Puerto Nariño: Complete Guide to the First Ecological Municipality of Colombia

87 kilometers from Leticia along the Amazon River there is a municipality that does not have cars. No motorcycles. No trucks. The streets of Puerto Nariño are explored on foot or by bicycle, children play without the noise of the engines and the only motorized transport that arrives is the river boat that comes from Leticia twice a day.

That makes it the First Ecological Municipality of Colombia — a title that is not only administrative but a way of living that is noticeable in every corner of the town. And also in one of the most surprising places you can visit in the entire country.

Puerto Nariño: Who It Is and Why It Is Unique

Puerto Nariño is the second most important municipality in the Colombian Amazonas department, after Leticia. It is located on the banks of the Loretoyaco River — a tributary of the Amazon — 87 km west of Leticia.

With approximately 7,000 inhabitants distributed between the urban area and the nearby indigenous communities, Puerto Nariño is a small municipality. But its importance as a tourist destination and as a model of sustainable development is enormous.

*Why it is unique:*

No motorized vehicles are allowed on its streets. This decision, made by the community and local authorities decades ago, completely transformed the dynamics of the municipality. The streets are for pedestrians and cyclists. Children play on the main road. Noise and air pollution is practically non-existent within the town.

The Tikuna, Yagua and Cocama indigenous communities inhabit the municipality and its surroundings, keeping alive traditions and ancestral knowledge that have disappeared in other areas of the Amazon.

The Loretoyaco River and the Amazon frame the municipality with a landscape beauty that is revealed in all its dimension from the Naipata Viewpoint.

How to Get to Puerto Nariño from Leticia

The only way to get to Puerto Nariño from Leticia is by river. There is no road or airstrip.

*From the Civil Port of Leticia:*

Three river boat companies operate the tour in daily rotation:

• Three Border Expresses (red boats)
• Amazon River Transport (green boats)
• Transfluviam

Departure times from Leticia: 7:00 am (main) Arrival in Puerto Nariño: approximately 9:00 am (2 hours of travel)

Return time from Puerto Nariño: 3:30 pm Arrival in Leticia: approximately 5:30 pm

Entry fee to Puerto Nariño: $25,000 COP — collected upon arrival.

Important tip: The 7 am boat is the main one and the one most travelers use. If you arrive in Leticia in the afternoon, the tour to Puerto Nariño begins the next day. If you arrive before noon you can start the tour at 2 pm in Leticia and have Puerto Nariño the next day.

Lake Tarapoto: Dolphins and Kayak

Lake Tarapoto is the main reason why most travelers include Puerto Nariño in their tour. It is the best spot for spotting pink and gray dolphins in the Colombian Amazon — and one of the most reliable in the entire Amazon basin.

The Tarapoto lagoon system is a few minutes from Puerto Nariño by small boat. Its calm waters, far from the current of the main river, are permanent habitat of botos (Inia geoffrensis) and tucuxis (Sotalia fluviatilis).

In the summer season (June–November): The dolphins are very concentrated in the lake. The low water level groups them together and sightings from a boat or kayak are especially consistent.

In the flood season (December–May): The lake expands into the surrounding forests. Navigable canals appear between the trees. Kayaking on this flooded version of the lake — with dolphins swimming among the branches — is one of the most extraordinary experiences in the Amazon.

*Activities in Lake Tarapoto:*

• Pink and gray dolphin sighting
• Kayak (all year round, especially spectacular during floods)
• Piranha fishing (best in summer)
• Waterfowl watching
• Amazon landscape photography

Naipata Viewpoint: The Most Spectacular View

The Naipata Viewpoint is about a 20-minute walk from the center of Puerto Nariño, going up a path that runs through the forest. The climb requires some effort — there are stairs and steep sections — but the reward is worth every step.

From the top, the view is one of the most impressive in the Colombian Amazon: the Amazon River in all its breadth, the jungle extending to the horizon in all directions, the indigenous communities on the other side of the river, and on clear days the view reaches all the way to the Peruvian side.

The best time to go up: At dawn or in the early hours of the morning, when the fog over the river creates an almost unreal landscape. Also at dusk, when the sunlight over the Amazon is of impossible colors.

For bird watching: The viewpoint and the path that leads to it are excellent bird watching points — toucans, parrots, macaws and dozens of Amazonian species are frequent in the early hours of the morning.

Natutama Museum: The Amazon Inside

The Natutama Museum is one of the best resources to understand the Amazon ecosystems before entering them. Located in the center of Puerto Nariño, it has collections of Amazonian fauna, explanations about the river cycles, the biodiversity of the region and the relationship of indigenous communities with the environment.

It is especially recommended for:

• Travelers arriving in Puerto Nariño for the first time
• Families with children — has interactive formats
• Those who want context before visiting indigenous communities
• Photographers who want to identify the species they will find

Schedule: Check upon arrival in Puerto Nariño — it varies depending on the time of year.

The Indigenous Communities of Puerto Nariño

The municipality of Puerto Nariño is surrounded by Tikuna, Yagua and Cocama indigenous communities that keep ancestral traditions alive to a degree that is difficult to find in other areas of the Colombian Amazon.

