Tourism in Guainía

The department of Guainía is one of the most remote and pristine destinations in Colombia. Inírida, its capital, is the starting point to explore the Mavecure Hills, three tepuis (sandstone rock formations) that emerge abruptly from the Amazon jungle as guardians of the origin of the world according to the Puinave and Curripaco indigenous peoples. The blackwater rivers —the Inírida, the Guainía, the Atabapo— are fluvial exploration routes through nature that has rarely seen tourists.

MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS OF GUAINÍA

The most visited and unmissable destinations and experiences in Guainía:

Attraction	Type	Description
Mavecure Hills	Nature / Adventure	Three tepuis (Pajarito, Mono and Mavecure) in the middle of the jungle. Ascent to Mono and Pajarito with 360° views.
Inírida River — Blackwater Rivers	Nature / River	Rivers dyed black by jungle tannins. Unique landscapes, pink dolphins, otters.
Caño Bocón	Nature	Blackwater stream with fairytale landscapes. Flooded savannas with exuberant aquatic flora.
Puinave and Curripaco Indigenous Communities	Community tourism	Visit to malocas, chiquichiqui fiber crafts, traditional bow and arrow fishing.

ECOTOURISM AND NATURE IN GUAINÍA

Guainía is part of the Guiana Shield, one of the oldest geological formations on the planet (1.7 billion years). The Puinawai Biosphere Reserve protects 1,092,900 ha of nearly intact Amazon jungle. The Inírida fluvial star is one of the 6 most important fluvial stars in the world.

CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL HERITAGE OF GUAINÍA

The Puinave, Curripaco, Piapoco and Sikuani peoples maintain languages, rituals and ancestral knowledge of the jungle. Chiquichiqui palm basketry has an artisan market in Inírida. The mythology of the tepuis as the place of origin of the world is part of the living worldview of the communities.

TYPICAL GASTRONOMY OF GUAINÍA

Amazonian fish fried or in broth (cachama, bocachico, payara), yucca casabe, mañoco (toasted yucca flour), Amazonian fruits (copoazú, arazá, camu-camu), yucca chicha.

HOW TO GET THERE

Only by air: flights from Bogotá to Inírida (1.5 h, Satena or Avianca). No road access. From Inírida, all tourism is by motorboat on the rivers.

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