Colombia’s Top 7 Destinations to Witness the Amazonian Victoria

Updated: August 2026 · by Frank Spitzer

Colombia’s Top 7 Destinations to Witness the Amazonian Victoria

The Amazonian Victoria (Victoria amazonica) is the world’s largest water lily — with leaves up to 3 metres in diameter. Seven Colombian Amazon destinations have reliable populations: Puerto Nariño, Lago Tarapoto, Vaupés, and others.

I am Frank Spitzer, founder of Pelecanus Travel (RNT 51402, IAGTO member, Bogotá-based since 2017). We arrange Amazon nature trips with botanist guides. Send me a message to start planning.

Where to see the Amazonian Victoria in Colombia?

Botanical Garden of Bogotá

Location: Avenida José Celestino Mutis # 68-95, Engativa district, Bogotá.

Access: Entrance fee applies.

The Botanical Garden of Bogotá stands as one of the key centers for the conservation and research of flora and fauna from the high Andean ecosystems and páramos. Among its living collections lies the marvelous Victoria Amazonica.

To see this plant, you can visit the Amazon Rainforest section of the Tropicarium, where the temperature and humidity conditions needed by this species are recreated.

Services and Activities

• Guided tours.
• Flora and fauna observation.
• Cafeteria and restaurant.
• Library.
• Discussions.
• Parking.
• Courses and workshops covering environmental, botanical, artistic, and cultural topics.
• Exhibitions.

Schedule: Tuesday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Visit the Botanical Garden of Bogotá website for further information.

Botanical Garden of Cali

Location: Carrera 2 Oeste # 21-121 in the JBC offices, 1 kilometer from the Cali zoo and situated along the Cali River basin in Celsia, Valle del Cauca.

Access: Entrance fee applies.

The Botanical Garden of Cali stands as one of the few places outside its endemic zone in the Amazon where this species is preserved.

In fact, it was here, in mid-2023, that the Victoria Amazonica bloomed for the first time, giving visitors the chance to witness it in the pond at the Botanical Garden’s entrance. Currently, a much larger collection of Victorias can be observed here.

Services and Activities

• Guided tours.
• Hiking.
• Regional flora and fauna observation.
• Temporary botanical exhibitions.
• Cultural events in the auditorium (music, dances, etc.).
• Souvenir shop.
• Parking.
• Cafeteria and restaurants.

Schedule: Thursday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

For more information, visit the official website and plan your visit.

Victoria Regia Garden

Location: 5 miles deep via Leticia-Puerto Nariño road in the Amazonas.

Access: Entrance fee applies.

The Victoria Regia Garden is a natural and highly exotic botanical garden within the pristine depths of the Colombian Amazon jungle. It stands as the sole botanical garden in the country dedicated to the Victoria Amazonica.

Within a 2-hour journey, visitors can witness this plant at the Lake of Victoria Regia Leaves, boasting one of the largest collections of Victorias in the country.

Additionally, visitors can spot other types of regional flora around the lake or venture deeper into the Amazon jungle to enjoy many more activities, always accompanied by a local guide, of course!

Services and Activities

• Guided tours through the Colombian Amazon virgin jungle.
• Visit to the butterfly enclosure.
• Lookout point to appreciate the Amazon River.
• Tour to feed the caimans.
• Flora and fauna observation.
• Restaurant and cafeteria.
• Restrooms.
• Kiosks with hammocks for relaxation.
• Private transportation.

Schedule: Monday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

How to get there

From your city, take a flight to Leticia in the Amazonas.

Once in Leticia, the only available route is by taking a boat along the Amazon River to the botanical garden, which is about a 20-minute journey. An advantage is that you can appreciate the jungle landscapes during the trip.

For more details, you can visit the official page to request further information.

Quindío Botanical Garden

Location: Municipality of Calarcá, 9,3 miles from Armenia in Quindío.

Access: Entrance fee applies.

The Quindío Botanical Garden stands as one of the most significant botanical gardens in Colombia and a prime tourist spot within the coffee axis.

As a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental research and education, it studies a large portion of the flora and fauna not only of the coffee axis but of the entire country.

The Victoria Amazonica is no exception, and this garden has a tropical garden with a climate adapted to the tropical rainforest and a lake where you can appreciate this giant plant and other types of lotus flowers.

Services and Activities

• Butterfly garden (butterfly observation).
• Bird and flora observation.
• Hiking.
• Palm museum.
• Insect museum.
• Geology museum.
• Parking.
• Restaurants and cafeterias.
• Environmental guide service included.

