Leticia Colombia- how come ignored here?

Simon says on Dec 5, 2007, 16:00:

"Leticia Colombia- how come ignored here?"

Maybe because it's like in the middle of the jungle. But I would love to visit some day, it sounds interesting from what you say.

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

Lisa Zee says on Dec 5, 2007, 16:44:

I would love to go to Leticia. Last I hear, it was full of Narcos; I hope they are all gone.

deathnova says on Dec 5, 2007, 17:03:

According to Wikipedia (for what that's worth) it's one of the safest cities.

Adanimal says on Dec 5, 2007, 17:06:

.I saw some amazing Haciendas...It is really safe.

You don't know your there until your there!

Lisa Zee says on Dec 5, 2007, 18:44:

I am so glad to hear Leticia is safe. On my next trip I would made sure to go.

juancegomez says on Dec 5, 2007, 20:49:

I haven't been there myself, but some relatives have...they've told me Leticia has a good amount of security and military personnel too, so I suppose that's in line with what's been commented here. No idea about the narcos, but I suppose that's also quite possible (but then again, the narcos can thrive even in very unsafe areas, so their presence hardly explains this, I think....).

bufalo says on Dec 6, 2007, 11:45:

I lived there for almost 6 months and try not to talk about it much... why screw it up with tourists?

"...and it's so poor" That's your opinion. I spent a lot of time there and I didn't see it as being a poor place. Maybe not rolling in dough and not having "strong economocial growth" like everyone outside wants, but I saw happy people who got along well together, had plenty of free time, housing and food - I don't see them as being poor. Maybe you can learn something.

Not trying to jump on you or anything it's just that I've seen plenty of outsiders show up there and feel they need to "help" because they see people as being poor. The less outside influence, the better. (and they also laugh at the groups that give them money anyway).

It's also not full of narcos, was, but not now. Used to be every long-weekend or holiday, some of the indigenous would be killed off for kicks after a few days of boozing it up by narcos. There mostly all gone now. Safest place I've ever been in Colombia.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

Albatross says on Dec 6, 2007, 11:59:

Well said Bufalo... I also get tired of people thinking they know whats best for "the poor".

I just got back from a couple of weeks in Cambodia... I don't speak a word of Khmer, but I thought the people were cool as hell... especially the kids. But last Sunday on "60 Minutes" some guy was interviewed who had been to a remote Cambodian village where he got the bright idea to give "every child on the planet a laptop". (I swear to God). Why... so they can stop playing with their friends and family and sit in front of a computer playing video games ?

I got a better idea... leave 'em the hell alone.

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

Adanimal says on Dec 6, 2007, 12:38:

ahhh..did you read the "poor" comment. I didn't say that about Letica. I swear people skim over these posts sometimes. I was referring to the Island in the Amazon. Santa Rosa Peru. Not Letica. I never felt Letica was poor. Geeze. Read more carefully next time.

You don't know your there until your there!

Adanimal says on Dec 6, 2007, 12:39:

So Bufalo..not well said actually..

You don't know your there until your there!

lampltr says on Dec 6, 2007, 13:14:

Leticia is definately safe, and medical care is really good...my co-worker is from there and close to his whole family still resides there as they run a large shipping business. Guess according to him, Royal Decameron Resort is sprouting up there as they desire to bring in the tourists....Sorry all, I too desire the same and to live out in the boonies of Colombia tending the finca's, but I need a pension NOW!!! :-(

bufalo says on Dec 6, 2007, 13:54:

Actually I did read what you said about the island of Santa Rosa and understood it as such.

Where in my post do you see that I refer to you saying that Leticia is poor and not Santa Rosa? I was talking about Santa Rosa. Let's take another looksie:

""...and it's so poor" That's your opinion. I spent a lot of time there and I didn't see it as being a poor place. Maybe not rolling in dough and not having "strong economocial growth" like everyone outside wants, but I saw happy people who got along well together, had plenty of free time, housing and food - I don't see them as being poor. Maybe you can learn something."

I don't see "Leticia" in there at all. Actually I never even mentioned it in my entire post (although that is where I lived and visited Santa Rosa and other parts quite often).

" I swear people skim over these posts sometimes.", "Geeze. Read more carefully next time."

Maybe you should follow your own advice.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

Adanimal says on Dec 6, 2007, 14:36:

maybe you should have articulated your point better as should I You never stated Santa Rosa either. I love peru. It just seemed more "gritty" I don't know. Maybe I used the wrong adjective but I didn't know what city you were talking about you never specified. Also you were mind reading about the "help" outsiders felt they needed to give. Life seemed simple and reasonable from my perspective. I never felt sorry for them. I took advantage of the tri border. Drink in Peru "the cheapest of the 3 towns" Party in Tabitinga. The best place to disco. Slept in Leticia. Quieter and more secure. Plus it was a nice place to wake up in that sleepy downtown and get fresh baked pastries every morning. The locals in Letica started to know who I was and they were all super friendly. I felt like Letica was my home base. It's a great place. Yes I agree. I don't want the tourists to find out about it and ruin it. That would be a shame.

