# Fonseca Municipality, La Guajira Department – Villages & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/colombia/la-guajira/fonseca/

Municipality · La Guajira Department 

# Fonseca

Fonseca is a municipality of Colombia in La Guajira Department. It had an estimated **48,199 people** in 2025 on 474 km² (about 102 per km²). Its main town is Fonseca. 55 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 89 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 48,199people (2025)
- 474km²
- 89mapped services
- 211 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Fonseca?

Fonseca had an estimated **48,199 people** in 2025 — 4.6% of La Guajira Department, 155th of 1121 municipalities. There are 1,035 women for every 1,000 men (close to the La Guajira Department figure of 1,045). Spread over 474 km², that is about **102 people per km²**, 279th of 1121 municipalities.

30.0% of people are children under 15 and 6.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 27 years (it is 25 across La Guajira Department). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 58 children and older people.

0–4 ****4,877**

5–9 ****4,960**

10–14 ****4,598**

15–19 ****4,027**

20–24 ****3,962**

25–29 ****4,210**

30–34 ****4,022**

35–39 ****3,389**

40–44 ****2,832**

45–49 ****2,351**

50–54 ****2,055**

55–59 ****1,890**

60–64 ****1,680**

65–69 ****1,322**

70–74 ****900**

75–79 ****542**

80–84 ****307**

85–89 ****163**

90–94 ****73**

95+ ****27**

Source: [Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) via OCHA HDX, population 2025 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-col).

## Where is Fonseca?

Fonseca lies in [La Guajira Department](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/la-guajira/), [Colombia](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/). It borders 4 other municipalities: [Barrancas](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/la-guajira/barrancas/), [Distracción](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/la-guajira/distraccion/), [Riohacha](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/la-guajira/riohacha/) and [San Juan del Cesar](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/la-guajira/san-juan-del-cesar/). By area it is the 385th largest of 1,122 municipalities in Colombia. It covers 2.3% of [La Guajira Department](https://wherepedia.org/colombia/la-guajira/). The centre of Fonseca is about 708 km in a straight line from Bogotá, the capital. It is about 79 km from Riohacha, the main town of La Guajira Department. The centre point is at 10.8431° N, 72.7845° W.

Source: [Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-col).

## Know before you go: Fonseca

- Time zoneUTC−5, no daylight saving · America/Bogota
- CurrencyPeso (COP)
- Country calling code+57
- LanguagesSpanish
- Plug typesType A, B · 110 V
- Driving sideRight
- Postcode format6 digits (######)

### Nearest airports

- Alfonso López Pumarejo Airport (VUP) · Valledupar68 km
- Almirante Padilla Airport (RCH) · Riohacha78 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 12.8 hours, sunrise around 05:28) and shortest in Dec (about 11.5 hours, sunrise around 06:01, sunset around 17:31).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Villages and localities in Fonseca

Open gazetteers list **55 villages, towns and localities** in Fonseca. The largest with a recorded population: Fonseca (32,220). Settlements here lie between about 160 m and 1,509 m above sea level (median 211 m).

- Antiguo ETCR Pondores
- Arroyo Hondo
- Banganita
- Buenos Aires
- Caimito
- Cardonal
- Cañaboba
- Caño Dulce
- Ceibal
- Conejo
- Costa Rica
- El Barrial
- El Carey
- El Carmen de Fonseca
- El Darién
- El Guayabo
- El Hatico
- El Palmar
- El Porvenir
- El Puy
- El Suán
- Fonseca
- Guamachal
- Hatico Viejo
- La Cimarrona
- La Paulina
- La Vida
- Las Marías
- Las Miradas
- Los Alpes
- Los Toquitos
- Lourdes
- Manantialito
- Medianía
- Normandía
- Palmira
- Playón
- Pondores
- Potrerito
- Potrero
- Puerto López
- Puerto Velo
- Puyalito
- Quebrachal
- Sabaneta
- San Benito
- San Luis
- Santa Rita
- Siberia
- Sitio Nuevo
- Tierranueva
- Tres Aves Marías
- Trigo
- Tunales
- Vereda Los Pondores

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Fonseca

Named natural and historic features inside Fonseca, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

20 rivers and streams.

