"Amazon adventure in Colombia" Departamento del Amazonas by colombiantraveler

A trip to the Amazon jungle sounds exciting and even dangerous. Meeting wild animals; watching pink dolphins in their own environment; riding in a boat on the Amazon River, the largest river of the world by volume; visiting real indigenous towns; walking through the Amazon rainforest, are only a few of many things that you can do If you decide to come to the Colombian Amazon jungle.

It will be a real adventure, but it has not to be a nightmare. If you can afford to pay a good hotel in Leticia, the capital city of the Colombian Amazon, you will stay in beautiful and comfortable rooms, will enjoy the best food of the region and will be able to take special one-day tours with professional guides. (See accommodation tips).

Amazon River, with a length of 6,400 km, starts in Peru and ends in Brazil, and passes through Colombia in a very short section (116 km). The most important city and port on the Colombian Amazon is Leticia.

96 meters above sea level, with a population of about 35,000, Leticia is located on the main stream of the Amazon where the borders of Colombia, Peru and Brazil meet—hence the area is also called "Tres Fronteras" (Three Frontiers). It is a safe and friendly town, not particularly beautiful or modern but good enough to stay some days and travel from there to other interesting attractions in the marvelous Amazon jungle.

Amazon rainforest canopy (taken by Rhett Butler)

The most important natural reserve in the Colombian Amazon is the Amacayacu National Park (29,385 sq km). The word "Amacayacu" means "River of the Hammocks" in the indigenous language. The park, which is managed by Decameron Hotels, includes two kinds of accommodation: a big wooden room where travelers can sleep with a group of people or individual cabins for 2 to 4 travelers.

The only way to arrive in Amacayacu Natural Park is by boat (one and a half hours from Leticia). Once there you'll find basic facilities, a good restaurant and, the most important of all, expert native guides who will take you through the marvelous Amazon jungle. You can design your own adventure according to your expectations.

From the park visitors can do different activities such as trips along the Amazon river to Tarapoto Lake, which has "botos" or Amazon dolphins; "canopy" or walks on safe walkways on the top of the trees (the view is overwhelming!), and different trips to the deep jungle.

Puerto Nariño (© gcachero, http://web.mac.com)

Puerto Nariño is the second town of the Amazonas department in Colombia. It is located on the Loreto Yacu River (tributary of Amazon River). It is 87 kilometres away from Leticia and the only way to get there is by boat, riding on the Amazon River for one and a half hours approximately.

This town is a kind of ecological paradise because of its clean and safe management of trash disposal. Additionally, there are not allowed motorcycles or other vehicles that use petrol. So, you can imagine how clean and pure is the air there. It is not a surprise that this little and unpolluted town (no more than 2,000 inhabitants) is known as "the green Nativity of Colombia".

Most of its population is indigenous people, especially from the Tikuna tribe, but there are also many residents who have come from Leticia or even from other departments of the country. There are at least six little hotels or eco-cabin lodges for people who wish to enjoy this unique environment and to be close to Tarapoto Lake (home of Amazon dolphins) and Amacayacu National Park.

• Pros:Natural beauty, well organized tours, great meals, safety
• Cons:Only mosquitos, but they are not so annoying
• In a nutshell:A trip into the Nature that you'll never forget!