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Colombia🇨🇴 | townsLeticiaAmazon waterfront, parakeet roost, Tabatinga crossing, fish market | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Leticia
👍 Recommendedtown ranked #11
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

The tinto at the corner stand by Parque Santander costs about US$0.50, and it arrives scalding while thousands of green parakeets scream into the trees at dusk. That is Leticia: a town in the far south of Colombia, on the Amazon, where the border with Brazil is a street you walk across. No roads connect it to the rest of the country, so you fly in or come by river. The town itself is plain, with hot concrete streets and motorbike traffic, and I would skip the souvenir shops. Come for the river, the jungle lodges and the Tabatinga crossing. Hostels are few but social, and tour groups form easily. The evening reward is the parakeet roost, loud enough to stop a conversation.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #11 town in ColombiaWhat makes this town worth visiting

Leticia works as the gateway to the Colombian Amazon, and that is the whole case for it. From here you reach Amacayacu National Park, Peruvian-border villages and Lake Tarapoto by boat, so most backpackers stay three or four days and spend the daylight hours on the water. Guesthouses and a handful of hostels make it easy to split a guide and boat with strangers, which is how solo travelers keep costs down. The town also offers an easy crossing into Brazilian Tabatinga and the three-border Amazon triangle with Peru, handy if your route continues down the river to Manaus or Iquitos. Evenings are slow: fruit juice, grilled river fish and a walk to the waterfront. It suits slow travelers, wildlife watchers and anyone happy to trade nightlife for jungle.

💡 HighlightsEssential experiences to have while visiting Leticia

  1. Parque Santander: the town’s main plaza, where thousands of parakeets roost at dusk in the trees. Free, arrive about an hour before dark, and allow 45 minutes to an hour.
  2. Amazon riverfront and Malecón: a short walk to the broad brown river, with boats loading and a breeze in the late afternoon. Free, 30 to 60 minutes.
  3. Museo Etnográfico Amazónico: a small museum on the Banco de la República’s grounds covering Indigenous cultures such as the Ticuna, with artifacts and exhibits. Entry is usually free or around US$1 to 2, and it takes about an hour. Go in the morning, when it is cooler.
  4. Mercado Municipal: a working market near the port with river fish such as pirarucú and gamitana, tropical fruit like arazá and copoazú, and cheap lunches. Go early, before about 10 AM. Budget US$3 to 6 for a meal
… read more 👉
  1. Parque Santander: the town’s main plaza, where thousands of parakeets roost at dusk in the trees. Free, arrive about an hour before dark, and allow 45 minutes to an hour.
  2. Amazon riverfront and Malecón: a short walk to the broad brown river, with boats loading and a breeze in the late afternoon. Free, 30 to 60 minutes.
  3. Museo Etnográfico Amazónico: a small museum on the Banco de la República’s grounds covering Indigenous cultures such as the Ticuna, with artifacts and exhibits. Entry is usually free or around US$1 to 2, and it takes about an hour. Go in the morning, when it is cooler.
  4. Mercado Municipal: a working market near the port with river fish such as pirarucú and gamitana, tropical fruit like arazá and copoazú, and cheap lunches. Go early, before about 10 AM. Budget US$3 to 6 for a meal and 45 minutes.
  5. Tabatinga border crossing: a short walk or taxi ride leads into Brazil with no formal barrier in town, though passport checks apply if you continue deeper. Free to wander, 1 to 2 hours.
Beyond town, the best day trips are Amacayacu National Park, Lake Tarapoto, Puerto Nariño and the Isla de los Micos monkey island. Start with Parque Santander at dusk, since the parakeet roost is the one thing that happens nowhere else.
Spotted a mistake or missing something? Contact us.

Things to do around Leticia

Plan Immersion 5 days 4 nights Leticia Amazonas

Plan Immersion 5 days 4 nights Leticia Amazonas

4.9(56) 120h
From €799
per personViator
Plan Amazonas Full Extreme 5 days 4 nights Leticia Amazonas

Plan Amazonas Full Extreme 5 days 4 nights Leticia Amazonas

4.9(46) 120h
From €681
per personViator
5-Day Author’s Amazon: Private Trek&Kayak Immersion (Best Seller)

5-Day Author’s Amazon: Private Trek&Kayak Immersion (Best Seller)

5.0(39) 120h
From €1,511
per personViator
6-Day Amazon Odyssey: Private Amacayacu Ancestral Expedition

6-Day Amazon Odyssey: Private Amacayacu Ancestral Expedition

5.0(31) 144h
From €1,746
per personViator
Coya Amazon Jungle Tour

Coya Amazon Jungle Tour

5.0(20) 96h
From €590
per personViator
Leticia Safari 2 Days and 1 Night of Jungle and River in Floating House

