Cabo de la Vela is a fishing village in La Guajira in northern Colombia.
Cabo de la Vela (Spanish for "cape of sails") is a headland in the Guajira Peninsula with an adjacent small fishing village. It is a popular ecotourism destination of the Caribbean Region of Colombia. The cape is surrounded by the La Guajira Desert, several saline lagoons and mudflats visited by large populations of American Flamingos.
Although old electrical lines beckon to a more prosperous past, the town's infrastructure has since fallen into disrepair. All electricity is provided by individual generators and may only be available for a few hours per day. In budget and even mid-range establishments, running water may not be available for washing or toilets.
- Pilon De Azucar. Great views over the northern coastline can be seen after a 15-minute hike on the Sugar Loaf Mountain. For many visitors of Cabo the attached gold-sand beach is the most beautiful of the area. Cold drinks and snacks are available.
- Faro Cabo de la Vela. Stunning sunsets can be seen at the lighthouse. From town it is an 1 hour walk to the north.
- Ojo del Agua. A beautiful half-moon shaped beach surrounded by 5-meter-high cliffs. Its name comes from small fresh water pool holy for the Wayuu people.
- Manaure salt flats. See the white salt fields next to the city of Manaure.
Pilon De Azucar. Great views over the northern coastline can be seen after a 15-minute hike on the Sugar Loaf Mountain. For many visitors of Cabo the attached gold-sand beach is the most beautiful of the area. Cold drinks and snacks are available.
Faro Cabo de la Vela. Stunning sunsets can be seen at the lighthouse. From town it is an 1 hour walk to the north.
Ojo del Agua. A beautiful half-moon shaped beach surrounded by 5-meter-high cliffs. Its name comes from small fresh water pool holy for the Wayuu people.
Manaure salt flats. See the white salt fields next to the city of Manaure.
- Kiteboarding. Towards the north end of town, about a half dozen shops offer kiteboarding rentals and lessons. The sheltered bay and offshore winds provide ideal conditions for learners and experts alike; on a given day there may be twenty or more kites over the water.
Kiteboarding. Towards the north end of town, about a half dozen shops offer kiteboarding rentals and lessons. The sheltered bay and offshore winds provide ideal conditions for learners and experts alike; on a given day there may be twenty or more kites over the water.
Wayuu artesanias, it's hard to escape the sellers.
Seafood is the number one and only option and lots of beach restaurants have fresh langostas and fish on the menu.
Best option if you like langosta is to buy it directly from the fishermen when they arrive on the beach. Prices start at COP$15,000 per kilo and can be bargained down. Ask them to boil them for you and eat them with lemon. You can also find a fantastic fruit stand on the main street that makes amazing juices and fruit salads.
There aren't really any bars, in Cabo de La Vela, however Beers (Club Colombia & Agullia) can be purchased for around COP$2,000.
WiFi is generally not available, partially due to a lack of reliable electricity. However, the town has basic mobile phone coverage.
In the past Cabo de la Vela was not affected by presence of paramilitary groups and guerrillas as other parts of Guajira close to the Venezuelan border. There is a Police station on the beach, and it is frequented by middle-class families from Bogotá during the Christmas high season. Like any tourist destination use common sense.
On Sundays, collectivos stop early but you can get a ride out of the peninsula when the tours start heading back to Riohacha.