Colombia: Andes & Amazon
See the Full Itinerary Request a ReservationHighlights at a glance
- Travel from high Andean páramo to flooded Amazon forest in ten days.
- Explore Chingaza National Park with Andes Ecotours, looking for spectacled bears, white-tailed deer, orchids, and frailejones.
- Travel the Amazon by motorboat and canoe, watching for pink river dolphins, monkeys, sloths, frogs, caiman, and birds.
- Stay at Chunaki Ecolodge, our local partner and community connection in Amazonas.
- Help fund veterinary care, vaccines, and outreach with Amazon Paws, a veterinary clinic in Leticia.
- Visit Fundación Maikuchiga, the community-run primate rehabilitation project at Mocagua.
- Spend a night in Puerto Nariño, Colombia's car-free river town.
- Visit the tri-border area and watch thousands of parakeets return to Leticia at dusk.
- A maximum of 10 people, including Kayson.
From the Andes Mountains to the Amazon Rainforest
We'll begin in the high, cold páramo above Bogotá and finish on the banks of the Amazon near Leticia, where boats replace roads and the forest changes with the river.
This route is built from places I already know. I first visited Chingaza with our local partner, Andes Ecotours, and in February 2026 I led a seven-person trip through the Colombian Amazon. The 2027 trip connects those experiences into one ten-day itinerary.
Along the way we'll look for spectacled bears, river dolphins, sloths, monkeys, reptiles, frogs, and plenty of birds. We'll also spend time with local guides, visit Puerto Nariño and Mocagua, and take part in a veterinary outreach day with Amazon Paws.
In the Amazon, we stay at family-operated Chunaki Ecolodge. Their team helped make the 2026 trip possible and continues to connect us with local communities and partners.
Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world. This route lets us experience two of the ecosystems that make that possible.
Why Andes to Amazon?
I wanted the 2027 trip to show more than one side of Colombia. We begin above 10,000 feet in the Andes and finish just over 300 feet above sea level in the Amazon.
The change is dramatic. Temperature, rainfall, altitude, plants, and wildlife all shift as we travel from one region to the other. That geography is a major reason Colombia holds so much biodiversity.
The Páramo
Páramo is a tropical alpine ecosystem found above the treeline in the northern Andes, with some of its largest remaining areas in Colombia. Chingaza National Park protects a major stretch of it.
It is cold, wet, open country dotted with frailejones, tall silver-leaved plants that look a little like a cross between a sunflower and a cactus. Some species grow only around a centimeter a year. Their felted leaves help them handle cold nights, intense sun, and constant moisture.
The plants and soils gather and slowly release water. Chingaza's watersheds supply much of the drinking water used in Bogotá and nearby communities, which makes the park important far beyond its boundaries.
Chingaza is also spectacled bear country. South America's only bear moves through these highlands alongside white-tailed deer, mountain coati, and other wildlife. We will spend a full day with Andes Ecotours looking for animals and their signs. Sightings are never guaranteed, but this is good habitat and we will be with guides who know it well.
The Amazon
Leticia sits at the very southern tip of Colombia, close to the borders with Brazil and Peru. We arrive during the high-water season, when the river pushes into the forest and opens routes that are dry at other times of year.
Here the river is the highway. It is how children get to school and how families get to market, and it is how we'll travel too, by boat and by canoe, at the pace the water allows.
Wildlife along the way
Wildlife is central to this trip. In Chingaza we will look for bears, deer, mountain coati, orchids, hummingbirds, and the smaller signs that tell us what has moved through. In the Amazon we will watch for dolphins, sloths, monkeys, caiman, frogs, insects, birds, and whatever else local guides find. Nothing is guaranteed, but good guides help us notice and understand far more than we would on our own.
Where this trip came from
In February 2026, I led a seven-person Amazon trip planned for Gray Muzzle Society, the senior and special needs animal rescue I co-founded. Veterinary outreach was part of that trip from the beginning, and the experience became the starting point for this longer Andes and Amazon itinerary.
Chunaki Ecolodge helped make that first trip possible and has become one of our most important partners in the Amazon. Their team knows the communities around Leticia and helps us understand where a visiting group can actually be useful. For 2027, Chunaki is helping connect Threaded Expeditions with Amazon Paws and the communities involved in the outreach day.
For 2027, we're partnering with Amazon Paws, a veterinary clinic in Leticia, to provide veterinary services, vaccines, and outreach funded through the trip. We are still working together to decide where the need is greatest and how our group can be helpful. Depending on the final plan and each traveler's experience, we may survey communities about veterinary needs, assist with animal care under professional direction, or help with educational outreach. Medical decisions and treatment will stay with qualified local professionals.
The day will be shaped by Amazon Paws and the communities involved. It is a chance to spend unscripted time with people whose daily lives may be very different from ours while working together on something useful.
