It was in the Guajira peninsula that I had the immense good fortune to spend 4 days at the heart of the local population, the indigenous Wayúu
An extraordinary culture
The Wayúu people are one of the largest indigenous communities in South America to have resisted colonization. Living astride the border between Colombia and Venezuela, the Wayúu have managed to preserve their culture and traditions. In their widely-spaced cactus wood houses, we were welcomed by several families, always very welcoming and interested in sharing their culture. For the Wayúu, the most important room is certainly the kitchen, always very clean and well-organized. The men bring in the fish they’ve caught, while the women keep the water they’ve brought from the well. They are the ones who cook, and the whole family gathers here for meals.
Breathtaking landscapes
A barren desert of cacti on the shores of the Caribbean Sea? Astonishing but real! During these 4 days, we were treated to a wide range of views: from the emerald-colored water of the bahia hondita to the impressive sand dunes and various natural salt flats, we had the sensation of changing scenery every day. One of the highlights of the trip was the trek we made with our Wayúu guide. We walked along completely deserted white-sand beaches. Or almost. We passed a fisherman repairing his fishing net and took a break in the shade under his hut. We then met up with a small boat that dropped us off on another deserted beach, which was to be our anchorage point for the afternoon… and the night! We felt a bit like Robinson Crusoe. After a delicious lunch of langoustines and coconut rice, we set up our hammocks for the night! The day ended with a sublime sunset followed by stargazing without any light pollution. A real feast for the eyes!
