Leticia

Where to stay

Budget hostels cluster along the malecón, the riverside promenade that runs along the Amazon, and the blocks immediately inland toward the central plaza. Staying here keeps you within walking distance of the tourist information office, the boat departures for jungle lodges, and the border crossings to Tabatinga and Santa Rosa. The town is compact enough that you can walk anywhere in twenty minutes, though the heat makes midday strolls unpleasant.

Getting around

• Bring cash for the airport. There is no ATM at Alfredo Vásquez Cobo International Airport, and non-Colombian tourists must pay an entrance fee (Impuesto al turismo) in cash on arrival. Taxis to the center also take cash only.
• Get your yellow fever vaccination before you arrive. It is legally required to enter the Amazonas department, and officials may check your certificate at the airport or when crossing into neighboring Brazil or Peru. In Colombia, the vaccine is free at WHO-approved clinics, but it must be administered at least ten days before entry.
• Movement between Leticia, Tabatinga (Brazil), and Santa Rosa (Peru) is unrestricted, but immigration stamps matter. If you are entering from one country and leaving from another, get your exit and entry stamps at the airport or border offices to avoid annoying immigration officers with multiple crossings.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest during the wet season, roughly December through May, when heavy rains make jungle trekking and river tours more difficult, reducing demand. Rates climb from June through November, the drier months, when wildlife spotting is better and European tourists arrive. Prices also spike during Semana Santa and the December-January holiday break.