Cabo de La Vela

The Cape of The Veil, the north of Colombia is part of a long peninsula in its great majority it is a desert and surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, so the charm lies in immense water salt mountains, beaches, exotic vegetation , a spectacular sea and the enigmatic culture wayú that lives here from several centuries ago.

This territory is one of those places that you have to know because of the exotic character different from the rest of the country and always keeps in mind as a unique and unrepeatable destination. If you want to know this place the agenda of The touristic Hostels of Colombia has enabled more than 100 typical inns where visitors can stay in hammocks or beds.

 ¡Welcome to the land of dreams!

Climate:
Calid and warm with temperatures between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius, even higher. It is very hot in the day but the breeze cooled a bit in the evening.

Location:
El Cabo de la Vela is in the north of Colombia against the Caribbean Sea and northwest of the peninsula of La Guajira, about three hours from Riohacha, the capital of the department.

Culture:
The territory is inhabited by Wayúu culture for several centuries and still retains much of its tradition. If you travel to El Cabo de la Vela, you will find beautiful women with blankets covering their bodies and many with their faces painted for sun protection. They have their own religious beliefs based on important deities, and for them life does not end with death, because the soul is always present. The funeral and burial are of a great importance because they get together hundreds of wayú indigenous to accompany their relatives.

Mainly its economy is based on the breeding of goats and sheep, in the exploitation of coal in El Cerrejon and some work at the salt mines of Manaure near from El Cabo de la Vela, or fishing. The women spend much of their time on creating crafts, which are famous hammocks and boats, backpacks and ornaments such as bracelets and necklaces.

The Wayúu live in ranches, simple homes that are usually accompanied by other houses of the same of kind. Many of them are built with the heart of cactus and palm leaves roof. They speak their own language known as Wayunaiki, but most of them fully understand Spanish. An essential part of his life are the dreams, because they are part of what goes on day after day and are a reflection of what will happen in the future.

Gastronomy:
Particularly in El Cabo de la Vela, the cuisine is represented by seafood that is always fresh because of the daily chores of fishermen.

There are various kind of fish and seafood, there is red snapper, lobsters, snails and a type of a shark called toyo, among others, they are accompanied with rice, salad and Patacón which is fried green plantain.

There is also goat made in different ways such as, roasted, stewed or fried.

Getting There:

To visit El Cabo de la Vela, you have to get to Riohacha, the capital of La Guajira, either by plane or by land, coming from the country and the Atlantic coast through the highway of the Caribbean, which is in good condition and links the city of Santa Marta in the department of Magdalena with Riohacha. El Cabo de la Vela is about 3 hours from Riohacha, first on a road that goes up to Uribia, a town known as the Indigenous capital of Colombia, besides being the second city of La Guajira. Then from there we must take a small road that follows the rail track of El Cerrejon ,which leads to the destination. If you are traveling with plan or by agency, the staff will be waiting at the airport or in the right place to start your journey. If you are traveling by car on your own you can consult the map of this catalog or get advice from the tourist office in La Guajira (5) 727 57 51 - 727 10 15 or with the agencies recommended in the tourist section of Posadas. If you travel by public transport, you should inquire about the place where the taxis leave for Uribia (depart every half hour), and once you are there you should take public transportation that will take you until El Cabo de la Vela. It is recommended not to travel by car during the winter season.

It is a beautiful bay, with average calm blue-green sea water that reaches a lovely white sandy beach, where tourists can enjoy it without any risk.

Part of the magic of the The Cape of The Veil is that many innkeepers have built several local huts called enrramadas just in front of the sea, where people can spend the night in hammocks, listening to the sound of the sea and watching the stars in the firmament.

The beach of The Cape is fit for water sports like windsurfing or kite-surfing due to strong breeze. Usually at this beach are seen spectacular sunsets.

Here the sea has a beautiful green colour that sparks with yellow highlights of the land and the golden color from a very small visited beach.

Just right beside of it there is a small hill of golden sand that has on its top the Virgin of Fatima and where you can watch the unique view of the sea, the cliffs and salt mine in the distance, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful landscapes of La Guajira.

It is right here where The Cape of The Veil crumbles and forms a small mount of barren land that is tied up to the fertile land. In addition to that, there are a number of beaches and cliffs where the sea clashes forming beautiful landscapes.

Eye of Water is about 15 minutes by car from The Cape Beach.

There you can take a walk through the main square to see the church or go to the market, where you'll find all kinds of handicrafts, fish, goats and curiosities. It is the place to stock up on supplies before starting the journey.

Manaure is famous for its salt mines where salt is extracted from huge pools created by the sea water and when the water is getting dried it changes its color and finally leaves the salt on the ground. You must get to know the pylon of salt, a huge mountain of salt that serves as a warehouse before being packed and transported.

This is one of the few places in South America where people can see the flamencos in its natural state.

There are also beautiful beaches, lagoons, a tortoise zoo that helps conserve marine species and a visitors center that has lodging.

There are also herons, pelicans, gulls and many amphibians. It is a good plan to spend the day, plus you'll find restaurants.

Remember to visit should contact:

National Parks in Bogota, tel: (1) 243 16 34 - 353 24 00

www.parquesnacionales.gov.co

or the office of the shrine in Riohacha in Cra. 7 No 21-15 Tel. (5) 728 26 36.

Before undertaking road to the desert and culture Wayúu, stop here for a stroll along its white sandy beaches, the pier or appreciate the river Ranchería, which flows trough the city,from its source in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta until its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean.

See also the Cathedral of Our Lady of Remedios and memorials to Jose Padilla and Francisco Prudencio 'The Man', the legendary composer vallenato.

If you want to make the trip across the peninsula it will take about 7 or 8 days, but only if you choose to visit Punta Gallinas can be done from one day to another.

It is the last place of Guajira in northern Colombia with some of the most exotic landscapes of the country. It is an arid area with lonely wonderful beaches and vast salt flats, there are also small indigenous villages and many ranches. They are hitting the sand dunes and the mountains of the Macuira where the National Park of the Macuira an oasis with water and plenty of vegetation in the middle of the inclement desert.

The crossings are made in jeeps 4 x 4 because there are no very defined roads and the tour is like a rally, giving the trip a touch of excitement and adventure. Other places listed are: Headgear, Nazareth, and Hondita Honda Bay, Punta Needles, Puerto Estrella, the hill of Teta and Huesosopo, among others, all magical places that you love.

• Aquatics:
  Recently taking a lot of water sports boom due to strong breeze wayú why some families and agencies have begun to equip some schools nautical seasons where you can rent tables for windsurfing, kiteboarding, sailboats and jet skis.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE TRAVELER

• It is important to take advice well before your trip, can be for an agency or tour operators in the area. Reports in the section of inns.
• Accommodations:
  All the inns are located opposite the beach, are simple constructions and with the basic amenities, most serving in hammocks and some do it in bed. In high season reserve in advance and advice with travel agents or operators in the area to guide you when choosing the inns.
• Health:
  It is recommended the application of vaccines against yellow fever and tetanus.
• What to bring:
  A lot of water, light clothes, sunscreen, flashlight, tennis, hat, garbage bags, camera and cash. No ATMs, and only in Riohacha and Uribia.
• Conservation:
  It is important not to throw garbage and water rationing.
• Transport:
  Remember That if you are in winter season the best way to travel is by 4x4jeeps and with guides because you may get stuck or get lost very easily. Contact them with the recommended operators or the travel agencies.