Safety in Leticia

By Lorraine Caputo

Within the town of Leticia it is pretty safe, though residents advise against walking toward the airport, the river or the border after 10 p.m. It's recommended that visitors stay in the immediate downtown area. In terms of the civil war, people will tell you “it’s a whole jungle away.”

As in any place in the tropics, mosquito-born diseases are a concern. Get the yellow fever vaccine at least ten days before arriving. The tri-border region undergoes a fairly rigorous spraying program to control Aedes and Anopheles denizens. Nonetheless, take proper precautions against mosquito bites, especially if venturing into less populated areas.

If going swimming, avoid the hours near sunrise and sunset, when piranha and other fishes are feeding, the dry season when water is shallow, or if you have an open or bleeding wound.