Visit Leticia

I’ve spent two trips in the Amazon, giving me plenty of time to get to know Leticia.

Let’s begin by discovering the top activities in and around this city, which serves as a gateway to one of the world’s most captivating regions.

TOM’S TIP

Did you know there are other fascinating places to experience a jungle adventure? You can explore San José Del Guaviare, Los Cerros de Mavecure, Mocoa, and Mitú.

things to do in Leticia, Colombia

Leticia is a gateway between the modern world and the wild.

You don’t come to Leticia for the city itself, but here’s how I utilized my stopovers here during my treks in the Amazon jungle.

Arriving in Leticia the day before to visit the CITY

It’s not an essential stop for your Amazon adventure, but it’s something I enjoyed doing with my parents.

Why?

Flights to Leticia arrive at the earliest in the late morning. This means you only have the afternoon to do something with your agency, which counts as the first day of your package.

I prefer to start off on the right foot, early in the morning. And since the climate in Leticia is particularly stifling, less stress means saving liters of sweat

Komara Amazon Colombia

Here are a few interesting stops in Leticia:

  • The Ethnographic Museum: Ideal for learning more about Amazonian culture. This small museum is very well done, and it’s free.
  • Parque Santander: It’s a lively place, with all sorts of vehicles and tuk-tuks zipping by and some kiosks selling colorful sweets. But it’s at dusk that you should discover it. At that moment, a flock of parakeets appears out of nowhere in a deafening noise of chirping and wing flapping. As the light fades, they perform a curious ballet on the park’s trees before nestling in the branches and falling silent. Night has fallen. Curtain.
  • Have a Caipirinha at Komara: An excellent way to celebrate your arrival in Leticia. Take a 20-minute tuk-tuk ride to Tabatinga, Brazil. This bar, located on the banks of the Amazon, is a popular spot for locals to admire the sunset and have a drink.

TOM’S ADVICE

Make sure your tuk-tuk driver waits for you while you savor your Caipirinha. La Komara does not have network coverage.

Visit the market IN THE MORNING

I loved visiting this lively hall full of colors and scents with my local guide.

We strolled among the stalls filled with fish like the Pirarucú, the largest freshwater fish in the world, and the notorious Piranha with its fierce mouth. An old lady praised the virtues of various dried plants, leaves, and powders. I navigated through mountains of fruits of all shapes and colors, narrowly avoiding a collision with enormous bunches of bananas being carried around.

Exiting the market somewhat groggy, I paused, fascinated, in front of a large basket teeming with fat worms, the famous Mojojoy. I declined the mischievous invitation from my guide to taste one.


Things to do around Leticia

You don’t necessarily need a guide to venture outside of Leticia—but it’s better if you speak some Spanish.

A thirty-kilometer road leaves Leticia and goes deep into the jungle, leading to… nowhere. It’s easy to take a bus (departing from here) or a tuk-tuk. However, the return to Leticia is more complicated, as you have to wait by the roadside for an empty tuk-tuk or bus to pass by.

Mundo Amazónico ecological park

If you want to add a cultural element to your exploration of the Amazonian world, the Mundo Amazónico ecological park offers six educational and entertaining activities (30 – 40 minutes each).

With your native guide, you can sip Amazonian tea, taste dishes prepared with traditional cooking techniques, and listen to legends told by an elderly Huitoto woman. You can also see endemic fish such as the Piranha and Macana and observe the birds.

The trip takes 20 minutes by bus to Km 7.

ADRIEN’S TIP

Mundo Amazónico is a great spot for families with children and provides a deeper understanding of the special relationship Indigenous people maintain with their environment.

Reserva Natural Tanimboca

Tanimboca Leticia Amazon Colombia (1)

If you’re into outdoor activities, the Reserva Natural Tanimboca offers zip-lining, tree climbing, and kayaking among beautiful tropical vegetation.

If you opt to stay overnight, treehouses offer a unique way to experience the Amazon rainforest. The journey to the reserve can be made by bus or tuk-tuk (30 minutes—kilometer 11).

Some agencies include this in their packages. Personally, I don’t think it’s interesting enough to justify it. It’s better to head out on an adventure along the Amazon River and sleep in a more remote eco-lodge.


Get away from Leticia and enjoy the adventure

As you can see, staying in Leticia doesn’t make much sense. If you want to see animals, wake up on the banks of the Amazon in a beautiful eco-lodge, and share in the daily life of local communities, you’ll need to venture deeper into the jungle.