Leticia Safari 2 Days and 1 Night of Jungle and River in Floating House

4.7(15) 48h
From €154
per personViator
Amazon Experience 4 Days 3 Nights

Amazon Experience 4 Days 3 Nights

4.7(14) 96h
From €643
per personViator
Extreme Calderon

Extreme Calderon

4.9(12) 96h
From €889
per personViator
Tour Río Amazonas indigenous communities Mico Island and Puerto Nariño

Tour Río Amazonas indigenous communities Mico Island and Puerto Nariño

4.9(10)
From €86
per personViator
Sunset on the Amazon with fishing and pink dolphin search

Sunset on the Amazon with fishing and pink dolphin search

5.0(9) 3h
From €45
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🏘️ NeighborhoodsNeighborhood guide to Leticia

Leticia is small enough that you can walk the whole core in an hour, and each pocket has a clear purpose.
  • Centro and Parque Santander: Shops, money changers and tour offices sit on flat, sweaty streets around the park. Skip the daytime and come at dusk, when thousands of parakeets swarm the trees and the noise is deafening. Free, and nothing else in town beats it.
  • Malecón and the waterfront: The riverside walk and port are where boats leave for the Amazon. Grab a cold juice and watch the traffic of canoes and cargo boats. It is calm, and the big brown river is the payoff.
  • Avenida Internacional and the border: A straight road runs to Tabatinga, Brazil, with no checkpoint on foot. Cross for cheaper Brazilian meals and better nightlife. The strip itself is plain, so go for the food.
  • Plaza de Mercado:
… read more 👉
Leticia is small enough that you can walk the whole core in an hour, and each pocket has a clear purpose.
  • Centro and Parque Santander: Shops, money changers and tour offices sit on flat, sweaty streets around the park. Skip the daytime and come at dusk, when thousands of parakeets swarm the trees and the noise is deafening. Free, and nothing else in town beats it.
  • Malecón and the waterfront: The riverside walk and port are where boats leave for the Amazon. Grab a cold juice and watch the traffic of canoes and cargo boats. It is calm, and the big brown river is the payoff.
  • Avenida Internacional and the border: A straight road runs to Tabatinga, Brazil, with no checkpoint on foot. Cross for cheaper Brazilian meals and better nightlife. The strip itself is plain, so go for the food.
  • Plaza de Mercado: The market sells river fish like pirarucú and gamitana, plus fruit such as camu camu and copoazú. It is crowded and hot, but this is the most honest meal in town.
  • Barrio Los Lagos and the outskirts: Residential and quiet, with little to see. Not worth the walk unless you are heading to a lodge or the airport road.

⌛️ 1 dayWhat you can realistically do in a day

A river-and-market day that starts early and ends under the parakeets.
7:00 AM, Mercado Municipal: Eat fish, fruit and coffee while the market is cool and busy. Then walk ten minutes toward the water.
9:00 AM, Malecón and port: Watch boats load for upriver villages and take a few photos. From here, a short walk leads inland.
10:30 AM, Museo Etnográfico Amazónico: Spend an hour on Ticuna and other Indigenous cultures, in air that is much more comfortable than outside.
12:30 PM, Lunch in Tabatinga: Cross into Brazil by taxi or on foot for a Brazilian-style lunch, and notice the language shift. This border side is usually skipped by quick visitors.
3:00 PM, Return and rest: Head back to your hostel for a shower and a break from the heat.
5:00 PM, Parque Santander: Grab a juice and a bench before dusk. … read more 👉
A river-and-market day that starts early and ends under the parakeets.
7:00 AM, Mercado Municipal: Eat fish, fruit and coffee while the market is cool and busy. Then walk ten minutes toward the water.
9:00 AM, Malecón and port: Watch boats load for upriver villages and take a few photos. From here, a short walk leads inland.
10:30 AM, Museo Etnográfico Amazónico: Spend an hour on Ticuna and other Indigenous cultures, in air that is much more comfortable than outside.
12:30 PM, Lunch in Tabatinga: Cross into Brazil by taxi or on foot for a Brazilian-style lunch, and notice the language shift. This border side is usually skipped by quick visitors.
3:00 PM, Return and rest: Head back to your hostel for a shower and a break from the heat.
5:00 PM, Parque Santander: Grab a juice and a bench before dusk. The parakeets arrive by the thousands, and the noise is the point of the evening.

