Leticia is capital of Colombia's Amazonas region, and is a small jungle town tucked away in a distant corner of Colombia on the border with Brazil and Peru. This is the gateway to Colombia's Amazon rainforest, and there are jungle lodges and rainforest tours provided. Travellers are increasingly choosing to stay at a hotel in nearby Puerto Narino, a small riverside village that's good place to spot dolphins. The best months to visit are at the beginning of the dry season (July and August), but this is the Amazon so expect rain anytime. If at all possible, the deeper one heads into the jungle, the more memorable the experience, and the more wildlife you're likely to spot. Details on jungle lodhes follow.
Leticia Rainforest Tours
Year round, there's lots of wildlife to be seen in the Amazon region, including monkeys and dolphins, and array of birdlife and there are also indigenous villages that can be visited. You might also go fishing or Caiman spotting. There are numerous tour operators offering day tours and rainforest excursions in Leticia - as a rule of thumb, ignore anyone that approaches you directly, and try to get a suggested tour operator from your hotel in Leticia.
Jungle Lodges Near Leticia
I'm going to Leticia in May. I'll be writing a review of the lodge I stay at right here.....
Other Leticia Jungle Lodges
Give yourself a few nights in a rainforest lodge to truely appreciate the Amazon. Waking up at 5am to the sounds of the jungle and monkeys sreaming outside your cabana is a unique travel experience. One option is Palmari Lodge, which is in Brazil, three hours away by boat, and found in Palmari Nature reserve. Also in Brazil is the remotely located Heliconia Nature Reserve. In Peru, and about 30 minutes by boat from Leticia, is Amarasha Reserve, which is quite a new jungle lodge. In Colombia itself is the jungle lodge at Omshanty. Alternatively try the Decameron Ticuna resort or the Decameron lodge in Amacayacu National Park (note that Decameron are chain hotels though).
If you would rather stay in Leticia itself, consider the Anaconda Hotel
Email me if you know of other jungle lodges in this area of Colombia.
Getting to Leticia
The only way into Leticia from elsewhere in Colombia is to fly - see the flights page for airline routing information. Tabatinga is just over the border in Brazil - the two cities almost merge into one. Leticia is a much more pleasant place to stay than neighbouring Tabatinga. From Tabatinga one can easily get a boat, or catch a flight to Manaus (with Trip or Rico) in Brazil's Amazon, or equally to Iquitos in Peru, to continue on your travels.
