Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
5
In En Valle itself, there's some good
surfing
, and between September and
December it's possible to see
turtles
nesting at Estación Septiembre, a
sanctuary (COP$10,000) 5km south
along the coast. You can also do a day
hike through the jungle to the
Cascada
del Tigre
, a splendid waterfall with a
refreshing waterhole (guide necessary).
awarded to Colombia in 1933 in a
ceasefire agreement following a war
between the two countries in 1932.
A den of iniquity and sin (well, drug
trafficking) in the 1970s, Leticia had to
clean up its act when the Colombian
army moved in, though visitors are still
warned not to wander out into the
outskirts of Leticia after dark. Today it's a
hot, humid, yet relatively tranquil place,
with a lively waterfront and houses
hidden amid the greenery. It makes a
good base for short trips up the Amazon
and for crossing over into Brazil or Peru.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane
To reach El Valle, you can fly from Medellín with
Satena into Bahía Solano's tiny airport, with flights very
much weather-dependent, and then take a Jeep from
opposite the school (around COP$10,000; 1hr).
By boat
Catch one of the many cargo boats out of
Buenaventura (at least 1 daily; 24hr; around COP$120,000)
to Bahía Solano and then a Jeep.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
The main attractions lie outside the town,
but in Leticia proper you can stop by
the
Museo Etnográfico Amazónico
(Cra 11 No. 9-43; Mon-Fri 8.30-
11.30am & 1.30-5pm, Sat 9-11am;
free) to check out the collection of
indigenous weaponry, splendid (and
scary) ceremonial masks, pottery and
more. For high-quality crafts made by
local indigenous tribes, the best selection
is at the
Galería Arte Uirapuru
(C 8
No. 10-35; Mon-Sat 9am-12.30pm &
3-7pm, Sun 9am-12.30pm).
ACCOMMODATION
Humpback Turtle
on Playa Almejal, El Valle
T
312 756
3439,
W
humpbackturtle.com. Complete with beach bar,
hammock room, rustic camping, a plethora of tours,
surfboard ren
tal and even an on-site restaurant. Dorms
COP$20,000
Amazonas
Accounting for around a third of
Colombia in size and largely inaccessible
to visitors, the
Amazon basin
feels unlike
any other part of the country, with its
pristine rainforest, fantastic wildlife and
indigenous groups living deep in the
jungle, their cultures still preserved intact.
The capital of the Amazonas province,
the bustling jungle town of
Leticia
, is
only accessible by air and river, and thus
retains a somewhat isolated feel. Travellers
come to Leticia for a taste of jungle
adventure and also to cross over into
Brazil or Peru, as this is where the three
countries meet.
ARRIVAL AND INFORMATION
By plane
Leticia is served by several flights daily from
Bogotá (2hr) with LAN and Copa. All visitors must pay
COP$19,000 tourist tax upon landing at the tiny Aero-
puerto Nacional Alfredo Vásquez Cobo. From the airport,
you can catch a taxi (COP$7000) or a
mototaxi
(motorbike
taxi; COP$2000) into town. Tabatinga International
Airport, 4km south of Tabatinga (take
colectivos
marked
“Comara” from Leticia), has daily flights to Manaus with
TAM and Trip.
By boat
(see box, p.562).
Tourist information
The helpful tourist o
ce (C 8
No. 9-75; Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 2-5pm;
T
8 592 7569)
can provide onward transport info and maps.
Visas
Both locals and foreigners are allowed to move
between Leticia, adjoining Tabatinga, and Peru's Benjamin
Constant without visas or passport control (though you
have to have your passport on you). To head further afield,
you must get a Colombian exit stamp from the Ministry of
Foreign Relations o
ce at Leticia Airport. If heading into
Brazil and/or Peru overland, you'll need an entry stamp
from the Brazilian Policía Federal in Tabatinga (Av de
Amizade 650; 8am-noon & 2-6pm;
T
97 3 412 2180 in
Brazil). Some nationalities need a visa to enter Brazil;
LETICIA
This compact riverside town, its partially
unpaved streets abuzz with a fleet of
scooters and motorcycles - the local
transport of choice - has worn many hats
during its lifetime. Founded in 1867,
LETICIA
was part of Peru until it was
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