What to do in Puerto Nariño?

Travel Guide Puerto Nariño

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What to do in Puerto Nariño, Amazon? There are many fun things to do in Puerto Nariño, from strolling around the village with the colorful houses, to doing guided tours and spotting river dolphins, taking jungle walks and spotting sloths in Peru. Here are our 10 tips for the best things to do in Puerto Nariño, Amazon. If you’d rather not go to the Amazon and Puerto Nariño on your own, check here the options for an organized tour with a guide.

ToColombia

10 Tips

Must do’s

1. Visit Puerto Nariño's central square.

Here you will find the Puerto Nariño letters and some statues of animals that live in the Amazon River. The square is a nice place for people watching, selling their wares or coming to watch the games on the sports field. Especially on Saturdays, the sports field is a lively place, when young people from the area gather there to play sports.

 

2. Enjoy the view from the observation tower

From the Mirador Nai-Pata (treehouse) you have a beautiful view of the village and surrounding area. Entrance fee is COP5000/$1.25. The entrance to the observation tower is very funny!

3. Take a boat ride on Lake Tarapoto

If you do the boat trip during the rainy season, you have a chance of seeing gray and -much less common- pink river dolphins can be seen. The best season to spot dolphins is the rainy season, from November through May, when water levels are higher. Space is often scheduled at the end of the trip for piranha fishing.

Photo @ElTiempo

4. Visit the monkey sanctuary

Residents of the indigenous community of Mocagua catch monkeys at the Maikuchiga Foundation. The animals are injured, or rescued from illegal trade. The monkeys are cared for, with the goal of later returning them to the wild.

5. Take a night hike in the jungle

A magical, exciting experience because you have the chance to see animals you don’t see during the day, such as tarantulas and poison dart frogs.

6. Spot parrots and monkeys at Cabañas alto del Aguila

If you spend the night here, spotting wildlife such as monkeys and parrots is nice, but even if you don’t sleep there you can visit the cabañas. There are several species of monkeys that are used to people. The cabanas are about a 20-minute walk from Puerto Nariño. A visit to Cabañas alto del Aguila will cost you COP10,000/$2.50.

7. Meet a Native American community.

There are no less than 22 Indian communities in Puerto Nariño and its surroundings. So a must do is to visit one (or more) of these communities and learn about their traditions, such as San Martin de Amacayacu. There are a few tour operators in Puerto Nariño who can arrange this for you.

 

8. Spot sloths in Peru

On the other side of the Amazon River lies the Peruvian village of San Antonio. This village is known as an excellent place to see sloths in the wild. Sloths eat from a certain type of tree, of which there are more than enough to be found in San Antonio. Often a trip is combined with a hike in the jungle.

 

9. Visit the Fundacíon Natütama

This is a foundation dedicated to conservation and education. In the small museum, you’ll get an insight into the flora and fauna of the Amazon and the traditions of Native American communities. Entrance to the Fundación Natütama is COP10,000/€2.50 and includes a short tour in Spanish.

10. Taste the local cuisine

The local river fish is steamed in banana leaves, making it extra tender in flavor. Another specialty in the Amazon is homemade ice cream. There are many types of ice cream, with the flavors of the fresh fruit from the Amazon, such as acai berries. More about eating in the Amazon and the delicious fresh fruit, read in Amazon culinary.

 

Where to stay in Puerto Nariño? – Information and tips

Travel Guide Puerto Nariño

Home 9 Category: Travel Guide Puerto Nariño

Where to stay in Puerto Nariño? You won’t find luxury accommodations with air conditioning and high-speed Internet in Puerto Nariño, but there are a number of simple but comfortable hotels and hostels.

The location
You can choose between accommodation in the village, or accommodation within walking distance -or short boat trip- from the village. If you stay outside the village, keep in mind that not all accommodations have a restaurant, so you will have to walk -or take a boat- to the village each time to get something to eat.

Tours and activities
The owners of the accommodations, generally have a good knowledge of the nature and culture of Puerto Nariño and sometimes act as guides themselves for tours and activities. If they do not provide tours themselves, they have contacts with people who do.

In this guide you will find everything you need to know to stay in Puerto Nariño, our tips for staying in the village or just in the middle of nature. And our bonus tips if you prefer to stay outside the village with a local Indian community, for a very authentic experience.

Tips for booking your hotel or hostel

#Colombia tips

Tip #1
For wildlife

Cabañas Alto del Aguila
Highly recommended if you like to stay in nature, among all kinds of wildlife. For example, there are parrots here and 4 different species of monkeys, which are used to people. The cabañas are basic and prices start at 20 dollars per night. The Cabañas Alto del Aguila are a 20-minute walk from Puerto Nariño, a 5-minute boat ride away. Through the owners, you can book tours and borrow a kayak to cruise the river during sunset or spot dolphins. This is one of the few hostels with wifi (in the common area)

Tip #2 For chilling in the pool after a jungle trip

Eware Refugio Amazónico
One of the few hotels with a pool to relax after an active day in the Amazon.From Eware Refugio Amazónico, you can hike through the jungle to the village and spot monkeys and parrots along the way.

