Guajira Tours
Guajira Tours
Our Guajira tours are private, dedicated tours in air-conditioned company Toyota Land Cruisers with a fluent English-speaking driver handling every aspect the Guanabana way, with total professionalism, punctuality and above all, dedication to you and your party only.
This is an unforgettable experience through a huge expanse of some of the driest, most isolated, most inhospitable dry forest and outback no-man’s-land on the planet.
The Guajira is a desert that covers the northernmost tip of Colombia and South America. It is the largest desert in South America north of the equator. Its native inhabitants are the wayuu (spelled either wayuu or wayú, and always beginning in small-cap unless at the beginning of a sentence) that have thrived in the Guajira for thousands of years.
While traveling through the Guajira desert it’s hard to believe that you are only a couple of hours flight time to major points of civilization such as Miami or Bogotá; you might as well be in the Australian outback, the Sahara, or Mars!
Our Guajira expedition is true to its word, an expedition into the great harsh expanse, a journey that requires the utmost attention in planning, preparing, and carrying out.
A Colombia tour that you will never forget!
Meet the wayúu people of the desert
Who have inhabited and tamed the harsh outback of the Guajira desert for millennia, and who always have a smile on their faces!
SUV Guajira tours & motorcycle tours
We do both SUV and motorcycle tours to the Guajira.
In SUV tours you will be traveling in your own private 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser with air conditioning. In the car or caravan, there will always be an English-speaking driver/lead guide.
Guanabana goes all out when it comes to our Guajira tours, we do not believe in cramming folks into vehicles for the long drives into the desert, we carry tons of supplies, and we take all the safety and precautionary measures required.
Boat ride from September to December on our Guajira Tours!
From September to December it’s the rainy season in the Caribbean. Because of this, it may happen that there’s been rain in the High Guajira and the offroad trails north of Cabo get bogged down in mud, making it impossible to drive the 4×4 Land Cruisers to Punta Gallinas. Morever, when this is the case, we travel instead on boat from Cabo to Punta Gallinas and return. It’s a 1.5 hour to 2 hour boat ride!
As for Colombia tours go, this one is pretty far out, literally!
You will be traveling into a lost world speckled by the sporadic ranchería of wayúu aboriginals that live off of goat herding and you will learn directly from them their fascinating and beautiful traditions and culture.
There will be desert eagles circling in the sky, dust storms coming out of nowhere, sand dunes that reach the sea, and pink flamingos feeding in secret coves.
You will witness amazing sunsets followed by star-filled nights and you will visit the farthest most tip of the Guajira desert, where few operators go, a green mountain range isolated and surrounded by desert -like an island- that reaches 864 m (2,835 ft), enough elevation to catch humidity from the Caribbean trade winds creating an incongruous cloud forest called la Macuira, home to numerous species of fauna and flora.
And during it all lots of fun and adventure speeding over the salt flat plains.
It must be clear though that the Guajira tour is not for the faint of heart. It is an expedition that is short on amenities, big on physical discomforts, and demands patience and resilience. Each Guajira tour is a true adventure, as the blog post Lost in La Guajira from one of our guides can tell. But what it lacks in luxuries and creature comforts it totally makes up for in unforgettable photos, experiences, and memories. Each trip is a unique adventure.
We have different itineraries for our Guajira tours!
For the iron butts that don’t mind, or actually love, the Overlanding experience we have itineraries that start from Cartagena (well, even in Medellín but that’s another story you will find in our Overlanding section) and go from there to Santa Marta, Riohacha, Cabo de la Vela, Punta Gallinas, and all the way to the end of the Guajira on its northeast corner, the mystical and magical Macuira park.
Guajira Tours With Bespoke Itineraries
We have many ways of touring the Guajira, from 6-day tours starting in Cartagena to day trips from Riohacha. Just talk to us and we’ll work out a custom itinerary that fits your needs and we’ll take you to visit the Guajira in top-notch perfectly maintained vehicles, backup vehicles, and professional staff to show you this wonder of nature for an experience of a lifetime!
Watch this 1:45 minute video of the Guajira
In this video of one of our Guajira tours, you can grasp what the terrain looks like. Furthermore, you can see the beauty of contrasts between harsh dry forest, sand, and sea. There is no end to the amazement experienced during our Guajira tours. We travel over stunning barren expanses of territory that still sustain life. Meanwhile you get to meet the wayúu people and learn how they manage to survive in the desert and keep alive their traditions for eons.
We start with the 3 day tour:
Day 1: Riohacha to Punta Gallinas.
Day 2: Punta Gallinas to Cabo de la Vela, spend the night in Cabo.
Day 3: Cabo de la Vela to Riohacha with stops in Uribia and Manaure.
Cost per person:
2 people ………. USD $488
3 people ………. USD $380
4 people ………. USD $320
GUAJIRA 3-DAY TOURS INCLUDE:
- Transportation in 4×4 SUVs with fluent English speaking driver.
- Meals: 3 lunches, 2 dinners, and 2 breakfasts.
