How to: Aboard the 3-DAY Cargo ship from Iquitos to Leticia, Colombia

Chelsey’s Backpacking Edition

This is an excellent, and probably your cheapest option, to get into Colombia from Iquitos. On this 3-day ship, you are coasting along the Amazon River, sleeping in a hammock, and making your way into Colombia! (Can also take the ship into Brazil or Ecuador or leave from any of the three spots into Iquitos, Peru)

Get ready to feel and be surrounded with locals!

WHERE TO BUY THE TICKET:

• Puerto Masusa: The boat departs every week around 7 pm (19:00) on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. YOU MUST SHOW UP TO THE PORT ON THE DAY OF YOUR DESIRED DEPERTURE TO BUY YOUR TICKET. They will not let you buy it other than on the day you want to depart. You can go around 2–3 pm and ask for just the ticket or you can show up around 5:45–6 pm and buy the ticket as you are walking on. The locals say they prefer that you buy your ticket when you have all your stuff with you, not needing to make the extra trip to the port.

WHERE TO BUY YOUR HAMMOCK:

• Mercado Belén: I got an insanely cheap hammock at this market. Do not spend a lot of money on a hammock because you most likely will get rid of it after the boat ride.
• NOTE: AS YOU ARE WALKING ONTO THE BOAT, PEOPLE ARE…