Dulce Amazónica — Embassy of the Colombian Amazon

What it is

An ice cream shop and cultural institution in Guatapé town center. The ice cream flavors are sourced from indigenous communities across the Colombian Amazon — fruits that rarely reach cities, made into flavors most visitors have never encountered. The shop is also home to the Embajada de la Amazonia Colombiana.

The flavors

25+ rotating flavors depending on what’s in season and what the communities have brought. Selections include:

• Copoazú (Theobroma grandiflorum — related to cacao, tart and complex)
• Arazá (like a tropical guava, intensely fragrant)
• Cocona (tangy and unique to the Amazon basin)
• Camu camu (extremely high in vitamin C, sour)
• Asaí (deep, earthy, mildly sweet)
• Corozo and several others

Ask what’s in season and what the current ambassador recommends.

The Embajada de la Amazonia Colombiana

A cultural institution operating within Dulce Amazónica. Each month, an indigenous representative (an ambassador) travels from their community in the Colombian Amazon to Guatapé. They bring handcrafted artesanías for sale — textiles, carved wood, woven baskets, ceramics. All proceeds go directly to the ambassador and their community.

The ambassador is also available to speak with visitors and researchers about their community, territory, and daily life. Live video sessions connecting visitors with communities in the Amazon can be arranged. More at colombianamazon.com.

What visitors can do

Try the ice cream — ask about the sourcing, the answer is part of the experience. Buy artesanías directly from the current ambassador. Ask questions: the ambassador is there specifically to engage, not as a display.