Complete guide to go to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela Colombia

The Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela tour have become one of the favorites for national and foreign travelers who want to visit the touristic places of the Department of Guajira in Colombia. In this blog we will tell you everything you need to know to go to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela and enjoy this adventure to the fullest.

How to get to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela?

To get to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela it is important you to keep in mind what comes next:

– All legal tours depart from Riohacha, the capital of Guajira. That is why you must first reach this city, at the northernmost point of the Caribbean in Colombia.

– Always hire a legal tourism agency to do the tour to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela, so you can be sure that you will travel with companies that comply with the country’s tourist regulations.

– We do not recommend going to Uribia, since most of the vehicles that offer this tour do not meet the requirements and safety regulations, and you could be posing a risk during your adventure.

Read more about car accidents due to vehicles that do not meet tourist’s regulations.

https://seguimiento.co/la-region-caribe/muere-turista-frances-en-accidente-de-transito-en-la-hacia-punta-gallinas-22352

How to get to Riohacha?

We have explained before how to get to Riohacha in different blogs from Expotur, dependinf on the place from you are in Colombia; we will make a summary of the main places.

Go to Riohacha from Bogota

The best option will be always to take a flight from Bogotá to Riohacha, it last approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Once in the city, you can go straight to the agency of your preference or, do some other activities before so you can know a little bit more this beautiful city of La Guajira.

Riohacha: Activities and places you must visit

Go to Riohacha from Cartagena

Our recommendation is you to do it by bus; you can either buy a ticket at the bus terminal in Cartagena or through a legal company that offers to pick you up from your lodging in Cartagena to take you to Riohacha. We recommend you taking a flight because every single flight from Cartagena is going to make stops, so in the end, it will take longer for you to get to Riohacha – Colombia.

Go to Riohacha from Santa Marta

In this case we recommend the bus as the best way. The first option is getting the ticket at the bus terminal in Santa Marta, it costs between 25.000 ans 35.000 cop (depending on the season). Another popular option among tourists to go to Riohacha from Santa Marta is to search for a legal company that offers pick up service from the accommodation, and dropp of in Riohacha. At last, there are agencies that will help you to organize it; for example, Expotur will help you to hire this service with a reliable agency.

If what you want is to travel more independently and control your budget more, in Expotur we offer Transport to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela.

What to take to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela

Although the Tour is mostly done in 4 × 4 vehicles, it is necessary to see the following tips to go to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela, to fully enjoy your adventure and the sun; insects or lack of hydration make you have a hard time.

Sunscreen

Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela are desert and beach destinations; this is why you should always protect your skin from the strong sun. Also, you can protect yourself a little more from the sun’s rays by wearing a cap or hat, and also sunglasses.

Water

It is important when leaving from Riohacha to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela, take a bottle with water to stay hydrated during the trip. There will always be drinks available for sale in the lodgings.

Light backpack

Although much of the tour is done inside the vehicles and you can leave your belongings in the points it stops (if you do the tour with Expotur) for travelers to take pictures, take only what is necessary for the trip.

If you decide to do the tour to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela Colombia with Expotur, you do not need to worry about your additional luggage or having to pay more in a lodging to be kept until you return from the tour; You can leave that extra luggage, safely and without additional cost, in a section of our office in Riohacha, which we have set aside so that you can make the tour to Cabo de a Vela and Punta Gallinas calm and without unnecessary weight.

Comfortable clothes

Keep in mind that you will visit a desert region where the temperature is considerably high during the day. Therefore, we recommend you to wear comfortable clothes, either lycra, raincoat or shorts. For the night you can take something more covered, since it can be a bit cold.

Swimwear

Depending on the agency you choose, both in Punta Gallinas and in Cabo de la Vela, stops will be made so you can take a refreshing bath, swim a little or take good pictures in the incredible sunsets.

Sneakers and Sandals

The two options are necessary, since there is a mountainous sector in which it is necessary to walk up. On the other hand, you will need sandals when taking a bath on the beach or for your feet to rest at night. You can also use “trekking boots” or a good pair of trainees’ so you do not have a flat sole, since you could slip and hurt yourself.

