AMACAYACU NATURE PARK

The park is at the southern end of the Department of Amazonas and occupies a large part of the Amazon trapezoid.

The municipalities of Leticia and Puerto Nariño manage the 725,000 acres of protected area. “Amacayacu” means “Hammock River” in Quechua, probably a consequence of the arrival of missionaries into the area.

To reach the Park, fly to Leticia and take a launch north for 40 miles up the Amazon to the Matamata stream, which is the edge of the Park.

In 1542 the conquistador Francisco de Orellana started from the place where the Aguarico and Curarary river join in the Napo Valley in Ecuador and traveled to the mouth of the Amazon, also named Marañon. At the time that part of the Amazon basin was inhabited by Kahuapanas, Jeberos, Boras, Kotuenes, Jiduas, Muinanes, Mirañas, Andokes, Huitotos, Omaguas, Yaguas, Cocamas, Otucunas and Ticunas. Very few of them are left today, and only the Tikunas are still in their ancestral lands.

There are two types of terrain in this region: rolling and relatively dry land which does not flood and supports vegetation; and the floodlands The average temperature is 27°C. The Park has many examples of the spectacular Victoria lily. Capiron and Munguaba trees are characteristic of the swampy floodlands.

On the drier land trees grow to 100-130ft high. The taller species include the red and white cedar, caoba, ceiba and uvo. Amacacayu has some 150 species of mammals, including the pink dolphin and the endangered species such as the danta, jaguar, the manatee and the otter. The most spectacular of the primates is the golden lion tamarin, the smallest in the world. There are some 500 species of birds, including macaws and parrots. Among the reptiles are the jabuti tortoise – the largest fresh water tortoise in the world – and the black alligator. And there are boa constrictors, anacondas and coral snakes. Among the fish are the parcucú and the piranhas.

CHARGES

ADMISSION:

Visitors from abroad $20,000 US$7.69
Local visitors $6,400 US$2.46
Children aged 5-12, Students, senior citizens $3,200 US$1.23

ACCOMMODATION

Hammock, per person per night $14,900 US$5.73
Bunk bed, per person per night $21,300 US$8.20

RESTAURANT

The restaurant sits 50.
Average cost of breakfast lunch and dinner $20,500 US$7.88

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

http://www.parquesnacionales.gov.co/areas/lasareas
/amacayacu/amacintro.htm

E-mail: dtao@parquesnacionales.gov.co