Leticia is a city located in the deep south of Colombia and has borders with Brazil and Peru. It’s basically the meeting point of the three countries. The gem of this city gets looked over a lot by tourists, mostly because it’s usually a stopping point for people and not a destination. Still, you should never underestimate the potential of a city located by the amazon river.
When to Go in Leticia?
Considering its location, the weather in Leticia is precisely what you would expect it to be. On average, it’s mostly hot with a tropical climate. You would experience the most rainfalls from January to July.
- January is the wettest month, so you should avoid it if you’re not such a big fan of rain.
- July is the coldest and driest month with an average temperature of 29°C degrees.
With all that said, don’t forget that Leticia’s in the Amazonas region and has a tropical climate meaning it’s humid, and the weather could change any second; but that’s what makes this city so unique, the fact that it can surprise you with every inch and ounce of it.
| JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 31°C | 30°C | 30°C | 30°C | 31°C | 32°C | 32°C | 32°C | 31°C |
| Low °C | 23°C | 23°C | 23°C | 23°C | 23°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 22°C | 23°C | 23°C | 23°C |
| High °F | 88°F | 88°F | 88°F | 87°F | 87°F | 86°F | 86°F | 88°F | 90°F | 90°F | 89°F | 88°F |
| Low °F | 73°F | 73°F | 73°F | 73°F | 73°F | 72°F | 71°F | 71°F | 72°F | 73°F | 73°F | 73°F |
| Rain | 18 days | 15 days | 16 days | 16 days | 15 days | 13 days | 12 days | 12 days | 12 days | 13 days | 13 days | 17 days |
Where to Go and What to Do
Whether you are an adventurous person looking for adrenaline-pumping activities or a laid-back nature lover, this city offers a long list of activities to do. Visiting nearby islands ziplining, and more; will surely make you more connected to nature on a different level and make it an unforgettable trip.
Visiting Isla de Los Micos, the Monkey Island
With its breathtaking sceneries, this vibrant island is famous for its small wild monkeys but don’t worry! They are entirely used to humans, and it’s even customary for tourists to buy a banana and feed the monkeys right from their hands. These monkeys are not shy and will climb you up, so remember to wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty. Tourists also recommend not wearing earrings or jewelry that the monkeys can grab onto. You can again meet indigenous people and buy handicrafts from them as a souvenir and help their community. The most common way to get to this island is by boat. It’s about 45 minutes away from Leticia, and we can guarantee you will enjoy your boat ride to your destination.
Exploring the Amazon River
It should be on top of your list of activities here. After all, Amazon is the biggest and one of the most remarkable spots on earth. Some guides can help you schedule and arrange a personalized trip for you through amazon. Don’t hesitate to ask one of them for help since it’s not very safe for a first-timer to wander through the river and forests there alone.
Photo by Eli Duke via Flickr
Strolling through the Tourist Boardwalk
If you’re only here for a few hours or just want to relax after a long day, you should definitely make a stop at the tourist boardwalk or “Malecón Turístico. This spot is where the 3 Amazonian countries(Brazil, Peru, and Colombia) are divided, and you can sit back with a drink and watch the boats as they load and unload people and produce. If you have the opportunity, make sure you catch the sunrise or sunset over the river at this spot. It’s the same place but a different and irreplaceable experience.
Photo by alphredob3 via Flickr
Exploring Reserva Natural Tanimboca
Off the beaten track, this peaceful reserve is where you can experience and explore the wilderness of amazon with all its raw features and authenticity without fear or concern.
This reserve can provide you with extremely knowledgeable and experienced guides so you can just soak up the beauty and learn and connect with nature. You can choose to do many activities, such as canopying, kayaking, ziplining, and night hikes. You can also visit indigenous people and learn about their lifestyles with a guide familiar with their community. This is an opportunity of a lifetime, so don’t miss it and give it a try, even as a day trip.