ADRIEN’S TIP

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STAYING IN AN ECOLODGE

EcoLodge Palmari Amazon

This is the most practical (and comfortable) option.

How to choose correctly

With the growing number of eco-lodges around Leticia, making the right choice is essential. Here’s what I look for in this type of accommodation:

The further the better
Palmari Amazon (7) (1)

The eco-lodge must be surrounded by thick vegetation, far from any human activity. I want to be lulled (or frightened) by the sounds of the jungle at night and to see a variety of birds from the balcony in the morning.

The more secluded, the better; some eco-lodges near Leticia offer day trips for visitors, which makes them a bit too crowded for me.

transportation
Boat from San Martin to Puerto Nariño Amazon Colombia

It should provide round-trip transportation between the eco-lodge and Leticia. If you choose to stay in an eco-lodge, it’s precisely to avoid the hassle. It’s nice to have someone pick you up at the hotel or airport and take you to the Leticia port to catch a boat (private or public).

Communication

Good communication is also essential. However, this is often not the case in the Amazon. This is often due to poor Internet signal quality. But sometimes, it’s also due to poor organization. If the eco-lodge takes 4 to 5 days to respond, and you have to follow up frequently, the best thing to do is move on.

ALL INCLUDED
Leticia Amazon Colombia - bird watching

An all-inclusive stay is essential. The main appeal of an eco-lodge, in my opinion, is its flexibility. Therefore, the eco-lodge should provide a private guide who can facilitate any activity at any time. This allows you to change your schedule if the weather is bad or if you’re feeling tired.

ADRIEN’S TIP

The most accessible eco-lodges are located on the banks of the Amazon River between Leticia and Puerto Nariño. On the Peruvian side, it’s the flooded jungle; on the Colombian side, it’s the Tierra Firme jungle (never flooded).

how does it go?

Adrien and I stayed at this ecolodge for four days (which, by the way, is far too short). And we were not disappointed.

After three hours on a private boat through the flooded jungle, we arrived at this impressive wooden eco-lodge built on the banks of one of the Amazon River branches. In the dry season, the water recedes for dozens of meters, revealing stretches of white sand beaches.

We made a brief stop at our cabaña (there’s also a dormitory and hammocks for a more economical stay) to drop off our bags, and then we were introduced to our local guide.

Everything is included (even the evening caipirinhas). Our guide handed us a huge catalog with over 30 activities. All we had to do was choose. On the agenda:

  • Night walk to see glowing mushrooms—like Avatar—and spot caimans.
  • Jungle trek to observe wildlife, followed by setting up camp (hammock) for the night. Our guide prepared a delicious fish over the fire, and we drank caipirinhas to keep the mosquitoes away. A former member of the Foreign Legion gave me this advice. Having tried it, I can guarantee it doesn’t work. But at least you don’t feel them biting.
  • Kayak excursion in the flooded jungle. I did it twice because it’s my favorite, especially early in the morning. Everything is silent except for the birds’ whistles. You weave between vines under a vast green canopy, and suddenly you emerge into a lagoon where the sky reflects in the water. You then take out your homemade fishing rod and try to catch piranhas with pieces of chicken. In short, pure bliss.

TOM’S TIP

When camping in the jungle, always put your boots on two sticks next to your hammock to prevent unwanted guests in the morning. And give them a shake before putting them on!

staying in an indigenous community

The accommodations are usually more basic than in eco-lodges, and the organization can be a bit more confusing; you need to take the boat alone to get there, speak Spanish, join other travelers for daily activities, and experience a slightly less personalized service.

On the other hand, the prices are more affordable, and I adore the atmosphere of these communities. You can easily walk around and observe the locals’ daily life.

During my trek in the Amazon, I stayed in two communities, Mocagua and San Martin.

Mocagua, a charming little community

Mocagua is a lovely small community on the banks of the Amazon River (1.5 hours from Leticia). With its flower-lined cobblestone streets and tranquil atmosphere, it’s a great base for jungle hikes.

Mocagua is known for its commitment to sustainable tourism and animal protection. There is a monkey rehabilitation and reintegration center, the Fundación Maikuchiga.

Be sure to visit the small ethnographic museum. It houses an interesting collection of everyday objects from the past, and you’ll benefit from the explanations of the owner, who is trying to preserve the Tikuna culture.

I stayed at Ceiba Amazonas, with its lookout tower where you can watch the birds wake up in a stunning sunrise. Vicki, at Wikungo on the riverbank, serves good beers and cooks delicious, hearty traditional dishes.

