What to do in Leticia, in the Amazon? There are plenty of fun things to do in Leticia and the surrounding area to keep you entertained for a few days. Here are our 10 tips for the best things to do in Leticia.
10 Tips
Must do’s
1. Visit 3 countries in 1 day
Take a boat from the port to Isla Santa Rosa in Peru (15 min.) You can have lunch right there and try the Peruvian specialty ceviche at Brisas del Amazonas. On the Brazilian side of the border in Tabatinga are many stores, bars and restaurants. A great place to order the popular caipirinha cocktail is la Komara, where you have a nice view of the Amazon River. You get there by tuk-tuk.
Tip#1
In Brazil and Peru there are other currencies, (Real and Sol) but you can usually pay with Colombian pesos.
Tip #2
You do not have to go through immigration if you are just going back and forth for a day. If you stay overnight then you do have to go through immigration.
2. Spot the many parrots in Parque Santander
Around 5 p.m. masses of parrots come from the jungle to the park to sleep in the trees, a spectacular sight (and sound)! The best view is from the church tower. For COP5000/$1.25 you may enter to enjoy the best view. Even during the day, the park is a nice place to observe the daily life of the locals.
3. Visit Parque Ecológico Mundo Amazónico
Want a taste of Amazon nature and culture before your jungle trip? Then visit this park with botanical gardens, aquarium, jungle trails and a recreated village of an Indian community. For the cheapest ticket, you pay 100,000COP/$25 including transportation to/from your hotel and 140,000COP/$35 including jungle trail +lunch. You can also do a night hike there for 120,000COP/$30. Check out the website of Mundo Amazónico for more info.
4. Mingle with locals at the market
We think the local market is always the best way to get a glimpse into the lives of the locals, so too in Leticia! Check out the fish from the Amazon River and the many beautifully presented tropical fruits. The market is close to the port, making it a good place to visit before you get on the boat.
5. Visit the Ethnographic Museum
In the library of Leticia you will find the Ethnographic Museum. The museum has a collection of objects from the various Indian communities of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Urabá and Chocó, and particularly from the Amazonian Indian communities, such as the Uitoto, Yukuna and Tikuna (Magutá). The museum is free to enter and closed on Sundays and Saturday afternoons.
6. Visit Reserva Natural Victoria Regia
If you want to take a short trip by boat from Leticia (about 30 min.), you can visit this small nature reserve, with the water lily Victoria Regia Amazónica. The leaves of the largest water lily in the world can grow up to 2 meters wide. The 5-10 cm high rim allows the leaves to support a weight of as much as 40 kg without sinking!
7. Take a side trip to the Marasha Nature Reserve
In just half an hour by boat, you can reach this nature reserve in Peru, where you can kayak on the lake, spot birds and fish for piranhas
8. Go ziplining at Tanimboca nature reserve
In the nature reserve 12km from Leticia (half an hour by tuk-tuk), besides ziplining, you can do other activities such as kayaking and night hiking. If you have always wanted to sleep in a treehouse, this is your chance, because you can stay overnight in one of these treehouses.
9. Stay overnight with a Native American community
One of the highlights of a trip to the Amazon, learning about the rituals and the community’s special bond with nature. There are more than 60 indigenous tribes in the Amazon, with the Tikuna being the most important group. A 1.5-hour boat ride from Leticia is Mocagua and Macedonia. A 2.5-hour boat ride away is the Tikuna community of San Martín de Amacayacu. Read here our tips for special overnight stays at Native American communities in the Amazon.
10. Take a trip to Puerto Nariño and stay overnight.
Puerto Nariño is a relaxed eco-village 2 hours by boat from Leticia. You can go there on a day trip, but since there is a lot to do in the area, it is also nice to spend the night. In Puerto Nariño you can stroll around and admire the colorful houses with graffiti, spot river dolphins in Lake Tarapoto and see the work of the monkey sanctuary at Maikuchiga Monkey Sanctuary.
Bonus tip
Try local specialties from 3 countries!
With its location on the border of three countries with their culinary influences, you can try something new every day in Leticia. At Tierras Amazónicas you can try specialties from the Colombian, Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon. If you really want to try something local -and adventurous- there are the mojojoy larvae, which are grilled or stuffed with fish, meat or chicken and then deep-fried.
In terms of fish, the Pirarucú is highly recommended. If you don’t like fish, you can usually get a chicken or meat dish. Read more about the culinary specialties of the Amazon in this article.