Photo by alphredob3 via Flickr
Taking a walk to Brazil
This will be a walk you won’t forget. Since there’s no actual visible border between Leticia, Colombia, and Tabatinga, Brazil, you can cross the borders by riding a bike or even taking a walk. Although the border towns might look a lot like each other initially, you will notice the language and the color spectrum change. But the change in cuisine is also something you might find delightful. Suppose you’re in the town at the weekend. In that case, you can enjoy the dance show at la Compare, which is like a mini Brazilian festival dance with feathered-costume dancers and Brazilian music. They love that type of music and sure you will.
Tabatinga, Brazil
Trying the Local Food
Every town or city has a unique traditional dish of its own. Now that you’re in a city bordering two other countries, you can try them all. Since this town is located alongside the amazon, freshwater fish is one of the most common choices and is always on the menu. If you’re looking for more exotic dishes, you should try Mojojoy ( a worm you can eat grilled, fried, stuffed, etc.) or fariña (a type of hot porridge).
Photo by nakashi via Flickr
Catching the sunset at Parque Santander
Parque Santander is one of your best options for a relaxing yet very memorable evening in town. Just walk to the main park of Leticia, Parque Santander, before dusk. Hundreds of birds and especially parrots fly back from the forests to this park at night for resting and spending the night. People usually gather around the park and sit back with a drink or a bite from the street-food vendors and listen to the birds’ mesmerizing sound echoing through the park. It’s the kind of sound you hear in movies or documentaries about the Amazonian forests. Now, you get to experience it in a park in the middle of the town. If you’re interested, there is a church tower nearby. You can climb for a better view of the birds and the sunset.
Parque Santander, Colombia
Visiting Museo Etnografico
Exploring Leticia and other Amazonas regions, you might want to know a bit more about the history of this unique piece of land and its ancient people’s ways of living. The Etnografico Museum is a small but well-detailed and arranged place downtown where you can learn about different tribes, rituals, clothes, tools, and beliefs. The signs in the museum are in English and very informative, and you will leave this place knowing a lot more about the past and present of the indigenous people in this region. There are also guides there who can give you unwritten information, facts, and stories about each item exhibited there.
Where to Dine and What to Eat in Leticia?
There’s a wide variety of food and cuisine styles in Leticia that you can choose from. Whether you are adventurous and willing to try new things or not, you can find your ideal restaurant and feed yourself good food. Apart from the exotic and traditional dishes, most restaurants in town have a diverse menu. You can even try Brazilian and Peruvian cuisine here. Street food is also very popular in Leticia. Some of the most famous restaurants with tourists with reasonable prices are Tierras Amazonia’s, Amektiar, RESTAURANTE PUNTO LOUNGE. They all have a Colombian(Latin)/ international menu.
Where to Stay in Leticia?
Depending on your preferences, you can either stay at a boutique hotel with the same luxury you would expect anywhere else. You can also even spend the night in the tree houses in reserves like Tanimboca and get away from it all in the wilderness. So it’s really up to you, your budget, and the kind of experience you had in your mind planning this trip. But whichever type of accommodation you choose you can check the place online and book it right away. Some of the most recommended places to stay in Leticia are:
- Reserva Natural Tanimboca –Tree House in the forest
- Hipilandia – Best Hostel in Leticia
- The Cabaña Flotante Kurupira -floating cabin with balconies
- Amazonas Explorers- individual apartments fully furnished
Transportation
Leticia isn’t a big city, but you can move around town by tuk-tuks or taxis if needed. You will also be able to rent bikes there. Transportation between Brazil, Peru, and Colombia is available by both boats and flights, but it’s such a short trip and is easier to take by boat or even a bus.
Useful Tips Before You Go
You are not required to get the yellow fever vaccine shot to enter Leticia, but it’s better if you do it 10-15 days before your trip; otherwise, you will spend your whole trip worrying about it. A trip to the Amazon regions, especially Leticia, is about connecting with nature and letting go of city life’s pressures and chaos. So pack a light suitcase or even a backpack and only take the essentials like sunscreen, light clothing, a sun-blocking hat or cap, a small first-aid kit, bug repellent, and such according to your plans.
