I woke up to discover that the beach was within arm's reach and went out to catch the sunrise. The walk west ended at a very large boulder, but walking east continued a very long way. We heard that at some point walking east would take you to the river. The sound of the surf was very loud and strong. The world's tallest coastal peak is the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta rising from sea level to 18,942 feet. It is separate from the Andes mountains and by its position in relationship to the coast causes the strong tides.
I slept in a room with three beds. The owner had warned us that the water levels had been low, but reassured us that they had enough water for us for the overnight we would be at the hotel. As with everywhere else we've gone, toilet paper is deposited in a waste basket by the toilet, not flushed. 
There is a worm wood that is very heavy and sits at the bottom of the ocean. The elder whose daughter runs the hotel told us that he had started collecting this wood to make furniture and that the tables we ate at were so heavy that it took four or five people to carry it to the beach when they wanted to have a celebration on the beach.
There is a worm wood that is very heavy and sits at the bottom of the ocean. The elder whose daughter runs the hotel told us that he had started collecting this wood to make furniture and that the tables we ate at were so heavy that it took four or five people to carry it to the beach when they wanted to have a celebration on the beach. 
Saturday at the beach was our free morning and everyone spread out, some people walking, some catching up on sleep, some lounging on the vast assortments of hammocks, chairs, recliners and canvas sling chairs. At one point in the morning Mariana, our guide, came around and asked if any of us would like a massage. It turned out that they called three masseuse to come to the hotel and the little huts on the beach (one in the photo past the trees) were for massages. What a treat to get an hour's massage with the ocean waves creating a rhythm in the background. The cost was about $18.00.
We left Palomino at about 2pm to head to Barranquilla. It was much too soon to say good bye to the beach. We stopped briefly along the road to buy bags made by the Arhuaca tribe. They are woven with a steel needle and it is the women's job to use their time to create the bags. In the Koghi tribe the plain white bags are for a wife to give her husband. Most others have six stripes in natural tones of browns, blacks, and beige. The Arhuaca bags have more designs, but are also natural colors. 
The highway to Barranquilla followed the coast most of the way. During one stretch we saw that there was a large body of water to the south lined with miles of homes. Some were brick or concrete structures, but many were patched together from assorted materials including metal sheeting. Simon referred to it as an estuary and said many of the people who live there harvest oysters.
We arrived at Barranquilla after dark and had dinner at a small local cafe that served large plates of rice with chicken, beef or vegetables.
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