Pink dolphins
In Lake Tarapoto.
Mcarrizosac — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gatocalvo — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Felipe Beltran-Mejia — CC BY 3.0 · Aliman5040 — CC BY-SA 3.0
A small village on the bank of the Amazon in Colombia's far south, known as the «eco-village», with no cars at all, only narrow, clean concrete paths between colourful wooden houses and gardens; residents collect rainwater and sort their waste. Its people belong to the Tikuna, Cocama and Yagua peoples. You reach it by fast boat from Leticia on the broad brown river, stroll the quiet village, climb its wooden tower to see the dense forest and river from above, and visit a small centre explaining the lives of river dolphins and manatees and the work to protect them. The finest trip from the village is by boat to nearby Lake Tarapoto, where pink and grey Amazon river dolphins surface around the boat and giant water lilies float. Villagers also offer forest walks to see plants and birds. It is very hot and humid, so bring strong insect repellent. Health authorities recommend a yellow fever vaccine for Colombia's Amazon, so see your doctor before travelling.
In Lake Tarapoto.
Forest from above.
Rainwater living.
On the Amazon River, about two hours upriver from Leticia by fast boat
By fast boat from Leticia's port on the Amazon in about two hours, usually leaving in the morning. A night there allows an unhurried dolphin-lake trip.