La Guajira: Punta Gallinas & Taroa Dunes

Sunrise at Punta Gallinas
La Guajira is almost a world apart from the green and tropical Colombia most travelers know. The arid desert landscapes in this region are foreboding yet beautiful, with the sun-scorched earth and steep red dunes tapering off into the azure waters of the Caribbean. The most epic landscapes here are found along the rugged coastline, as is the case with Punta Gallinas. This headland not only abounds with incredible beaches, but it also represents the northernmost point of the South American continent.

A day tour of Punta Gallinas allows travelers to know this area intimately, with a visit to the sloping dunes of Taroa. The angle of the sandy mountain here is steep and its summit affords a panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea. The tour allows ample time for swimming and sunbathing before culminating with a trip to watch the sunset from the Punta Gallinas lighthouse.
Photos
Sunrise at Punta Gallinas
View from Taroa sand dune
The area around Punta Gallinas, in Guajira
The desert dunes of Guajira
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Intineraries with La Guajira: Punta Gallinas & Taroa Dunes

View of Taroa sand dune and ocean
Map of Explore Colombia's Caribbean Coast - 14 Days
Explore Colombia's Caribbean Coast - 14 Days

This adventurous two-week itinerary covers major highlights along Colombia's stunning and diverse Caribbean coast with plenty of opportunities to get in the water. You'll start off in the sophisticated colonial city of Cartagena with a speedboat trip to Rosario Islands and then head east for Santa Marta. You'll then travel by 4x4 to the lesser-visited La Guajira Peninsula for remote sun-soaked dunes and indigenous tribes. Circle back around to tube down the Rio Don Diego, and then spend a few days hiking around Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona, surrounded by tropical rainforests and one of the few coral reefs in Colombia. Sprinkle in sailing, fishing, and a range of water activities before ending the trip back in Cartagena for a walking tour of the city's hipster neighborhood, Getsemani.

Enjoy Colombia's Caribbean Coast
Map of Cartagena & the Caribbean Coast - 10 Days
Cartagena & the Caribbean Coast - 10 Days

Experience stunning highlights along Colombia's northern coast in this active 10-day adventure. You'll soak in the romance and colonial history of Cartagena's Old Town, hike in Tayrona National Park, 4x4 through remote jungles, wander majestic sand dunes, visit indigenous cultures, and go birdwatching in Minca at sunrise. Circle back to Cartagena and end the trip with a relaxing beach day in the Rosario Islands.

Coastline near Santa Marta
Map of Explore Colombia's Caribbean Coast - 12 Days
Explore Colombia's Caribbean Coast - 12 Days

This 12-day itinerary is for those eager for some aquatic adventure. It covers major highlights along Colombia's Caribbean coast and affords plenty of opportunities to dive, snorkel, swim, and frolick in the water. You'll begin in the colonial city of Cartagena, then head east to the Santa Marta. Afterward, take a 4x4 to the remote Guajira Peninsula, home of the northernmost point in South America. Circle back to Santa Marta and enjoy a few days hiking around Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona.