Lago Tarapota

Location:
Puerto Narino, Colombia

Other Activity Types:
Wildlife refuge

By Lorraine Caputo

The Río Loretoyacü bulges a bit to one side, creating Lago Tarapoto, a beautiful lake surrounded by jungle, speckled with mangrove islands. Along its shores are isolated indigenous hamlets secreted in the dense vegetation. This is a place of magic, where pink dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) leap from the silvered waters. Here, along the shallow, quiet waters of channels branching off the lago, are Victoria regia, the world’s largest water lily. Explore this magical realm by boat, swimming in the cool waters or dropping a line in for piranha.

Getting There
To see the river and Lago Tarapoto, you can hire a boat with guide. Paddles canoes are most ecological ($12-15). Peque-peques, a canoe with a long-propeller motor, are the next best ($21 for 4-5 persons, with guide). They are slow, but fuel efficient. A m

Travel Tips: Avoid taking a tour with a speed boat, as it disturb the pink dolphins and other aquatic life. You have a better chance of seeing the dolphins is early morning and late afternoon. The Victoria Regia water lilies grow in the lee-disturbed backwaters of the lake.

Relative price: Mid-Range

Travel Skills: None

You Need to Bring: Use insect repellent and sun block, water, snack; wear light weight, light-colored clothing, good walking shoes and hat; camera.

The various museums in Puerto Nariño; walks on the various interpretive paths to the lookout towers and indigenous villages; Parque Nacional Natural Amacayacu.

Currencies accepted
Colombian Peso