El Tuparro National Natural Park

El Tuparro could be describe in landscape terms as an extensive green savannah surrounded by large rivers with powerful torrents and golden beaches, small spots of crystalline waters, gallery forests, Moriche Palm swamps and mangrove, besides the large crystalline rock formations in shape of rounded hills. It is calculated the presence of more than 320 bird species; many of them are aquatic.

This park was declared National Monument and Nuclear Area of the Biosphere Reserve El Tuparro in 1982. This category of global scale proposes a model of territorial regulation trough the fulfilling of three complementary functions: conservation, sustainable development and support for research and education.

Around the year 1800, in front of the impressive torrent that the indigenous people of the region called Quintana, astonished by amazement, the wise Alexander Von Humboldt, characterized as the “Eight Wonder of the World” what is known today as the Maypures Torrent, one of the main attractions of the protected area.

Special recommendations

The entrance of Visitors only will be allowed if it is accompanied by an authorized touristic operator that meets the law requirements, the visitor who enters the park without a touristic operator will be returned by the Staff of the protected area.

Due to the security of the visitors and uncomfortable situations that have been presenting with our neighboring country, we recommend not traveling to Venezuela.
Present a valid vaccination record against yellow fever and measles.
As a prevention measurement it is recommended to get vaccinate against tetanus and yellow fever 10 days prior your trip.
You should avoid taking harmful elements that go against biodiversity, such as aerosols, guns, alcoholic beverages and hallucinogen substances.
The staff of the Park reserves the right of entrance and/or permanence to the people that are not mentioned in the entrance permit, this measurement also works for the cases when the total number of people does not matches the number indicated in the permit.
Due to evacuation of BIODEGRADABLE trash (bottles, batteries, cans, etc.), it is necessary to carry plastics bags.

How to get there

By air Bogotá – Puerto Carreño (approximated flight time 1hour and 10 minutes)

Villavicencio – Puerto Carreño (approximated flight time 1hour and 10 minutes)

The park has an airstrip for lightweight planes authorized by the Civil Aeronautic of a 1800 meters length located in the Administrative Center El Tomo. (Flight Villavicencio- Parque Nacional Natural El Tuparro: approximated flight time 2 hours and 30 minutes).

By land Bogotá – Villavicencio – Puerto Gaitán – La primavera- Puerto Carreño (aproximated travel time 2 days)

Puerto Carreño – Cazuarito – Garcitas. (aproximated travel time 8 hours) (At this point vehicles must stay). From there you can arrive to the park waterway by the Orinoco (aproximated travel time 1 hour)

Bogotá – Yopal – Paz de Ariporo – La Hermosa (aproximated travel time 1 day) (from this point you take a ferry in order to arrive to la Primavera) – (aproximated travel time 1 hour) – La Primavera – Puerto Carreño – (aproximated travel time 8 hours) – Puerto Carreño – Cazuarito – Garcitas (aproximated travel time 8 hours). From there you can arrive to the park waterway by the Orinoco (aproximated travel time 1 hour) (At this point vehicles must stay).

The tour can be done on public transportation.

By river This service is currently only available during periods of high waters.

Puerto Gaitán – Puerto Carreño (aproximated travel time 1 day)– Puerto Carreño – Cazuarito (aproximated travel time 1 hour) (due to the presence of Atures torrent, from this point you will have to take any type of land transportation in order to arrive to Garcitas). (aproximated travel time 1 hour)– Garcitas – Parque El Tuparro (aproximated travel time 1 hour).

Ecotourism activities

Hiking Cucurito or Attalea Path (Maipures): It is a guided trail over rocky outcrop. Length: 2,5km Duration 1 hour 20 minutes Level of difficulty: Medium-high • Administrative Center´s Bird Watching Trail: It is a guided trail over rocky outcrop. Length: 2,5km Duration: 1 hour Level of difficulty: Low • Flood Forest trail: It is a guided trail over rocky outcrop. Length: 3 km Duration 1 ½ hours Level of difficulty: Medium-high

Cultural Heritage Observation In the protected area has been identified the presence of seminomadic indigenous groups who belong to the Guahíbo linguistic family of the ethnic groups Sikuani-Cuiba and Amorua; nearby the influence area of the Park the indigenous groups Curripacos and Puinaves can also be found. These groups are located in the Carestía or Pedro Camejo Island, situated in Venezuelan territory in front of the Visitors’ Center Maipures, and the indigenous group Cachicamo close to Garcitas community.

