This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Leticia.
Leticia is a small town, located in the southeast of Colombia, at the heart of the Amazonas Jungle and is situated right on the Amazon River. Leticia is also a Colombian border town; there are border crossings into both Peru and Brazil from Leticia. This intersection is known locally as the "Tres Fronterias" (the three borders).
Hostels in Leticia are usually located in the town center, within walking distance to many shops, restaurants, and cafes, and only a few minutes' walking distance to the docks, which are located on the Amazon River. Water taxis and long distance boats operate from the docks, and can take passengers to nearby villages, or even further down the Amazon, as far as Iquitos in Peru, or Manus in Brazil. If crossing into either Brazil or Peru from Colombia, you'll need to get an exit stamp from the immigration office at the airport before departing on the boat.
Hostels in Leticia provide only basic facilities, with most services such as purified drinking water, Wi-Fi, breakfast, and laundry only provided at an additional cost. Some Leticia hostels do provide these services for free, however it is worth confirming this at the time of booking. Hostel staff members are usually quite knowledgeable about activities in and around Leticia, and can usually help arrange multi-day excursions into the Amazon. If you're traveling on a tight budget, some Leticia hostels offer a hammock instead of a bed for a cheaper price.
There are many tour providers in Leticia, which provide multi-day excursions into the Amazon jungle. The price is usually determined by on how many people are on the tour -- the more people, the less the overall price. It is usually a good idea asking around at your Leticia hostel or accommodation to whether anyone else would like to join you on a trip. Hostel staff sometimes can help find other people to join you on your trip.
Written by local enthusiast for Leticia hostels
Kelly Sheldrick