You don't know your there until your there!

Lisa Zee says on Dec 6, 2007, 15:05:

Google Leticia. I hate hot humid and mosquitoes! that is hell to me, but i would like to go visit. I want to be IN the real jungle and see the amazon river one day.

Adanimal says on Dec 6, 2007, 15:09:

Lisa,

The mosquitoes aren't as bad as you'd imagine. It is really humid though. It's the real jungle that's for sure. It's green like you've never seen!

You don't know your there until your there!

Lisa Zee says on Dec 6, 2007, 15:13:

I`ll be naked with just a mosquitoe suit! LOL

Robert Jorge says on Dec 6, 2007, 15:37:

Well, if you need a travelling partner, count me in LZ!

By the way, the worst mosquitoes I have ever heard of are in the far north - Canada, Alaska, even south like UP Michigan, Minnesota. I have seen pictures where the mosquitoes are so thick, they darken the sky. It must be hell. And I am sure people here who live up north can confirm what I have heard.

--"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

Lisa Zee says on Dec 6, 2007, 15:47:

RJ-jajaja!.
I hear of Alaska.

Adanimal says on Dec 6, 2007, 16:03:

Yeah I'm told Alaska is insane! I saw a National Geo photo where the guy took his socks off outside in the summer and in 1 minute his feet were covered with big mosquitoes. Although I went into a flooded part of the Amazon Jungle in a Canoe and the mosquitoes were pretty big. They were yellowish and could bite me right though my shirt. My back was covered with bites. It's pretty surreal! Leticia is nothing compared to that.

You don't know your there until your there!

Robert Jorge says on Dec 6, 2007, 17:24:

Mosquitoes suck! (pun intended)

--"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

lpdiver says on Dec 6, 2007, 17:32:

RJ so do colombianas!

t

"cook some rice!"

bartolo_colon says on Dec 6, 2007, 18:29:

I can confirm the little rats are voracious up here in AK. I worked out in the bush for years, the worst is at night, they buzz in your ears and make it impossible to sleep even though you are exhausted. They invented this propane device a few years ago, clears an area several hundred yards around of mousquitos, they get attracted to the carbon dioxide, dive in, get stuck, suffer and die.....I think the worst thing in the jungle is those little ankle biter no-see ums. Oh, and malaria.

Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!

Adanimal says on Dec 6, 2007, 19:26:

Ha ha bartolo..."Oh and malaria" funny. You'd think getting a bite would be a little less worse the malaria..like it's and afterthought....cheers!

You don't know your there until your there!

gold digger says on Dec 6, 2007, 22:05:

I lived in Alaska for 3 years. In some areas I had to face into the wind to take a breath or you would get a mouth full of mosquitoes. They love to land on top of your head and bite you through your hair. Itched like hell. Bite through your jeans also.
The Amazon jungle is spotty. Some places aren't bad and others are loaded with mosquitoes. The main difference is that the ones in the jungle can take evasive maneuvers and you can't kill the damn things and they carry malaria & yellow fever.

Gator says on Dec 7, 2007, 07:06:

Wife and I have been twice, as tourists, and found it interesting. Stay at the Anaconda. First trip was interesting but the second got old fast due to the fact that we did the touristy things on the first visit. I thiink the main reason the area does not get more visitors it is not easiest place to get to-usually you travel by air. One thing you will realize is if the plane goes down you have had it because there is nothing, and I mean nothing. There is the jungle and there is the by God jungle-that part of Colombia is the by God jungle.

No security problems we could detect but it was hot, humid and we found the mosquitos to be abundant, to say the least. The Amazon River makes the trip worth while.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Lisa Zee says on Dec 7, 2007, 16:56:

I wonder how much does it cost to fly from Medellin, and how much per ngt at a hotel with A/C.

christobeldawg says on Dec 7, 2007, 19:44:

ok so is there no way loading up on the insect repellent works enough to eliminate that major problem?

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

Gator says on Dec 7, 2007, 19:58:

You only have two choices-Aero Republica or Satena You will go MDE/BOG/LET. About 2 21/2 hours out of Bogotá. We have only stayed at the Anaconda Hotel with the up graded room with tax was right around 80.000 pesos. The Yurupary did not look bad and was cheaper than the Anaconda. You might check with a couple of the tour agencies they MAY have a better price that includes air fare

This is one place if you visit I would recommend a Yellow Fever shot.

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .

Lisa Zee says on Dec 7, 2007, 20:08:

Thanks Gator.

christobeldawg says on Dec 7, 2007, 20:17:

well, to answer my own question, some friends and I were down at Edisto Beach, in South Carolina, a few summers back, and one balmy evening, around twilight, the mosquitoes were unreal. So we sprayed mosquito repellent all over ourselves, over and over. The only thing it accomplished was to make us all sick from the smell of the repellent. We got eaten alive.

