Day 6 - La Guajira, Cabo de la Vela

The last few days were without internet, so there are several daily reports to read in a row.

After breakfast at Hostel Bona Vida with pancakes and scrambled eggs, we had to gather some information for the onward journey. Fortunately, the "manager" of the hostel was British and could give clear and helpful tips, contrary to many others. The Colombians are usually very helpful, but unfortunately also quite disorganized and clueless 🙂

Tomorrow we want to be at the northernmost point of the South American continent - Punta Gallinas. This is located on the La Guajira Peninsula. However, getting there is very difficult and can only be done in several stages with various means of transport. Today's destination is Cabo de la Vela, about halfway there.

First means of transport - collective taxi. With a Thai and a Colombian, we went about 2 hours to the first intermediate destination in Uribia. The journey there was already filled with adventurous highlights (including bribery payment to bypass a traffic jam), but the chaos in Uribia topped it all. The village is practically just a transfer point for locals and gringos (that's us). It consists of 10 shops, a few houses, various car mechanics, and itinerant traders who sell juices, snacks, or arrange car rides. There are also countless ciclis - a kind of bicycle rickshaws - with which, for example, tourists are chauffeured to the last ATM before the end of the world. Luckily, we still had enough cash, because later we found out that the ATM wasn't working. And forget about credit card payments up here, just like the internet.

Next means of transport: Jeep 🚙.

After stocking up on water as recommended by the driver (13 liters), we continued the journey for 1.5 hours to Cabo de la Vela. We've never experienced anything like this before. Dusty dirt roads, water and mud holes, overall a tough and not quite back-friendly ride. Definitely impossible without a four-wheel drive and without solid local knowledge. For the insiders: like a 1.5-hour hack race - only more intense.

Arrival in Cabo de la Vela with a sore butt. A village on a long sandy beach consisting of 100 wooden huts and simple houses. Sleeping is usually done in hammocks. But we treated ourselves to a bed for an extra 5 euros. Even with fresh bed linen, which is not self-evident everywhere in Colombia, as Julia discovered on the Pacific coast during whale watching.

The place doesn't offer much. You can go kitesurfing here - there's even a kite school - otherwise, it's mainly beach and the surrounding area.

After tough but successful negotiations for tomorrow's onward journey, even with a receipt for the down payment, we walked for about 1 hour to the local lighthouse El Faro. The guidebook promised a sensational sunset 🌅.

Unfortunately, there were some light clouds in front of the sun. We've all seen the most beautiful sunsets in the world about 50 times already. So it was with this one too: you can do it if you don't have anything better to do, but you don't have to.

Then there was a culinary highlight of the day: fish with dangerous teeth (see photos) and lobster for dinner - super delicious for a small amount of money.

Last drink while stargazing on the beach ... how romantic ... and then off to bed.

PS: The "child" has fallen back into early childhood. We collected seashells on the beach (there are endless ones here). We're even taking some home with us 🤣