[2] After concentrating the ships that would make up the Amazonas Detachment in Belén do Pará, they proceeded to sail to the Brazilian town of Santo Antônio do Içá and from there divide the fleet into two: the warships Boyacá and Mosquera continued towards Leticia, while the ships Barranquilla, Córdova and Pichincha continued along the Putumayo River followed by the Nariño as a hospital ship; This maneuver sought to mislead the Peruvian commanders about the true intentions of the attack.

Six seaplanes had joined the group under the command of Major Herbert Boy, while General Alfredo Vásquez Cobo went aboard the Córdova to request a meeting with the gunboats Cartagena and Santa Marta, which could not happen because the Putumayo Detachment was carrying out operations in the Güeppi area.

[3] In the afternoon hours of February 14, Colombian forces advanced near Tarapacá to undertake the armed operation the following day.

[3] Lieutenant Gonzalo Díaz had fled with his men at night through the Cotuhé River leaving behind supplies, ammunition and weapons, among them 2 Krupp 75mm cannons.

[1] Immediately after, General Alfredo Vásquez Cobo located a battalion of 300 men in Tarapacá and installed a support base there for subsequent operations.