Amazon Region
Guainia - Amazon Region
The Department of Guainia is located in the central east part of Colombia, being part of the Amazon Region and sharing limits with Brazil and Venezuela.
Guainia’s topography is mostly plain, with small ondulations and some “TOPUIS” belonging to the MACIZO GUAYANEZ, considered the oldest in the world. Among its most recognized formations we can find the Serrania de Caranacoa, Serrania del Naquen, Aracuari, Sardinas, Mavicure, Guasacavi, Paniquiare y Saquiras.
Guainia, as other departments in the Amazon region, enjoys rich water resources, with the rivers Guainia, Guaviare, Arabapo, Inirida, Tomo, Isana, and Curari flowing along its territory. It also has many “CANHOS” of short lenght and width, such as: Aque, Bocon, Colorado, Mosquito, Guamaco, Guascavi, Nabuquen, Cunuben, Piapoco, and Mane. There is also many lagoons, that together with the rivers and “CANHOS” create an ideal habitat for a wide variety of fauna and flora.
Most of the Guania Department territory is assigned as indigenous reserves, with most of its population belonging to indigenous ethnias. The most known of these reserves is the Resguardo de Chorro Bocon.
Guainia has a tropical warm weather, with the average temperature being over 27C.
Inside ithe Guainia territory we can find the Natural Reserve Puinawai, rich in biodiversity but closed to the public most of the year.
Guainia has only one municipality: its capital Inirida, with most of the territory being occupied by small settlements, such as: Barranco Minas, Puerto Colombia, la Guadalupe and San Felipe; or indigenous reserves.
Guainia has not many economic activites, with most of it being subsitence agriculture, with a few excedent products such as cacao and platano, some cattle ranching, fishing, and recently some mining following the discovery of some gold and diamons reserves. As well, it is important to say part of its remote territory has been used for illegal plantations, which are now in the process of erradication or substitution lead by the National Government.
Tourist Atrractions:
Guainia has a great ecotourist potential, and many of its rivers and lakes provide good places for sport fishing and water sports, a potential that will only be fully enjoyable when the peace and harmony come back to its territory.
Some of its principal attractives we could mention are:
Puinawai Natural Reserve
Laguna de Brujas (Witches’ lagoon)
Raudal de Sapuara
Inirida River
Cerros de Mavicure hills
Mateveni lake
Pavon y Payara lake
## Access:
By air: There are two airports, one in the capital Inirida, and one in the Barranco Minas settlement.
By land: There is almost no road network in the area, with only a few roads, not in good state and only open in the summer season. Access by land is not recommended.
By water: The many rivers along its territory are the main transit axis connecting the territory.
Warning: Even when some part of the Guainia department territory has been secured and is open for tourism, there is still some armed groups in some regions. For your own security, inform yourself of the regional state and take the necessary precautions before heading to unknown places.
WELCOME TO THE GUAINIA DEPARTMENT,
NATURAL WONDER OF THE AMAZON REGION,
ENJOY ITS BEAUTY AND HELP US CONSERVE IT.