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Colombia🇨🇴 | festivalsFestival de la Cultura WayuuYonna dance, woven mochilas, Uribia desert, Wayuunaiki stories | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in de la Cultura Wayuu
👌 Worth visitingfestival ranked #12
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

Entry is free, which makes this the cheapest way to meet Wayuu culture in La Guajira. The Festival de la Cultura Wayuu takes place in Uribia, in the north of Colombia, a dusty desert town reached from Riohacha. Expect traditional music, yonna dance, and weavers selling mochilas. I arrived without cash, and the only ATM was empty by noon. I learned to carry pesos before leaving Riohacha. Skip the souvenir stalls near the entrance and buy straight from the weavers. It differs from Valledupar’s Vallenato festival, which is loud accordion competition, while this one is about Indigenous ritual, craft and storytelling.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #12 festival in ColombiaWhy de la Cultura Wayuu should be on your travel list

Festival de la Cultura Wayuu gives backpackers a rare chance to see Wayuu traditions in Uribia, the self-proclaimed Indigenous capital of Colombia, rather than through a tour operator’s filter. Dancers perform the yonna, a courtship dance with drums called kasha and a woman in a long manta robe, and you can watch it at arm’s length. Prices stay low, and weavers sell mochilas directly, so your money reaches the maker. The festival also fits neatly into a La Guajira loop, since Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas lie further out on the same desert road. Add it before the beaches and you will understand the people whose land you cross.

💡 HighlightsMust-see experiences and standout moments

  1. Wayuu Gran Gala and the Yonna dance: The Yonna is the Wayuu’s ceremonial circle dance, driven by the kashi drum and the sawawa flute. A woman in a long manta robe sets the pace, and a man circles her with a quick, flirtatious stamp. It is the heart of the festival in Uribia, and it is best watched from the edge of the dance ground.
  2. Woven mochilas and chinchorros: Wayuu weavers sell and demonstrate the bags and hammocks the culture is known for. Each geometric pattern, called a kanasü, has a meaning. You can see a mochila take shape over several days, and buying directly from the weaver is the fairest way to pay.
  3. Ceremonial and everyday dress: Women wear the loose, colorful manta, and many have faces painted with a protective clay paste. Photographs are courteous only after asking.
  4. Wayuu food
… read more 👉
  1. Wayuu Gran Gala and the Yonna dance: The Yonna is the Wayuu’s ceremonial circle dance, driven by the kashi drum and the sawawa flute. A woman in a long manta robe sets the pace, and a man circles her with a quick, flirtatious stamp. It is the heart of the festival in Uribia, and it is best watched from the edge of the dance ground.
  2. Woven mochilas and chinchorros: Wayuu weavers sell and demonstrate the bags and hammocks the culture is known for. Each geometric pattern, called a kanasü, has a meaning. You can see a mochila take shape over several days, and buying directly from the weaver is the fairest way to pay.
  3. Ceremonial and everyday dress: Women wear the loose, colorful manta, and many have faces painted with a protective clay paste. Photographs are courteous only after asking.
  4. Wayuu food stalls: Expect friche (fried goat), chicha de maíz, and the fermented corn drink known as mazamorra. Goat is the staple here, and eating it at a stall is cheaper than at any restaurant in the area.
  5. Wayuunaiki storytelling and music: Elders and singers perform in Wayuunaiki, the Wayuu language. The stories cover clan lineage, the figure of the palabrero (the traditional mediator), and the desert’s origin tales. They give the dances their context.
Look for the palabrero sessions, where a mediator explains how the Wayuu settle disputes through spoken compensation rather than courts.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do near Festival de la Cultura Wayuu

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Guajira: Discover Cabo de la Vela and its magic in 2 days

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Plan 2 days and 1 night Cabo de La Vela, Apalanchi

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Weaving tour Immersion in Wayuu community

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Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?When is the celebration of Festival de la Cultura Wayuu?

The Festival de la Cultura Wayuu is held in Uribia, La Guajira, in late May or early June, usually over about four days, and the dates shift each year with the local calendar. Uribia is known as the Wayuu capital of Colombia.
  • Best day: The opening parade and the traditional dance and music contests draw the biggest crowds, while weekdays are calmer for talking with artisans.
  • Weather: Expect hot, dry days around 30 to 36°C (86 to 97°F), strong sun and wind, and little rain. Bring a hat, sunscreen and a scarf for dust.
  • Booking: Reserve beds in Riohacha or Uribia 3 to 4 weeks ahead. Prices can rise 30 to 50 percent.
  • Roads: Leave Riohacha early, since traffic into Uribia thickens by late morning, and head back before dark.
Check the exact dates with the Uribia municipality before booking transport.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: not recommended for travelingFEBFebruary: not recommended for travelingMARMarch: not recommended for travelingAPRApril: not recommended for travelingMAYMay: not recommended for travelingJUNJune: not recommended for travelingJULJuly: not recommended for travelingAUGAugust: not recommended for travelingSEPSeptember: not recommended for travelingOCTOctober: not recommended for travelingNOVNovember: excellent for travelingDECDecember: not recommended for traveling

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🛏️ Where to stay?Best areas and accommodation options

Riohacha is the most practical base for backpackers, about an hour by road from Uribia, with a seafront, plenty of budget guesthouses and hostels, and frequent shared taxis and buses to Uribia. The streets near the Malecon are busy in the evening, so they feel safe and sociable, and you will meet other solo travelers over dinner. Stay within walking distance of the center and the shared-taxi stops to cut costs.
Staying in Uribia itself puts you at the festival, with simple family-run lodgings and few places to socialize. Rooms fill early and are basic, so it suits travelers who want to be on site … read more 👉
Riohacha is the most practical base for backpackers, about an hour by road from Uribia, with a seafront, plenty of budget guesthouses and hostels, and frequent shared taxis and buses to Uribia. The streets near the Malecon are busy in the evening, so they feel safe and sociable, and you will meet other solo travelers over dinner. Stay within walking distance of the center and the shared-taxi stops to cut costs.
Staying in Uribia itself puts you at the festival, with simple family-run lodgings and few places to socialize. Rooms fill early and are basic, so it suits travelers who want to be on site for late events. Expect limited nightlife and take cash.
Cabo de la Vela is a few hours farther and popular with backpackers for hammocks and rancherías, but it is better saved for after the festival, since the road is rough and transport is slow.
Best hostels in Colombia


Best quality hotels in Colombia

👛 Costs (as of 19 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

A realistic budget for a day at the Festival de la Cultura Wayuu is about US$40 to 107, with a midpoint of roughly US$75.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Festival ticketsUS$0 to 5Most events in Uribia’s plazas are free, and only some venues charge.
AccommodationUS$15 to 45Hostel beds or simple rooms in Riohacha, with higher prices during the festival.
Local transportUS$5 to 12Shared taxis or buses between Riohacha and Uribia, plus local rides.
Food & drinksUS$10 to 20Goat plates and street snacks cost US$4 to 8 each, and juices cost about US$1 to 2.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$10 to 25Wayuu mochilas cost roughly US$15 to 60 each, plus sunscreen and water.
Total Daily BudgetUS$40 to 107About US$75 on average with one mid-range bed.


source: colombia.travel
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🍲 FoodLocal Cuisine & Drinks

Expect festival stalls around Uribia’s main square and the event grounds, grilling chivo (goat), the Wayuu staple, served roasted or stewed with yuca, plantain and rice. Try friche, fried goat with its own fat, which is rich and salty and best shared. Fresh fish and arepas with cheese fill out the cheaper options.
For drinks, look for chicha, fresh juices and cold agua de panela, which help against the heat. Wayuu communities also make fermented drinks for ceremonies, so accept them politely if offered. Coffee and cold beer are widely sold.
Pay in cash in Colombian pesos, as card machines are rare and signals unreliable. Bring small bills. Portions are generous, so share a plate. Lines are informal, and asking before photographing cooks or vendors is appreciated. Drink bottled water.

FAQFrequently asked questions about de la Cultura Wayuu

The Festival de la Cultura Wayuu takes place in Uribia, La Guajira, usually in late May or early June, and runs for about four days. Exact dates change each year, so check with the municipality. Uribia is roughly an hour from Riohacha by road.
Attending the Festival de la Cultura Wayuu costs little, since most events are free, though a day typically comes to US$55 to 95 with transport, food and a bed. Shared taxis from Riohacha cost a few dollars, and festival meals cost US$4 to 8. Handwoven mochilas run about US$15 to 60.
For the Festival de la Cultura Wayuu you generally do not need tickets in advance, because most parades, dances and craft stalls in Uribia are free to enter. Some special events may charge about US$0 to 5 at the door. What does need booking early is a bed in Riohacha or Uribia, ideally 3 to 4 weeks ahead.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Colombian festivals near de la Cultura Wayuu

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We 💚 feedbackFinal thoughts on celebrating the de la Cultura Wayuu

Festival de la Cultura Wayuu is best on the late afternoon and evening, when the heat drops and the dancers and drummers come out in force. I would arrive early, eat a good lunch, and stay until the last drum. Bring small bills for the weavers.

✈️ When did I visit Colombia?
Did a good 3-week trip around Colombia in August 2014.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Colombia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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