By Plane: There are two airports in the Leticia area. One is Aeropuerto Internacional Alfredo Vásquez Cobo, on the north side of town, which has daily flights to Bogotá with Avianca (www.avianca.com) and LATAM (www.latam.com). On arrival you will pay a COP$20,000 tourist tax. Taxis shuttle between town and the airport for about COP$10,000. The other airport is Tabatinga International Airport across the virtual border in Tabatinga, Brazil. Here you can catch flights to Manaus, where you can connect to Belem, Rio de Janeiro, and São Paulo. Both Trip (www.voetrip.com.br) and LATAM (www.latam.com) have regular flights. Note: While you can travel freely within border towns in Peru or Brazil, if you plan on exploring parts farther afield you will need exit and entry stamps, which can be attained at immigration offices in respective airports (or in the case of Peru, at Santa Rosa). U.S. travelers will need to get a visa in advance for Brazil.
By Boat: In Leticia, regular high-speed boat service reaches Puerto Nariño (2 hr.; COP$35,000), stopping at countless small villages along the way. Boats depart at 8am, 10am, and 2pm every day. Purchase tickets from Transportes Fluviales, on the riverfront, Calle 8 no. 11.
Boats can also be booked to long-distance cities in Peru and Brazil. For Iquitos, two high-speed companies have boats that depart from Tabatinga several times per week: Transtur (www.transtursa.com) and Transporte Golfinho (www.transportegolfinho.com), taking about 10 hours and costing COP$150,000 per person. Spots fill up, so be sure to reserve your seat several days in advance. For Manaus, both fast (30 hr.) and slow boats (4 days) depart several times per week from Tabatinga’s Porto Fluvial. Check in the offices there for exact prices and departures. Tip: Tabatinga is 1 hour ahead of Leticia, so be sure not to miss your boat!
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
