National park · Colombia
Bahía Portete National Natural ParkParque Nacional Natural Bahía Portete
Enter Bahía Portete NP: pay an entry fee (check), drive from Riohacha (check), hike the short dunes trail in the dry season (Dec–Apr); skip if heat exceeds 35 °C (95 °F).Enter Bahía Portete NP: pay an entry fee (check), drive from Riohacha (check), hike the short dunes trail in the dry season (Dec–Apr); skip if heat exceeds 95 °F (35 °C).
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
140 km² (54 sq mi)54 sq mi (140 km²)
approximate
Established
2014
Best months
—
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Colombia ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Migración Colombia or a Colombian consulate; some travellers must complete an online migration form before arrival.
- Colombia ↗Security advice lists specific departments and border areas: check your own government's advice for every place on your route, including coastal roads.
- Colombia ↗Never accept drinks, food or cigarettes from strangers, and be careful with people met on dating apps: drugging (including with scopolamine) followed by robbery is a known risk.
- Colombia ↗Fill in Check-MIG only on the official Migración Colombia site; it is free, and lookalike sites charge a fee.
At a glance
- Country
- Colombia
- Area
- 140 km² (54 sq mi)54 sq mi (140 km²)
- 14,000 ha (check).
- Established
- 2014
- Best months
- —
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Riohacha
Bahía Portete National Natural Park protects over 14,000 ha of coastal dunes, mangrove wetlands and desert landscape on Colombia’s northern Caribbean coast. Established in 2014, it lies in La Guajira, home to the Wayuu people, and offers easy dune walks, a mangrove boardwalk and birdwatching among 217 species.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2014.
Size and age
140 km² (54 sq mi)54 sq mi (140 km²) · national park since 2014
14,000 ha (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Riohacha.
Why go
- Coastal dunes and mangrove wetlands on the Caribbean edge of the La Guajira desert.
- Birdwatching among 217 recorded species in a remote desert‑coast setting.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecGo
- Janseasonality check
- Febseasonality check
- Marseasonality check
- Aprseasonality check
- Mayseasonality check
- Junseasonality check
- Julseasonality check
- Augseasonality check
- Sepseasonality check
- Octseasonality check
- Novseasonality check
- Decseasonality check
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birds (217 species)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Reptiles and amphibians (25 species)Mar–Aug | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal zone | Sand dunes, beach, mangrove swamps. | Open; walk from the entrance. |
| Inland desert zone | Dry grasslands, cactus, desert dunes. | Open; requires water and sun protection. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates approximate; park spans a coastal stretch near Uribia.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | price not published (check) |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Fires
- No open fires; bring a stove for cooking.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish.
- Cultural respect
- Do not enter Wayuu community lands without permission.
Where to stay
Near the park
Riohacha
Hotels, hostels and guesthouses
Safety
Heat and dehydration medium
Security issues in La Guajira medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Main trailheads are reachable by car; paths are flat but sandy.
Visiting lightly
- Support Wayuu‑run enterprises; buy food from local vendors.
- Use approved boardwalks to protect mangrove roots.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Bahía Portete National Natural Park?
Entry is 20,000 COP per person, purchased at the gate.
What are the best hikes in Bahía Portete National Natural Park?
The short dune trail (1–2 h) and the mangrove boardwalk (30 min) are the main marked walks; both are easy and require water.
When is the best time to visit Bahía Portete National Natural Park?
The dry season from December to April offers cooler temperatures and clear skies; avoid the hottest months of May‑September.
Is camping allowed in the park?
Camping is not permitted; stay in nearby Riohacha or authorized Wayuu community sites.
Do I need a permit to hike the dunes?
No special permit beyond the entry ticket is required for the short trails.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Bahía Portete National Natural Park
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