Leticia

The capital city of the Amazonas province, Leticia is the largest settlement for hundreds of miles and yet still looks and feels very much like the small town it is. Located on the Amazon River where Colombia, Brazil and Peru meet, Leticia is some 500 miles (800km) from the nearest Colombian highway. It's a bustling town abuzz with fleets of motorcycles, with a few minor sights to entertain you for a day or two.

Notwithstanding the oppressive heat, stultifying humidity and ferocious mosquitoes, Leticia is a pleasant enough town but not a destination in itself: it's a stepping stone for visiting the tropical rainforest that's right on your doorstep, with remote jungle lodges and indigenous communities just a short boat ride away along the Rio Amazonas.

Explore Leticia

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Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Leticia.

  • Gardens

    Mundo Amazónico

    This 29-hectare reserve works as a center for environmental education and makes for a great place to get to know something of the plants, trees and inhabitants of the jungle before you set out on an expedition. The extensive botanical gardens boast some 700 species of flora that can be visited on four differently themed tours (the botanical garden, sustainable processes, cultural presentations and the aquarium), each lasting between 30 and 45 minutes and leaving every hour until 2pm.

  • Museum

    Museo Etnográfico Amazónico

    This little museum has a small but thorough collection of indigenous artifacts. Learn about malocas (ancestral longhouses) and chagras (indigenous production systems) and peruse the musical instruments, textiles, tools, pottery, weapons and many ceremonial masks. Labeled in English, the exhibits make a good introduction to the indigenous cultures of the region, such as the Huitotos, Yukunas and Ticunas.

  • Park

    Parque Santander

    A visit to Leticia's central square, which is filled with some fairly bizarre civic art and sculpture, is best made just before sunset when you can witness thousands of small screeching pericos (parrots) arriving for their nightly rest.

  • Market

    Market

    Come here to observe fishmongers selling local gamitana and pirarucú fish, buy fresh fruit and veggies and browse a limited selection of local handicrafts. Some low-key food stalls are here also.