Fauna and flora observation The Parque Nacional Natural El Tuparro is the perfect place for those interested in fauna and flora. In the area have been registered 74 mammal species, among others: 5 species of primates, 112 bird species, jaguar, puma, and tapir, 17 reptile species (turtles, savannah caiman, and serpents), 26 fish species (manta ray, chucha and arawana).

Research and Environmental Education The exuberant nature of the protected area and its level of preservation make Park El Tuparro the ideal place for performing scientific research. In addition, as well as in the other ecotouristic parks, activities of environmental education take place, either organized by educational institutions that use the area as a lively classroom or, by the staff members of the park, who give a brief explanation to the visitors regarding the Parque Nacional Natural El Tuparro as a protected area; about its objectives of conservation, services and ecotouristic activities.

Photography and video The scenic beauties of the Parque Nacional Natural El Tuparro are the perfect place for this activity. However, it is necessary to clarify that if the photos or videos have commercial or publication purposes you must have a prior permission from Parques Nacionales.

Flora, Fauna, and Ecosystems

There are some areas with trees such as Chaparro (Curatella americana), Alcornoco (Bowdichia virgiloides) and Chapararo Manteco (Byrsonima crassifolia). The vegetable diversity lies in the 557 species belonging to 330 genuses that are part of the 104 families. In this great range of diversity you can find lichens and algae; herbaceous plants and grasses: bristly bushes, palms, leguminous plants and trees.

Among the mammals there are primates such as spider monkey (Ateles spp.), white-fronted capuchin (Cebus albifrons) and titi monkey (callicebus spp.). There are carnivorous animals such as the jaguar (Panthera onca), cpougar (Puma concolor) and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). There are also rabbits, South American tapir (Tapirus terrerist), aquatic mammals such as the pink river dolphin (inia geoffrensis) and giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis). There are 112 bird species registered such as black curassow (Crax alecor), guans (Penelope jacquacu and Aburria pipile), Orinoco piculet (Picumnus pumilus), scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) and stork (Jabiro mycteria). There have also been 17 species of species recorded among which are, turtles (Pocdocnemis expansa and unifilis), Orinoco cocodrile (Crocrodylus intermeius); there are rattlesnakes (Crolalus spp.), green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), among other snakes. Among fish there are stingrays (Potamotrygon spp.), catfish (Loricariidae spp.) and silver arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum).

There are two types of savannahs in the Park, flooded and non-flooded savannahs. It has five types of forests. Other ecosystems include the Morichal (a swamp where the moriche palm Mauritia Flexuosa predominates) and saladillal (a swamp where the saladillo tree Caraipa llanorum predominates). There are also prairies especially of the species Paspalum pectinatum and P. carinatum.

Communities

Indigenous groups There are semi nomad indigenous groups of the Sikuani-Guahíbo and Cuiba ethnicities within the protected area and, in the area of influence of the Park. There are Curripaco and Puivane indigenous groups settled in the Carestía and Pedro Camejo Islands; permanent settlements of Sikuani of El Guamito, San Luis and the Cachicamo belonging to the Piraoa group.

Settlers and floating population There is also a population of mestizo settlers with extractive habits living in the vicinity of the Park, who arrived to the area fleeing from violence and attracted by illicit economic activities.

Information and reservations

If you are interested in visiting the park, please contact:

User Support Office Parques Nacionales Adrdess: Calle 74 # 11 – 81 Bogotá – Colombia Phone number: PBX (57 1) 353 2400 Email: atencionusuario@parquesnacionales.gov.co, ecoturismo@parquesnacionales.gov.co

Territorial Direction Orinoquía Phone number: (57 8) 6819000 Email: orinoquia@parquesnacionales.gov.co

Parque Nacional Natural El Tuparro Address: Carrera 7 N° 20 – 167 Puerto Carreño – Vichada Phone number: (57 8) 5655088 Email: tuparro@parquesnacionales.gov.co

For information and reservations please contact: User Services at Parques Nacionales Naturales Calle 74 No. 11 – 81, 1st floor, Bogotá PBX (57 1) 353 2400 Ext. 3011, 3012 atencionusuario@parquesnacionales.gov.co ecoturismo@parquesnacionales.gov.co www.parquesnacionales.gov.co

Los Colorados FFS Office Carrera 8 # 9-20, San Juan Nepomuceno, Bolívar (57 5) 689 1058 colorados@parquesnaciones.gov.co