Tourism in Amazonas

The department of Amazonas is Colombia's gateway to the largest tropical forest in the world. Leticia, its capital at the triple border with Peru and Brazil, is an Amazonian ecotourism destination that combines the jungle, the world's most voluminous river, pink dolphins and the Tikuna, Yagua and Huitoto indigenous communities. The Amacayacu National Natural Park, Colombia's largest park in the Amazon, protects virgin jungle accessible by boat from Leticia. The experience of sailing the Amazon, seeing the jungle from a canoe or sleeping in an indigenous community has no equal in Colombia.

MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF AMAZONAS

The most visited and unmissable destinations and experiences in Amazonas:

Attraction	Type	Description
Amazon River — Navigation	Nature / Adventure	Navigate the world's most voluminous river by canoe, motorboat or boat. Colombian, Peruvian and Brazilian shores.
Pink Dolphins (Boto)	Ecotourism	The boto or pink dolphin of the Amazon can be spotted from Puerto Nariño and the Island of the Monkeys all year round.
Amacayacu National Park	Ecotourism	Colombia's largest Amazon park. Primary forest, blackwater rivers, monkeys, parrots, birds and plants.
Puerto Nariño — Town Without Cars	Sustainable tourism	Colombia's cleanest town (no cars). Tarapoto Lake with dolphins and manatees.
Tikuna Indigenous Communities	Community tourism	Bark cloth crafts (llanchama), coming-of-age rituals, traditional Amazonian medicine.

ECOTOURISM AND NATURE IN AMAZONAS

The Colombian Amazon protects 36% of the planet's fresh water in its basin. The Amazon rainforest generates 20% of the world's oxygen. The department has over 3,000 plant species, 600 birds and 150 mammals. Lake Tarapoto is the most important wetland in the Colombian Amazon.

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF AMAZONAS

The Tikuna people are the most numerous in the Colombian Amazon. Their crafts made from llanchama bark —painted with designs from their worldview— are unique in the world. The pelazón ritual (celebration of female puberty) is the most important cultural event of the Tikuna people. Leticia has a mix of Colombian, Peruvian and Brazilian cultures.

TYPICAL GASTRONOMY OF AMAZONAS

Amazonian fish (pirarucú, gamitana, piranha, arawana, dorado), chicken rice juanes (Peruvian heritage), tacacho with cecina (Peruvian heritage), Amazonian fruits (copoazú, camu-camu, arazá, acaí), casabe, yucca chicha and cane liquor.

HOW TO GET THERE

Only by air from Bogotá to Leticia (2 h, Avianca or Latam). No road access. From Leticia, everything is by motorboat or canoe. To Puerto Nariño: 2 h by boat from Leticia.

Also check the climate of Amazonas and the list of municipalities of Amazonas to plan your visit.