Leticia: Colombia's Amazon Gateway at the Triple Border
Leticia — Colombia's southernmost city, accessible only by air or river — sits at the triple border of Colombia, Brazil, and Peru on the Amazon River; it is the gateway to the Colombian Amazon and one of the most remote cities in South America
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Triple border Colombia-Brazil-Peru
Leticia, Tabatinga (Brazil) and Santa Rosa (Peru) form a tri-national urban area on the Amazon — residents cross the border daily without formalities; the different cultures, currencies and languages of the three countries coexist in a single river city environment
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Amazon River Immensity
The Amazon at Leticia is over 3 km wide — the scale of the river, its brown waters and the continuous wall of green forest on both banks create the overwhelming sense of Amazon's vastness; the view of the river from Leticia's beach is humble
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Amazonas National Park
Parque Nacional Natural Amacayacu — 70 km upriver from Leticia — protects primary Amazon rainforest; the park's communities, wildlife and river access make it the best forest destination accessible from Leticia
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Access only by air
Leticia can only be reached from Bogotá by air (2 hour flight) or by a 5-day river trip from Manaus (Brazil) or Iquitos (Peru); the isolation has preserved both the ecology of the Amazon and the indigenous cultures of the region
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Leticia Waterfront Market
The Leticia waterfront market - where boats from the Colombian, Peruvian and Brazilian Amazons arrive daily with fish, jungle products and handicrafts - is one of the most authentic and extraordinary markets in South America; just the fish variety is amazing
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River Dolphin Encounters
Pink and gray river dolphins are abundant at Leticia — both species are regularly seen from the water and on river excursions; the gray dolphin (tucuxi) is smaller and more acrobatic; the pink boto is larger and more elusive but both are found daily at Leticia