Leticia Services

By Lorraine Caputo

Tourism Office

Leticia’s tourism office, Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Desarrolo Productivo, has city maps in English or Spanish and information of things to do and see (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-5 p.m. Calle 9 10-86, Tel.: 8-592-5944, URL: www.leticia-amazonas.gov.co). The Departamento de Fomento Ecoturístico (D.A.F.E.) has good pamphlets on not only eco-tourism in Leticia, but also other parts of Colombia (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-5 p.m. Calle 8 9-75, Tel.: 8-592-7569).

Other important offices are:

· Parque Nacional Natural—Buy your Amacayacu ticket here, or apply to volunteer at one of the region’s national parks (students, professionals or those with national park experience) (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-5 p.m. Carrera 9 6-100, piso 2, Tel.: 8-592-7124).

· Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (Monday-Friday 7:30-11:30 a.m., 2-4 p.m. Carrera 11 9-14).

· DAS (Colombian immigration)—The office in town only handles extensions (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-5 p.m. Calle 9 9-62). For entry or exit stamps, go to the office at the airport (Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.-noon, 1-6 p.m.; Saturday, Sunday, holiday 7:30 a.m.-noon, 1-4 p.m.).

· Brazilian consulate (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-4 p.m. Carrera 9 13-84)

· Peruvian consulate (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Calle 11 5-32).

Money

No-one in Leticia handles travelers cheques. The banks do not exchange cash, either; for this, go to a casa de cambio.

· Banco de Bogotá—ATM: ATH, Visa, MasterCard, Cirrus, Plus (corner of Carrera 10 and Calle 7).

· BBVA—Gives cash advances on Visa; ATM: MasterCard, Visa, Plus, Cirrus (Monday-Friday 8-11:30 a.m., 2-4:30 p.m. Corner of Carrera 10 and Calle 7).

Casas de Cambio can change US dollars, Euros, Colombian pesos, Brazilian reais or Peruvian soles. Shop around for the best rate, which are slightly better than in Bogotá.

· Cambios Aliiance 3 (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-noon Carrera 11 7-50).

· Amazonas Cambios (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-noon Calle 8 10-95).

There are also a number of exchange (cambios, truco) stands along Calle 8, past Carrera 11, towards the riverfront, on the left-hand side.

For money wiring, Western Union is in Supermercado León (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-noon. Calle 8 9-60)

Keeping in Touch

Telecom charges $0.05 per minute for local and $0.10 per minute for national calls. Its rates for international calls are probably the best in town: $0.25 per minute to the US, $0.30 per minute to the UK. (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-5 p.m., Saturday 8:30-11:30 a.m. Carrera 11 and Calle 9). Shops charge on average $0.10 per minute for local / national calls.

To drop your kin a wish-you-were-here postcard, head to Correos de Colombia / Adpostal (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 2-6 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-noon Calle 8 9-65).

If chatting is more your speed, internet is quite common (especially on Carrera 10, between Calles 11 and 13, and on Calle 9) and surprisingly, many are open until late. Almost all have Skype. An hour costs $0.50-0.80.

Medical

Hospital San Rafael de Leticia is the region’s medical facility (Carrera 10 13-78, Tel.: 8-592-7075, E-mail: hsanrafael1@telecom.com.co). On Carrea 10, around Calle 8, are several pharmacies.

Laundry

Lavandería Aseo Total will do up your wash according to your dpecs. Depending on the type of service—wash, dry, fold and / or iron—the cost is $0.90-1.05 pre pound. If you get your duds in early enough, they’ll be ready in the afternoon (Monday-Saturday 6 a.m.-9 p.m., Sunday 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Carrera 10 9-32, Tel.: 8-592-6051).

Camera

Leticia has several photo shops. Pick up high speed film for jungle shots before coming here. Leticolor Digital has digital and disposable cameras, digital cards, 400ASA UltraMax Kodak film, batteries, camera cases and film developing (Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 2-7 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 2-7 p.m., holidays 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., closed Sunday. Calle 8 9-42, Tel.: 8-592-4778 / 311-440-1614, E-mail: camiloandrescastillo@yahoo.es.com). Foto Reina offers repair of conventional cameras, as web as an assortment of digital camera cards, 100 and 400ASA color film and batteries (Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m.-noon, 1-7 p.m. Carrera 10 8-14, Tel.: 8-592-3882).

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