The trip also supports Gray Muzzle Society's Operation Amazonas Fund, which was created to help pay for veterinary care in this region.
See how each trip gives back →
Request a ReservationDetails
Trip dates
April 13 to 22, 2027
Duration
10 days / 9 nights
Price
$3,200 per person
Deposit
$500 per person, nonrefundable, secures your spot
Payment options
Interest-free payment plans are available. Reach out to discuss what works for you.
Group size
Maximum of 10 people, including Kayson
Difficulty
Moderate: daily walking, high elevation in the Andes, humid jungle conditions
Locations
Bogotá, Chingaza, Leticia & Puerto Nariño, Colombia
Included
Lodging, Bogotá to Leticia flights, ground and river transport, guided activities, most meals
Not included
International airfare to Colombia, travel insurance, gratuities, souvenirs, some meals
Traveling solo?
We can pair you with another traveler, or you can choose a private room for a $300 single supplement
Trip at a glance
Bogotá & the Andes
Settle into Bogotá, take in the city from Monserrate, and spend a full day exploring the páramo of Chingaza National Park with Andes Ecotours.
Into the Amazon
Fly to Leticia and settle in at Chunaki. Explore the river and flooded forest, then spend a day working with Amazon Paws.
Puerto Nariño & Leticia
Explore car-free Puerto Nariño and visit Fundación Maikuchiga, then return to Leticia for the tri-border area and the parakeet roost at Parque Santander.
Day by day
Bogotá and the Andes
Where you sleep
- Biohotel Organic Suites, Bogotá (3 nights), LEED Gold certified
Leg highlights
- Cable car to Monserrate at over 10,000 feet
- Views across Bogotá and a guided walk on Monserrate
- A free afternoon to explore the city on your own terms
- A full day in the páramo of Chingaza National Park
- Spectacled bear habitat in the high Andes
- Frailejones, deer, mountain coati, and high-elevation birds
Arrival in Bogotá
We'll arrive in Bogotá and settle into Biohotel Organic Suites, a LEED Gold certified hotel in the Usaquén district. Bogotá sits at roughly 8,660 feet, so we will keep the first evening easy. After check-in, we'll meet for a welcome dinner and go over the days ahead.
Meals included: welcome dinner
Monserrate and Bogotá
We'll ride the cable car up Monserrate early, reaching more than 10,000 feet with Bogotá spread out below. A 17th-century sanctuary sits at the summit, and the forested slopes give us our first chance to look for local wildlife with a guide. Because we ride up rather than hike, it is also a manageable first taste of the altitude. The rest of the day is yours. Walk through La Candelaria, visit the Gold Museum, or settle in for a long lunch and a good coffee.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Chingaza National Park
After two days to adjust to the altitude, we'll spend a full day in Chingaza with Andes Ecotours. The route moves through páramo and cloud forest, with mist, wind, and frailejones stretching across the slopes. We'll look for spectacled bears and their signs, along with white-tailed deer, mountain coati, orchids, and high-elevation birds. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the guides know how to read the landscape and notice things we would pass on our own. Bring layers, because conditions can change quickly. Chingaza also supplies much of Bogotá's drinking water, so the day shows what this protected land means to people living far beyond the park.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Into the Amazon
Where you sleep
- Chunaki Ecolodge, Amazonas (3 nights), family operated
Leg highlights
- Internal flight from Bogotá to Leticia, included
- Guided night walk for the forest's nocturnal residents
- Veterinary care, vaccines, and outreach with Amazon Paws
- Quiet channels by canoe for pink river dolphins
- Giant Victoria water lilies at close range
- Sloths, monkeys, frogs, caiman, and forest wildlife
Into the Amazon
This morning we'll fly from Bogotá to Leticia, trading Andean cold for heat and humidity in a couple of hours. We'll check into Chunaki Ecolodge, the family-operated lodge that will be our base for three nights. Depending on our arrival time, the evening may include a shared meal or a guided night walk to look for frogs, insects, and other nocturnal wildlife.
Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Community veterinary outreach
Day 5 is set aside for work with Amazon Paws. The trip will fund veterinary services, vaccines, and outreach. We will finalize the exact plan closer to departure with Amazon Paws and Chunaki, based on where they think our group can be most useful.
