at 8:00: we leave our heavy luggage at the agency and proceed with lighter luggage. First stop is Wayuu town Uribia: unfortunately the town is encircled by an incredible amount of plastic waste. Due to the vicinity to Venezuela the drivers stop here for cheap gas but it is also the right place to buy water for the whole tour and snacks. Manaure: one can observe the extraction of salt from sea water. Every peasant owns a parcel with a pool of water, that he can use for harvesting salt.Leaving Manaure the roads change into dusty desert tracks and the vegetation is limited to cactus forests and finally seems to disappear completely. Around 13:00 we reach Cabo de la Veila Playa where Acheo serves us lunch. The meals during the four days are good but don’t vary much: in general the choice consists of grilled fish, goat or turkey with rice, patacon and salad. We spend the afternoon on Ojo del Agua beach north of Cabo and enjoy the breathtaking sunset at the faro. Back at Cabo camp everyone gets a bucket of water for showering before enjoying another grilled fish and spending the night in a hammock facing the sea.2. Day:Wake-up at 5:00. After 30min drive we have to change vehicles and leave the shiny Toyota Hilux for a robust Land Cruiser. After another 2h drive, including a wonderful sunrise, a boat (10min) takes us to the most northern part of the south american continent: Punta Gallinas. An extremely windy, remote place populated by few but very friendly people. The transition from this wild land to the rough sea consists whether from sharp cliffs or incredible lonely beaches. Unlike Cabo, Punta Gallinas does not seem to suffer from the same garbage problem. We spent two days in this lost and wild paradise but if necessary it can be shortened to one.After breakfast Mauricio takes us with his truck to the jewel of this place: Playa Taroa. This area consists of giant dunes that plunge into a tormented sea. We shared this incredible beach only with two lost sheeps. After lunch and a siesta in the hammock we head to the faro to enjoy the sunset between waves, cactuses and goats.Maria serves us a good dinner and we end the evening with quite a few Polarcitas, tasty little beers from Venezuela. The night in the hammock here is difficult as the intense wind never stops. 3. Day:Night was short but the reward follows around 6:00 (January), a wonderful sunrise to be observed at about 50m from the hammock. After breakfast we go for a boat ride to spot flamingos. As morning time is not the best moment we can’t find them immediately but finally succeed. The afternoon was meant to be spent on another lonely beach but as the wind blows consistently we finally have to retreat after some time. To relocate the hammocks to a place providing slightly better wind shelter turns out to be the right thing as this night we are able to sleep. 4. Day: Wake-up at 4:00 in order to make our way back to Cabo for breakfast. Right afterwards we drive to the Pillon the Azucar, a steep hill which provides a great view and probably the most beautiful beach in the area. We have lunch back at Cabo before hitting the road back to Riohacha. General recommendations:• During the whole trip communication in English was not possible. Even Spanish was difficult as the local people talk in dialect. In the camps, the main contact persons Acheo and Maria where communicating in Spanish but with our basic skills we were very happy of having Heiver, a great Colombian guy with us that helped for the translations. • The sanitary situation is quite adventurous, think of taking enough toilet paper, a towel and soap/shampoo, disinfecting wipes/gel and emergency medications • A good moskito repellant is necessary as in Cabo the moskitos are quite aggressive • Don’t forget a torch, the generators stop early and after that there is no light provided. • The luggage will be dragged from dusty pick-ups to wet boats, and stay in the sand during the night, therefore it is recommended to travel with light packs, a waterproof bag is ideal. • Besides the hammocks there are rooms in Cabo and Huts in Punta that can be rented for extra cost. The cheapest sleeping opportunity is the hammock, the slightly more costly chinchorro is recommended as it is larger, more comfortable and the side parts can be used as a blanket. • The nights, specially at Cabo were quite fresh: a blanket is provided but a sleeping bag or a thick sweater is necessary.

I was in cabo and decided to go that extra mile to the most northern tip of South America. Because of the season there were no boats available so we had to drive the whole way. First up this was not a comfortable ride and neither was it cheap (100000 per person for return transport). Now that is out of the way I can truly say it was an unforgettable experience - we saw no other tourists, and were able to enjoy the stunning beach set in the middle of sand dunes by ourselves, and see amazing sunsets. Only thing that slightly spoils it is some of the rubbish you see spawn along the way ... still well worth the trip!