Tucked into the far southern tip of Colombia, Leticia is unlike anywhere else in the country, a border town where three nations meet, and where the Amazon River becomes your highway into one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth. This isn’t a place you stumble upon; Leticia is a destination for explorers, nature lovers, and those hungry for a real adventure. I did not know about Leticia until reachin Bogota, it became a side quest and ended up being one of the most enriching journies I have ever undertaken. 

A Wild Welcome to the Amazon

Leticia sits at the crossroads of Colombia, Brazil, and Peru, with no road access from the rest of Colombia. You fly in, and immediately the jungle swallows you. The airport is small, the humidity hits like a wall, and the sounds of birds and insects fill the air. Welcome to the Amazon Rainforest.

Leticia is a town that lives and breathes the jungle. Motorbikes outnumber cars, riverboats dominate transport, and macaws fly free across the sky. It’s not polished or pretentious, it’s raw, real, and rich in character.

The Town Itself

Leticia may be small, but it’s full of life. Its grid of streets includes:

• Local markets filled with Amazonian fruits and fish

• Street art celebrating indigenous cultures

• Simple but colourful homes raised to survive the flood season

Stroll through Parque Santander at sunset and you’ll witness thousands of parrots descending on the treetops, creating an unbelievable soundscape. It's chaos, but it’s natural and mesmerising and a sight that will stay with you forever. Climb to the top of the church bell tower and times that statement by 2!

Architecture here is practical and tropical. More modern homes sit on the out skirts and through the main town (concrete and tile) but as you begin to get to that almighty body of water, wooden stilt houses, tin roofs, and open facades designed to let the breeze flow take over. Not grand, but functional in a setting where humidity, rain, and river life dictate everything. Its how you have imagined it, its what you dreamed about and its exactly that, prepare to step into a different way of living.

Connection to Tabatinga & Island Hopping

One of Leticia’s quirks is its borderless flow into Tabatinga, Brazil. You can walk across an invisible frontier into another country with no checkpoints, it’s a bizarre and beautiful setup.

From here, travellers can hop:

• To Santa Rosa, Peru (just across the river)

• Up and down the Amazon via ferries and speedboats

• To jungle lodges, islands, and river communities

This three-country junction makes Leticia a logistical launchpad for a bigger Amazonian experience.

Indigenous Culture & Jungle Wisdom

Leticia is surrounded by indigenous communities, Ticuna, Yagua, Huitoto and more, whose presence is deeply woven into the region’s rhythm. You’ll find:

• Crafts made from natural fibres, seeds, and woods

• Traditional medicine tours using Amazonian plants

• Cultural performances of music and dance

Respectful visits to local villages (arranged with community-approved guides) offer deeper insight into the rainforest’s spiritual and ecological importance. It’s humbling.

Activities for the Adventurous

Backpackers and explorers will find Leticia full of action. Some highlights:

• Day or multi-day jungle treks into the rainforest make sure to read my blog series on the amazon where I take you through the time I spent here and what it involved. 'Solo Backpacking the Amazon'

• Piranha fishing and dolphin spotting along the Amazon River

• Kayaking through flooded forests during wet season

• Canopy walks and wildlife photography in Amacayacu National Park

• Sleeping in jungle hammocks under mosquito nets to the sounds of the rainforest

For nature lovers, the diversity here is staggering, monkeys, sloths, caimans, toucans, anacondas, tarantulas and more. It's a paradise if you're open to the wild. But much like the rest of Colombia, it needs to be treated with respect. 

Food & Nightlife

Leticia’s food scene is simple, local, and occasionally surprising:

• Mojojoy (Amazonian grub larvae) for the brave

• River fish like pirarucú and dorado, served grilled or in coconut sauce

• Exotic fruits like camu camu, copoazú, and açaí

Nightlife is mellow but sociable. Locals and travellers gather in small bars for cold beers and salsa music. You’ll also find jungle-inspired cocktails using native fruits. Tabatinga (on the Brazilian side) adds a fun samba twist.

When to Visit

The Amazon is hot and humid year-round, but there are two distinct seasons:

• Wet season (Dec–May): River levels rise dramatically, perfect for boat trips deep into flooded forests.

• Dry season (June–Nov): Easier for jungle trekking and wildlife spotting on foot.

Each offers something different, and equally unforgettable.

Architecture for the Curious

You won’t find grand cathedrals or neoclassical plazas here, Leticia’s architectural interest lies in adaptation. Raised homes on stilts, elevated walkways, palm-thatched roofs, and buildings made to blend with or survive the jungle.

Look for:

• The Amazonian university and research centres designed with eco principles

• The Catholic Cathedral, with its unique Amazonian touches

• Riverfront lodges, blending wood, light, and open-air design to honour the rainforest, some hotel stays offer increadible traditional places to spend a few days. Puerto Narino is an essentail excursion that can be done through a day tour or by booking accomodation and staying for a few day, however this is as off grid as it gets!

It’s all about harmony with the environment, essential when everything from termites to torrential rain is a factor.

Practical Tips for Travellers

• Pack light but smart: quick-dry clothing, bug spray, rain gear, and a torch are essentials. Make sure to read my 'Amazon Rainforest Essential Packing Items' before heading in. 

• Cash is king: ATMs can be unreliable, make sure to check the map for my tip on where to get cash safely, bring pesos and Brazilian reais if you plan to cross borders.

• Vaccinations: Yellow fever vaccine is strongly recommended, and bring proof.

• No road access: You must fly in (usually via Bogotá), or arrive by boat from Brazil or Peru, you can grab cheap flights through skyscanner.

• Connectivity: Expect weak Wi-Fi and limited signal. Embrace the digital detox, if you use your phone as your camera, make sure you have a portable charger with you, especially when you head into the amazon for a multi day excursion!

Why Leticia for Explorers?

Leticia isn’t for the casual tourist. It’s for people who want to discover that richness of the most biodiverse place on planet earth. Its not just a visual journey but also one of sound and smell. The amazon is never quiet it is alway active evolving and preparing. It is never quite, but it can somehow be totally pieces fill. Waking up with a morning coffee and looking over the water is beyond spectacular, its one of those things that will be with you logged in the memory as those moments you felt truly alive. 

You come here to sweat, to wonder, to disconnect, and to remember what the world looked like before cities and screens. For backpackers chasing something different, Leticia is an unforgettable chapter.