Travel logistics: Iquitos - Leticia

Cargo boats from Iquitos to the triple border (Peru, Colombia, Brazil) depart from Puerto Pesquero.

We were told that boats typically leave at the end of the week, but the best way to find out the schedule it to go to the port and ask the captain directly.

This is what we did.

We hoped to leave on Thursday, and one of the boats was supposed to leave that day. There was a problem with the boat's motor, and we had to postpone our departure another day.

We spoke to another boat captain who confirmed his boat would leave Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. He recommended that we arrive by 3:00 p.m. to reserve hammock space. The boat didn't end up leaving until 8:30 p.m., and we don't know why.

The five hours between when we got on the boat and it finally departed were the five most entertaining hours of the entire trip. Vendors were walking around the ship selling a potpourri of foods and miscellaneous goods. If you got on the boat and realized that you didn't have any toilet paper, they'd have you covered. If you got on the boat and realized that you didn't bring a pair of scissors on the boat, they took care of you. If you got on the boat and realized that you were jonesing for rice and chicken, they could take of those needs, as well.

We put our hammocks on the top level of the boat because other passengers said that is where long-distance passengers put their hammocks. It worked better for us because the lower level was much louder.

The ride from Iquitos to Santa Rosa, the Peruvian town in the three border area, takes two days. We arrived in there midmorning and went to immigrations on that side of the river before taking a boat over to the Colombian side.

If you are going to spend a few days in Colombia, it is important to get your passport stamped. You can only do this at the airport in Leticia.

If you would like to have your passport stamped in Brazil, you need to make sure you do that at the Policia Federal in Tabatinga within 24 hours of getting your exit stamp from Peru. The Policia Federal in Tabatinga is located near the military hospital.

If you would like a nice, affordable hostel, Selvaventura Hostel is a great option. The staff is great. There is wi-fi, a kitchen, and a laundry machine. Best of all, it is small and doesn't have that party hostel feel to it.