Schedule: Monday to Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

How to get there

From Armenia, drive or take a bus from the transportation terminal to Calarcá, where the garden is located, approximately a 20-minute journey. Finally, instruct the driver to drop you off at the botanical garden entrance.

Visit the Quindío Botanical Garden website, where you can find more information there.

Recommendations for Visiting Botanical Gardens

• According to each garden’s schedule, aim to arrive early to avoid crowds.
• Explore all areas of the garden to fully appreciate its diversity.
• Do not litter or leave any waste in the garden spaces, and always take care of the surrounding flora and fauna.
• Apply sunscreen and always carry hydration.
• Bring mosquito repellent.
• Always wear comfortable walking attire such as sports shoes, caps, and sports sweaters.
• Pets are not allowed.
• Do not touch the exhibition showcases in the museum rooms.

Amacayacu National Natural Park

Location: In the “Amazonian Trapezium” between the borders with Brazil and Peru, 37 miles from Leticia, the nearest capital city.

Access: Entrance fee applies.

Amacayacu National Natural Park stands as one of the most important nature reserves in Colombia, where you’ll find over 5000 plant species, 468 bird species, and over 150 mammals.

Within the ecological trails leading to this flower, you can visit the one leading to Isla Mocagua, an elevated path of about half an hour where you’ll see several lakes with numerous white and pink Victorias.

Services and Activities

• Hammock accommodation.
• Meals.
• Transportation.
• Guided and environmental interpretation tours.
• Trekking through terrestrial and aquatic trails.
• Craft workshops.
• Cultural demonstrations (dances, songs, games, etc.)

How to get there

• You must reach Leticia, which has an international airport. Then, from the city’s port, take a boat along the Amazon River to the Matamatá creek, approximately a two-hour journey. This is the only available route.
• You can also arrive by hydroplane over the Cotuché River.

If you wish to contact the park, visit the Amacayacu National Natural Park website and request further information.

Mundo Amazónico Ecological Park

Location: 15 minutes from Leticia at km 7 on the Leticia – Tarapacá road in the Amazonas.

Access: Entrance fee applies.

Mundo Amazónico Ecological Park is an environmental interpretation center where you’ll find collections of endemic and fruit-bearing plants of the Amazon, while delving deep into the true Amazon jungle.

If you want to spot the Victoria Amazonica in this place, you can visit the botanical garden of the park, where you’ll find a space with a natural pond dedicated to this floral species, where they are bred and bloom. It’s also a recommended place if you’re seeking an experience in the Amazon jungle.

Services and Activities

• Aquarium for regional marine fauna observation.
• Botanical garden.
• Hiking.
• Store with Amazon natural products.
• Tourism in indigenous community villages.
• Talks and workshops.
• Restaurants.
• Hammock areas for relaxation.
• Private transportation.

Schedule: Monday to Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

How to get there

• From your city, take a flight to Leticia. Once there, take public transportation such as a taxi or a mototaxi, and ask to be taken to km 7 on the road to the indigenous community of Ziora Amena. The journey takes about 15 minutes.
• You can take a tour directly with the park, as it includes private transportation from Leticia. They will pick you up from your hotel or wherever you are and take you in a safe vehicle.

Visit the official website to review more information and plan your expedition.

Heliconia Natural Reserve

Location: Yavarí River, 110 km outside Leticia, in the Amazonas.

Access: Entrance fee applies.

Heliconia Natural Reserve is an ecological accommodation located in the Colombian Amazon jungle.

The good thing is that on these tours you will be not only in the Colombian Amazon rainforest, but also the Brazilian and Peruvian jungle, since the reserve is so extensive that it borders the Amazonian soil of Brazil and Peru, you will encounter a lot of flora and fauna.

To see the Victoria Amazonica, you can do so in front of the lake located in front of the lodging cabins. However, if you want to venture into the jungle to see them, you can. Just be sure to go with a guide!

Services and Activities

• Fishing.
• Walks.
• Dolphin watching.
• Community tourism.
• Day and night canoeing.
• Private transportation.
• Tour guide.
• Accommodation in cabins.
• Restaurant.

How to get there

From your city, take a flight to Leticia in the Amazonas.

• You can take public transportation, such as a taxi or a mototaxi, and ask to be taken to km 7 via the indigenous community of Ziora Amena. The journey takes about 15 minutes.
• You can take a tour directly with the reserve, as it includes private transportation from Leticia. They will pick you up from your hotel or wherever you are and take you in a safe vehicle.

Visit the official website to review more information and make your reservation.