The community of Patrullero: Adjacent to Puerto Nariño, with its own viewpoints over the Amazon River. Their Tikuna crafts — llanchama masks, seed necklaces, painted fabrics — are among the most elaborate in the region.

Communities on the Amazon: From Puerto Nariño you can access by small boat to communities that in summer have their own beaches and in floods are partially on the water — the houses in stilts operate completely normally.

Visits to communities from Puerto Nariño are part of the organized tours and are done with guides who have a direct relationship with local families.

River Beaches in Puerto Nariño (Summer Season)

In the summer season (June–November), when the Amazon River is at its lowest level, natural white sand beaches emerge in front of Puerto Nariño and along the river in its surroundings.

These beaches are one of the great secrets of Amazonian tourism — few conventional guides mention them and many travelers discover them for the first time when they see them appear in front of the Puerto Nariño boardwalk.

You can swim, rest, take photography. The water of the Amazon in the beach areas enabled for bathing, with the supervision of the guide, is a completely different experience from any Colombian beach.

The best beaches are at their greatest between August and October, when the river is at its lowest level.

Gastronomy in Puerto Nariño

Las Margaritas Restaurant: The gastronomic reference point of Puerto Nariño for travelers on tour. Local cuisine with river fish, yucca, banana and Amazonian preparations. Lunch here is the usual stop during the full-day tour from Leticia.

*Typical gastronomy available in Puerto Nariño:*

• Fish in patarasca (catfish or bocachico wrapped in bijao leaf, roasted over charcoal)
• Roasted or fried fish with yucca and fariña
• Rice with river fish
• Amazonian fruit juices — copoazú, arazá, açaí

Hospedaje El Tigrillo: It has its own restaurant with local cuisine, a good option for those staying in Puerto Nariño.

Where to Stay in Puerto Nariño

Puerto Nariño has limited but functional options for those who want to spend one or two nights:

El Tigrillo Lodging: The best known option. Economical, with its own restaurant that serves local and Peruvian cuisine. Well located to access the boardwalk and the boats to Lake Tarapoto.

Community lodging: Some indigenous communities offer lodging in their own facilities — the most immersive option for those who want to sleep in the Amazonian cultural and natural context.

Eco-lodges in the area: For those seeking greater comfort and the experience of being in the middle of the jungle with natural sounds.

For multi-day tours: Leticia.travel's 4- and 5-day plans include an overnight stay in Puerto Nariño or nearby jungle areas, with coordinated accommodation.

Practical Tips for Your Visit

Bring cash: Puerto Nariño has an ATM but it doesn't always work. Bring enough Colombian pesos for the entrance fee ($25,000 COP), lunch, and crafts.

Comfortable shoes for walking: The streets of Puerto Nariño can be explored on foot. For the Naipata Viewpoint, shoes with good grip.

Repellent all the time: River banks and communities have mosquitoes, especially in the morning and afternoon.

Respect the rhythm of the municipality: Puerto Nariño is not Leticia — it is a quiet town with its own rhythm. Adapting to that rhythm is part of the experience.

The return boat at 3:30 pm is fixed: Don't stay exploring without being clear about the return time. If you run out of a boat, you will have to wait until the next day.

Bottled water from Leticia: Bring enough water. Options in Puerto Nariño are limited.

One Day or Several in Puerto Nariño?

One day: The full-day tour from Leticia (departure 7 am, return 5:30 pm) allows you to see Lake Tarapoto, have lunch in the town and have a couple of hours for the boardwalk and the Mirador. It is enough to have a first impression but adjusted to go deeper.

Two days (overnight): With two days you can climb the Naipata Viewpoint at sunrise, calmly visit the indigenous communities, kayak on Lake Tarapoto, explore the beaches (in summer) and experience the quiet rhythm of the municipality without the pressure of the boat schedule. It is the recommended experience.

More than two days: For researchers, birdwatchers or travelers who want to delve deeper into the indigenous world. With three days or more there are additional river tours to more remote communities and the Amacayacu National Park.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to Puerto Nariño from Leticia? By river boat from the Civil Port of Leticia. It leaves at 7 am and arrives at approximately 9 am. There are three companies in rotation: Expresos Tres Fronteras, Transportes Fluvial del Amazonas and Transfluviam. The return leaves Puerto Nariño at 3:30 pm.

Why are there no cars in Puerto Nariño? By community and institutional decision that converted the municipality into the First Ecological Municipality of Colombia. The streets are exclusively for pedestrians and bicycles — with no motorized vehicles within the urban area.

Can you see pink dolphins in Puerto Nariño? Yes. Lake Tarapoto, near Puerto Nariño, is the best spot for watching pink and gray dolphins in the Colombian Amazon. In the summer season they are very concentrated; Increasingly they enter the flooded areas to watch by kayak.

How much does the ticket from Leticia to Puerto Nariño cost? The price of the ticket varies — check with the river companies in the Civil Port of Leticia. Additionally, there is an entrance fee to the municipality of $25,000 COP.

Is there an ATM in Puerto Nariño? Yes, there is an ATM but its operation is not reliable. It is recommended to bring cash in Colombian pesos from Leticia for the entire stay.

Puerto Nariño is included in all our 3, 4 and 5 day tours. [leticia.travel](https://leticia.travel)