Amazon Colombia Itinerary: 5 Days in Leticia and Puerto Nariño

Leticia is Colombia’s southernmost city - a river port on the Amazon that shares a de facto border with Tabatinga in Brazil and is separated from Iquitos in Peru by a three-hour boat ride. It is the furthest point you can reach from Bogotá within Colombia and one of the least visited destinations on any Colombian itinerary, which is exactly what makes it worth going.

The draw is the Amazon itself: one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, navigable from a small but functional Colombian town with a good selection of guides, lodges, and boat operators. This five-day itinerary covers the core experiences - the boat journey to Puerto Nariño, the pink dolphin lagoon at Lago Tarapoto, a jungle hike with an indigenous guide, and a dawn canoe through flooded forest - while keeping the pace manageable.

The Amazon does not require serious fitness or prior outdoor experience. What it requires is mosquito repellent, a tolerance for heat and humidity, and a willingness to let a guide tell you where to go.

Day 1: Arrive in Leticia, Explore the Town

Fly from Bogotá to Leticia in the morning - the 7am Avianca departure lands by 8:30am and gives you a full first day. Transport from Aeropuerto Alfredo Vásquez Cobo to the town centre takes 10 minutes by taxi and costs approximately COP 15,000 to 20,000 as of 2026.

Check into your accommodation and eat lunch before the afternoon heat peaks. The Mercado Indígena near the waterfront is the right first stop - a daily market where Tikuna, Yagua, and Huitoto communities sell handcrafts, tropical fruits, and fresh fish. The pirarucu (arapaima) is the fish you will see most - a prehistoric-looking species that can reach 200 kilograms and is the primary protein source for communities along the Colombian Amazon.

In the afternoon, walk to the waterfront and watch the river traffic: motorised canoes shuttling between Leticia and the Brazilian town of Tabatinga, which begins where Leticia ends with no physical border marker. The Amazon here is approximately 2 kilometres wide and brown-green in colour. You will see the scale of what you have come to visit.

In the evening, book the following day’s boat to Puerto Nariño through your accommodation or directly with one of the fast-boat operators on the waterfront. Boats to Puerto Nariño depart at approximately 8am and 2pm; the morning departure is recommended.

Where to stay in Leticia: Hotel Anaconda is the most central mid-range option, with rooms from approximately COP 180,000 to 260,000 per night as of 2026. For an eco-lodge experience, Decameron Decalodge Ticuna operates 45 minutes from town by boat and sits within the jungle, with rates from approximately USD 120 per person per night including meals and guided activities as of 2026.

Day 2: Boat to Puerto Nariño and Lago Tarapoto

Board the fast boat to Puerto Nariño at 8am. The journey takes approximately 2 hours upriver and costs around COP 30,000 to 35,000 per person as of 2026 - a two-hour ride through one of the most biologically rich environments on earth, past river islands, flooded forest margins, and the occasional dugout canoe.

Puerto Nariño is a settlement of approximately 7,000 people with no motorised vehicles - everything moves by foot, bicycle, or boat. It is exceptionally clean and quiet relative to Leticia, and the Ticoya indigenous community has maintained strong cultural practices. Check into a basic hostel or family guesthouse here (rooms from approximately COP 60,000 to 100,000 as of 2026) and leave your bags before heading to Lago Tarapoto.

Lago Tarapoto is a lake system approximately 20 minutes by motorised canoe from Puerto Nariño. It is the primary location for pink river dolphin sightings in the Colombian Amazon. Hire a local guide in Puerto Nariño - expect to pay approximately COP 40,000 to 60,000 for a 2-hour guided canoe trip as of 2026. Dolphins appear most reliably in the late afternoon when they move into the shallower inlet channels. Giant water lilies (Victoria amazonica) cover sections of the lake surface in the high-water season and are genuinely remarkable to see at close range.

Return to Puerto Nariño by late afternoon. Eat dinner at one of the small family-run restaurants on the main street - fried piranha with plantain and rice costs approximately COP 18,000 to 25,000 as of 2026 and is available at most establishments.

Day 3: Jungle Hike with Indigenous Guide

This is the day that will define the trip for most visitors. Hire a local guide through the Puerto Nariño community tourism office or your guesthouse - rates for a full-day jungle hike are typically COP 80,000 to 120,000 per person as of 2026. English-speaking guides are available but book 24 hours in advance.

A standard route enters secondary jungle within 20 minutes of the town and reaches primary rainforest after 45 minutes of walking. Your guide will identify medicinal plants, explain traditional hunting and fishing techniques, and - if conditions are right - show you the tracks or behaviour of jungle animals. Howler monkeys, toucans, and poison dart frogs are commonly encountered. Tapir and jaguar are present in the wider area but rarely seen on day hikes.

The heat and humidity at ground level are significant. Start by 7am before the temperature peaks. Carry at least 2 litres of water per person, wear long sleeves and trousers for the jungle sections, and apply repellent containing DEET before setting out.

Many guides also arrange visits to Tikuna community villages where craftwork - particularly hammocks and body adornments made from natural materials - can be purchased directly from artisans. This is one of the more meaningful ways to engage with the communities that actually inhabit this environment.

Day 4: Dawn Canoe and Return to Leticia

The Amazon’s morning hours - 5:30am to 8am - are when wildlife activity is highest. Arrange a dawn canoe excursion the evening before through your guide or guesthouse. A 90-minute pre-dawn paddle through flooded forest channels typically costs COP 50,000 to 80,000 per person as of 2026 and puts you into environments inaccessible by foot. Caimans are reliably spotted in torch-light along channel margins; river otters and several parrot species are active at dawn.

Return to your guesthouse for breakfast by 8am, then pack and take the midday or 2pm fast boat back to Leticia. The downstream return journey takes approximately 1.5 hours. Spend the afternoon in Leticia, visit the Banco de la República cultural centre (free entry), or walk across the border into Tabatinga for a different perspective on the same landscape.

Budget note: The Colombian side is significantly cheaper than the Brazilian side for accommodation and food. A typical day including accommodation, meals, guide, and boat costs approximately COP 200,000 to 280,000 per person as of 2026. Eco-lodge stays and private guide packages run higher, but the community-based options in Puerto Nariño keep costs reasonable.

Day 5: Morning in Leticia, Fly Back to Bogotá

Leticia’s small but interesting Amazon Museum (Museo del Hombre Amazónico) on Carrera 11 is worth a final morning visit - the collection covers the ethnobotany and cultural history of the region’s indigenous peoples. Entry is free.

Most flights back to Bogotá depart in the afternoon. Confirm your departure time and allow enough time to get to the airport - taxis from town take 10 minutes, but the airport road can be slow during school hours.

Packing for the Amazon

The Amazon demands a specific kit. Bring: DEET-based insect repellent (30% minimum concentration), permethrin-treated clothing or long sleeves and trousers for jungle walks, water purification tablets or a filter bottle, a dry bag or waterproof case for electronics on boat trips, headlamp with extra batteries, and light waterproof layer for sudden afternoon rain. Sunscreen is essential on the river; in the jungle, mosquito protection takes priority over UV.

Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry to the Amazon region. Most countries’ health authorities recommend updating this well before travel. Check current requirements with your doctor at least 4 weeks before departure.

Book Your Trip

• Flights - Find the best fares to Colombia
• Travel Insurance - Get covered before you go
• eSIM - Stay connected from landing
• Airport Transfers - Pre-book your transfer from Bogota or Medellin
• Car Rental - Compare prices across providers
• Tours & Activities - Browse Colombia tours on GetYourGuide