- Accommodation: 1 night in Punta Gallinas and 1 night in Cabo de la Vela.
- Sleeping in beds in private rooms with bathroom.
- Guanabana Tours Garmin satellite communicator.
- Tour through: Salinas de Manaure, Uribia, sunset at the lighthouse in Cabo de la Vela, beaches of Pilón de Azúcar, Puerto Bolívar.
- Boat tour through Bahía Hondita, Punta Soldado, Punta Aguja.
- Taroa Dunes, Punta Gallinas Lighthouse.
- Travel insurance.
- Biosecurity kit.
- NOT INCLUDED:
- Expenses not specified in the plan.
ITINERARY FOR THE 3 DAY GUAJIRA TOUR STARTING IN RIOHACHA
Day 1: Riohacha – Uribia- Punta Gallinas
Riohacha. 8:00 a.m. Departure from Riohacha to Uribia, known as the Indigenous Capital of Colombia.
Uribia. 10:00 a.m. We continue our journey towards the high Guajira through trails and desert outback, allowing us to witness the unique landscapes of Bahía de Portete and Bahía Honda.
Bahia Honda. 12:00 p.m. Lunch at Bahía Honda.
Taroa Dunes. 2:00 p.m. Transfer to the Taroa Dunes.
Taroa Dunes. 3:00 p.m. We visit the beautiful dunes and beaches of Taroa.
Punta Gallinas, Luzmila hostel. 5:30 p.m. Arrival at Hospedaje Luzmila: This rancherías (as the native settlements are called) has converted itself as lodgings to serve tourists. Check-in at the wayuu lodge.
Dinner and accommodation in cabins with beds. We accommodate our clients this way, not in the traditional large hammocks called chinchorros.
Day 2 Bahía Hondita – Bahía Honda and Cabo de la Vela
Punta Gallinas. 7:00 a.m. Breakfast at Punta Gallinas.
Bahía Hondita. 8:00 a.m. Boat ride on a journey that lasts approximately 20 minutes through one of the channels of Bahía Hondita. 10:00 a.m. From La Boquita, we’ll continue our journey towards Cabo de la Vela aboard 4×4 vans.
Cabo de la Vela. 12:00 p.m. Lunch at Cabo de la Vela.
Ojo de Agua. 4:00 p.m. Visit the Ojo de Agua Beaches.
6:00 p.m. Back at the Inn, everything will be ready to again savor the flavors of this place with a traditional dinner. Night arrives, and the stars come out to tell incredible stories, while shooting stars get lost in the sea or the desert. Dinner and Accommodation in wayuu lodges, again in rooms with beds and bathrooms.
Day 3 – Cabo de la Vela – Salinas de Manaure – Riohacha
Cabo de la Vela. 7:00 a.m. Breakfast at the ranchería.
Punta Arcoíris. 8:00 a.m. Visit to Punta Arcoíris.
Pilón de Azucar. 9:00 a.m. Visit Cerro Pilón de Azúcar, a natural pyramid that is a sacred place for the wayuu because they believe all the spirits of their dead reside there.
Manaure salt mines. 10:00 a.m. We will continue our journey to the open air sea sal mines of Manaure.
11:30 a.m. In Manaure, a tour through the ponds (salt harvesting areas) allows us to observe the wayuu indigenous people in their daily tasks in the production process of sea salt in the artisanal ponds.
1:00 p.m. Lunch in Manaure.
3:00 p.m. Return to Riohacha.
Cost per person:
2 people ………. USD $488
3 people ………. USD $380
4 people ………. USD $320
IMPORTANT: THIS ITINERARY IS TO BE CONSIDERED A FRAMEWORK, AND WE DO COVER ALL THE IMPORTANT PARTS, BUT PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE HIGH GUAJIRA IS A VERY HARSH AND DEMANDING PLACE, IT IS A TRUE ADVENTURE, EACH EXPEDITION IS UNIQUE AND AS ALL TRUE ADVENTURES THERE CAN BE CHANGES IN ROUTES AND ADJUSTMENTS IN THE ITINERARIES THAT CAN AND WILL AFFECT THE ORDER, ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE TIMES. IT’S THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE!
We reserve the right to change our prices at any time without prior notice. Prices are subject to change based on market conditions, currency exchange rates, and other factors. Please check back regularly for the most current pricing information.
What makes our Guajira private tours special
At Guanabana Tours we believe in exploring the farthest and wildest parts of Colombia, but we make sure you are safe, comfortable, and well attended to. We only do private tours, we only work for you! Consequently, you will be accompanied by a fluent English-speaking guide and there will be a team that will handle every detail of the trip. As a result, all you will have to worry about will be taking in the incredible scenery and local culture. You will find plenty of nightmare stories about other operators on the review sections for Guajira tours due to late or non-appearing staff, lack of communication, and being stranded for hours in the harsh Guajira desert in broken-down cars. This is not the Guanabana way, ever!
ITINERARY FOR THE 3 DAY GUAJIRA TOUR STARTING IN SANTA MARTA
- Day 1:
- Santa Marta. 5:30 a.m. departure from Santa Marta to Riohacha. Travel time will be 2.5 hours to 3 hours. Distance 170 kms.
