Things to Do in Palomino & Day Trips: The Complete Guide (2026)
- Aloha Palomino
- Jul 29
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 7
"Palomino is small — will I run out of things to do?" I hear it all the time. I'm Paola, and after living here since 2017, my honest answer is no. The town itself is small and walkable, and that's its charm — but its location on Colombia's Caribbean coast is unbeatable. You've got activities right in town, and beaches, rivers and natural parks in every direction.
Here's the complete guide to everything you can do in and around Palomino — whether you want to stay local or head out for the day.
Activities in Palomino
You don't even have to leave town to fill your days. For such a small place, Palomino has a surprising range of things to do.
Tubing down the river. The most popular activity in Palomino — float down the river through the jungle all the way to the sea. There are three route options depending on how far you want to hike first. → Read our full tubing guide.
Surf. Palomino has waves for beginners and experienced surfers, with lessons and surf trips available right in town. →Do yo want a surf trip?
Yoga & meditation. Sacra, Palomino's beautiful Kogui-style yoga studio, offers daily classes and meditation.
Gym, padel & dance. There's a gym, functional training at Tabata, padel courts at Soleo Palomino, and dance classes at Makuti. → Read our full activities guide.
Birdwatching. Palomino's mix of ecosystems makes it a hidden gem for birders — guided tours with bilingual guides explore the Madre Vieja wetland. → Read our full birdwatching guide.
Support the dog shelter. Join a tour, walk rescue dogs on the beach, or visit the café — a meaningful way to give back during your stay. → Read about Dog Shelter Palomino.
Day trips from Palomino
This is where Palomino's location really shines. Some of the Caribbean's best natural spots are a short bus ride away.
Tayrona National Park. Colombia's most famous coastal park — jungle trails, hidden beaches and Cabo San Juan — just 45 minutes away. → Read our full Tayrona guide.
Quebrada Valencia. A beautiful 20-minute jungle walk to waterfalls and natural pools, only 20 minutes from town — and you can do it on your own, no tour needed. → Read our full Quebrada Valencia guide.
Flamingos at Camarones. A full-day trip to see wild pink flamingos, canoe with a Wayúu guide and enjoy a seafront lunch, where the La Guajira desert begins. → Read our full flamingo tour guide.
Going further: La Guajira
For travelers who want to explore deeper, La Guajira has some of Colombia's most spectacular remote destinations — like Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas, the northernmost tip of South America. These are multi-day trips, and we can help you plan them.
Palomino: small town, perfect base
That's the secret of Palomino. It's calm and walkable enough to feel like home, but positioned so you're never far from your next adventure. Stay a week and you'll be busy. Stay a month and you'll still be discovering.
At Casa Aloha, our guests use us as their home base — a quiet, fresh room, a private desk and Starlink Wi-Fi with solar backup to come back to after a day out. We're happy to help you plan any of these trips or activities.
Only 3 rooms, 6 guests max. Not a hostel — a calm home base in Palomino.
→ Book direct on WhatsApp or check room availability.
Frequently asked questions about things to do in Palomino
What are the best things to do in Palomino?
The most popular activity is tubing down the river to the sea. Other highlights include surfing, yoga at Sacra, birdwatching, and day trips to Tayrona National Park, Quebrada Valencia's waterfalls and the flamingos of Camarones.
Is Palomino worth visiting if it's such a small town?
Yes. Palomino is small and calm, but between its in-town activities and its location — Tayrona is 45 minutes away, Quebrada Valencia 20 — there's always something to do. Many travelers come for a few days and end up staying weeks.
What day trips can you do from Palomino?
The main day trips are Tayrona National Park (45 minutes), Quebrada Valencia's waterfalls and natural pools (20 minutes), and the flamingo sanctuary at Camarones (a full-day trip). Cabo de la Vela and Punta Gallinas are popular multi-day trips deeper into La Guajira.
What is there to do in Palomino when it rains?
Yoga at Sacra, a gym session, dance classes at Makuti, or relaxing at a café are all good rainy-day options, since Palomino's afternoon showers are usually short.
How many days should you spend in Palomino?
Most travelers come for three days and end up extending. With tubing, surf, yoga, birdwatching and day trips to Tayrona and beyond, you could easily fill a week or more — which is why many remote workers stay a month.
