Upper Guajira 5 days - SAWA - Nature Travel Agency

ALL YEAR ROUND

5 DAYS / 4 NIGHTS

Difficulty / BEGINNER

UPPER GUAJIRA
MACUIRA NATIONAL PARK AND LOS FLAMENCOS SANCTURARY

Explore the beautiful tour across the Upper Guajira desert and enjoy the Macuira National Park, an oasis in the middle of the desert, in addition, get to know the dunes of Taroa, the Fauna y Flora Sanctuary Los Flamencos, the golden beaches of El Cabo de La Vela, Manaure and many other special places of this territory.

The Upper Guajira is a dry forest ecosystem located at the northern limit of Colombia, in the Department of La Guajira. This territory has a large variety of wildlife and vegetation, as well as cliffs, lakes, empty beaches and the Macuira National Park, a beautiful oasis.

We will visit Punta Gallinas and its lighthouse, the northern most place of South America. We will walk on the beautiful beaches of Cabo de La Vela, discover the charm of the Taroa dunes, Los Flamencos sanctuary, the salt mines of Manaure, EL Pilón de Azúcar, Hondita bay, Arco Iris beach, Punta Aguja and the Carizal desert.

5 – 6 hours by car (4×4 vehicle).

The trip starts in Riohacha at 7:30 am, after having enjoyed the breakfast. The driver will pick up the travelers in a 4×4 car to go to the town of Camarones to visit Los Flamencos sanctuary. Once there, we will be able to see the astonishing pink flamingos while we navigate through the mangrove swamp. Then we will drive to Cabo de la Vela, with a lunch stop to enjoy a typical dish from the region. On the way to Cabo de la Vela we will visit the salt mines of Manaure, Uribia and the Carrizal desert to finally arrive at our destination to enjoy the golden beaches and majestic sunsets. We will ascend to the Pilón de Azúcar where we will face strong winds and finish the afternoon contemplating the sunset from the lighthouse. Dinner will be at Cabo de la Vela.

Notes:

The visit to Los Flamencos sanctuary is only at the seasons when the flamingos are present (most of the year).
We will get to know the Wayuu culture also by staying overnight in comfortable hammocks or chinchorros. However, it’s sometimes possible to sleep in a bed (if available) for an additional fee of 40.000 COP.

7 hours by car (4×4 vehicle)

After breakfast in Cabo de la Vela, we will go to Nazaret, a small village in the Upper Guajira to enter the Macuira National Park. The seven-hour drive is beautiful because of its landscapes from the sea to the desert, crossing dry forests and big bays. We will pass near the eolic park of Jepirachi, Bahía Portete viewpoint, Warreo, Puerto Nuevo, Portete, Bahía Honda and Bahía Hondita deserts, until reaching Nazaret. Several short stops for resting and photos will be made. Dinner will be in Nazaret.

Overnight, we will sleep in hammocks, or beds (if available) for an additional fee.

3 hours by car (4×4 vahicle)

In the morning of the third day we will visit Macuira National Park, a mountain range that rises in the middle of the Guajira desert, covered by exuberant vegetation, creeks, waterfalls and dunes.

In the afternoon we will go to El Cachi beaches, where we will be able to enjoy the sea near the isolated El Cachi village. This is an ideal place for star watching in the night, meditation and connecting your self with the solitude of the desert and the sea.

Lunch and dinner will be in El Cachi. We will be sleeping in hammocks, or beds (if available) for an additional fee.

1 hour by car (4×4 vehicle).

After breakfast we will visit one of the most astonishing places of the whole trip: the Taroa dunes. We will climb the dunes, face the wind and we will be able to see the incredible beauty of the golden desert and the blue sea coming together. We will have enough time to walk through the dunes and refresh in the sea. Then, we will take the road to Punta Gallinas to visit Bahía Hondita and Punta Aguja, to end the day watching the sunset from the lighthouse at the northern most place of South America.

Lunch and dinner at Punta Gallinas. We will sleep in hammocks or beds (if available) for an additional fee.

6 horas en vehículo 4×4.

Last day of the trip where will cross again the desert, from the Upper to the Middle Guajira to reach Mayapo, a beautiful beach rarely visited, not because its lack of attributes but because tourist often prefer the more known beaches of Riohacha. Mayapo is then a very quiet beach where we will be able to enjoy the sea and a typical Caribbean lunch. In the afternoon we will go back to Riohacha and our driver-guide will take you to your hotel.

End of the trip.

DATES

We can leave on the date you prefer, prior coordination.

+ This trip is suitable for people of any age.

+ All the road trips are in 4x4 vehicles with AC.

+ Accommodation is in rancherías belonging to the Wayuu culture.

+ Normally we will sleep in chinchorros, but you can have a bed for $40.000 COP per person.

+ A small backpack for hiking
+ Cloths suitable for fresh weather that includes a pair of pants and a long sleeve shirt.
+ A thin blanket or sheet
+ A light sweater or jacket
+ Bathing suit
+ Small towel
+ A pair of hiking shoes and a pair of sandal or two pair of shoes.
+ Hat
+ Sun glasses
+ Photographic camera
+ Torch/Flash light
+ Insect repellent
+ Sunscreen
+ Non plastic water bottle (thermo)
+ A small personal hygiene kit and personal medicines.
+ A pair of big plastic bags to protect your cloths from water and to keep your garbage.
+ ID Card