Help with trip to Leticia/Amazon

Hey all!

I`m currently living in Bogotà and have been trying to plan a trip to the Amazon for myself, my mother who is 65 (but feisty!) and my ten year old nephew. Aviatur has some interesting trips, but they are a bit more "Disneylandesque" and I was looking for something a bit more "green" -- something that would allow us to take in our surroundings, yet suitable for my mom and nephew (we all speak Spanish, so that won`t be a problem). The Amacayacu reserve sounds nice, but it would be great to see other bits of the Amazon. I`ve called around and for three nights of camping and some excursions, I am being asked to pay 1.2 million per person (airfare NOT included --airfare costs 650,000k), which is a bit steep as I know there are other options. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know as my mom and nephew arrive next week and are only staying for ten days! Thanks.

By xochistar on May 14, 2007, 14:10 in Friendly Talkzone.

mapangpang says on May 14, 2007, 17:49:

I love the amazon I am in love with the amazon, I lived there a while. see some pictures of me here: Mapangpang.nl.
You will have to go to the Brasil section and then look for Amazonia. or my Brasil Favorites.

I always take a one way ticket if i go, with Aerorepublica normaly that is about: 280.000 COP per person/children pay the same price.
I buy a one way so i can be flexible. (beware with festivos or whatever the price increase). on arrival in leticia you will have to pay a tourist tax. I succeeded in not paying this by saying I live in Leticia they then wonna see your cedula, so I showed them supprised as they where they letted me pass. (My cedula is from Bogota!)

The best place to stay is Leticia, I would avoid the Brasilian part Tabatinga to stay as accommodation is much better in Leticia.

I do not know what your budget is for accommodation Amacayuca is not that cheap. In Leticia I recommend el divino nino (avenida internacional, this is the international calle that go, from leticia to Brasil in brasil its Avenida de amizade.)

There are also 3 other more expensive hotels, forgive me i do not remember the names as I never go there.

With your base in Leticia you can go everywhere. using the buses of the river. from the puerto you can take a rapido to Santa Rosa (Peru) 1000 pesos per person. People can eat and drink there and especialy in the weekends there is always a party. Not recommended to stay there (poor facility's)

Up river
You can make a trip to Isla de los micos (Island of the apes), I gues a 30 to 40 minute trip with a rapido. You can buy your pasaje in advance at the office in the puerto comming down somewhere on the left side at the end before entering the balsa (where all the rapidos park) and after the police station. A trip to Amacayacu is about an hour I think. Caballacoche (Peru) and Puerto narino is about 2,5 hours. From Puerto Narino you can also make little trips, hotels available.

Down River
down river will take you to Benjamim Constant (Brasil) and Islandia (Peru) Islandia is a must see a peke peke can take you there from Benjamim Constant in a view minutes. Islandia is like bridges that connect everything, don't know how to explain this in english Let say its build high above the ground.

In Benjamim Constant you also can find a hotel without problems I stayed there in a hotel (dont know the name) when you arrive with the boat you just walk up the street, to the traffic lights you go left. There is a supermarket at the right side corner and a Bank in the street with a money dispenser (maybe you will need it) left side of the bank there is a little hostal its Good and cheap and relative clean.

In leticia, you can walk to Tabatinga or take a mototaxi (for the younger fooks under us). Eating can be don en a Fazenda a typical brasilian restaurant where you can buy food per kilo, the will weight your food and you will be billed for only what you took. At night there are some stands where they sell arroz Tjaufan with farina and chicken or whatever.

For the younger fooks there is a discotheek "Escandolo". in " a Mirante" there is also place to party and more. If you wonna guide and mototaxi, hit me an email and i'll send you a number of a friend of mine who can act as a guide and in a day you know every corner of Leticia and Tabatinga.

Sunday: people love to go to kilometro ocho, you can swim there eat and drink.

You can travel freely without immigration matters only if you are planning to go further tou will have to do the inmigtation stuff.

For Colombia DAS in the airport.
For Brasil you go to the Federal on the Avenida de Amizade.
For Peru you go to Santa Rosa.

Eating in Leticia I can recommend el Sabor Good and cheap. Eat a lot of fish if your there its always fresh and cheap.

Brian

Mapangpang.nl - alamedadesanjose.emea.nl

Mapangpang.nl - Furnished rooms

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adrimm says on May 14, 2007, 19:36:

How about this compnay? How about this company:

http://www.siemprecolombia.com/amazona.html

I haven't been but this is who I am considering going with when/if I go.

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Robert Jorge says on May 15, 2007, 23:25:

I am not personally interested in the post, but I must say that was a great report mapangpang.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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