7 Fascinating Facts About the Amazonian Victoria You Didn’t Know

• It’s the largest aquatic flower in the world; its circular leaves can measure up to 2 meters in diameter and withstand up to 40 kg of weight.
• The underside of its leaves is covered with spines that protect them from herbivorous fish.
• Its flower lasts only 48 hours and changes color and sex: the first night it’s white and feminine, and the second night it’s pink and masculine.
• Its flower attracts beetles with its sweet aroma and traps them to carry its pollen to other flowers.
• Its submerged stem can reach 8 meters in length, making the plant taller than it is wide.
• It does not like to share its space with other plants, as it prevents sunlight from reaching the water under its leaves.
• It’s named in honor of Queen Victoria of England, who ruled during the 18th century; it was discovered by English botanists in the Amazon.

2026 update: where to see Victoria amazonica + Amacayacu 2025 Yewaé Interpretation Center

The 2026 fact anchors for the Amazonian Victoria (Victoria amazonica) in Colombia. Per Instituto SINCHI (a MinAmbiente research institute), the species occurs naturally only in Amazonas department, in lakes and old river-channels (“madres viejas”) of the Amazon basin. The flowers are white, up to ~30 cm in diameter, open in the late afternoon and evening, emit a distinctive pineapple-like scent, and close by early morning — each flower opens twice before descending, and individual blooms last only about 48 hours. Best bloom window is the rising-water and high-water season (roughly February-May) when the várzea and lake edges are inundated.

The two anchor Colombian destinations. Lago Tarapoto (approximately 20 minutes by boat from Puerto Nariño, Amazonas — a Ramsar site since 2017/2018 and ~9 km upstream of PNN Amacayacu) is the preferred spot combining Victoria amazonica in season with river-dolphin observation (both pink dolphin Inia geoffrensis and gray Sotalia fluviatilis). PNN Amacayacu itself is reached from Leticia — 57.5 km, 1h30 by fast boat — with three companies rotating departures at 7:00 am, 10:00 am and 1:00 pm; visitor services are managed by the indigenous communities of Mocagua and San Martín de Amacayacu. Important 2026 upgrade: the Yewaé Interpretation Center was delivered in 2025, adding a restaurant, auditorium, kitchen and dock — this is the new anchor for arriving visitors after Amacayacu’s multi-year post-2012-flood closure. Do NOT let a tour operator promise Victoria amazonica at Isla de los Micos — the plant’s canonical observation is Tarapoto and the Yahuarcaca-Mocagua lake system, not Isla de los Micos.

Discover more experiences of nature tourism in Colombia

• The Best Hiking Routes in Colombia.
• Cacao Guide in Colombia.
• The Most Representative Flowers in Colombia.
• Discover Colombia’s Top 7 Heliconia Viewing Spots

FAQ

Is this relevant for first-time Colombia visitors?

Yes — basic preparation and awareness in these areas enriches the trip culturally and practically.

Do I need a guide?

Recommended for most listed destinations and topics. Specialised guides (biologist, cultural, technical) significantly improve the experience.

How much does it cost?

Costs vary widely. Premium experiences: $80-250/day. Mid-range: $40-100/day. Budget: $20-50/day. Colombia is cheaper than equivalent European or North American experiences.

When is the best season?

Dry seasons (December-March, June-August) typically preferred. Specific timing varies by region and activity.

Is Colombia safe for tourists?

Yes in tourist areas with standard precautions. Major cities have full police presence. Use Uber/DiDi for evening transport.

How do I plan with Pelecanus?

Send a message via /en/about-us-contact/ or WhatsApp Frank at +57 321 214 6210. We design custom private itineraries.

References

• Colombia Travel Guide – Pelecanus

About the Author

I’m Frank Spitzer — Swiss-born, Bogotá-resident since 2015, founder of Pelecanus. From first inquiry through return flight, you deal with me personally — not a handoff team. I’ve driven across 30 of Colombia’s 32 departments to inspect roads, hotels, guides and routes myself, and documented it in 400+ first-hand videos on the COLOMBIAFRANK YouTube channel. Before a destination goes into a trip, I’ve been there, often more than once, and I’ve slept in the bed I’d recommend. That field scouting sits on top of a 20-year background in finance, an MBA from the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, and a First-Lieutenant commission in the Swiss Army. I work in German, English, Spanish, French and Portuguese, which is why luxury, golf, eco and wildlife travellers from Switzerland, Germany, the US and Latin America trust us to build trips that feel custom — not catalogued. Pelecanus operates under Colombian RNT 51402 and is an active IAGTO member.

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