At the gateway to the Colombian Amazon, discover a travel destination off the beaten tracks in Colombia. Nature, culture and (pre)history.

Guaviare, a travel destination in Colombia off the beaten track

San José del Guaviare, the capital of the department of Guaviare, is located 7 hours south of Bogota. The town is the last outpost of civilisation before entering the wilds of eastern Colombia. A destination rarely visited by tourists travelling to Colombia, this region is marked by the scars of armed conflicts. The city and its surroundings are now open to tourism, offering the world some stunning landscapes. Amongst gorgeous coloured rivers, mysterious cave paintings and unique rock formations, discover this exceptional destination. A real travel destination in Colombia off the beaten the tracks.

Cave Paintings

After an hour’s drive on a dirt road from the town, you will reach a site where the rock paintings of Nuevo Tolima are located. This is one of the most important sites in the region, along with Cerro Azul. These inscriptions, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, date back more than 12,000 years. They represent mostly animal species, some of which are now extinct, but also humanoid forms, often attributed to shamans.

Sedimentary rocks

On the way, you can also discover many enchanting sites during a hike. Across the region, the natural landscapes are home to sedimentary rock formations, which thanks to erosion show some impressive shapes. The Stone City, the Labyrinths, and the Rock of Offerings are some of the sites that feature several of them. The most famous is undoubtedly the Orion Gate.

Coloured Rivers of the Serrania la Lindosa

When talking about colourful rivers in Colombia, one almost inevitably refers to the famous Caño Cristales. This river has the deserved nickname of most beautiful river in the world and is one of colombia’s most iconic landscapes. But did you know that in San José you can also see some similar rivers?

Serrania la Lindosa, part of the Chiribiquete National Park, is connected to Serrania la Macarena, home to Caño Cristales, by the Guayabero River. Identical climates, ecosystems, and geology allow the growing of the moss that gives the streams their marvellous colours. Easier to access, less frequented by tourists, and with a variety of attractions, la Lindosa is an excellent alternative to la Macarena.

If you want to travel off the beaten tracks in Colombia and discover the Chiribiquete National Park, do not hesitate: