In Vaupés, a department of jungles, rivers, and vast landscapes, the land is inhabited by invisible beings—spirits that safeguard the territory and advise humans on how to treat it. The beliefs of those who have lived in this extensive territory for centuries, the members of the 27 ethnic groups living in Vaupés, manifest in the daily actions they undertake. Cultivating the land, gathering its fruits, traversing its waters and hills, and collecting the clay from its soils—all these activities require acute communication and understanding with the spirits of nature. The profound knowledge of its inhabitants about their environment and the respect they express maintain the balance between the visible and invisible worlds.

One of the manifestations of the plurality of knowledge among its inhabitants, knowledge resting in their hands and hearts, is revealed in the creations of their artisans. That’s why we encourage you to meet three members from different clans of the Cubeo ethnicity and witness how each craft merges the earth from which its raw material sprouts, the traditions of its creators, and the love each artisan holds for their craft.

In addition to its warm climate, Vaupés is rich in another kind of warmth—the spiciness of its native chilies. Only here can you enjoy the heat while trying one of the traditional dishes of this region, the quiñapira, a soup made with fish from its rivers and unique chilies. You can taste this and other typical dishes at Puerto Golondrina, in the Ceima Cachivera reserve, or at the Baribó restaurant, where the flavors of Vaupés and its fascinating ingredients intertwine.

Keep in mind that in Vaupés, the dry season runs from August to October and from December to mid-February. We recommend going in the dry season if you want to enjoy the river beaches that emerge during this time. You can visit Witoteku pescado Urania beach in front of the mouth of Caño Cuduyari, the ENOSIMAR beach, or Isla del Amor, or bathe in Caño Sangre, 3 kilometers from Mitú, where the crystalline water appears red due to the color of the stones on its bed. Also, visit Tronco Yaje, a tepuy from which you can appreciate the immensity of the jungle and spot its striking birds.