Guacharaca [ɡwatʃaɾaˈka] is a percussion instrument from Colombia. It is named after a bird (Ortalis guttata), as it is said to mimic the bird's call.

The guacharaca is typically made from the cane-like trunk of a small palm tree. It has a hollow tube with ridges carved on the outside, giving it the shape of a small, notched canoe. The instrument is played using a fork made of stiff wire attached to a wooden handle. The player, called a guacharaquero, moves the fork along the ridges to create a scratching sound. A typical guacharaca is about the thickness of a broomstick and as long as a violin.

The guacharaca was created by the Tairona people, an indigenous culture in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region of Colombia, to imitate the sound of the guacharaca bird (Ortalis ruficauda). In the mid-20th century, musicians who play vallenato and cumbia music began using the instrument. Today, it is most closely linked to these musical styles. The guacharaca provides a steady rhythm that supports all types of vallenato and cumbia music.

To play the guacharaca, a musician needs rhythm, speed, and coordination. The instrument is held in the non-dominant hand and rests on the shoulder, while the other hand moves the wire fork up and down to create patterns. The movement changes depending on the music, which can make the instrument harder to play.