La Guajira, Colombia

La Guajira, Colombia

La Guajira Colombia

La Guajira is a department in northeastern Colombia that occupies most of the Guajira Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea, bordering Venezuela at the northernmost tip of South America. Its capital city is Riohacha. The region’s arid plains have been inhabited by indigenous peoples, especially the Wayuu, since long before European contact. Spanish explorers arrived at the end of the 15th century, and during the colonial period the territory was heavily disputed due to its pearl deposits and strategic location, drawing in Spanish authorities as well as English, French, and German privateers. La Guajira’s main colonial settlement, Nuestra Señora Santa María de los Remedios del Cabo de la Vela, was eventually refounded as Riohacha in 1535 and later moved to its current site in 1544. Over time, the area was administratively separated from the Department of Magdalena and passed through various territorial statuses until it was officially established as the Department of La Guajira in 1964. The region received significant immigration from the Middle East in the early 20th century, particularly from Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, and Jordan, with many newcomers settling in Maicao. Today, La Guajira’s economy is driven by royalties from the Cerrejón coal mine, natural gas extraction, and salt production. It is also known as an ecotourism destination, especially Cabo de la Vela, a small fishing village and scenic headland in the Guajira Desert.
Recommended airport
Almirante Padilla (RCH)
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