Alta Guajira — Cabo de la Vela to Punta Gallinas
Where Colombia runs out of road.
Alta Guajira is where Colombia runs out of road. From the kitesurf village of Cabo de la Vela, tracks head northeast over salt flats, thorn scrub, and red-dirt flats to Punta Gallinas, the northernmost tip of South America. There are no real roads. You pick between a spiderweb of wheel ruts through Wayuu rancherías, and you’ll stop at hand-strung rope tolls where kids ask for a few pesos. Highlights are Bahía Hondita, the Bahía Portete bays, the rust-red cliffs at Punta Aguja, and the Taroa dunes dropping into turquoise water. Camp in hammocks at a Wayuu ranchería near the end.
It’s a moderate drive. Sand is mostly firm, but soft patches and mud flats after rain will catch an overconfident driver. A high-clearance 4×4 with decent tires is the minimum, and you should carry recovery boards. Get fuel and supplies in Uribia or Riohacha, because roadside fuel is sold from jugs and the quality is sketchy. Bring all your water. Navigate by GPS, since the tracks shift. Cell service is basically gone past Cabo. Go December through April when it’s dry and the heat is bearable. Hiring a local guide is smart for route-finding and for respecting Wayuu land. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Sand |
| Features | Camping, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 75 mi / 120.7 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 250 ft |
| Best season | December-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4x4 with recovery gear |
| Nearest town | Uribia, La Guajira |
| Land manager | Wayuu communities (Alta y Media Guajira resguardo) / Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Tacoma handle Alta Guajira?
Yes, in the dry season, if it has 4WD, all-terrain tires, and you air down to about 15-20 psi. The terrain is soft sand, not rock, so ground clearance matters less than traction, recovery gear (boards, shovel, compressor), and not driving in someone else's tracks. AWD crossovers and street-tire rigs get stuck regularly.
Can I drive Alta Guajira during the rainy season?
Avoid it. The best window is December-April. During the wetter months (roughly September-November), arroyos flood, salt flats turn to mud, and tracks wash out, which can strand you for days with no cell service. Dec-April brings steady, strong wind, so expect sand blasting your camp.
Do I need a permit, and what fees should I expect?
No overland permit is required, but you're crossing Wayuu territory and the Punta Gallinas area touches protected lands managed with Parques Nacionales Naturales. Expect informal community tolls and fees for access, camping, and sites, so carry plenty of small-denomination Colombian pesos in cash. Foreign-plated vehicles also need their Colombian temporary import paperwork, and you should carry passport and vehicle documents for military and police checkpoints.
What's the hardest part of the route?
Navigation and soft sand, not technical obstacles. Tracks braid across open desert and salt flats with almost no signage, and the deep sand and dunes near Punta Gallinas are where most vehicles get bogged. Download offline maps and GPS tracks before you leave Uribia, and travel in a group or hire a local Wayuu guide if you're unsure.
Where do I get fuel, water, and a place to sleep?
Fill up fully in Uribia or before, since there are no real gas stations on the route. Wayuu families sell gasoline from bottles at inflated prices, but treat it as an emergency fallback, not a plan. Carry all your own drinking water. Camping is at Wayuu-run rancherías with hammocks, ramadas, and basic meals, and you should ask permission before camping anywhere else, since the land is community-owned.
Trail track
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