So my journey continued to Colombia’s most Southern part in which I entered the Amazon rainforest region in Leticia, Colombia. People in this area of the world refers to it as Amazona. So in advance I had booked a 2 day 1 night tour with Piranita Hostel to learn about the Maloka tribe and Amazona. The tour started with us being driven in a taxi to a remote area of Leticia where we (my friend, 2 guides, and myself) being dropped off on the side of the road. We gathered our backpacking items and trekked for almost 1 hour into the woods until we arrived at one of the chief’s Maloka village. We learned from their leader about many traditions and a medicine they make from plants and burnt leaves that alleviates pain, helps sinus ailments, and is great for use in meditation. There were many other things we learned but then an almost 3 hour rainstorm approached and poured on us. We decided to set up hammocks inside one of their buildings to rest until the storm departed.
After those 3 hours, we packed up and made a 45 minute trek into the woods to our base camp of another Maloka house where we would eventually spend the night. I want to point out all of this was not in the itinerary I had signed up for so I spoke with one of our guides (who also worked for the hostel) about this sudden change in plans as I had been presented earlier to see pink dolphins, monkeys, and piranha fishing. To make a long story short I was able to see these things the following day after this 2 day tour after my hostel worked a deal out with a different tour agency.
Back to the story, after eating lunch in our base camp, we made a 30 minute trek into more woods which involved walking on single log bridges without rail supports over streams and etc. During the walk, we saw birds, caterpillars, different tree speciies, and even heard sounds made by a squirrel monkey. Once done we went to an elder’s house to gather him to come to our base camp to tell us many stories about Malokas.
After his stories commenced, we set up our hammocks and slept for the night. The next day was a bit similar to a degree and again there were many treks through the woods. This was my 1st time in a while doing a tour quite like this but it was refreshing. In the end, I am glad my hostel provided a reasonable solution considering the sudden itinerary change.
Other facts about Leticia is that there are over 56 ethnicities in this area. And there are open borders here between Colombia and Brazil.
