Located in the far south of Colombia, at the point where Colombia, Peru and Brazil meet, Leticia is a hot and humid frontier town on the legendary Amazon River. Hidden in the rainforest, it is remote in both distance and feel from the rest of the country; life here is peaceful, and a long-standing military presence keeps the area safe. Yet, as Colombia’s major river port, some 37,000 people live here – many having migrated from cities such as Bogotá and Medellín – and the city has a full infrastructure to support both its inhabitants and outside visitors. It is, in fact, the second tourism destination for foreigners after Cartagena. Colourfully painted houses, outdoor cafés, well-maintained streets and regular flight and boat connections all make it a good place to visit in its own right…yet surely it is its position as gateway to once-in-a-lifetime Amazonian adventures, complete with sultry, jungle heat, that gives Leticia the real edge .
