The Amacayacu National Natural Park was created with the intention of preserving the hundreds of species of fauna and flora found in this area of the Colombian Amazon. In addition to this, the park is in charge of acting in favor of the conservation of the tropical rainforest ecosystem. The park was founded in 1975.
HOW TO GET TO AMACAYACU NATURAL PARK
The Amacayacu National Natural Park is located in Leticia, a municipality in the department of Amazonas, in the southern part of the Colombian territory. To get to the Amacayacu park you must first get to Leticia. Once in Leticia, you must go to the port on the Amazon River and there take one of the boat services to cross the river upstream in a two-hour trip (70 kilometers) until you reach Matamatá Creek, which is the first border of the park.
GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE IN AMACAYACU NATURAL PARK
Amacayacu Park is located at an altitude between 100 and 330 meters above sea level, in the middle of a tropical rainforest. For this reason, the average temperature in the area covered by the park is 26°C. If you are going to visit Amacayacu Park, we recommend that you bring comfortable clothing for hot weather, sunscreen, insect repellent, walking shoes and hydration.
ATTRACTIONS IN AMACAYACU NATURAL PARK
The Amacayacu Park has 293,500 hectares in which more than 150 species of mammals and flora live. The biggest attraction of the park is that it is in the middle of the Amazon jungle, it is an unforgettable place where you can go on an ecotourism walk guided by the indigenous people of one of the communities that live in the area.
This park is a tourist attraction of the department of Amazonas, because it receives a considerable amount of tourists who come to marvel at the landscapes, the river and the species, the visit to this park is a really wonderful experience, in which you will be able to know and learn a little more of the cultures that are in this region of the country.
Bird watching in Amacayacu
WHAT TO DO IN AMACAYACU NATURAL PARK?
Visiting to Amacayacu National Natural Park is a trip in which you can carry out different activities thanks to the tourist services offered by the park’s visitor’s center and the indigenous communities. During the tour of the park you will be able to appreciate the habitat of many species, among them manatees, the pink dolphin of the Amazon, the jaguar and the tapir which, as it is well known, are species that are in danger of extinction. In addition, it is home to the largest number of primates in the world, one of the species found is the marmoset monkey Leoncito, the smallest in the world. You will be able to enjoy more than 500 species of birds, and a high number of reptiles.
You can also take a leisurely canoe trip across the Amazon River to islands such as Monkey Island and Mocagua Island where the exotic Lotus Flower is located. In the park you will be able to visit the indigenous communities where they will show you the representative crafts of the Amazon region.
In short, visiting this natural wonder is one of the best experiences you can have in the Colombian Amazon.
Pink Dolphin
GASTRONOMY IN AMACAYACU NATURAL PARK
As the Amacayacu Park has become a tourist center, it has a visitor’s center that offers restaurant service, so it will be very easy for you to find where to eat in the park.
The typical dishes of the Amazon region are based on the variety of fish that inhabit the Amazon River and the rivers near the park, among them, the Dorado fish and the Pintadillo fish that are used in the famous Patarasca which is a fillet of seasoned fish roasted among banana leaves. It is usually accompanied by patacones and fariña. Fariña is a flour made from yucca.
Mojojoy is another well-known dish in the region, it is a white worm that the Indians have always eaten, of course in restaurants they serve it fried and roasted and even stuffed with chicken or meat.
WHERE TO STAY IN LETICIA?
The Amacayacu Natural Park has a hotel called Yewae that can accommodate 50 people in bunk beds or hammocks. Unfortunately, there is no area for camping.
However, around the park there are some options, so if you don’t know where to stay on your visit to Amacayacu park, we will show you some options:
Reserva Natura Park Hotel is located 4.6 kilometers from the park at kilometer 53 Rio Amazonas and offers an outdoor swimming pool for adults and children, restaurant with free breakfast, terrace. The rooms have private bathrooms and all the necessary toiletries and fans.
Website: www.reservanaturapark.com
Telephone: 318 545 1838
E-mail: scordoba@tourschool.com.co
The Eco Hotel Aldea is located in Puerto Nariño, 12 kilometers from the Amacayacu park, and offers an outdoor swimming pool and restaurant. The rooms have private bathrooms, television and air conditioning.
Website: www.ecohotelaldea.com
E-mail: hotelyurupary@hotmail.com
Telephone: 3125425900 – 3115056875
COSTS
The entrance to the Amacayacu National Natural Park is free of charge.
CUATIONS FOR VISITING AMACAYACU PARK|
For your visit to the Amacayacu National Natural Park you must be vaccinated against Tetanus and Yellow Fever. It is recommended that the vaccinations be applied 10 days before the visit to the park.
If you do not know where you can buy the vaccines, you can go in Bogotá to the transport terminal of the Salitre or in the department of port health at El Dorado International Airport, there you can be vaccinated to prepare properly for your visit to the natural wonder Amacayacu.
