What to do in Puerto Nariño – Amazon
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.
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.
