Florencia
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.
#ToColombia tips
What is there to do in Florencia?
#1
Learning about the culture and traditions of an Indian community
Just outside Florencia in the village of El manantial, you will find la Maloka del Huitoto, a small Indian community in the Huitoto reservation. This is an excellent place to learn more about the culture and traditions of the Amazonian Indian community.
#2
Birding
Nature lovers are in for a treat with tours to spot birds and monkeys and hike in nature reserves. Some hot spots for bird watching: the Mirador De Los Tucanes, where you can also see toucans. Las Dalias Nature Reserve in the municipality of La Montañita: a good place to spot parrots and toucans, especially at dusk. Highlight in the nature reserve is the hike along the Cajona Canyon.
#3
Doing extreme sports
For an adrenaline rush, you can do extreme sports such as rafting on the Orteguaza River and abseiling. Nature reserve El Horeb is hidden in the jungle near Belen de los Andaquies. Here you can hike through the forest, along rivers and to waterfalls and abseiling.
#4
Taking a trip with the Marco Polo
For a “local experience,” you may take a trip with the Marco Polo Ferry on Sundays is not to be missed. This is an old two-story ferry that leaves from Puerto Arango for a trip on the Orteguaza River.
#5
Eatat Calera Amazonica
Calera Amazonica is a restaurant in the middle of the jungle, where you can go for an excellent lunch while overlooking the jungle and the monkeys that come to the restaurant to snack on the bananas.
Check the links for more info on other destinations in the Amazon and general information about traveling to Colombia