Depending on the final plan and each traveler's experience, we may help survey communities about their veterinary needs, assist with animal care under the direction of local professionals, or take part in educational outreach. We will follow Amazon Paws' lead and help where we are useful.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Rivers and wildlife
A full day on the water and in the forest around Chunaki. We'll travel through quiet channels in search of pink river dolphins, pass giant Victoria water lilies, and scan the canopy and banks for sloths, monkeys, frogs, caiman, and birds. April falls in the high-water season, so the routes available to us depend on the river. That flexibility is part of traveling here.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Puerto Nariño and Leticia
Where you sleep
- Waira Selva, Puerto Nariño (1 night)
- Waira Suites, Leticia (2 nights)
Leg highlights
- Puerto Nariño, a river town with no cars
- The mirador, for a view out over the treetops
- Fundación Maikuchiga and their primate rehabilitation work
- Three countries in a single day on the river
- Thousands of parakeets roosting in Leticia at dusk
Puerto Nariño
We'll travel upriver to Puerto Nariño, Colombia's car-free river town, where footpaths replace streets. We'll explore on foot, climb the mirador for a view across the treetops and floodplain, and spend the night at Waira Selva, our planned Puerto Nariño accommodation.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Mocagua and Fundación Maikuchiga
We'll spend the morning with Fundación Maikuchiga in the Ticuna community of Mocagua. The project cares for primates orphaned by hunting or confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade, with a particular focus on woolly monkeys and release when it is possible. A visit here gives us a closer look at what happens after a primate is confiscated, and how much work it can take before an animal is ready for release. In the afternoon we'll head back downriver to Leticia and settle in at Waira Suites.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Three countries in a day
Today we'll explore the tri-border area around Leticia, Brazil's Tabatinga, and Peru's Santa Rosa Island. The plan may shift with border and river conditions, but the day gives us a feel for how closely life is connected across these three countries. At dusk we'll return to Parque Santander, where thousands of canary-winged parakeets arrive in waves to roost in the trees. Final night at Waira Suites.
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Homeward
After breakfast we'll fly from Leticia back to Bogotá. Travelers can connect to an evening international departure with a comfortable buffer or stay an additional night before flying home.
Meals included: breakfast
The order of activities may change with weather, wildlife, river levels, and local conditions. Confirmed travelers will be told about any major itinerary or accommodation changes before departure.
Field notes from Colombia
These photographs come from scouting in the Colombian Andes and the seven-person Amazon trip I led in February 2026. The 2027 itinerary is grounded in those experiences, with a small number of researched additions identified in the lodging section below. You can also read my answer to the question I hear most often: Is it safe to travel to Colombia?
In February 2026 we ran Operation Amazonas, the Gray Muzzle Society trip that this expedition grew out of. It was a shorter, Amazon-only journey with seven people total, including me, so it is not the same itinerary shown above, but it covers much of the same region and shows where this trip began. The full album is public.
See the full Operation Amazonas album →
Photography by Allison Mae Photography.
Colombia trip questions
Practical details about the trip. Tap any question to expand it. If something is not covered, WhatsApp Kayson at +1 720 258 6428 or send an email.
What does the Colombia trip cost, and what is included?
| Per person, double occupancy | $3,200 |
| Deposit, nonrefundable | $500 |
| Single supplement, optional | $300 |
Included: nine nights lodging, internal flights (Bogotá to Leticia round trip), all ground and river transport, guided activities and entrance fees, most meals, local guides throughout, and Kayson as your expedition leader.
Not included: international airfare, travel insurance (required), gratuities, alcohol, souvenirs, and the meals noted in the itinerary.
Solo travelers: we can pair you with another traveler at no extra cost, or you can choose a room of your own for the $300 single supplement. If no roommate is available, the supplement applies.
How do the deposit and payments work?
A $500 nonrefundable deposit per person holds your place. Submit the reservation form at the bottom of this page, and we will email a PayPal invoice within one business day.
If you have a promo code, enter it on the reservation form. Limited promo discounts are confirmed in the order deposits are paid and reduce the remaining trip balance, not the $500 deposit.
The remaining balance is due January 15, 2027, unless we have arranged a payment plan. Interest-free options are available, so reach out if you would like to split it into smaller payments.
Places are held in the order deposits are received.
What is the cancellation policy?
- More than 150 days before departure (before November 14, 2026): full refund minus the deposit.
- 75 to 149 days before departure: 50% of the trip cost is forfeited.
- 74 days or fewer (from January 29, 2027): the full trip cost is forfeited.
Cancellations must be in writing by email. If we cancel a departure, you receive a refund of everything we can recover from our suppliers, which is why insurance is required.
How difficult is the trip?
Moderate. You should be comfortable with:
- Two to four miles a day on uneven trails, at a relaxed pace
- Full days outdoors in cold and wind above 10,000 feet, and in heat and humidity in the Amazon
- Getting in and out of small boats and canoes, sometimes from a muddy bank
- An hour or more in a canoe on flat water, with a motorboat option instead
- Simple lodging and limited connectivity in the Amazon
What health precautions and vaccines should I consider?
Please visit a doctor or travel clinic at least a month before departure. They can make recommendations based on this itinerary and your health history.
- Routine vaccines and hepatitis A: the CDC recommends being current on routine vaccines and recommends hepatitis A for unvaccinated travelers to Colombia.
