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Voykit pocket guide · Colombia
Maicao
Skip unless you need to cross into Venezuela or want a half-day market detour from Riohacha. One night is enough.
Maicao is a border town in La Guajira, 76 km from Riohacha, known for its huge market, Arab-Colombian culture and the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque, one of Latin America's largest. Most travellers pass through in a few hours or stay one night before crossing to Venezuela. The city has a rough edge; plan a short, focused visit.
- Country
- Colombia
- Best months
- Dec–Apr
- Avoid
- Sep–Nov (rainy)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- COP
- Money
- Currency is the Colombian peso (COP, $). Cards work in hotels, malls and many restaurants; cash is needed for small shops, markets and rural areas.
- Daily spend
- Budget COP 60,000–90,000 excl. bed · Mid COP 90,000–150,000 excl. bed · High COP 150,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Claro (best coverage), Movistar and Tigo SIMs in malls and at airports; passport required and IMEI registration may apply for longer stays — check.
- Emergency
- Police 123 · Fire and ambulance 123
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 110–120 V · 60 Hz · US-style plugs.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10% propina voluntaria offered on the bill.; Guides: COP 20,000–50,000 per person per day.; Taxis: Round up.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in Bogotá and Medellín; drink bottled on the coast and in rural areas.
- Toilets
- Put paper in the bin in most places; bring tissues for bus stations.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Shawarma or chicken plate | COP 12,000–20,000 |
| Bottle of water | COP 2,000–3,000 |
| Local bus within city | COP 2,000–3,000 |
| Taxi from bus terminal to centre | COP 5,000–8,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RCH · Almirante Padilla Airport (Riohacha)
- 76 km (47 mi); taxi or bus to Maicao, about 1 h47 mi (76 km); taxi or bus to Maicao, about 1 h
Typical fares
- Bus Riohacha → Maicao
- about COP 15,000, about 1 h (check)
- Taxi within centre
- COP 5,000–8,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Taxis and mototaxis cover the compact centre. No ATM at the bus terminal; get cash before arriving.
See and do
Known for
- Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque
- Border market (everything from electronics to fruit)
- Arab-Colombian food (shawarma, hummus)
- Montes de Oca Natural Reserve
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Riohacha | Bus or taxi, 76 km (47 mi), about 1 hBus or taxi, 47 mi (76 km), about 1 h | About 1 h |
| Cabo de la Vela | Bus or shared taxi via Uribia, about 2–3 h | About 3 h |
| Palomino | Bus via Riohacha, about 2–3 h | About 3 h |
Sleep
- City centre near Plaza Bolívar
- Closest to market and mosque; basic hotels.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| How much? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? |
| Too expensive | Muy caro |
| Where is the market? | ¿Dónde está el mercado? |
| I need a taxi | Necesito un taxi |
| Thank you | Gracias |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, cheek kiss between women and mixed pairs; avoid: Launching into requests without a greeting
- Politeness: 'Con gusto', 'a la orden'; avoid: Blunt commands
- Topics: Coffee, football, food; avoid: Escobar jokes, drug talk
- Showing valuables: Keep phones away; avoid: 'Dar papaya'
Scams and watch-outs
- No ATM at the bus terminal; withdraw in Riohacha or Santa Marta.
- Market goods may be of dubious legality; negotiate hard.
- Border crossing to Venezuela: check current entry rules and safety.
- Avoid walking alone at night outside the main streets.
Maicao has a higher crime rate than most Colombian towns; keep valuables hidden, avoid walking alone at night, and stick to the main streets around the market and mosque.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Maicao yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Omar Ibn Al-Khattab Mosque
- Border market (everything from electronics to fruit)
- Arab-Colombian food (shawarma, hummus)
- Montes de Oca Natural Reserve
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Maicao, revision 4941656 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4941656
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Maicao
A esta dirección, por favor
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No foreign consulates in Maicao. The nearest are in Riohacha or Santa Marta. Embassies are in Bogotá.
Carry enough cash; ATMs are scarce and may not accept foreign cards.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/maicao). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.