Amazon Basin at the end of January

Hi,

I am going to be in Colombia at the end of January for 3 weeks and I would like to visit the Amazon Basin since I love nature and remote places. I am a solo female traveler, with a lot of experience travelling to remote places on my own and Spanish is my first language.
Questions:
- Is January too wet to explore the area?
- How many days would you recommend staying?
- I am assuming I can book tours once I get there, right?
- A friend of mine was telling me she couldn't buy the flights online from Canada (where I live) because every time she tried to pay, the purchase wouldn't go through. Has anybody experience anything similar?

Suggestions about what to visit once I am there are welcome.

Thanks!

I've been to the Amazon region a couple of times, and one of the times was in January.

• When we visited the region in early January of 2015, the weather was great. We there for a little over a week, and didn't have any issues with rain or anything like that. Also, the rain can be pretty predictable, so planning your excursions around the rainy times of day is quite easy.

• I'd recommend spending at least a week in the area. There are plenty of things to see and do. If you like spotting wildlife, then the Amazon is the best place to do it. Also, there is plenty of interesting indigenous culture to be had in the region as well.

• I would say that every hostel/hotel offers excursions. In places like Puerto Nariño, tourism is becoming a pretty important facet of their economy, so arranging excursions and tours is pretty easy.

• What airline are you trying to book with? Many of the smaller, domestic carries (ADA, Satena, Viva Colombia, etc) in Colombia are quite finicky about accepting foreign cards. However, with the larger, international carriers, booking a ticket online should be a breeze. Avianca, Copa, and Latam all have big operations in Colombia, and booking an online ticket through their websites shouldn't pose a problem.

The Colombia Amazon is pretty awesome. Leticia is an ok town, but it there really isn't much to do in the town itself. There is an interesting museum and checking out the birds in the central park at dusk is pretty cool also. You should definitely stay a couple of days in Puerto Nariño. The town is a short boat trip down the river, and there are many tour and excursion options in the immediate area. Going Dolphin watching, taking boat tours through the flooded forests, visiting indigenous communities and going on Jungles hikes, are all worth your time. Also, you should eat as much fish as possible. The fish that they pull out of the Amazon is excellent, and you aren't likely to find it anywhere else.

I spent three wonderful days at Canaloa Lodge. Excellent for nature observation and guides included.

http://www.calanoaamazonas.com/lodge.html

It is located between Leticia and Puerto Nariño.

I've been to Leticia in December, and had great weather the whole time. I'd advise planning between 4 days and a week, depending. You can wait until you arrive Leticia and book your tour. But I think it's better if you research the jungle lodges in advance, so you have ideas about where you'd like to go from Leticia.

You can easily book a flight to Leticia on skyscanner; the tickets are sold by reliable travel agencies, not the airlines themselves.

Too bad Mike Tsalikis, the infamous animal exporter, isn't still living in Leticia. He was something else. Poor guy, I believe he got carted off to jail in Coral Gables, Florida, after being caught importing a ton of weed, or something similar, hidden inside a boatload of hollowed-out lumber after he sailed up to FL. Mike gave some really fine overnight tours in one of the pirogues he owned.

If you're looking for a small adventure, stroll along the waterfront and query as you go. You'll be pleased to learn what all there is to do, even when it's raining. Remember: you're in the jungle where it is supposed to rain.

Avianca will fly you from Toronto to Leticia for about $750 with only one stop in Bogota. Have fun!

Animal exporter? Well that's great news he's in jail!

Thanks so much for all your advice. I am convinced. I am going to the Amazon Basin for a week.
Has anybody been to Reserva Palmari? And to Parque Nacional Natural Amacayacu?

I'm not sure you can visit Amacayacu. There is evidently no tourist infrastructure any more.

.http://www.elespectador.com/noticias/actualidad/vivir/hotel-amacayacu-no-va-mas-articulo-409719

The closest I believe is Canaloa Lodge (mentioned above) just down river.

I have never been to Palmari although I have read good reviews. You might want to buy the birdwatchers guide to Colombia as the information is quite good.

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