Gateway to the mighty Amazon Rainforest, Leticia is a small town in the far south of Colombia. Capital of the Amazonas region, it sits on the banks of the world’s longest river and is part of the Tres Fronteras, the place where Colombia, Peru and Brazil meet.
The town itself has few points of interest, but it provides the perfect base for exploring the largest rainforest on the planet. From short boat trips down the Amazon River to multi-day jungle tours, Leticia offers unrivalled opportunities for Amazonian adventures. It is a destination unlike any other in the country and one not to be missed!
Contents
Backpacking Leticia, Colombia – Travel Guide 🧳
Leticia Map & Resources
MORE INFO: (opens in a new tab)
- 🇨🇴 Colombia Backpacking Guide
- 💰 Cost of Travel in Colombia
- 📍 Nearby places: Santa Rosa | Tabatinga | Iquitos
- 🌿 Must do activity: 4-Day Amazon Jungle Adventure
Best Time to Visit Leticia, Colombia 🌧️
There are just two seasons in the Amazon, wet (December-May) and dry (June-November). The good news is there is no bad time to visit. Although the experience will be slightly different, both seasons provide opportunities for spotting amazing wildlife, discovering incredible plant life and enjoying jaw-dropping landscapes.
The wet months are a great time for canoeing along the waterways and spotting birds and monkeys, which are attracted by the flowering and fruiting trees. The dry season offers more opportunities for hiking and caiman sightings.
Whenever you choose to visit, expect some rain in the jungle – it is the rainforest after all!
Good to Know! 💵
There is a tourist tax of 45,000COP (approx. $11.50USD) to enter Leticia. You will need to pay at the airport on arrival. It’s possible to pay with cash or credit card.
Where to Stay in Leticia, Colombia 🛌
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Leticia is small and the accommodation options are spread across town. Everywhere is walkable, even the airport, so wherever you stay you won’t be far from the local amenities and attractions.
Hipilandia Amazonas Hostel offers basic but comfortable dorms and private rooms. The common areas and shared kitchen are great places to socialise and there is an onsite travel agency that can help you book your Amazonian tours.
The private rooms at Casa Lúcia are spacious and comfortable. The staff are friendly and there is even a pool – great to beat the tropical heat. The location close to Parque Santander is a bonus.
Hostal Casa de las Palmas Tours features dorm rooms and plenty of common areas, including a huge pool set in a pretty garden. Plus, breakfast is included in the price.
You really feel you’re in the jungle at Hotel Madreselva with its abundance of greenery and plants. The stylishly-decorated hotel provides double and triple rooms, a cosy lounge and a tasty breakfast.
Amazonia Deluxe Calle 13 offers entire apartments, complete with private lounge and kitchenette, at very reasonable prices. It receives rave reviews from guests who highly rate the cleanliness, staff and value for money.
Things to Do in Leticia, Colombia 🦜
1. Explore the Amazon! 🦥
Visiting the Amazon is the reason you’re here, right? However much time you have and whatever your interests, there will be an Amazon tour to suit you. Choose to connect with local communities, explore the Amazon Rainforest on a 4-day hike or head deep into the jungle by boat and by foot in search of amazing flora and fauna. The options and activities are endless and the experience you have will be unforgettable.
- Spend four days exploring the largest rainforest on earth!
- Hike, swim and boat through the heart of the jungle
- Spot amazing wildlife and incredible plants
- Food, accommodation and transport included
“My Amazon tour was the absolute highlight of my time in Colombia. Boating down the river, spotting sloths and dolphins and falling asleep to the sounds of the jungle were just a few of the things that made the experience so magical.”
Lisa Barham, Writer at South America Backpacker
2. Boat Along the Amazon River 🚤
Whether it’s part of a tour, the short journey over to Isla Santa Rosa or the local boat to the riverside village of Puerto Nariño, a trip by boat on the world’s longest river is an absolute must while you’re in Amazonas. Marvel at the mind-boggling width of the river, enjoy the novelty of travelling along the border between countries and keep an eye out for river dolphins!
3. Visit Three Countries in One Day 🌎
Leticia forms part of the Tres Fronteras (Three Borders) along with Isla Santa Rosa (Peru) and Tabatinga (Brazil). So, here you can enjoy the rare opportunity of visiting three countries in one day. Why not have breakfast in Colombia, lunch in Brazil and dinner in Peru? You can simply walk over the border into Brazil and Santa Rosa is just 5 minutes across the river. You can grab a local boat at the pier for around 5,000COP (approx. $1.30USD) each way.
4. Take a Day Trip to Puerto Nariño 🌱
Take a local boat ride (around 40,000COP, approx. $10USD) 75 km upriver to the village of Puerto Nariño. This small settlement is eco-friendly and a shining example of how humans and nature can coexist in harmony.