ADRIEN’S TIP

Did you know that the clans of indigenous communities are named after land or air animals? Our guide was a Tikuna from the Garza clan (heron). Unions between clans from the same environment are not allowed. It’s a sensible way to avoid inbreeding.

San Martin de Amacayacu, a unique experience

The immersion started on the very first night. There’s no electricity and no running water at Ronaldo’s, where we were staying. By the light of my phone, I walked down the main street of the village and carefully descended a steep path to the Amacayacu River. I bathed in complete darkness next to locals washing their dishes and clothes, taking great care to hold onto the dock to avoid being caught by the current. Believe me, this unusual bath is very welcome after a day in the humid forest!

Jesus, my Tikuna guide, was with me throughout my stay. Together, we explored the village with its simple wooden houses and palm-thatched roofs, attended the school celebration, and watched the children parade in their immaculate uniforms. In the shade of the immense Maloca, I listened to him explain the function of this community house and the stories of his people.

I joined the locals to participate in a Minga, learned to weave the huge palm leaves that would cover the roof of a kitchen, and went to cut wood in the forest. I was rewarded with a strange brew made from fermented Yuka called Chicha.

TOM’S STORY

A Minga is a communal labor effort where villagers come together to assist one of their members in completing a construction or farming project.

A village woman invited me to her home to teach me how to weave bracelets and paint on palm fiber with vegetable paints.

On the last evening, after bathing in the river and enjoying a traditional dinner at Ronaldo’s, Jesus took me to his home. It was a simple wooden house without furniture and barely illuminated. Sitting on one of the three mismatched chairs, Jesus’ wife told me the story of Joy and Hipi and shared Tikuna legends about the birth of the sun and the moon.

Arrange a jungle trip with a local agency

Marasha ecolodge Leticia Amazon Colombia

There are probably a hundred local agencies in Leticia, most of which are illegal (meaning they have no insurance in case of problems) and offer rather mediocre services.

But don’t worry, there are some very good ones. You just need to take the time to choose carefully. Here are a few tips:

  • Don’t rely solely on price. You will always find someone in Leticia offering the cheapest excursion. However, you will likely be with a large number of tourists, and your experiences may be quite ordinary.
  • Book in advance. Do research online to compare agencies from home. Once in Leticia, it will be much more complicated.
  • Opt for a private tour rather than a group tour. This is especially true if you’re looking for adventure, as group tours are designed to suit everyone.

The main advantage of an agency is that it allows you to see more places. With my guide, we spent a night in the Marasha Reserve, then camped in the jungle before discovering two indigenous communities (Mocagua and San Martin).

On the other hand, this also means you will spend a lot more time traveling from one place to another. You will be more tired and have less time to enjoy each location. Moreover, you’ll have to hope for good weather since you’ll be following a schedule prearranged with the agency.

In summary, each option has its pros and cons. It’s up to you to weigh them.

ADRIEN’S TIP

For solo travelers, the dormitory option at this eco-lodge is unbeatable if you’re looking to have a private guide.


How to get to Leticia

There are no fifty ways to get to Leticia.

Getting by plan from Bogota

Airport Leticia Amazon Colombia

The only way to Leticia from Colombia is by plane.

There are only direct flights from Bogotá (2 hours). You will land at Leticia’s international airport, Alfredo Vásquez Cobo, which is just a few minutes from the city center.

Airline companies are Latam and Avianca.

Getting by boat from Manaus et Iquitos

migration boat leticia amazon Colombia

You can arrive in Leticia by boat if you’re coming from Manaus (Brazil) or Iquitos (Peru). However, you will need to have your passport stamped if you plan to continue your journey through Colombia.

Getting around Leticia

Tuk-tuk and boat are the most common means of transport in Leticia.

Tuk-tuk, taxis and public buses

Tuktuk Leticia Amazon Colombia

Tuktuks are a common sight in Leticia, perfect for city travel or visiting places like Tabatinga for a Caipi.

There’s a single road out of Leticia that’s less than 30 km long. To visit tourist areas, you can take a taxi or use the public buses. Departures are frequent from Parque Orellana.

BOATS LEAVING FROM LETICIA

Boat Leticia Amazon Colombia

To get from Leticia to Puerto Nariño (2h), you can take public boats at an affordable price. There are only 3 departures daily, and three boat companies rotate every day. The boats leave from Isla de la Fantasia.

You can also stop along the way to visit Indigenous communities.

TOM’S TIP

Many locals take the public boats every day, so it’s wise to book in advance (ask your agency or hotel). If you don’t, you might need to spend an extra night in Leticia.