What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Leticia, Colombia.
Photo: Nancy / Pexels
Leticia sits on the Amazon River in Colombia's far south, where the borders with Brazil and Peru meet. It's a small city of about 55,691 people, built as a gateway to the rainforest rather than a destination with big sights of its own. Visitors come for river trips, jungle lodges, and wildlife rather than museums or nightlife. May and June are the best months to visit, so plan around that window if you can.
Three to four days works well: a day in town around Parque Santander and the riverfront, then a day or two upriver to Puerto Nariño and Lago Tarapoto, plus time for Tanimboca or Mundo Amazónico near the city.
Town centre
Leticia's main square is where most visitors start. At dusk, huge flocks of small parrots fly in to roost in the trees, which is loud and impressive to watch. Locals gather here in the evening, so it is also an easy way to get a feel for the town.
Upriver on the Amazon
Puerto Nariño is a small, car-free village on the Amazon, reached by fast boat from Leticia. It has quiet walkways, a strong focus on recycling and conservation, and Indigenous communities nearby. Most people stay at least one night to join river and forest trips from here.
Near Puerto Nariño
This lake system sits near Puerto Nariño and is one of the best places in the area to see pink and grey river dolphins. Trips usually go by small boat and pass through flooded forest. Water levels change through the year, which affects the routes boats can take.
Edge of Leticia
These lakes are just outside town and are the closest place to Leticia to take a canoe trip. Depending on the season, you can see giant water lilies, birds and sometimes river dolphins. It is a good short trip if you do not have time to go further upriver.
Town centre
This small museum, run by the Banco de la República, shows tools, masks, clothing and other objects made by Indigenous peoples of the Amazon. It gives useful background before you visit communities along the river.
Leticia–Tarapacá road
Tanimboca is a private forest reserve outside town. It offers canopy walks, tree climbing, zip-lines and kayaking. Some visitors stay overnight in raised treehouses to hear the forest at night.
Leticia–Tarapacá road
This ecological park and botanical garden has guided walks that explain Amazon plants, their medicinal and food uses, and local farming. It is an easy, low-effort introduction to the rainforest, and it suits families.
Town centre
The waterfront is where the river boats come and go, and the nearby market sells fish, fruit and other produce from the region. It is a good place to watch daily life on the Amazon and to try local food.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C / 23°C | 28 days (358 mm) | 8.2 h/day | 2.8/10 |
| February | 30°C / 24°C | 26 days (353 mm) | 7.6 h/day | 2.8/10 |
| March | 30°C / 24°C | 28 days (359 mm) | 7.6 h/day | 2.7/10 |
| April | 30°C / 23°C | 28 days (314 mm) | 7.8 h/day | 3.0/10 |
| Best month: May | 29°C / 23°C | 27 days (266 mm) | 8.5 h/day | 3.1/10 |
| Best month: June | 29°C / 23°C | 24 days (197 mm) | 9.1 h/day | 3.2/10 |
| July | 30°C / 23°C | 21 days (140 mm) | 9.9 h/day | 3.0/10 |
| August | 30°C / 23°C | 19 days (129 mm) | 9.8 h/day | 2.6/10 |
| September | 31°C / 24°C | 20 days (133 mm) | 9.5 h/day | 2.2/10 |
| October | 31°C / 24°C | 23 days (192 mm) | 9.0 h/day | 2.2/10 |
| November | 31°C / 24°C | 25 days (255 mm) | 8.6 h/day | 2.5/10 |
| December | 30°C / 24°C | 29 days (361 mm) | 7.9 h/day | 2.9/10 |
Expect highs near 30°C with rain on about 28 of 31 days, among the wettest months. Scores low at 2.8, reflecting the heavy, near-daily rainfall.
Similar to January: highs around 30°C and rain on 26 days. The score sits at 2.8, still weighed down by frequent downpours.
The wettest stretch continues, with 28 rain days and 359mm of rain. Score of 2.7 is the lowest of the year, driven by constant wet weather.
Highs stay near 30°C with 27 rain days and 314mm of rainfall. Score edges up slightly to 3.0 as rainfall begins to ease.
Rain starts tapering off to 266mm over 27 days, with highs around 29°C. Score rises to 3.1, the best of the wetter half of the year.
Rain days drop to 24 and totals fall to 197mm, giving the year's top score of 3.2. Sun hours also climb to 9.1 a day.
