Best of the Colombian Amazon

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around The Amazon

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The Amazon Essentials

Planning Your Visit to Colombia's Amazon Region

Lush, steamy and unmistakably tropical, Colombia’s Amazon region seems very remote, even from the rest of the country. The main town, Leticia, is an easy-going, friendly little place, located right on the border with Brazil and Peru. But the main reason to visit is the Amazon River and the vast rainforest that surrounds it – full of strange and exotic plants and animals, from lazy sloths to electric eels – a massively important environment that provides a lung for the whole planet.

Things to Do In Colombia's Amazon Region

The Amazon rainforest is the world’s green lung, a beautiful but actually quite fragile region where strange and exotic birds and animals share their forest home with hunter-gatherer jungle tribes, and where you can leave the motorized, industrialized world behind and disappear off into the jungle, or just take a boat ride up the world’s mightiest river, check out the wildlife and meet the indigenous people. Way off the beaten track, this is our guide to this remote and exotic region.

The Amazon Itineraries

Adventure in Colombia's Amazon Region - 7 Days

Exploring an area as vast as the Colombian Amazonas might seem daunting, but almost everything that this wild region offers can be experienced in one week from the main town of Leticia. Here’s a 7-day itinerary that stitches together the best wildlife viewing and interactions with indigenous culture, the region’s two principal draws.

See colorful birds like parrots in the Amazon

Colombian Amazon Family Adventure - 5 Days

Discover the magic of the Colombian Amazon on this immersive 5-day family adventure. Starting from the historic capital of Bogotá, you'll fly south to spend three nights at a rustic eco-lodge deep in the jungle. In this haven for nature lovers and curious minds, the whole family will embark on a series of unforgettable activities. Sculpt pottery from the Amazon mud, learn how to listen to the forest on jungle treks, and make new friends on a visit to a nearby indigenous community.

Experience Colombia's Amazon - 4 Days

This 4-day excursion into the Amazon will give you a taste of one of the most beautiful and diverse ecosystems in the world. This itinerary is the perfect introduction to the Amazon as it will bring you down the river, through the rainforest, and into various indigenous communities along the way. Take a boat cruise along the Amazon River, stroll through the eco-friendly village of Puerto Nariño, take a dip in the beautiful waters of Lake Tarapoto, and more.

Bogotá & the Amazon Adventure - 5 Days

This outdoorsy adventure highlights some of Colombia's most fascinating and unique landscapes in the Amazon region. Start off by exploring Bogotá's arts and culture scene before flying south to Leticia; from here, you'll head out on two unforgettable days via foot, canoe and other small boats in Colombia, and across the border in Peru and Brazil. At night, you'll sleep in hammocks with mosquito nets in order to fully experience the rainforest.

Get back to nature with a multi-day adventure in Colombia's Amazon region

Bogotá & the Amazon: Best Itinerary Ideas

Most travelers will find that five to seven days is perfect for a well-paced Colombia trip with stops in both Bogotá and the Amazon. Or, extend your trip and explore more of the country—some of the best-loved trip extensions include Cartagena and the Zona Cafetera. Get inspired with our Bogotá and Amazon trip ideas below.

Bogotá, Amazon & Cartagena - 10 Days

In just 10 days, this exciting tour of Colombia covers a great deal of ground including four nights in the Amazon region, sandwiched between two world-class cities. You'll start off exploring the cosmopolitan capital of Bogotá before flying south to Leticia; from here, take part in a series of unforgettable days via foot, canoe, and other small boats in Colombia and across the border in Peru and Brazil. Then fly north to the Caribbean Sea and wander Cartagena's romantic inner-walled city before culminating with a speedboat ride to the Rosario Islands.

Relax in the town of Salento after hiking in Valle de Cocora

Bogotá, Amazon, Coffee Triangle & Cartagena - 10 Days

For first-timers to Colombia, this fun itinerary gets you hopping all over the country starting with the cosmopolitan city of Bogotá and the lush Amazon region. Then you'll fly to the heart of Colombia's coffee triangle for an overnight at a working farm. While here, hike the lush green mountains of the Valle de Cocora before flying north to the Caribbean coast where you'll have time to explore the narrow streets of Cartagena's inner-walled city. End the adventure with a relaxing boat trip to the Rosario Islands.