Tip #3
For a comfortable hotel in a central location

Waira Selva hotel is near the boarding point for the boat to Leticia. From the terrace there is a nice view of the river.

Tip #4
For an authentic experience at an Indian community
Further out of the village, you can also stay overnight at an Indian community, such as la Ceiba in Mocagua and San Martín de Amacayacu. Here you can learn all about the culture and traditions of the indigenous community, with the residents themselves acting as guides for the various activities and excursions. Accommodations are basic, but if you set yourself up for this, you can have a special, authentic experience away from mass tourism. You can visit Puerto Nariño on a day trip from your accommodation.

Read on for more tips, for every budget and taste.

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More hotels in Puerto Nariño
More hotels in Leticia

Practical information Puerto Nariño

Travel Guide Puerto Nariño

Home 9 Category: Travel Guide Puerto Nariño

Here you will find practical information about Puerto Nariño, such as handy tips on how to withdraw money and phone and wifi in Puerto Nariño.

Practical info A-Z

Drinking water

The water in Puerto Nariño is non-potable,  but free filtered water is available (near the police station). So bring your thermos with you. The water does run out quickly, so apart from this water, make sure you have your own supply.

Food and drink

Las Margaritas is Puerto Nariño’s most famous restaurant, where most tours from Leticia stop for a buffet lunch.
Other restaurants include restaurant Matamata and Maloka Piraña, for traditional Amazonian food and fresh juices. Fish, yucca (cassava) and banana are common ingredients in Puerto Nariño. Arepas -as in the rest of Colombia- are also commonly eaten. The fish is often wrapped in banana leaves and steamed, keeping it nice and tender. Most restaurants also have options for vegetarians. Popular with locals and tourists alike are the street BBQs. Every night locals prepare their BBQ to grill meat, fish and side dishes such as arepas and bananas. The BBQ is not only a tasty way to eat, but also fun to experience the local atmosphere. For a meal, you pay around COP20,000/$5.

There are also ice cream shops where you can buy homemade ice cream made from the exotic fruit from the Amazon, such as acai (COP 5000/$1.25).

ATM's

    There is no ATM in Puerto Nariño and payment for your errands, food and drinks and tours is in cash. So make sure you bring enough cash. There is an ATM in Leticia but it is often empty, so your best option is to get cash in Bogotá before you fly to the Amazon.

    Electricity

    The power goes out frequently. In accommodations deeper in the jungle, there may only be power for a few hours a day.

    Phone / Wifi

    Provider Claro has the best coverage in Puerto Nariño and since almost no hotel or hostel has wifi, it is advisable to bring a SIM card with data package to Puerto Nariño.

    Safety
    • Puerto Nariño is very safe, you can walk around without any problems.
    • Don’t go into the jungle alone, but take a hike with a guide who knows his way around and the animals well!
    • Check here the travel advice from the ministry of foreign affairs for the Amazon
    Stores

    You can do small -basic- errands in Puerto Nariño.

    How to get to Puerto Nariño

    Travel Guide Puerto Nariño

    Home 9 Category: Travel Guide Puerto Nariño

    How to get to Puerto Nariño?

    How to get to Puerto Nariño? Puerto Nariño is about 80 kilometers from Leticia. To get there, you must first catch a plane to Leticia and then a boat. Here you will find everything you need to know to get to Puerto Nariño.

    #1 By plane to Letica
    To get to Puerto Nariño, you must first fly to Leticia. Both Latam and Avianca fly from Bogotá to Leticia. Prices can vary enormously, but you can buy a round-trip ticket starting at about 80 dollars. The flight takes about 2.5 hours. Upon arrival in Leticia, you must pay the tourist tax a COP 38000/$9.50 (2024). At the airport, cabs are waiting to take you to your hotel in Leticia or directly to the boat for your onward journey to Puerto Nariño.

    #2 By express boat from Leticia to Puerto Nariño -updated Feb. 2024-.
    After arriving in Leticia, book a ticket for the express boat. There are 3 companies that run the trip; Expresos Unidos 3 Fronteras, Transportes Amazónicos and Transfluviam. Boats leave from Isla de la Fantasia, Calle 8. Tickets cost COP38,000/$9.50 and there are 4 departures per day at 7:00am, 9:00am, 12:00pm and 2:00pm. The boat ride takes over 2 hours. The boats fill up quickly, so it’s best to buy your ticket the day before. Payment can only be made in cash. Upon arrival in Puerto Nariño, you pay the tourist tax of COP20,000/$5. Tip: when you arrive in Puerto Nariño, book your ticket for the return trip right away. The boats from Puerto Nariño to Leticia leave 4x a day at 7:00am, 10am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm. Tickets also cost COP38,000/$9.50.