Maicao is a city in the La Guajira department in northeastern Colombia, near the border with Venezuela.

Get in

• Cross the border from Venezuela
• From Riohacha and Santa Marta

Get around

There is no ATM in the bus terminal, you'll have get a taxi driver to drive you to the city center.

See

The Omar Ibn al-Khattab mosque stands out in the city as one of the largest mosques in all of Latin America. The mosque was built in 1997 to accommodate the city's notable Arab and Muslim population, mostly comprised of Lebanese immigrants, though these numbers have been dwindling in recent years. It's quite a beautiful site and a must-visit if you're in the area.

Do

Maicao is a great border town. Everything is for sale here, most of it of dubious legality. The city sits on one point of a triangular shaped smuggling operation. Home appliances and large goods come here via Panama, offloaded at the port of Puerto Bolivar. Gas, food and other subsidized goods come over the border from Venezuela, using primarily Indian footpaths.

A trip to the vast market is a must for any visitor. Everything from fake iPods, to outdated American department store merchandise and Amazonian fruits is on offer. Negotiate hard.

Eat

The trading atmosphere of Maicao means a broader range of options than elsewhere in the region. Of particular note are the two Arab restaurants in town, which serve reasonable shawarma, chicken, and hummus, along with fries.

Other options include roast chicken, soups, with both Colombian and Venezuelan flavors.