Putumayo

Mocoa is the capital of Putumayo department in southern Colombia, set in the humid transition zone where the Andes descend into the Amazon basin. It is a small, green city known as a starting point for rainforest excursions, waterfall hikes and journeys deeper into the Colombian Amazon.

Founded in 1551, Mocoa grew from a colonial outpost into a regional trade and administrative centre. Its recent history includes the devastating 2017 landslide that reshaped parts of the city, followed by years of rebuilding and renewed investment in infrastructure and tourism.

The surrounding landscape is the main draw. Visitors hike to the Fin del Mundo waterfall, a roughly 70-metre drop in a jungle canyon, and to the Hornoyaco falls, or learn about Amazonian wildlife at the Centro Experimental Amazónico and Reserva Natural Paway. The Mocoa, Mulato and Sangoyaco rivers form natural pools used for swimming on hot days.

Nearby, the Sibundoy Valley offers access to Inga and Kamëntsá indigenous communities, traditional crafts and Andean-Amazon landscapes, while Puerto Asís is a gateway for river travel and oil-industry activity. Mocoa itself mixes mestizo, indigenous and settler traditions, reflected in its food, festivals and markets.

Mocoa matters to travellers as an accessible entry point to the Putumayo region and its ecotourism, adventure and cultural experiences. Business visitors come mainly for energy, agriculture and government services, with Villagarzón Airport about 20 km away providing the closest air connection.