- Yellow fever: the CDC recommends vaccination for this itinerary because it includes the low-elevation Amazon. Colombia's entry rules have changed, so verify the current requirement with a travel clinic before departure.
- Malaria: the CDC recommends prescription prevention medicine for travel in Colombia below 5,600 feet, including the Amazon portion of this trip. Ask your doctor which option is appropriate for you.
- Rabies: dogs and bats can carry rabies, and prompt treatment may be harder to reach in remote areas. Because the trip may include animal contact, ask whether pre-exposure vaccination makes sense for you.
- Dengue and other insect-borne illness: plan for mosquito protection, including long sleeves and an effective insect repellent.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes. Travel insurance is required and we will ask for proof before departure. Your policy should include emergency medical treatment, emergency evacuation, and trip cancellation.
We do not sell insurance. Travelers can compare policies through sites such as Squaremouth or InsureMyTrip.
What passport, visa, and entry documents do I need?
- For U.S. travelers, your passport must be valid for the length of your stay and have at least one blank page. Six months of remaining validity is recommended.
- U.S. citizens do not currently need a tourist visa for a stay of 90 days or less. Travelers using another passport should verify the rules for their nationality.
- Complete Colombia's free Check-Mig form between 1 and 72 hours before your flight and keep proof of onward travel available.
Requirements change, so verify your own before booking flights.
What will the weather be like, and what should I pack?
Andes: highs in the 60s, nights in the 40s, colder and windier in the páramo. Layers, a waterproof shell, warm mid-layer, gloves, hat, and strong sun protection.
Amazon: high 80s to low 90s, humid, and April is high water so expect rain. Lightweight long sleeves, quick-drying fabrics, rain jacket, shoes you do not mind soaking, and a dry bag.
A full packing list goes out to confirmed travelers.
Where will we stay?
We use Colombian-owned hotels and lodges with private bathrooms. The Amazon properties are simpler than a city hotel. Chunaki is family operated and also serves as an important local and community partner for the trip.
- Biohotel Organic Suites, Bogotá, nights 1 to 3 (LEED Gold)
- Chunaki Ecolodge, Amazonas, nights 4 to 6
- Waira Selva, Puerto Nariño, night 7
- Waira Suites, Leticia, nights 8 and 9
Will we have wifi and electricity?
Bogotá is well connected. In the Amazon, expect patchy signal at the lodges and none on the river. We use WhatsApp as the group channel, so please have it installed.
Colombia uses US plugs and voltage. Bring a power bank.
How should I book international flights?
You book your own, and Kayson is glad to look over an itinerary before you buy.
Arrive: Bogotá (BOG) on or before April 13, 2027. A day early is never a bad idea.
Depart: Bogotá on April 22, 2027, on an evening flight with a comfortable connection after the flight from Leticia. Or add a night and fly out on the 23rd.
Bogotá to Leticia flights are included and booked by us.
Meet your expedition leader
Kayson Cooper is the founder of Threaded Expeditions. His background is in animal welfare, education, and conservation, with experience in zoos, classrooms, and animal shelters. He co-founded Gray Muzzle Society, a rescue for senior and special needs animals, and led the company’s first small-group Colombian Amazon trip in February 2026.
In February 2026, he planned and led the seven-person Amazon trip that became the starting point for this itinerary. He has also traveled in Chingaza with Andes Ecotours.
Local guides will lead us in Chingaza and throughout the Amazon, helping us find and understand the wildlife, plants, and landscapes around us. Kayson handles the overall itinerary and group experience, working with the partners who make each part possible.
Who this trip is for
This trip is for people who enjoy animals, nature, and learning how people live in a place that may feel very different from home. You might be happiest watching dolphins from a canoe, walking among frailejones, looking for wildlife with a local guide, or sharing a meal after a day on the river.
You do not need to know species names or have much international travel experience. Curiosity and a willingness to adapt matter more.
You do need to be comfortable with heat, humidity, altitude, boats, walking, changing conditions, and the fact that wildlife does not care about our itinerary.
Request a reservation
Complete the form below to request space on the April 2027 departure. No payment is collected on this page.
Questions? WhatsApp +1 720 258 6428 or email journeys@threadedexpeditions.com.
Colombia: Andes & Amazon
- Trip dates
- April 13 to 22, 2027
- Trip price
- $3,200 per traveler
- Deposit
- $500 per traveler, nonrefundable
- Remaining balance
- $2,700 per traveler, due January 15 unless a payment plan is arranged
- Payment options
- Interest-free plans available. Reach out for details.
- Single room
- $300 optional supplement
- Group size
- Maximum of 10, including Kayson
Interested, but not ready to book?
Join the Colombia 2027 interest list for trip updates, stories from our partners, availability, and reminders as the departure gets closer. Joining the list does not commit you to the trip.
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