Most of the time when people think of the Amazon, they instantly think only of Brazil. However, the Amazon River and Rainforest span across a number of countries, including Colombia. In this article, you’ll learn all about visiting Colombia’s Amazon. Located to the extreme south, the town of Leticia is a small river port town located on the border of Peru and Brazil. In fact, perhaps one of neatest things about a visit to Leticia is the ability to visit 3 countries at the same time. And even if Colombia’s Amazon is less well known, there is still plenty to see and do in Leticia.  

Getting There

 
The Amazon River is the largest river in South America, running through Peru, Colombia and Brazil / Photo: Adam McConnaughhay
  Leticia is very isolated, and there are no roads through the Amazon Rainforest into the town. Therefore, you must fly to Leticia from Bogotá or arrive via a ferry boat along the Amazon River departing from upriver in Iquitos, Peru or downriver in Manaus, Brazil. It is also possible to fly into neighboring Tabatinga from some airports in Brazil.   Travel Tips: Check out the top things to do in Peru and the top things to do in Brazil if you’re coming from there or heading there after your visit to Leticia!  

Things to Do in Leticia

 

Tour the Amazon River

This is undoubtedly the top activity in Leticia. Day tours of the river leave early every morning and return in the afternoon. They can be easily arranged once in Leticia or planned ahead with tour agencies. The next several things are all on the standard river tour in Leticia. If you would prefer not to do the tour, it may also be possible to arrange transportation to them independently from the river port.   Travel Tip: Navigate through the world's largest river. Book your Amazon River Tour here.    

Isla de los Micos (Monkey Island)

 
These small animals will surprise you with their great curiosity! / Photo: Adam McConnaughhay
  This is usually the first stop along the standard river day tour. A small island in the middle of the river, Isla de los Micos is home to lots of little monkeys. When you arrive at the island, you’ll get some bananas. Then get ready, because you’ll soon have lots of monkeys come looking to get a piece, climbing all over you in the process! It’s hilarious and you’ll be able to get some great photos. The little monkeys are also really cute.  Do keep in mind that products like bug spray and sunscreen are bad for them, so wait to put those things on until after you have left the island. Also, do not try to grab or hold the monkeys. Also, do watch out for their little teeth when they are eating the banana from your hand.   Travel Tip: Take advantage of your stay in this beautiful country and discover 5 reasons to visit the Pacific coast of Colombia.  

Puerto Nariño

Small town located in the department of Amazonas / Photo: Adam McConnaughhay
  This small town is normally where you will have lunch during the standard Leticia river tour. It is a pretty little town, and motor vehicles have been prohibited. Be sure to walk up to the top of the hill where there is a lookout tower with terrific views of the river. You may also want to sample some of the homemade artisanal ice cream or popsicles with fruits from the Amazon like Açaí. It is also possible to plan to stay in Puerto Nariño and take a direct ferry from Leticia here.    Travel Tip: Live one day in the Tanimboca Natural Reserve and explore from the jungle the landscapes of one of the best tourist places in the Amazon.  

See the World’s Largest Water Lilly

 
The Victoria Regia is the largest water lily in the world, you can find it in the Colombian Amazon / Photo: Adam McConnaughhay
  The Victoria Regia is the world’s largest water lily. They grow in inlet lakes and ponds all along the Amazon River Basin. Not far from Leticia, and usually the last stop on the return to town during the river tour, the Victoria Regia Reserve has a pretty little observation deck where you can see these fascinating plants. Catch a Glimpse of the Pink River Dolphins Scientists are not entirely sure why some of the dolphins that made their home in the river have evolved to have a pink color. However, we can all agree they are neat looking animals. You can also see normal gray dolphins in the river, but the pink dolphins are really a special sight. Normally, the river tour in Leticia will include several stops to look for the dolphins. They can be shy, but if you’re lucky you’ll be able to get a good look at them! Those are the stops and things to see during the standard Amazon River day tour in Leticia, but there are a number of other fun things to do in Leticia.   Travel trip: Adventure in the Amazon (4 days / 3 nights) for the more adventurous!    

See the Birds Feed in the Main Plaza

 
Its main attraction is to be surrounded by endemic vegetation of the Amazon / Foto Daytours4u
  Just after sunset every evening, hundreds of birds come to feed in the area around Leticia’s main plaza. It’s a neat thing to see the swarms of them flying through air and landing in the trees. After about half an hour, they return to the forest. To get a great view of the birds flying in, you can make a small donation to watch from the church steeple on the plaza. However, you’ll be able to enjoy it from anywhere in the plaza. It is a really neat experience, so make sure you catch at least one of the nights you spend in Leticia.    

Cross into Neighboring Brazil and Peru

 
Tabatinga is a Brazilian city in the extreme west of the state of Amazonas on the banks of the Amazon River / Photo Daytours4u
  As noted above, Leticia sits in a triangle where the borders of Colombia, Peru, and Brazil meet. Given the area’s isolation, the three communities from each country share a lot in common culturally and are tightly knit. There’s even an annual festival celebrating each 3 countries. It is possible to cross into both Brazil and Peru without passing through any sort of immigration center. You just simply cross the border. To enter Brazil, you can cross by land at the edge of Leticia and enter the neighboring town of Tabatinga. In Tabatinga, there are several shops near the border where you can pick up souvenirs and goods. The most famous is the House of Chocolate or Casa do Chocolate. There is a small historic fort with some animals on display a bit further in town at the Parque Zoobotanico.    

Cultural Cmdo Fron Solimões

To cross into Peru, you can hire a boat driver at the port in Leticia to ferry you across the river to the small town of Santa Rosa. There isn’t much in this small community, but you can get a great lunch at the restaurant Brisas de Amazona, which serves up some great Peruvian arroz chaufa.   Travel Tip: Live a unique experience in the Amazon with the One Day Piranha Fishing Tour with Cayman Sighting in Brazil.    

Go Canopying in the Trees

 
In the Tanimboca Nature Reserve you will sleep in a tree hut / Photo: Source
  Outside of Leticia, you can find the Reserva Tanimboca, where you can climb up into the trees of the Amazon Rainforest yourself. After getting up into the trees, you’ll be able to ride on several zip lines before finally repelling back down to the forest floor. It’s a neat experience. For a unique hotel experience, the reserve also has treehouses for overnight accommodations.    

Trek Deeper into the Jungle

Finally, if you’re looking for a truly adventurous experience, considering heading deeper into the jungle to spend a few nights with an indigenous community. There are a number of tour agencies that offer overnight excursions from just a night or two up to a whole week staying in the jungle.   Travel Tip: Explore the nature of the Amazon rainforest with this complete 3-day, 2-night experience in the Amazon that includes hiking trails, canoeing, piranha fishing and alligator watching.  

Conclusion

There you have a list of some great things to see and do in Leticia in Colombia’s Amazon. If you choose to visit, you certainly won’t be disappointed. It makes for a great addition to any itinerary in Colombia or as a stop between Colombia and Peru or Brazil. Be sure to check out all the top activities in Colombia, in Peru, and in Brazil to plan the trip of your dreams!  
By: Adam McConnaughhay, who lives in Cartagena, Colombia, and has had the opportunity to visit Leticia and much of Colombia. In addition to working as a teacher, he also writes about his experiences in Colombia at CartagenaExplorer.com