At the confluence of Río Loretoyacü into the Amazon 75 kilometers (45 miles) west of Leticia is Puerto Nariño, the Pesebre del Amazonas, or the Cradle of the Amazon. This small hamlet surrounded by jungle a tranquil place to hang your hat for a few days. Its bio and ethnic diversity give ample opportunity for exploration, from walking trails, to canoeing on the slow Loretoyacü to Lago Tarapoto in search of the mystical pink dolphin. It is part of the Ticoya indigenous reserve of the Tikuna, Cocoma and Yagua peoples, who make up 90% of the town’s population.

Puerto Nariño is on the itinerary of tours going to Lago Tarapoto and is increasingly popular amongst backpackers. It is quieter and less expensive than Leticia. The town begins with a flat, narrow plain from the waterfront. The land then begins to rise like a many-tiered cake. No cars wend the streets of Puerto Nariño. Well, in truth, there are no streets, just a well-laid out, well-signed grid of sidewalks. Puerto Nariño is a national model of an ecological village, with a recycling and organic waste management programs, and development of eco-ethno-tourism.

(Altitude: 110 meters / 361 feet, Population: 2000, City Code: 8)