Riohacha Overview

By Lorraine Caputo

If you rely on historical Colombian literature to paint the picture of Riohacha (Wayuu: Süchiimma), you would believe it is a Wild West type of town, with lots of contraband running and other shady activities going on. Once arriving, though, you soon discover it’s a surprisingly pleasant town with a beautiful malecón and great beach. This is the capital of the Guajira, and the Wayuu, the native residents of this department, are present all over. Welcome to what is considered one of the most mysterious corners of Colombia.

The Troncal del Caribe highway passes directly through Riohacha, as Calle 15, cutting the city into two zones In the center of this roadway, marking more or less the geographically center of the city, is a roundabout with a statue of the town’s most famous figure: the legendary Vallenato accordionist Francisco el Hombre, immortalized in song for his duel with the Devil and in Gabriel García Márquez’ Hundred Years of Solitude. Only one hour from the Venezuelan border, Riohacha makes a convenient resting point before heading to or coming from that sister nation.

(Altitude: 3 m / 10 ft, Population: 125,000, City Code: 5)