Isla de los Micos

The island sits in the Amazon between Leticia and Puerto Narino and holds a very large population of common squirrel monkeys - a small species that lives in big troops - which have been fed by visitors for decades and consequently swarm anyone carrying fruit, climbing on shoulders and heads. That is what the island is sold on and it is also the objection to it: feeding wild primates changes their behaviour, diet and disease exposure, concentrates them unnaturally, and creates risk of transmission in both directions, and conservationists have criticised the operation for years. Some operators now discourage handling and feeding. The island is otherwise flooded forest, and the river level here rises and falls by many metres between seasons.

What you actually see

• A very large squirrel monkey troop - habituated by decades of feeding.
• Monkeys climbing on visitors - which is the selling point and the problem.
• Flooded Amazon forest - the island's actual habitat.
• A river level varying by many metres - between high and low water.

When to go

December to March. Half a day.

Honest expectations

Feeding and handling wild primates is genuinely harmful and criticised by conservationists - decide before going whether you want to take part. Disease transmission risk runs both ways. Boat fares should be agreed first. Heat and humidity are heavy.

Nearby

Puerto Narino is upriver; Leticia is downriver.