🌤️ When to go?Seasonal considerations and timing

  • Drier months (roughly June to September): Less rain, with highs of 30 to 32°C (86 to 90°F) and river levels dropping, which opens more jungle trails. Crowds and tour prices rise slightly around July and August.
  • Wetter months (roughly November to April): Frequent downpours, 24 to 31°C (75 to 88°F), and high water that lets boats reach flooded forest. Fewer visitors and easier bargaining on tours.
  • Daylight: Close to the equator, days stay at about 12 hours all year, so plan trips around the same schedule in any month.
  • Festivals: The Carnaval de Leticia and the Amazon-border events bring crowds and pricier beds.
Book river excursions for early morning, when the air is coolest and wildlife is most active.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: good for travelingFEBFebruary: good for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: excellent for travelingAUGAugust: excellent for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
when-to-go

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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base

The center, within a few blocks of Parque Santander, is the best place for a budget bed in Leticia. Dorm beds usually cost US$7 to 12, and private rooms with fans or air conditioning US$20 to 40. You are close to restaurants, ATMs, and boat tour offices, so you can walk everywhere and skip taxi costs.

Nights are lively but mostly safe around the park, though some bars play music late and parrots start at dawn. Choose a room away from the main square if you sleep lightly.

The waterfront side near the port is the second option. It is quieter in the evening, breezier, and close to boat departures … read more 👉
The center, within a few blocks of Parque Santander, is the best place for a budget bed in Leticia. Dorm beds usually cost US$7 to 12, and private rooms with fans or air conditioning US$20 to 40. You are close to restaurants, ATMs, and boat tour offices, so you can walk everywhere and skip taxi costs.

Nights are lively but mostly safe around the park, though some bars play music late and parrots start at dawn. Choose a room away from the main square if you sleep lightly.

The waterfront side near the port is the second option. It is quieter in the evening, breezier, and close to boat departures for early starts. Fewer hostels sit there, so book ahead in July and August. Whichever side you choose, make sure you have a fan or air conditioning and mosquito screens, because the heat and humidity stay high even at night.
Best hostels in Colombia


Best quality hotels in Colombia

🚌 Getting aroundMoving around without the hassle

Your own feet are the easiest way around Leticia, because the town is flat and compact and most sights sit within 2 km of the park. Traffic is mostly motorbikes, which are loud but slow. There are no long public bus lines, and there are no roads out of town to speak of, so everything beyond the center runs by river or air.
  • Walking: Free, and shaded by trees along the waterfront. Midday heat is brutal, so go early or after 4 pm, and you get the market and the parakeet show without paying a peso.
  • Mototaxi: The fastest way to reach the airport or the Brazil border, about US$1 to 2 per ride in town. Agree on the fare first. The breeze helps and you will arrive dry.
  • Taxi: Small cars cost roughly US$2 to 4 across town and US$3 to 5 to the airport. Useful in the rain, otherwise not worth the extra money
… read more 👉
Your own feet are the easiest way around Leticia, because the town is flat and compact and most sights sit within 2 km of the park. Traffic is mostly motorbikes, which are loud but slow. There are no long public bus lines, and there are no roads out of town to speak of, so everything beyond the center runs by river or air.
  • Walking: Free, and shaded by trees along the waterfront. Midday heat is brutal, so go early or after 4 pm, and you get the market and the parakeet show without paying a peso.
  • Mototaxi: The fastest way to reach the airport or the Brazil border, about US$1 to 2 per ride in town. Agree on the fare first. The breeze helps and you will arrive dry.
  • Taxi: Small cars cost roughly US$2 to 4 across town and US$3 to 5 to the airport. Useful in the rain, otherwise not worth the extra money over a mototaxi.
  • Boat (lancha): Fast boats run along the Amazon to Puerto Nariño, about 2 hours and US$13 to 20 each way, with a couple of departures a day. Slow boats cost less but take much longer, and the view of pink dolphins is why you go.
  • Bicycle or motorbike rental: About US$5 to 8 a day for a bike and US$15 to 25 for a motorbike. Good for the road to Km 11, where jungle meets the road.

👛 Costs (as of 19 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

Expect to spend about US$58 per day backpacking in Leticia, with most of the money going to food and river excursions.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$7 to 12Fan or air conditioning costs extra; high season is about US$12.
MealsUS$10 to 18Set lunches cost US$3 to 5, and river fish dinners US$7 to 10.
Local transportUS$2 to 6Mototaxis cost US$1 to 2 per ride; a taxi to the airport is more.
Basic activities/entry feesUS$15 to 25Park fees and guided boat trips; Amazon reserve entry is about US$10 to 20.
Miscellaneous expensesUS$3 to 6Water, repellent, snacks, and SIM data.
Total Daily BudgetUS$37 to 67About US$58 using the high-season dorm rate.
Save money by eating the set lunch at the market and joining a shared group tour instead of booking a private boat.

