Located in the northwest of the La Guajira peninsula, about three hours’ drive from Riohacha, is Cabo de la Vela. The climate here varies between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius, and its beaches make it an ideal summer travel destination. It lies on the northern headland of South America and has one of the most tranquil beaches, located in the largest desert area of Colombia, which it shares with the Caribbean Sea.
Enjoy beautiful places such as the Ojo de Agua Beach, the Cerro del Faro and the Pilón de Azúcar, places where you can enjoy excellent panoramic views. Take part in ecological tourism and ethnorelations in Cabo de la Vela.
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What are the best places to see in Cabo de la Vela?
1. El pilón de azúcar
An essential destination if you travel to Cabo de La Vela. It is a beach in the middle of nowhere with honey-coloured sand. It is protected by a large rock, also called Pilón de Azúcar, which has an impressive view of the desert and the sea from the top, worthy of a poem by Porfirio Barba-Jacob. The beach looks untouched. There is no pollution whatsoever around it, and the wind blows constantly across the plain, blowing small grains of sand from your feet to your calves.
This is one of the most sacred and spiritual places for the Wayuu, as they know the Pilón de Azúcar by the name of Jepira. It represents the place where the souls of the dead begin their journey to the other world.
It is is a pyramid-shaped hill that you can walk up very close to the bay of Cabo de la Vela. From Cabo de La Vela (where the chinchorros and Wayuu restaurants are located) you can plan to spend the whole day at Pilón de Azúcar.
2. Ojo de Agua Beach
It is recognised for the small water source it has. It also has a small beach and several cliffs where the sea meets the sea to form beautiful landscapes. The name of this place is due to its fresh water source, which helped the Wayú people during extreme droughts suffered. You can also see a huge turtle-shaped rock, and it is ideal for walking and enjoying the breeze and the pleasant view of the sea.
A quiet place, where you can buy Wayu handicrafts, and see the pilón de azúcar from its beaches. Its cold waters are refreshing, and the sand on the beach is wonderful and soft in contrast to the heat of the desert.
To organize your trip we recommend using the Passporter where you can get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers and choose the places that most interest you to add to your route map.
3. La Macuira National Natural Park
An authentic oasis in the middle of the desert. It has a unique cloud forest ecosystem that functions as a water regulator for the region. An oasis in the middle of the aridity that sustains a great diversity of flora and fauna, specially adapted to survive, grow and reproduce in this type of environment. At the same time, it safeguards endemic and migratory bird species.
It is open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 17:00. Entrance to the Macuira Natural Park is completely free, you just have to register at the entrance and arrive with your guide to lead you through the different points.
4. Cabo De La Vela Lighthouse
This is the best place in Cabo de la Vela to see a magnificent sunset. Tourists flock here every day to see this spectacle of colours at El Faro. The evening hours are the perfect time to visit it, a spot famous for its beautiful sunsets. From the top you can see the Ojo de Agua on one side and El Cabo beach on the other.
5. Punta de Gallinas
Very close to the Pilón de Azúcar at Cabo de la Vela, you will find this sea of dunes. They are basically small sand mountains where you can take spectacular photographs pointing towards the Pilón de Azúcar.
Just as Cabo de la Vela can be reached on your own, bear in mind that Punta Gallinas is pure desert and only 4×4 vehicles familiar with the area are allowed to reach the most remote places.
6. Manaure Salt Flats
It is the most important place in Colombia for salt exploitation; one million tons, around 70% of the country’s total capacity. The landscape of this remote place is made up of imposing white hills of salt that are reflected in water wells. Salt is extracted in huge pools of seawater which, as they dry out, change colour until the salt is left at the bottom.
Although most eyes are drawn to the salt flats, Manaure also offers a calm sea of greens and blues. Another attraction is the 50-metre long tourist pier with small fishing boats.
7. Los Flamencos Flora and Fauna Sanctuary
Located three hours from Cabo de la Vela, it is one of the few places in South America where you can see flamingos in their natural environment. You can also see beaches, coastal lagoons, a turtle tank that helps to conserve marine species and a visitor centre with accommodation.
It was declared National and Cultural Heritage of Colombia in 1992, aiming to protect the ecosystem of marshes, lagoons and dry forest, home to many species of birds, fish, crustaceans and plants. The graceful flamingos and the majestic colours of their plumage are the main attraction of the Sanctuary. Despite its small size, it is considered one of the richest protected areas in terms of the variety of endemic and migratory waterbirds.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see in Cabo de la Vela in 1 day?
Start your tour with the Macuira National Park. Continue through the dunes and watch the landscape change until you reach Pilón de azúcar. There you can swim to cool off from the heat and end the day watching the sunset from the lighthouse, where you will see the sun set over the horizon of the ocean.
Where to stay in Cabo de la Vela?
- Hospedaje y Restaurante Mar y sol: Beautiful view, accommodation in chinchorro in front of the beach, quiet, safe, with bathroom and showers. It is 10 minutes away from Pilón de azúcar, Ojo del agua and rainbow beach. The food in the restaurant is very tasty. They are very friendly, always willing to help and provide the best experience for their gusets.
- Hospedaje y restaurante Donde Mamicha: It is a very comfortable place, clean, good service. You can rest in chinchorro, or a normal room, care is taken with water usage, excellent food, the service is very cosy. Highly recommended in the Cabo de la vela to rest after that voyage to arrive.
- El Monaco: you can sleep in a “chinchorro” (which they wash every time they change users) or there are rooms with private bathroom and fan, sleeping in a bed. The food is varied and very delicious. It has private parking and the accommodation is in front of the sea.
Where and what to eat in Cabo de la Vela?
- Cabo Mar Restaurant: excellent restaurant with quality food and services. Good prices and typical local dishes.
- Hospedaje Doña Mamita Restaurant: diners highlight the delicious food. The place also offers accommodation to sleep in “chinchorros”. It has the style of a typical La Guajira ranchería, with a shop next door where you can buy souvenirs. It is situated near a pleasant and cool bay.
How to get to Cabo de la Vela?
To get to Cabo de La Vela from Bogotá you must first get to Riohacha. The bus from Santa Marta to Riohacha costs between 25.000 and 35.000 COP. The trip takes approximately 3 hours.
You can also travel by car. Next to the bus terminal in Riohacha you should look for vehicles leaving for Uribia, a small but very important town in the northern region of Colombia.
What should I consider before travelling to Cabo de la Vela?
- To make the trip you need to have the following vaccinations 15 days in advance: yellow fever, tetanus and hepatitis B.
- Due to the high temperatures, it is very important to bring adequate protection: sunscreen, sunglasses and a cap.
- Because of the high temperatures, you should always stay well hydrated and keep your head covered.
- The culture of the area affirms that the soul never dies, it always remains present. It only travels to this place to rest, since it is practically an open-door heaven full of magical desert sand that joins the sea.
How to plan your trip to Cabo de la Vela?
Register or download the Passporter App and discover all its useful features.
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of every place you’ve visited to the app and recommend to other travellers all the things to do in Cabo de la Vela, Colombia.
If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
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