Cars are banned and rainwater is used for washing and gardening. Electricity is produced by a fuel-efficient generator and only available until midnight. While you’re here, make sure to walk up the Mirador Puerto Nariño for fantastic views over the surrounding jungle.
5. Have Lunch in Peru 🇵🇪
Craving some ceviche? Simply hop over to Peru and have lunch on Isla Santa Rosa. You won’t have to walk far from the pier to find a selection of restaurants offering delicious local Peruvian food.
6. Enjoy the Taste of the Jungle 🥭
Check out the fruit market near the pier, where the stalls are bulging with mouth-watering tropical fruits. Delight your tastebuds with passionfruit, star fruit, soursop, guava, or any of the other delicious fruits on offer!
7. Witness Birds of a Feather Flock Together 🦜
Don’t miss the spectacular display that occurs every evening in the Parque Santander. At sunset, thousands of parakeets return home to roost in the trees of the park. Watch and listen in amazement as the sky turns black with flocks of birds and the air is filled with their loud calls as they descend on the branches in their hundreds.
“The sight of thousands upon thousands of birds flocking to their nightly roost was mesmerising and unlike anything I’ve experienced before. As was the sound! It was an unusual and thrilling encounter.”
Lisa Barham, Writer at South America Backpacker
8. Learn About Life in the Amazon 🎟️
Leticia’s small but interesting Ethnographic Museum is worth a visit to learn about the local communities that make their home in the Amazon Rainforest. Stop by before or after a jungle tour to add context to your experience and discover more about the traditions, customs and history of the Amazon’s indigenous peoples.
Food and Drink in Leticia, Colombia 🐟
The food in Leticia is a mix of Amazonian and Colombian dishes. Expect to find a lot of river fish on menus.
For ceviche and fresh fish dishes, check out El Rocoto.
Vicpal can help satisfy cravings for Western food with its selection of burgers, sweet and savoury waffles and crêpes.
100% Peruano is a popular local restaurant serving typical Colombian dishes.
Decked out with somewhat tacky, but fun, jungle decor, Tierras Amazónicas is a mid-range restaurant serving local food. There’s plenty of fish on offer and a couple of vegetarian options.
It’s all about chicken at Cali Pollos, a local spot known for its spit roasts.
Wood-fired pizza and other Western meals can be found at Ambar Pizzeria.
The menu at El Santo Angel is varied, if a little on the pricey side. The best reason to visit is for their impressive range of cervezas, including Dutch, German and Belgian beers.
Getting Around Leticia, Colombia 🛶
Leticia itself is small and very walkable. Tuk tuks are available for hire, which are a good option if you want to cross over to Tabatinga in Brazil.
For exploring further afield, such as Isla Santa Rosa or Puerto Nariño, local boats run regular and cheap services from the pier.
How to Get to Leticia, Colombia ✈️
As it is more than 800 km from a Colombian highway, the only ways to reach Leticia are by air or by river.
By Plane
The only direct route is from Bogotá. There are daily departures and the flight takes 2 hours. If you’re coming from Brazil, it’s possible to fly to Tabatinga and cross the border by foot or taxi. If you take this option, make sure to get an exit stamp on the Brazilian side at the Departamento de Polícia Federal and an entry stamp in Colombia, at the immigration office near the pier.
By Boat
From Iquitos in Peru you can take a slow boat (3 days) to Isla Santa Rosa and then take the short river crossing to Leticia from there.
Similarly, in Brazil, it’s possible to take a boat from Manaus to Tabatinga (3-5 days) then cross the land border into Colombia.
Read about one traveller’s experience travelling down the Amazon River by cargo boat here.
Where to Go Next: ⛴️
Bogotá: From the rainforest to the concrete jungle – Colombia’s capital is a 2-hour flight from Leticia. Swap jungle trekking for museum hopping and waterways for colonial streets.
Iquitos (Peru): If you’re heading south, take the slow boat to Iquitos. The largest city in the world that can’t be reached by road, Iquitos is a place where jungle life and urban living collide.
Manaus (Brazil): The largest city in the Amazon, Manuas is a great base for further exploring the rainforest or a convenient hub for onward travel to other places in Brazil.
Contributors:
South America Backpacker is a ‘travel diary for everyone’. This article has been written with the help of backpackers and local experts. We would like to thank…
🙏 Michael | Local Guide at Amazon Jungle Trips
🙏 Staff at Tarapoto Jungle Tours
Lisa Barham
Lisa is a writer and traveller who left her nine-to-five in London for life on the road. Today, she spends her time solo backpacking, navigating through life and unfamiliar streets. After eating, hiking and surfing her way through Southeast Asia, she headed for a new adventure in South America, to travel through the continent learning Spanish, and a few other valuable lessons along the way!
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