Visit El Tuparro National Natural Park, a far-flung expanse home to a range of exotic wildlife and indigenous peoples. Remarkably difficult to reach and with only basic infrastructure, this is a place for explorers looking to get away from crowds and avoid typical travel destinations. Go hiking along the riverside paths and forests of this rarely seen and unspoiled park.
Bring binoculars and gaze skyward to see the variety of birdlife in the park, from eagles and screamers to ducks and guans.
As you follow the savanna trails, you might encounter giant armadillos, tapirs and white-tailed deer, while the dense forest holds pumas and jaguars, among other animals.
Reach the marvelous Raudal de Maipures, a torrent which was labeled by 19th-century Prussian explorer Alexander von Humboldt as the Eighth Wonder of the World. It is known for the so-called seesaw, featuring one large boulder precariously balanced on another, in the midst of a fierce torrent. Go camping beside the stream and inspect the various petroglyphs and pictograms from centuries ago.
Continue exploring the park for its glorious features of green savanna, powerful rivers and golden, sandy beaches. The nature reserve stretches across 1.4 million acres (548,000 hectares) of land. Among the semi-nomadic groups living in the region are the Sikuani-Guahíbo and Cuiba peoples.
You can enter the park only with an authorized operator. You must also possess valid proof of yellow fever and measles vaccinations that you need to get before your trip.
There is a fee to enter the park, with free entrance for children under 5 years old.
El Tuparro National Natural Park is in the depths of eastern Colombia, next to the border with Venezuela. Due to extreme difficulty in reaching the park, it is best to organize travel with a tour operator in the region.
For similarly remote and unforgettable experiences in Colombia, arrange trips to Gorgona Island and the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuary.
