Culture that inhabits the jungle
Indigenous peoples, ancestral knowledge, and community life connect Puerto Nariño with the jungle, water, and spirituality.
We are proud to share our indigenous roots and the Amazonian culture that brings Puerto Nariño to life.
The Amazon is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world: a living tapestry of peoples, languages, and ancestral knowledge that interact with history and the land. Here, customs, beliefs, and daily practices express a deep and respectful relationship between communities and nature, where culture is not preserved in the past, but is lived and passed on every day.
Puerto Nariño is home to three indigenous peoples: Magüta–Tikuna, Cocama, and Yagua, each with a worldview, knowledge, and traditions that shape the cultural identity of the territory.
In their chagras—family subsistence gardens—they grow cassava, plantains, corn, and a wide variety of Amazonian fruits. In addition, they gather wild fruits such as aguaje, chimbillo, açaí, wild cacao, huevo de toro, mano de tigre, hugo, coquillo, and mil pesos, among others. Cassava occupies a central place in their diet and culture: they use it to make fariña, an essential food in their daily lives and in their cultural and commercial practices.
Magüta People – Tikuna
Cocama people
Yagua people
Malokas: the heart of the community
For the indigenous peoples of the Amazon, the maloka is much more than a dwelling: it is a temple, a school, a ceremonial space, and a representation of the cosmos. Its shape, orientation, and structure reflect each people's worldview and their relationship with nature.
In Puerto Nariño you will find:
- Maloka Moruapú – Tikuna
- Maloka Mayatú – Yagua
- Maloka Marepú – Tikuna
- Maloka Moki – Yagua.
Each maloka expresses a way of inhabiting the world and assuming collective responsibility for caring for the territory.
Knowledge that is passed on
Ceremonies, rituals, and healing practices are an essential part of cultural life. Shamans, healers, and elders pass on knowledge about medicinal plants, spiritual protection, and balance with the jungle.
Celebrations such as rituals of transition, healing, and protection reflect the deep connection between culture, spirituality, and nature.
Languages that tell the story of the territory
Indigenous languages are carriers of memory, knowledge, and worldview. Languages such as Tikuna, Kokama-Kokamilya, and Peba-Yagua coexist in Puerto Nariño, although many are at risk of disappearing.
Preserving them means preserving the way in which peoples understand the forest, water, and life.
Experience the culture of the region
Puerto Nariño sculpture circuit on an urban tour that connects art, nature, and Amazonian mythology through 13 sculptures located at different points throughout the municipality.
Pink Dolphin (Main Park) – An emblematic species of the Amazon, of great cultural and mythological importance.
Tucunaré – Fish representative of the Amazonian rivers.
Pirarucú – One of the largest freshwater fish in the world.
Caiman – Guardian of rivers and wetlands.
Toucan – Bird symbol of the jungle.
Matamata turtle – Species characteristic of calm waters.
Churuco monkey – Animal with mythological connotations.
Yacuruna – Legendary being, the "pink dolphin man."
Macaw – Bird with strong cultural symbolism.
Paujil – Emblematic bird of the forest.
Hummingbird – Symbol of energy and spiritual connection.
Python – Ancestral being, protector of water.
Head of the Jaguar – Representation of strength and spiritual power.
Cultural walk, a walking tour that allows you to discover some of the most representative areas of Puerto Nariño's culture and landscape:
- Naipata II Viewpoint: From a height of 18 meters, enjoy a panoramic view of the Amazon River, the jungle, and the surrounding area.
- Maloka Maruapú
- Natutama Interpretation Center
- San Francisco Mythological Trail
