Iquitos (Peru) to Leticia (Colombia) and continue to Bogota

Why visit Leticia?

Leticia is the capital of Colombia’s Amazonian region. With no proper roads into the Amazon, it’s good that this small city has an airport to keep it connected to the rest of Colombia.

Although Leticia doesn’t have as much appeal as other Colombian cities, it is a common stop if you travel from Peru or Brazil and want to connect with other towns like Puerto Nariño.

Most travellers don’t spend long in Leticia itself. After arriving, many continue deeper into the rainforest by boat, or catch a flight to Bogotá — the only city with commercial flights from Leticia.

Flights depart from Leticia International Airport (Alfredo Vasquez Cobo), which is just a short tuk-tuk or taxi ride from the city centre. Expect to pay around 15,000 COP ($4) for the trip.

Two airlines operate flights between Leticia and Bogotá: Avianca and LATAM. Both offer similar service in terms of quality.

Airfares usually start from 360,000 COP ($96). But since this is a busy route, prices can increase significantly closer to the departure date. We highly recommend booking early to get the best rates.

There are 2 ways to travel the 372 kilometre (231 miles) distance from Iquitos to Leticia. You can choose between the fast ferry and slow boat. The journey takes 16 hours - 3 days and the quickest way is by fast ferry. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by slow boat with tickets starting at 95 PEN ($28.50).

To travel from Iquitos to Leticia by fast ferry, you’ll first go to Santa Rosa. This small Peruvian town sits along the Amazon River and is just across the water from Leticia, Colombia.

Even though it’s called a fast ferry, the trip still takes around 16 to 20 hours, so be ready for a long ride.

When you arrive in Santa Rosa, make sure to get your Peru exit stamp at the immigration office. It’s only a short walk from the ferry dock, and you’ll need it before crossing the river into Leticia. We’ll show you how to do that below.

Two fast boats operate on the Iquitos to Santa Rosa route: Consorcio Fluvial del Amazonas (Ferry Amazonas) and Transporte Fluvial Zoe Alexa.

Tickets cost 120 PEN ($35.50) with Zoe Alexa and 300 PEN ($89) with Consorcio Fluvial del Amazonas. The latter is more expensive but offers a bit more comfort, with newer boats, padded seats, and cleaner facilities.

Zoe Alexa, on the other hand, is pretty basic. The seats are hard, it gets hot and sticky inside, and sleeping isn’t easy. The boat is usually packed, too, so don’t expect much space to stretch out. You can pay 10 PEN ($3) in cash for Wi-Fi.

PRO TIP: For more comfort, it’s better to sit near the front of the boat. The engine noise at the back can be quite loud.

You can’t book these boats online. You need to buy your ticket in person or message the companies via WhatsApp for the most up-to-date details:

• Consorcio Fluvial del Amazonas: +51 961 745 188
• Transporte Fluvial Zoe Alexa: +51 988 196 608

After you have your passport stamped at the immigration office, return to the dock and look for one of the small speedboats. Just say Leticia, and they will know where to go. Leticia is right in front of Santa Rosa, so it takes about 10 minutes to cross the river.

The boat will drop you off at the dock in front of Plaza de Mercado de Leticia. From there, you can walk about 600m to the main square. You can also take a moto-taxi, a tuk-tuk or a taxi to your hotel.

IMPORTANT: Colombia requires that your passport be stamped upon entry when you cross by land, river, or sea. Failing to do so can lead to issues later.

Both the fast and slow boats travel from Iquitos to Leticia via Santa Rosa, where you must cross the river to get to Leticia.

In this section, we talk about travelling by slow boat, which takes about 3 days. A ticket costs 95 PEN ($28.50).

The ferry price is all-inclusive but do not expect any luxury. Also, the travel time is approximate. It depends on the weather and the number or duration of stops on the way.

Kate's insider tip

If you buy a hammock, make sure to also buy two ropes (of about 2 metres each) as they won’t be provided. These cost around 38,000 COP ($10) and they’re available in many shops in Iquitos.

To travel from Iquitos to Santa Rosa, you must buy your ticket on the same day of departure. Slow cargo ferries used to depart from Port Enapu, but the boats now leave from Puerto Masusa, 2 km further north.

Boats depart from this port every day around 18:00-19:00, except on Sundays. The departure time can change without prior notice, so it’s best to be at the port hours ahead.

A ticket costs 80 PEN ($24), plus an additional 10 PEN ($3) for the river crossing fee to reach Santa Rosa.

Most travellers will sleep in a hammock

We learned that this slow boat also has small cabins with bunk beds for 200 PEN ($60). An advantage of these cabins is that you can lock your valuables, and you won’t need to keep an eye on them all the time.

However, most travellers will opt for the more adventurous option and bring their own hammocks. While the lower decks are used to carry all sorts of merchandise, the upper decks are for passengers. You’ll need to choose the spot you want and hang your hammock, which will be your ‘seat’ for the next few days.

The ship has power outlets, but you’ll have to share them with the rest of the passengers. Also, try not to leave your stuff unattended, especially valuables and electronics. You can’t guarantee it will be there when you get back.

PRO TIP: Bring a small bag that could fit your valuables like money, passport, and phone. Carry this with you at all times, even when you’re sleeping or heading to the toilet.

Food is included, but don’t expect anything fancy

You’ll get three small meals a day included with your ticket. The menu on board can be repetitive and simple, so we recommend bringing some snacks and fruits. There’s a small shop on board, but it’s best to pack your own drinking water, as well as mosquito repellent and toilet paper.

The boat makes several stops along the way, with some stops lasting several hours. This means you can buy some food and water on the way too.

You will be dropped off at Santa Rosa’s main dock, where you can follow the only street to the immigration office.

Once your passport’s been stamped at immigration, return to the dock and look for one of the small speedboats. Just say Leticia, and they will take you there. Leticia sits right opposite Santa Rosa, so the ride only takes about 10 minutes. The short boat ride costs 5 PEN ($1.50).

You’ll arrive at the dock in front of Leticia’s central market. From there, you can walk for 10 minutes to the main square or take a moto-taxi, a tuk-tuk or a taxi to your hotel.

Remember that you have until the next day to get your entry stamp into Colombia in your passport.

From Leticia to Iquitos, the journey takes 3 days. The slow boat departs from Leticia at 19:00, and you will arrive at Iquitos on the morning of the third day.

Instead of going to Leticia Airport, there is a much faster way to get your passport stamped. You can go to the floating immigration office across Puerto Fluvial De Leticia in Santa Rosa for your entrance and exit stamps.

To reach the office, you can either take a small boat or walk from the little bridge in Leticia, following a muddy trail through the pueblito.

Just keep in mind: if the floating office is closed for any reason, you’ll still need to go to the airport to get your passport stamped.