The Most Beautiful Beaches in Colombia's Guajira Coastal Desert
The Caribbean coastal deserts of Colombia’s northern department of La Guajira possess a unique and wild beauty unmatched by any other region in the country. La Guajira is a surreal and stunning part of Colombia, characterised by windswept sand dunes, indigenous cultures and some of the most breathtaking beaches on the continent. So here are the most beautiful beaches in La Guajira.
Taroa Beach
The giant Taroa Sand Dunes are one of La Guajira’s principal tourist attractions and are located a short distance from Punta Gallinas, the windswept, most northerly point of South America. These huge dunes tumble down from the desert straight into the Caribbean, and the beach they form is easily one of the most isolated and beautiful in Colombia. Taroa Beach is the perfect example of a Guajira beach: wild, surreal and stunning.
El Pilón de Azúcar Beach
Cabo de La Vela Beach
Perhaps the best beach for swimming in the whole of La Guajira, Cabo de La Vela Beach is the strip of sand which runs along the shore directly in front of the little town that shares its name. The waters are a stunning shade of blue, as well as being remarkably warm and calm, making them the ideal beach for swimming and relaxing. Further along the shoreline is also the best spot for kitesurfing in Colombia.
Camarones Beach
In the lower Guajira region, the beaches are just as stunning as those in the wild deserts of the north, and there are perhaps none more beautiful than Camarones Beach. This lovely, wide beach is located alongside the Flamingos Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, and most people visit for the enviable birdwatching. However, if you’re just looking for a practically deserted Caribbean beach, look no further.
Punta Agujas Beach
Another isolated beach in the extreme north of La Guajira, Punta Agujas Beach is a short walk from Hospedaje Alexandra, where many visitors stay when they visit Punta Gallinas. While the beach itself is a little windswept, its western-facing location makes it particularly popular as it is perhaps the best spot in the Colombian Caribbean to watch the sunset.
La Boquita Beach
La Boquita Beach is located close to Punta Gallinas, and just a short hop away from the aforementioned Hosepedaje Alexandra. The brackish lagoons behind the beach are home to a population of flamingos, while the beach itself is an excellent place to while away the day enjoying the calm waters and sense of total isolation. It’s very probable that you won’t see another soul if you spend the day at La Boquita Beach.
Mayapo Beaches
Just half an hour north of the regional capital of Riohacha, Mayapo is home to several excellent beaches, which are especially renowned for their strong winds, making them an excellent place to practice watersports such as kitesurfing and windsurfing. If you prefer a more sedate beach experience, Mayapo still delivers: it’s an equally great spot for enjoying a relaxing dip in the sea and browsing for locally made Wayuu handicrafts.
Palomino Beach
The little backpacker haven of Palomino is located just over the border from neighbouring Magdalena department and is technically part of La Guajira. The best part about this is that, although Palomino’s beach is located in La Guajira, it has more in common with the beaches of nearby Tayrona National Park, making for a nice contrast with the desert beaches further into the department. A long, jungle-fringed strip of sand perfect for sunbathing and surfing, Palomino’s beach is rightly famous and popular with all travellers who visit Colombia.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
Culture Trip Spring Sale
Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.
