Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [242]
Hotel de la Selva ( /fax 592 7616; hoteldelaselvaleticia@hotmail.com; Calle 7 No 7-28; s/d COP$40,000/55,000, with air-con COP$70,000/90,000; ) Rooms are small with basic furnishing, but the plant-filled common area makes this friendly place even more welcoming.
MIDRANGE & TOP END
Hospedaje Los Delfines ( 592 7388; losdelfinesleticia@hotmail.com; Carrera 11 No 12-81; s/d COP$40,000/60,000) A 10-minute walk from the center, this small, family-run place has nine spacious if basic rooms with beds and hammocks, surrounding a gorgeously landscaped courtyard filled with flowers and fruit.
Hotel La Frontera ( 592 5600; fronterahotelet@hotmail.com; Av Internacional No 1-04; s/d/tr incl breakfast COP$55,000/80,000/120,000; ) The modern La Frontera hotel is appropriately named as it’s just 4m from the Brazilian border. The 16 rooms have bath, fan, air-con and cable TV.
Hotel Yurupary ( 592 7983; www.hotelyurupary.col.nu, in Spanish; Calle 8 No 7-26; s/d/tr COP$79,000/85,000/95,000; ) This moderately priced favorite has large, recently refurbished rooms with private baths, TV, air-con and wi-fi. The outside courtyard features a refreshing swimming pool, garden, bar and restaurant.
Hotel Anaconda ( 592 7119; www.hotelanaconda.com.co; Carrera 11 No 7-34; s/d per person incl breakfast COP$123,000/114,000; ) Once the finest hotel in Leticia, Anaconda is looking a bit dated. The 50 well-worn rooms have a distinctly utilitarian feel. The courtyard with pool and outdoor dining is more pleasing to the eye.
Decalodge Ticuna ( 592 6948; www.decameron.com; Carrera 11 No 6-11; s incl breakfast & dinner COP$228,000-281,000, d per person incl breakfast & dinner COP$175,000-228,000; ) For those seeking the ultimate in luxury and comfort, Decalodge is hands down the best hotel in Leticia. Its plush, contemporary cabañas have huge, comfy beds, private baths and hammocks, opening up to a lush courtyard and pool. There’s also a large open-air bar and a restaurant that serves high-end Amazonian cuisine. The on-site travel agent can book regional tours and activities.
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Eating
There’s no shortage of good food in Leticia. The local specialty is fish, including the delicious gamitana and pirarucú. Prices tend to be a bit higher than in ‘mainland’ Colombia, but most restaurants serve cheap set meals, especially at lunchtime. You can also find cheap food stalls and fresh fruit and veggies at the local market (Calle 8 & waterfront; 6am-4pm).
La Casa del Pan ( 592 7660; Calle 11 No 10-20; 6:30am-11pm Mon-Sat) Facing Parque Santander, this bright, bustling bakery is a great spot for breakfast (eggs, bread, coffee and fruit juice for COP$3500) or a late afternoon coffee.
Cozinha de Fazenda (Carrera 9 No 7-56; mains COP$2000-8000; breakfast, lunch & dinner) From the same folks who own Restaurante El Sabor comes this great family-run restaurant with home-cooked meals. House specialties include grilled fish with garlic, onions and yucca. The real winner here is the breakfast menu, with such options as banana pancakes, French toast and omelettes.
Restaurante El Sabor ( 592 4774; Calle 8 No 9-25; mains COP$6000-10,000; 6am-11pm Mon-Sat) This legendary, hole-in-the-wall diner is a Leticia tradition. It serves set meals (COP$6000), vegetarian dishes, fruit salads, plus unlimited free fruit juice with your meal.
A Me K Tiar ( 592 6094; Carrera 9 No 8-15; mains COP$5000-13,000; lunch & dinner) Serving good parrilla (grilled meat) and Mexican favorites at great prices, this place is crowded with locals and tourists alike. The outdoor terrace is a great people-watching spot. Wash your meal down with cold beer or fresh juices.
La Cava Amazonica ( 592 4935; Carrera 9 No 8-23; set meals COP$6000, mains COP$10,000-17,000; lunch & dinner) This open-air restaurant is a locals’ lunchtime