- Riohacha. Arrival in Riohacha. You can stop to catch a bite if you wish, stretch your legs, or do some quick shopping for essentials you might want to purchase sunblock, insect repellent etc. In the Land Cruiser there will be plenty of drinking water and snacks for the ensuing trip to the High Guajira (that’s everything past a city called Uribia, the territory is called La Alta Guajira).
- (*Note: In the Landcruiser will also be lots of small bags with items such as coffee, sugar, salt, rice, candles, beans, sweets, cooking oil, etc. These items will be broken down into small care bags by our team members before you are picked up. These bags are needed to pay the dozens and dozens of “tolls” in the high desert to the wayuu aborigines, otherwise there’s no getting in our out.)
- Manaure. From Riohacha you continue north 1 hour 75 kms on an oceanside road passing a popular beach called Mayapo, then continuing north (always north) to visit the salt mines of a town called Manaure. You will go into the salt mines and see how this immense sea salt production works.
- Uribia. Continuing from Manaure we reach the town of Uribia, 20 minutes/20 kms until reaching the town of Uribia. Uribia is known as the indigenous capital of Colombia. Uribia is basically a commercial supply post that supplies all the food, tools, spare parts, household utensils, etc. everything that the wayuu population up in the high Guajira needs. Beyond Uribia begins the true outback desert. You take a tour around Uribia and then continue to Cabo de la Vela. The road to Cabo has been paved a lot these past years, but the last 10 kms are total desert trails, and it will continue this way all the way to Punta Gallinas and back.
- Cabo de la Vela. Arrival in Cabo after 1.5 hours/63 kms. ETA Cabo 12 noon to 1 pm, just in time to get settled in your lodgings (private room with bathroom) and lunch. After lunch time to rest and take a walk on the beach. Afternoon activities in Cabo will be visit to Punta Arcoíris, a beach on a farther end of the desert with colored sands, then visit to Cerro Pilón de Azúcar, a natural pyramid that is a very sacred place for the wayuu because all the spirits of their dead reside in the Pilón de Azucar. The day ends with the local tradition in Cabo to go watch the sunset at the faro, the light house at a bluff in the farther end north. It’s a tradition for everyone visiting Cabo, there will be lots of people always watching one of the most beautiful sunsets on the planet.
- Day 2:
- Punta Gallinas. The night is spent in Cabo (if you are into star gazing you are in for a spectacle) and early 5:30 a.m. departure to Punta Gallinas. This is now full on high desert. During the drive there will be stops to take in some beautiful views. There will also be the sporadic wayuu settlement called “rancherías” where all the “tolls” begin. One must be patient, all the tolls can seem overwhelming at times. Arrival to Punta Gallinas after 5-6 hours/120 kms to the dunes of Taroa. There you will get to walk the dunes, sand board if you wish, and take a splash in the Ocean. Lunch at Taroa Dunes.
- Hospedaje Luzmila. From the dunes of Taroa we transfer to our lodgings. It’s like a big encampment and its called Hospedaje Luzmila, after the matriarch that founded it years ago (wayuu’s have a matriarchal social structure). You get to settle in, rest a while, walk the surroundings and look down at the bay, there’s also wifi.
- Faro de Punta Gallinas. After rest and leisure there’s a 5-minute drive to a famous landmark called El Faro de Punta Gallinas. This is a lighthouse that is located on the northernmost tip of Colombia and South America. There is no land in South America north of el faro de Punta Gallinas.
- Day 3:
- Riohacha/Santa Marta. At daybreak ready to depart. You will have breakfast and then go for a boat ride through a bay and channel called Bahía Hondita. At 10 a.m. departure heading south. It is 6.5 hours/256 kms from Punta Gallinas to Riohacha, ETA Riohacha 4 p.m. A 30-minute leg stretch in Riohacha and then the 2.5 – 3 hour drive to Santa Marta. ETA Santa Marta 8 – 9 p.m.
- Bilingual driver. You will have with you a 100% fluent bilingual driver that will take care of all your requirements full time.
IMPORTANT: THIS ITINERARY IS TO BE CONSIDERED A FRAMEWORK, AND WE DO COVER ALL THE IMPORTANT PARTS, BUT PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT THE HIGH GUAJIRA IS A VERY HARSH AND DEMANDING PLACE, IT IS A TRUE ADVENTURE, EACH EXPEDITION IS UNIQUE AND AS ALL TRUE ADVENTURES THERE CAN BE CHANGES IN ROUTES AND ADJUSTMENTS IN THE ITINERARIES THAT CAN AND WILL AFFECT ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE TIMES. IT’S THE NATURE OF ADVENTURE!
Included:
- All ground transportation in air-conditioned 4x4s
- Fluent English speaking driver/guide
- All meals
- Sleeping arrangements
- Plenty of water and snacks
- Risk insurance
Excluded:
- Airfares to pickup or departure cities
- Alcoholic beverages
And don’t forget all our other cool stuff!