One of the drier months, with just 21 rain days and 140mm of rain, plus nearly 10 hours of sun daily. Score dips slightly to 3.0.
Driest month on record here, with 129mm of rain over 19 days and highs reaching 30.4°C. Despite the dry spell, the score falls to 2.6, likely due to heat.
Highs peak at 31.3°C with still-low rainfall of 133mm over 20 days. The score drops to 2.2, the year's lowest, as heat becomes the main issue.
Heat remains intense at 31.3°C highs, and rain days creep back up to 23. Score stays at 2.2, tied for the year's weakest showing.
Rain returns in force, with 25 days of rain and 255mm total, alongside highs of 30.6°C. Score sits at 2.5, reflecting both heat and rising humidity.
Wet season resumes fully, with 29 rain days and 361mm of rain, among the highest totals of the year. Score of 2.9 marks a return to heavy, frequent rainfall.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Colombia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, short stays
The compact grid around Parque Santander holds most guesthouses, cafés, banks and tour offices, and at dusk huge flocks of parrots come to roost in the park's trees. It is easy to arrange river trips and walk everywhere from here. Motorbike traffic and evening music can make some streets noisy.
Good for river views, tour access
The riverfront strip near the port puts you close to the boats heading up the Amazon and to the market where you can watch the morning trade. It is handy for early departures. The port area feels rough and smells of fish, and it is quiet and dimly lit after dark.
Good for nature lovers, birdwatchers
Along the road leading out of town towards Tarapacá, lodges and nature reserves sit in forest. You get birdsong, night walks and rain-forest air while staying a short taxi ride from the centre. You will rely on taxis or motorbike taxis to get into town, and humidity and insects are part of the stay.
Good for slow travellers, village life
This small Peruvian river settlement sits across the Amazon and is reached by a short boat ride. It offers a quiet, village pace and views back across the water to Colombia and Brazil. Facilities are basic, and you depend on boats to get back to Leticia.
Fried Amazon river fish, often gamitana or pirarucú, served with patacón, a flattened fried plantain. This is a common lunch dish in Leticia's riverside restaurants.
One of the largest freshwater fish in the world, pirarucú is a local specialty often grilled or fried. It comes from the rivers around Leticia and the wider Amazon basin.
A flatbread made from grated and pressed cassava root, casabe is a traditional Amazonian staple. Locals often eat it alongside fish or stews.
Tucupi is a broth made from fermented cassava juice, used as a base for soups and stews. It gives Amazonian cooking in Leticia a distinct sour, earthy flavor.
Fruits like copoazú, arazá, and cocona grow in the region and are blended into fresh juices. Street stalls and markets in Leticia sell these drinks throughout the day.
A warming soup made with river fish, plantain, and local herbs. It's a typical home-style dish eaten for lunch in Leticia and nearby river communities.
June and May score best for Leticia. June has the lowest highs of the year at 29.1°C, with 197 mm of rain over 24.3 days and 9.1 hours of sun a day. May is a little wetter at 266 mm but still mild, with highs of 29.3°C. Rain is part of every month here, so plan for wet days whenever you go.
Yes, it rains in every month. Even the driest month, August, averages 18.8 rain days and 129 mm. December is the wettest, with 361 mm over 28.9 days. January, February and March are similar, at 353 to 359 mm. Between July and September rainfall drops to 129 to 140 mm, and you get 9.5 to 9.9 hours of sun a day.
August is one of the driest months, but it is also getting hotter. It has the fewest rain days, at 18.8, the lowest rainfall, at 129 mm, and 9.8 hours of sun a day. Highs reach 30.4°C, and they climb to 31.3°C in September and October. These are the hottest months of the year.
December is the wettest month in Leticia. It averages 361 mm of rain over 28.9 days, so you can expect rain on almost every day. It is warm and humid, with highs of 29.7°C and lows of 23.5°C. There are 7.9 hours of sun a day, so dry spells still happen between showers.
You need several days, because Puerto Nariño alone takes 1–2 days. Nearby Lago Tarapoto adds half a day. Around Leticia, Lagos de Yahuarcaca and Reserva Natural Tanimboca take half a day each, and Mundo Amazónico takes 2–3 hours. In the town centre, Parque Santander and Museo Etnográfico Amazónico take 1 hour each. The riverfront and market take 1–2 hours.
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