Explore the Amazon jungle while staying in a romantic bungalow (photo courtesy of Calonoa Lodge)

Luxury Active Colombia: Bogotá, the Amazon & Caribbean Coast - 14 Days

Dive deep into Colombia's beauty, culture, and history without sacrificing any creature comforts. This luxury two-week tour begins in Bogotá, where, in between visiting famous landmarks, you'll dine at some of the best restaurants on the continent. Then, travel to the Amazon to meet tribespeople and spot exotic wildlife before finishing the adventure on the Caribbean coast and the wonderland of Tayrona National Park.

Flowers growing in the window of a typical colonial house in Cartagena

Cartagena, Flower Festival, and the Colombian Amazon - 11 Days

Colombia's heritage extends from the shores of the Caribbean to the rainforests of the Amazon. This unique 11-day itinerary hinges on an event which takes place in Medellín every August: the Batalla de Flores, or "Festival of the Flowers," is one of the biggest spectacles in the entire country. So set aside some time at the end of summer and prepare for an excursion that you won't soon forget.

Spot rare brown woolly monkeys on your Amazon adventures

Colombia Jungle Adventures: The Amazon, Lost City & Tayrona - 15 Days

Bring your best sense of adventure for this 15-day itinerary, which centers on an immersive four-day Colombian Amazon experience—including a night in a jungle treehouse—and a four-day trek to the remarkable Lost City. Travel from the far south to the far north of the country via historical cities, sleepy mountain towns, and secluded sandy beaches, spotting rare dolphins and brightly colored birdlife along the way.

Explore Colombia's Amazon, Andes, and Caribbean Coast - 12 Days

This 12-day adventure will take you through the best of Colombia. You'll travel from Bogotá to the Amazon, the rolling hills of the Zona Cafetera (coffee region), the beaches of Tayrona National Park, and the colonial fortress city of Cartagena. The most exciting part of your trip? A visit to the little-known region of Guaviare, with its mixture of jungle, indigenous communities, red rivers, and ancient rock art that dates back 20,000 years.

Visit the National Aviary of Colombia in Cartagena and see birds like this collared aracari

Colombia's Ultimate Bird-Watching & Wildlife Tour - 16 Days

Experience Colombia's diverse landscapes during guided hikes and bird-watching expeditions on this 16-day itinerary. The trip starts on the Caribbean coast, where you'll explore the vibrant streets of Cartagena and the untamed beauty of Tayrona National Park. Then journey to the tranquil mountains of Minca and the cloud forests of Manizales. Finish with four special nights surrounded by the wild nature in the Amazon rainforest before wrapping up in Colombia's sophisticated capital, Bogotá.

Luxury Colombia Eco-Adventure: Amazon Rainforest & Pacific Coast - 15 Days

This high-end itinerary starts in the capital of Bogotá before heading deep into the heart of the mighty Amazon River—from here, you'll head out on a series of unforgettable days via foot, canoe and other small boats. Then, fly to Medellín to explore the history and vibrant modern culture of the city before flying to the Pacific Coast, a dense rainforest where you'll explore tiny villages and partake in a variety of activities including hiking and soaking in hot springs.

Sky and trees reflected in the Amazon River

Colombia Andes, Amazon & Caribbean - 14-Day Itinerary

This tour takes you off the beaten path and truly epitomizes the diversity that runs through Colombia and its people. Colombia's mountains, jungles, Caribbean beaches, Spanish colonial architecture, rural and indigenous cultures combine to offer a quite unforgettable tour in one of the world's great (and yet uncharted) destinations.

Kids will love discovering the Colombian Amazon and its wildlife

Colombian Nature & Culture for Families: Bogotá, the Amazon, Medellín & Cartagena - 14 Days

Adventurous families will love the variety of this two-week tour of Colombia. You'll spend time in the metropolises of Bogotá and Medellín, as well as the vibrant coastal city of Cartagena. But the most exciting part of this family-friendly tour is several days in the Colombian Amazon, at a remote ecolodge reached only by boat. Kids will learn about the importance of environmentalism and sustainable lifestyles firsthand as they raft down rivers, spot monkeys in treetops, and search for pink dolphins.

