Guainía
Guainía: land of wonderful tepuis.
When thinking about Guainía, you can imagine water - in Yarí language this word means ‘land of many waters’- indigenous people, myths and hills.
In Guainía there are also magnificent beaches, yes, beaches. During the summer months the rivers recede, and you can encounter unexpected banks. It’s no coincidence that the Inirida ‘Star of Rivers’ (Estrella Fluvial de Inirida- EFI) can be found here. The ‘Star of Rivers’ is something like a watershed where the river sources of the Guaviare, Onírida and Atabapo rivers confluence. In this spot, these rivers merge with the Orinoco river. The vast amounts of water, key for the country, have led to it being recognised as Ramsar site.
Guainía is a distant region from the capital. To arrive you have different options. One is taking a plane from Bogotá to Inírida, the capital. Another option is the waterway that starts in San José del Guaviare, and that goes along the Guaviare River, or the waterway that starts in Puerto Carreño and goes along the Orinoco River. Inírida is the hub for the main tourist attractions in the region.
Inírida is located on the banks of the Inírida River. This river has been witness to the socio-political history of the region. In Inírida, you won’t find roads, your eyes will only be met by rivers. Southway of the Inírida river you will reach stunning and wonderful places like the Cerros de Mavicure. Deep in the jungle of this unheard of landscape, you can contemplate the Orinoco basin.
If continuing the course of any of these rivers (Inírida, Guaviare and Orinoco) northway, you can enjoy splendid beaches. On the north end of the Orinoco River, you will find the National Parks El Tuparro and El Raudal de Maipures, a place considered by Humbolt as one of the wonders of the world.
You will also hear myths of Princess Inírida, who is well known in the region.
If you’re interested in knowing more about indigenous traditions, you can go to The caño Casiquiare, where it merges the Amazon and Orinoco River. The ancestral and ethnic groups like pinaures, curripacos, sicuani, piaroas, piapocos, cubeos, tucanos, arahuacos live there. Travelling across this region is an unforgettable experience.
In the Guainía region, there’s not only a confluence of rivers but of indigenous cultures, and settlers from different regions of Colombia. They are not affected by the borderlands between Colombia and Venezuela. When crossing the Orinoco or the Atabapo river, you don’t feel the difference between countries. However, you will be able to witness how people in this region survive through trade exchange. More recently the locals have become aware of inhabiting a natural and geographical treasure, which they hope to gain some revenue from. Inírida and its surroundings are unique. We invite you to explore these wonders with us, your life might change.