Leticia's Market

Markets define locales. My experience has been that if one wants to obtain an immediate feel for a place, walk its market. The market place in Leticia, Colombia, located on the bank of the Amazon, is no different. Except for the fact that a majority of its shoppers arrive by boat. This market place was obviously representative of the fruits of the Amazon -- fruits, vegetables and meats.

Leticia

If you ever make it to Leticia, Colombia, you will feel as if you've traveled to one of the more remote destinations on Earth. Reachable only via a 2-hour commercial flight from Bogota (Aerorepublica), this tropical town is the gateway to virgin tropical rain forests and several indigenous Amazonian tribes. For me, my visit to Leticia was my personal "National Geographic" moment.

Given its locale, it is surprising that Leticia has a population of over 35,000 inhabitants. It sits on the northern bank of the Amazon River and is the capital city of the state of Amazonas. The Brazilian frontier and the neighboring town of Tabatinga are very close to the east; Peru begins on the opposite bank of the Amazon.

As a last vestige of civilization, Leticia obviously has an airport, as well as a hospital, several hotels and restaurants. Telephone and Internet service are surprisingly good. But beyond the city's borders, it is literally the law of the jungle.

If you need a taste of nature in its purest form, Leticia is an impressive destination.