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Cubeo

Cubeo

Indigenous people of the Vaupés region in Colombia's northwest Amazon

Photo: Jukahogo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Cubeo are an indigenous group living mainly in the Vaupés Department of Colombia, along the Cuduyari and Querary rivers. Numbering between 3,000 and 5,000, they are known for their clan-based society and their unique language, which belongs to the Tukanoan family.

  • Live mainly along the Cuduyari and Querary rivers in Colombia
  • Population is about 4,238
  • Speak a Tukanoan language with rare OVS word order
  • Society organized by clans named after mythical ancestors

Who are the Cubeo?

The Cubeo are an indigenous people of the northwest Amazon, centered in Colombia’s Vaupés Department. They are organized around clans, each tracing descent from a mythical ancestor whose name is used as a clan identifier. The term 'Cubeo' is used in Spanish and in literature, though in their own language they refer to themselves simply as 'people' or 'my people.' Clan membership shapes social identity and relationships within the group.

Where do the Cubeo live?

Cubeo villages are found along the Cuduyari and Querary rivers, tributaries near Mitú in the Vaupés Department of Colombia. This region lies in the heart of the northwest Amazon, an area of dense rainforest and winding rivers. The landscape is marked by its rich biodiversity and the importance of waterways for travel and daily life.

What language do the Cubeo speak?

The Cubeo speak a language classified within the Tukanoan family. It has recently been reclassified from Eastern Tukano to Middle Tukano, reflecting new linguistic research. The Cubeo language is notable for its rare object-verb-subject (OVS) word order, which is uncommon among the world’s languages.

How is Cubeo society organised?

Cubeo society is organized around clan descent, with each person belonging to a clan named after a mythical ancestor. Social identity is closely tied to this clan system. There is no single native name for the group; instead, individuals identify themselves through their clan membership. The use of 'Cubeo' is external, used in Spanish and academic contexts.

The history of the Cubeo

The Cubeo have long lived in the Vaupés region of Colombia, maintaining their clan-based social structure and language. Their identification as 'Cubeo' comes from outside their own tradition, as they typically refer to themselves simply as 'people.' Over time, their population has been recorded in censuses, with estimates ranging from 3,000 to 5,000. Their society and language have drawn the attention of researchers, especially for their unique linguistic features.

Cubeo life today

Today, the Cubeo number around 4,238 people, with most living in Colombia’s Vaupés Department. Their villages remain along the Cuduyari and Querary rivers. The Cubeo continue to maintain their clan-based identity and language, though they are also recognized in wider Colombian society and studied by linguists and anthropologists.

Questions people ask about the Cubeo

Where do the Cubeo live?

The Cubeo live mainly in the Vaupés Department of Colombia, along the Cuduyari and Querary rivers near Mitú.

How many Cubeo are there?

Their population is estimated at about 4,238 people, with earlier census figures close to this number.

What language do the Cubeo speak?

They speak the Cubeo language, which belongs to the Tukanoan family and has a rare object-verb-subject word order.

How is Cubeo society organized?

Cubeo society is organized around clans, each tracing descent from a mythical ancestor whose name identifies the clan.

Sources and further reading

This page was written with AI assistance from the sources above and checked automatically before publishing. It may contain mistakes, and it is no substitute for hearing from the Cubeo themselves. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-02.

Neighbours in Colombia

All peoples of Colombia
Tucanoye’pâ-masa 🇨🇴 Colombia and 2 moreMultilingual Indigenous people of the Vaupés River in the northwest Amazon About 6,000, Tucanoan Kotiria 🇧🇷 Brazil and 1 moreIndigenous people of the Vaupés River in Brazil and Colombia About 4,000, Tucanoan QuechuaRuna / Nuna 🇵🇪 Peru and 5 moreIndigenous farmers and herders of the Andes, speaking Quechua languages About 10 million, Quechuan TicunaMagüta 🇧🇷 Brazil and 2 moreThe most numerous Indigenous people of the Brazilian Amazon About 75,000, Language isolate

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