source: colombia.travel
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

🚌 Day tripsBest day trips from Leticia

Leticia works well as a base because the jungle starts at the edge of town, and every trip returns the same day.Puerto Nariño: Fast boats take about 2 hours up the Amazon to a car-free village of raised walkways and quiet lanes. Budget about US$30 to 50 including the boat, lunch, and a lake trip for pink dolphins. Go in the wetter months for lake access, and do not rush: the last boat back leaves mid-afternoon.
👉 Explore Puerto Nariño
Tabatinga and the Brazilian side: A 10-minute mototaxi or walk crosses into Brazil, with no formal stop for short visits. Eat cheaper grilled fish and sample the riverside market for around US$5 to 10. First-timers often forget that passport stamps are required if you go beyond Tabatinga.

Parque Natural Isla de los Micos: A boat ride of about 1 hour leads to an … read more 👉
Leticia works well as a base because the jungle starts at the edge of town, and every trip returns the same day.Puerto Nariño: Fast boats take about 2 hours up the Amazon to a car-free village of raised walkways and quiet lanes. Budget about US$30 to 50 including the boat, lunch, and a lake trip for pink dolphins. Go in the wetter months for lake access, and do not rush: the last boat back leaves mid-afternoon.
👉 Explore Puerto Nariño
Tabatinga and the Brazilian side: A 10-minute mototaxi or walk crosses into Brazil, with no formal stop for short visits. Eat cheaper grilled fish and sample the riverside market for around US$5 to 10. First-timers often forget that passport stamps are required if you go beyond Tabatinga.

Parque Natural Isla de los Micos: A boat ride of about 1 hour leads to an island where squirrel monkeys climb onto your shoulders. Tours cost around US$25 to 45 and mornings are best. Wear long sleeves for the mosquitoes.

Km 11 and Lake Yahuarcaca: A short ride out of town, about US$3 to 6 by mototaxi, reaches jungle trails and calm lagoons. Dry months make trails easier, and a local guide helps you spot birds.

🛡️ SafetySafety Tips and Common Scams in Leticia

Leticia is relaxed and broadly safe, and most problems are petty. Pickpocketing happens in the market and around Parque Santander at dusk, so keep your phone in a front pocket. After dark, stay on lit streets and use a mototaxi rather than walking the outskirts or the dark waterfront alone. Solo travelers, including women, generally do fine, though catcalls occur. Touts approach on the street offering jungle tours at low prices, so book through registered operators and agree on all costs in advance. Carry a copy of your passport, and keep the original when crossing to Tabatinga. Use repellent against mosquitoes, and drink bottled or filtered water.
Check Country Safety

FAQFrequently asked questions about Leticia

Leticia is worth two or three nights if you want the Amazon, but it works poorly as a pure stopover because it has no road connection to the rest of Colombia and you arrive by plane or boat. The draw is the tri-border area with Tabatinga (Brazil) and Santa Rosa (Peru), plus jungle lodges, river-island visits and Amacayacu National Park, about 1 to 1.5 hours upriver by boat. Budget about US$30 to 50 a day for beds, food and local rides, with tours extra.
Three to four days covers Leticia well. One day goes to the town, the Parque Santander parrot flocks at dusk and a walk across the open border to Tabatinga, one day to Amacayacu (entry roughly US$15 to 20 for foreigners, plus boat transfers) and one day to a Lake Tarapoto or Puerto Nariño trip. Stretch to five or six days if you add a multi-day jungle trek or a river trip toward Peru or Brazil.
A day trip to Leticia from another Colombian city is not realistic, since no road leads to it and the nearest city, Bogotá, is a flight of about 2 to 2.5 hours each way. Fares typically run US$80 to 200 one way depending on how early you book, so a same-day return rarely makes sense. Staying at least two nights lets you fit in Tabatinga, Santa Rosa and one boat excursion to Puerto Nariño, which is about 2 hours by fast boat.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Colombian towns near Leticia

Explore more nearby:

  • Puerto Nariño—Tarapoto lakes, river dolphins, manatee rescue, car-free paths| 65 km away
  • La Macarena—Caño Cristales, Guayabero River, licensed guides, port boats| 829 km away
  • Silvia—Tuesday market, Misak weavers, Nasa traders, highland viewpoints| 1042 km away

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We 💚 feedbackIs it worth it?

Leticia deserves three or four nights, since the river trips are the entire reward and each takes most of a day. Two nights barely covers one excursion. I would book the jungle trip with a small local guide and spend the last evening back in the plaza.

✈️ When did I visit Colombia?
Did a good 3-week trip around Colombia in August 2014.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Colombia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

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