Discover some of the Amazon's secrets as you spend three nights at Calanoa Lodge in southern Colombia

Colombia Food, Nature & Culture Tour: Amazon, Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena & Rosario Islands - 14 Days

Enjoy Colombia's diverse landscapes and vibrant cities with this well-rounded food and nature-forward itinerary. Hop from the capital, Bogotá, to the heart of the Amazon, where you'll delve deep into the rainforest. Explore culture and history, and go whitewater rafting in Medellín. Then head to the Caribbean coast and taste local rums and flavorful eats in Cartagena, concluding your two weeks with a tropical retreat on the idyllic Rosario Islands.

Colombian Cities and Nature: Bogotá, Amazon, Medellín, and Pacific Coast - 15 Days

This high-end itinerary covers a great deal of the country's territory, from its main cities to some off-the-beaten-path natural wonders. The adventure begins in Bogotá and its surroundings, then takes you deep into the heart of the mighty Amazon River, where you'll have a series of unforgettable days exploring the jungle via foot, canoe and small boats. Afterwards, you'll fly to Medellín to enjoy the city's history and vibrant modern culture before leaving for the Pacific Coast— a dense rainforest where you'll visit tiny villages and partake in a variety of activities including hiking and soaking in hot springs.

Colombia Jungle & Beaches - 13 Days

Travel the length of Colombia, from the Caribbean Sea to the Amazon River, on an epic adventure spanning 13 days. You'll arrive in the capital and visit Bogotá's colonial center, then fly south to embark on excursions deep into the Amazon jungle. Finish the trip with a greatest hits tour of the northern coast that includes Tayrona National Park and yacht trips around the bay of Cartagena.

Discover the incredible biodiversity in Colombia

Colombia Adventure: Cities, Amazon & Lost City Trek - 17 Days

This action-packed 17-day itinerary combines cities and culture with an unforgettable trekking adventure. Tour the capital of Bogotá, then fly south to discover the indigenous communities and extraordinary ecosystems of the Amazon. After two nights in vibrant Medellín, head back into the wilderness for a four-day trek to the ancient ruins of the Lost City, ending your journey in the lively Caribbean city of Cartagena.

Aerial view of Amazon's lush rainforest.

Colombia's Amazon Rainforest & Canyons - 7 Days

This adventurous 7-day itinerary starts in the exciting capital of Bogotá before delving into the Amazon rainforest (by charter plane) to get to one of the hardest-to-reach places in the country. This wild location will be your home for the next three nights, and the itinerary combines hiking and boating around two dramatic canyons, plenty of wildlife viewing, and interactions with two local tribes. Return to "civilization" and spend your last night in Villavicencio dancing alongside Colombian cowboys.

Colombia's Amazon Rainforest & Canyon Tour - 8 Days

This 8-day adventure starts with two nights in Bogotá, Colombia's capital city. After a stop in Villavicencio, you'll be whisked away by charter plane deep into the Amazon rainforest. You'll hike and boat around two dramatic canyons, enjoy plenty of wildlife viewing, and interact with native tribes. Return to Villavicencio and spend your last night enjoying a performance by local dancing cowboys.

See colonial architecture in and around the city of Medellín

Highlights of Colombia - 11 Days

Perfect for newbies, this Colombia highlights tour combines sophisticated cities and exotic landscapes. Start with a walking tour through Bogotá's key monuments and museums, and then spend two nights in the Amazon rainforest while looking for pink dolphins and monkeys. Next is Medellín—a transformed city with an impressive arts scene—followed by quality time along the Caribbean coast. Speedboat to a tropical island for a relaxing beach day to end the adventure.

Other popular travel destinations in Colombia
Caribbean Coast · Cartagena · Bogotá · Medellín · Zona Cafetera (Coffee Region) · Tayrona National Park · Pereira · Salento · Cali · Rosario Islands · Leticia and Puerto Nariño · Pacific Coast · Tierra Bomba

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