Leticia and Tabatinga
Leticia is the capital of the department of Amazonas (Colombia) and it has about 46,000 inhabitants; and Tabatinga is a municipality of the State of Amazonas (Brazil) which has about 60,000 inhabitants. Both cities have access to the Amazon river and form a single urban area, located five minutes by boat from the island of Santa Rosa (Peru). In this triple border Colombia, Brazil and Peru, it is possible to visit the three countries as if they were one without using a passport.
Sunset at the Amazon © Angélica Martínez Alfonso
The populations of Leticia, Tabatinga and Santa Rosa are mixed but at the same time are distanced, preserving typically Colombian, Brazilian and Peruvian spaces. Although many of the inhabitants of the triple border circulate and they are part of kinship, business, labor, academics, culturals networks, etc. between the three countries.
Tabatinga and Colombia cuisine are strongly influenced by the Peruvian tradition, cultural and intangible heritage of humanity, dishes like ceviche, the arroz chaufa, lomo saltado and cecina con tacacho are easily found in restaurants of any of the three locations of the triple border. You can also listen Brazilians, Colombians and Peruvians rhythms everywhere and find common beverages of the three countries too.
Leticia is inaccessible by road and access is limited to air and river. Only two passenger airlines operate: LAN and Avianca; both companies offer one daily flight and operate on the Bogota-Leticia-Bogota route, with flights of 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Tabatinga Airport (Brazil) has daily flights from Manaus with AZUL airlines. You can also move to Manaus by boat or express boats, leaving every week to the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas. Moreover, from Santa Rosa (Peru) leaves a express boat service to Iquitos twice a week.
The annual rainfall in the area according to the meteorological station of Leticia is about 3,100 mm and the average temperature is between 25° C and 28° C, so it is important to know that is a destination with a high probability of heavy rain, moisture and heat.
Main recommendations:
- Event participants must have all documents for entry in order, stay and departure from the country, which entered (Brazil, Colombia or Peru). Given that the event will be held in both countries (Colombia and Brazil), it is important that participants who enter by Colombia also have the appropriate visa to enter Brazil, as in the case of citizens of the United States of America.
- International Colloquium Amazonicas 6 is planned for May 2016 and will coincide with the end of the rainy season, so it is recommended to bring umbrella or rain coat.
- It is important to bring comfortable and light clothes to withstand the heat and protect yourselves from mosquitoes (preferably long-sleeved shirts and long, fresh cotton pants).
- Before traveling do not forget to apply the yellow fever vaccine, bring a good repellent and sunscreen.
- Note that the cellular signal reception is not very good and the internet connection frequently fails. Only mobile operator "Claro" signal works intermittently to talk on the phone and very regular for data connection.
- Transport costs within Leticia are:
- Motorcycle taxi COP $1,500
- Auto rickshaw or "tuki-tuki" COP $ 3,000
- Cab fare COP $7,000
- You can easily find exchange offices in the Colombian-Brazilian border at the International Av., and the Calle 8 with Carrera 11 near the Port of Leticia. The change in Peruvian Soles (PEN) to Colombian Pesos (COP) can be consulted here; and Brazilian real (BRL) to Colombian Pesos (COP) is available here. Note that these values fluctuate.
- Going from Leticia to Tabatinga is very simple just by crossing Av. International or Av. Da Amizade street. While Tabatinga is a bigger city, Leticia has a better choice of hotels and restaurants because it receives more tourists in the region.