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

Lisa Zee says on Dec 7, 2007, 21:13:

Oh that sounds awful.
We were in San Andres at my brother`s Cabin few months ago, there was no a/c and very humid, you take a shower and you are wet with perspiration in mts, then you sit around eating and the friking mosquitoes stick to your moist skin, yuck!. we slept wit a big fan and a mosquitoes net. We ended up in hotels most of the 10 days we were there.
I am so spoiled, I am from Medellin and I came to live in S. California, best weather in the world and no mosquitoes.

christobeldawg says on Dec 7, 2007, 21:47:

Don't every take no mosquito living for granted. jaja

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

christobeldawg says on Dec 7, 2007, 21:48:

so nobody knows any way of totally dealing with those mf's?

admittedly, arriving can feel great too

Simon says on Dec 7, 2007, 22:22:

Leticia has seen its share of action in the past:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombian_Air_Force#War_with_Peru


War with Peru
See also: Colombia-Peru War

On September 1, 1932 civilian Peruvians illegally crossed into Colombian territory and invaded the town of Leticia in the Colombian Amazon arguing and claiming that the town was original Peruvian territory. The Colombian military aviation only had 11 instructors, four air combat support planes Osprey C-14R and one Curtiss Falcon O-1. The military aviation then received full financial support from the Congress of Colombia. Colombia bought aircraft from Germany and the United States, while others were activated from the airline operating in Colombia SCADTA (Sociedad Colombo-Alemana de Transporte Aéreo) and their pilots, which included some German citizens, one of these was Major Herbert Boy. The imported aircraft were 4 Junkers F.13, 4 Junkers W 34 and 3 Junkers K 43, 6 Junkers Ju 52, 2 Dornier Merkur II, 4 Dornier Wal, 20 Curtiss Falcon F-8F and 30 Curtiss Hawk II F-11C.

The contingent was then sent to southern Colombia to fight Peruvian forces with the main mission of delivering supplies to the front lines, aerial recognizance and air to land attacks. The fleet was divided into three squadrons with Puerto Boy as the main camp site. Support bases were in Caucaya airstrip (Puerto Leguízamo), El Encanto, Puerto Arica, La Pedrera and Tarapacá. The main combat operations started on February 14, 1933 in Tarapacá where the Peruvian garrison was bombed by seven Colombian aircraft and later assaulted by land forces. Later, on March 26, in the village of Guepi eleven Colombian planes and two canon boats (MC Cartagena y MC Santa Marta) bombarded Peruvian positions and took over the town.

The last military actions of the conflict with Peru were on May 8, 1933 and in which there was an aerial engagement between the two forces. Peruvian planes were attacking the fluvial fleet of Colombia over the Algodón River and were surprised by the Colombian squadron. One of the Peruvian aircraft, an Douglas O-38P was gunned down and taken to Colombian territory. On May 24, 1933 the cease fire was declared after an agreement was reached with the intervention of the League of Nations. The town of Leticia was returned to Colombia. The captured plane was returned then to Peru. As a result of the war, four pilots died in four accidents, non combat related actions, among these there was one of the German pilots. Four planes were lost in these accidents a Falcon O-1, an Osprey C-14, a Junker F-13 and a Curtiss F-11.

While the war was on going in the south of Colombia, the Air Force built Air Force bases in the town of Buenaventura and Cartagena. The base in Buenaventura was dubbed Air base of the Pacific and covered the area of the Colombian Pacific region by the Pacific Ocean and began operations on January 26, 1933. The main purpose of this base was to protect the Pacific coast from any maritime intervention, since there were reports that the Peruvian protected cruiser BAP Almirante Grau was patrolling the area, as well as two submarines. The Buenaventura base closed in 1949 while the base in Cartagena was handed over to the Colombian Navy in 1936 becoming the ARC Bolívar Naval Base, the most important naval base in Colombia.

Once the conflict with Peru was over the bases in the Amazon basin were dismantled and the troops sent to new bases like Tres Esquinas Air Force Base in the Department of Caqueta, Palenquero Air Force Base in the Department of Cundinamarca and San José del Guaviare in the Department of Guaviare. Meanwhile the School of Military Aviation was moved to Cali, and leaving in Madrid the Radiotelegraphy and Maintenance Schools.

In 1935 the first combat monoplanes made of aluminium were purchased by the Colombian Air Force; 4 Seversky P-35/2PA Guardsman.

HERE'S SIMON!!!!

Robert Jorge says on Dec 8, 2007, 01:03:

If the guys that were alive in that era were around now to tell a few stories. .... Wow!

--"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

Gator says on Dec 8, 2007, 08:14:

Make sure ANY mosquito repellent you choose has a high DEET content. One that works well is Deep Woods "OFF" repellent, a product containing at least 24% DEET best bought in the USA-,

"Brevior Sltare Cum Deformibus Mulieribus Est Vita!" .