Personal grooming kit

It is necessary to bring your towel, soap, shampoo, deodorant and as well as any other element of personal hygiene that you consider necessary or that is part of your usual use. You can also take Band-Aids, pills for headaches or dizziness (those that your doctor usually recommend), in case the sun or the route affects you.

Camera

You can not go to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela without a camera, even if it’s your cell phone. Remember that you must have enough space, the incredible landscapes that you will find during this adventure will need a lot of memory in your electronic device.

Power bank

The lodges have energy; however, as of 9:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m., the generators are disconnected. In case your camera or cell phone requires it, having a backup battery is not bad.

Insect repellent

At night, depending on the season, there will be less or more mosquitoes. For that reason, it is good that you use repellent.

Extra money

You will find some kind of grocery stores with snacks, beer, water, ice cold in the lodges. If you do the tour with Expotur, the guide will make a stop out of Uribia in a place where you can buy the items mentioned above. In general, this store has more variety and, in some cases the prices are lower.

Lantern

The lodges have energy generators; however, there is a stipulated time to turn off the lights. In case you want to go to the bathroom at dawn you will need light so as not to get lost or stumble on the road.

Books or small board games

In the evenings, after bathing and having dinner, you have free time to get to know yourself a little more with your adventure companions, nothing better than a board game to relax a bit and integrate more with people. On the other hand, we know that sometimes the day and the sun can be exhausting and that you will only want to lie down and read a little before going to sleep, in this case your favorite book may be the best option.

You may also be interested in reading about:

Guajira: Seven reasons to know it

Frequently asked questions about Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela Colombia

Whenever we are going to travel somewhere, we want to know everything we need, to be sure that our experience will be the best, that is why in Expotur we have a list of frequently asked questions that tourists ask themselves before going to Punta Gallinas or going to Cabo de la Vela. Here you will find: Everything you need to know before embarking on your adventure to go to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela.

If you decide to go to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela with Expotur we want you to know that the price you pay includes:

Travel insurance

Transport

From our office in Riohacha to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela; and the one back to the office in Riohacha.

Sandboarding

During the tour of Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela Colombia, we will visit the Taroa Dunes. It is in this beautiful arena where we will have the opportunity to perform Sandboarding, an activity that consists of descending through the dunes with special boards similar to those used for Snowboarding.

Feeding

Depending on the number of days (3 or 4) you decide to make the tour, it will include breakfast (from the second day), lunch (every day), dinner (not included the last day, since you’ll already be back in Riohacha). If you have any food restriction, you should only notify it in our office.

Lodging

The accommodation during the tour is in hammocks, at Rancherías (small villas built by the Wayuu).

Guidance

We have guides / drivers, Spanish speakers, experts from the region and on the way through the desert. It is worth noting that part of the amount you pay for the tour to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela Colombia goes to support the local economy and to improve the quality of life of the locals.

Are you interested in doing the tour to Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela?

Choose the tour that suits your time availability:

Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela 3 days || Punta Gallinas and Cabo de la Vela 4 days || 2 days (only Cabo de la Vela).

Additional tips to go to the tour

– Photos to the members of the Wayùu community. Before taking the photo you must ask for their authorization, since for them it can be disrespectful.

– Trash. Help us to preserve the environment and respect the environment that others inhabit. Therefore, any waste that you generate in the trip keep it in your backpack until you find a bin to deposit it correctly. The same if you are at the rancherías.

– Always respect the wildlife and local customs.

– It is strictly forbidden to participate in behaviors that interfere with the safety and comfort of other tour participants; the consumption of hallucinogenic drugs or alcohol in excess is prohibited.

– You need to know the use of female or male escorts (prostitution) is not acceptable on an EXPOTUR tour. The use of minors for this type of service is penalized by the authorities in Colombia and is sufficient reason to expel the participant from the tour.

SANDBOARDING: An adventure in the desert