- Acequia El Arroyito
- Arroyo Caimancito
- Arroyo Cañaverales
- Arroyo Conejo
- Arroyo EL Platanal
- Arroyo El Arizá
- Arroyo El Toco
- Arroyo Guanábano
- Arroyo Guatapurí de Pondores
- Arroyo La Hoyada
- Arroyo La Yaya
- Arroyo Magatote
- Arroyo Marimondas
- Arroyo Masteban
- Arroyo Panderetas
- Arroyo Pital
- Arroyo Prieto
- Arroyo Reparito
- Arroyo Riecito
- Arroyo Tragaentero

### Hills and mountains

7 mountains; 4 hills.

- Cerro Boca de la Rosa · 878 m
- Alto Los Tocos · 806 m
- Cerro Toco · 789 m
- Cerro Las Minas · 781 m
- Cerro Guayacanes · 686 m
- Cerro Carvan · 678 m
- Alto Las Cabeceras · 665 m
- Cerro Mamarrongo · 602 m
- Loma La Laguna · 514 m
- Loma del Hatico · 311 m
- Loma El Tablazo · 243 m

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Fonseca and the best time to visit

In Fonseca, the warmest month is Aug (average 27 °C) and the coolest is Jan (25 °C). About 620 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Oct (130 mm) and the driest Jan (4 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **November to September**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 25 4 

Feb 25 4 

Mar 26 14 

Apr 27 31 

May 27 88 

Jun 27 56 

Jul 27 34 

Aug 27 52 

Sep 27 89 

Oct 26 130 

Nov 25 82 

Dec 25 34 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Fonseca

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Valledupar - Cesar · Fonseca 8.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.88931&mlon=-72.84886#map=17/10.88931/-72.84886) 

Bank Fonseca | Banco de Bogotá · Fonseca 9.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.88877&mlon=-72.85227#map=17/10.88877/-72.85227) 

Hotel Hotel Daniels · Fonseca 8.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.88514&mlon=-72.84560#map=17/10.88514/-72.84560) 

School Escuela Rural De Potrerito · Fonseca 1.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.85576&mlon=-72.77807#map=17/10.85576/-72.77807) 

College Corporacion Cetsca · Fonseca 8.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.88616&mlon=-72.84434#map=17/10.88616/-72.84434) 

Police station Policía Nacional · El Molino 26 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=10.65682&mlon=-72.93114#map=17/10.65682/-72.93114) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Fonseca

Places mapped inside Fonseca in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals4
- Banks2
- Hotels8
- Schools56
- Colleges and universities1
- Pharmacies1
- Restaurants9
- Dental clinics8

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other municipalities in La Guajira Department

- Albania
- Barrancas
- Dibulla
- Distracción
- El Molino
- Hatonuevo
- La Jagua del Pilar
- Maicao
- Manaure
- Riohacha
- San Juan del Cesar
- Uribia
- Urumita
- Villanueva

## Quick answers

- Where is Fonseca?In La Guajira Department, Colombia
- What is the population of Fonseca?48,199 (2025 estimate)
- What is the median age in Fonseca?About 27 years (2025 estimate)
- What is the population density of Fonseca?About 102 people per km²
- What borders Fonseca?Barrancas, Distracción, Riohacha and San Juan del Cesar
- What time zone is Fonseca in?UTC−5
- What currency is used in Fonseca?Peso (COP)
- What language is spoken in Fonseca?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Fonseca?55 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Fonseca?Settlements lie between 160 m and 1,509 m
- What is the highest point in Fonseca?Cerro Boca de la Rosa (878 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Fonseca?November to September
- Where is the nearest hospital to Fonseca?Valledupar - Cesar, about 8.7 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Fonseca?Fonseca | Banco de Bogotá, about 9.0 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Fonseca?4 mapped
- How many banks are in Fonseca?2 mapped
- What is the P-code of Fonseca?CO44279 (OCHA common operational dataset)