A vast green savannah, large rivers, golden beaches, gallery forests and crystal clear waters is what you will find in the Tuparro National Natural Park, a jewel in the heart of the Orinoquia. In this publication you will find important information for your visit to Tuparro National Natural Park in Colombia.
Discovering Tuparro National Natural Park
El Tuparro National Natural Park is located in the Orinoco region of Colombia, and it is part of the department of Vichada. The Tuparro park is bathed by the Tomo River to the north, and the Tuparro, Tuparrito and Caño Maipurés rivers to the south.
Its landscapes expresses in its forms a typical image of the so-called Guiana Shield, one of the oldest geological formations of our planet shared by Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and, of course, the Guianas.
Tuparro Biosphere Reserve of the World
The park was created in 1970 to advance scientific studies and conserve the region’s biodiversity. This led to its declaration as El Tuparro National Natural Park in 1980 with 548,000 ha. The cultural and biological richness of this region made it worth to be declared a national monument, and core area of a Biosphere Reserve. Know more about biosphere reserves of Colombia in our entry Next Travel Ideas? Visit the Biosphere Reserves of Colombia.
It is also considered an Important Bird Area (IBA) site because it is estimated that there are more than 320 species of birds, many of them associated with the water bodies.
Tuparro’s Landscape
Tuparro National Park protects a dramatic landscape where the Orinoco River system meets the Guiana Shield — one of Earth’s oldest geological formations. The park encompasses 548,000 hectares of savanna, gallery forests, and river systems along the Colombian-Venezuelan border, anchored by the spectacular Tuparro Rapids where the river cascades over exposed granite in a series of powerful falls.
The Maypures Rapids — once described by Alexander von Humboldt as one of the most impressive natural features he encountered in South America — stretch across the Orinoco, creating a dramatic boundary between upstream and downstream ecosystems. The surrounding granite outcrops (inselbergs) rise from the savanna, supporting unique plant communities adapted to the thin, nutrient-poor soils.
Wildlife
Tuparro harbors populations of giant otters — one of the world’s most endangered carnivores — that fish cooperatively in family groups along the park’s river systems. Pink river dolphins navigate the main channels, while Orinoco crocodiles — among the most endangered crocodilians on Earth — survive in small numbers along the riverbanks.
The gallery forests shelter primate species including howler monkeys and capuchins, while the open savanna supports jaguars, giant anteaters, and the capybara herds characteristic of the Llanos ecosystem. Birding is exceptional, with over 300 species recorded including numerous waterbirds, raptors, and savanna specialists.
Visiting Tuparro
Tuparro is one of Colombia’s most remote parks, accessible primarily by chartered boat along the Orinoco from Puerto Carreño or by small aircraft. The frontier town of Puerto Carreño serves as the gateway, reachable by daily flights from Bogotá. Infrastructure within the park is minimal — visits require self-sufficiency or arrangement through specialized operators familiar with the region.
The dry season (December-March) offers the best access and wildlife viewing conditions. During the wet season, much of the park’s road network becomes impassable, though boat access along the rivers remains possible.
Sara Colmenares holds a Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) in Ecology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a Master’s degree in Botany from the same institution. Her doctoral research focused on palm ecology in the Atlantic Forest, supported by the Rufford Foundation conservation grant.
A published researcher in the Brazilian Journal of Plant Physiology and a member of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC), Sara has presented her work at international conferences across Latin America and beyond. She was awarded the COLCIENCIAS “Virginia Gutiérrez de Pineda” fellowship, one of Colombia’s most competitive academic distinctions for young researchers.
Sara founded the Sula nature tourism brand in 2018, applying her scientific expertise to develop birding and wildlife experiences across Colombia’s six natural regions. Her fieldwork took her from the cloud forests of the Andes to the Amazon basin, the Pacific coast, and the plains of the Orinoquía. She combined deep ecological knowledge with firsthand experience to create content that is both scientifically accurate and practically useful for nature travelers.
She holds a B.Sc. in Biology from the National University of Colombia, where she also taught plant ecophysiology. She speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and English.