Emerging eco-travel destination on the edge of the Amazon basin

San José del Guaviare is the capital of the department of Guaviare and has 66,000 inhabitants. The city is located at the northern end of the Colombian Amazon region, just over an hour’s flight from Bogotá.

The still unknown San José del Guaviare is most likely not a destination on your Colombia bucket list, but do you like a destination off the beaten track where you can hike in a special and still largely untouched natural environment? Then this destination should definitely be on your bucket list!

Given its location in the transition area from the Llanos to the Amazon, there is a varied landscape with spectacular rock formations and natural whirlpools. The wildlife is equally diverse. These include many species of birds, monkeys, pink river dolphins, anteaters and caimans.

In Tranquilandia you will find this pink river, the lesser-known “sister” of the Caño Cristales, the pink river in the Meta region.

The well-preserved Indian drawings in Nuevo Tolima and Cerro Azul, which were placed under protection in 2018, are also special. But these are not the only reasons why San Jose del Guaviare is so special.

Region of change The Guaviare region is also known as the region of change.
Not so long ago, this area was inaccessible to travelers because of the “conflict”, but since the peace agreement, ecotourism has slowly taken off. Tour operators are working with local indigenous communities and families who used to work in the coca industry and now tell travelers their stories of how tourism has completely changed their lives. As the income from tourism goes to the locals, you know that your money is well spent.

Another advantage of a trip to San Jose del Guaviare: Since tourism is still in its infancy, you’ll be one of the few tourists! A trip to San Jose del Guaviare will therefore inspire you and give you an insight into the history of the country and its people, who prefer to look forwards rather than backwards.

How do you plan a trip to San Jose del Guaviare? This travel guide will tell you everything you need to know to plan a trip to this beautiful part of Colombia.

Photos: Geotours

One of Colombia’s most off-the-beaten-track destinations

Mitú is a town located in the department of Vaupes, in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The town is virtually cut off from the rest of Colombia; you can only get there by flight from Bogotá (Satena) or by a day-long boat ride through the jungle. For this very reason, Mitú is a magical destination.

Birding
Mitú is home to some of Colombia’s rarest bird species. It is a paradise for birdwatchers anyway, with more than 500 different bird species.

Ethnic diversity
There are 26 Native American communities, so there is great ethnic diversity. The Vaupes River connects all these communities, so the transportation of locals (and travelers) and products is via boats and canoes.

Hiking in pristine nature
Even if you are not an avid birdwatcher, Mitú has a lot to offer.Outside the town you can hike on trails to spot birds and wildlife, this must be with a local guide, because you must have permission from the leaders of the Indian communities. In unspoiled nature, you can hike to waterfalls, caves and natural pools. A highlight of a trip to Mitú is getting to know the traditions and culture of Indian communities, such as the Jerico community, 2 hours away. Check out options for hostels and hotels in Mitú, your base for a trip to one of Colombia’s most off the beaten track destinations.

Mystical hills in the far southeast of Colombia

The Cerros de Mavecure, are three hills located in the Guainía region in extreme southeastern Colombia, near the border with Venezuela. The Cerro Pajarito, Mono and Mavecure hills rise proudly above the otherwise flat landscape. In height, the hills range from 170 to 700 meters.

Oldest hills in the world
The Cerros de Mavecure are among the oldest hills in the world and are part of the Guainía shield, a 1.7 billion-year-old geological rock formation that runs through this part of Colombia, southern Venezuela, northern Brazil, Suriname and French Guiana.

Puerto Iníridia
A climb to the Cerros de Mavecure is not the only attraction in this special region. For example, you can go bird watching and take a boat trip on the river and spot pink dolphins. Starting point for visiting the Cerros de Mavecure is the town of Puerto Inírida, with a population of 40,000. You reach the hills via a boat ride on the Inírida River of over 2h. to one of the two indigenous villages near the hills: El Remanso or El Venado. From here the climb to the Cerros de Mavecure -with guide- can begin.

City between the Andes and the Amazon

The town of Florencia in Caquetá, is a great base for exploring the region. The department of Caquetá in southern Colombia is one of Colombia’s most unknown and off the beaten track destinations.

Emerging tourism
For years, violence and drug trafficking prevented people from visiting Caquetá, but tourism is currently developing and there is much to discover in this region of southern Colombia. There is much to do in terms of sports and culture and there is beautiful nature to discover. Florencia was founded in 1902 and has about 190,000 inhabitants. The city is located between the Andes and the Amazon, 240 meters above sea level.

How to get to Florencia?
There are daily flights from Bogota to Florencia with Satena airlines. (1.30h) By bus it is a long ride of about 9-11h. A visit to Florencia can be combined well with a trip to Neiva and San Augustin, from Pitalito it is 3 hours by bus to Florencia.

Climate
The climate is tropical and there is high humidity. The average temperature is around 26 degrees. Most rain falls in the months of April, May, October and November. The dry season is between December and March.

Hotels
There is not a very large choice of hotels in Florencia. One of the better hotels as a base for your trip to Caquetá is hotel Andinos Plaza Florencia. Check here for more options in Florencia.