Colombian Amazon & Llanos

The vast plains and rainforest of eastern Colombia, with the rainbow river Caño Cristales, cowboy ranch culture and the Amazon River at the tri-border of Leticia.

This region combines two natural regions, the Orinoco plains (the Llanos) and the Amazon, and includes ten departments: Meta, Casanare, Arauca, Vichada, Guaviare, Guainía, Vaupés, Caquetá, Putumayo and Amazonas. It covers more than half the country, is sparsely populated and is accessed mainly by air and river. Villavicencio, the capital of Meta, is about three hours by road from Bogotá and is the gateway to the plains. In the Serranía de la Macarena in Meta, Caño Cristales is known as the "River of Five Colors"; in the rainy season, the aquatic plants on the riverbed show red, yellow, green and other colors. You must take a small plane from Villavicencio or Bogotá to the town of La Macarena and tour with a licensed guide. The grasslands of Casanare and Arauca preserve cowboy and joropo music culture, and you can stay at ranches to watch capybaras, caimans, anacondas and large numbers of waterbirds. In Guaviare, San José del Guaviare has Cerro Azul rock art and natural stone bridges; Chiribiquete National Park is a World Heritage Site for both nature and culture, but it is closed to visitors and can only be seen from the air. In the far south, Leticia, the capital of Amazonas, faces Tabatinga in Brazil and Santa Rosa in Peru across the river. From here you can take a boat to Puerto Nariño, Amacayacu National Park and Lake Tarapoto to see pink river dolphins and experience indigenous villages. Leticia can only be reached by air from Bogotá and other cities, and we suggest staying 4–5 days; Caño Cristales usually takes 3–4 days. Get a yellow fever vaccination before entering this region; security is complicated in some remote areas, so be sure to arrange your trip through reputable operators.

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