Santa Rosa Island (Peru)
Santa Rosa is a small settlement on an island in Amazonian Peru. It is the Peruvian contribution to the triple border that includes Tabatinga in Brazil and Leticia in Colombia, both of which are more substantial settlements.
Understand
The island lies closer to the Brazilian/Colombian side of the river but is entirely in Peru. Santa Rosa is a significantly less developed village than either Tabatinga or Leticia.
Get in
Immigration
Movement between all three countries' border towns is unrestricted; but of course, make sure you're stamped into the correct country if leaving the border area. Try to minimize the number of times you go through immigration: i.e. if entering the region from one country and leaving from another, just get one exit and one entry stamp - even if you visit all three towns in this area. Anything more seems to annoy the immigration officers.
The Peruvian immigration office in Santa Rosa is fairly central and easy to find, just ask someone. The Brazilian immigration office is located some way down Tabatinga's main avenue, Avenida da Amizade.
The Colombian immigration office is at Leticia's airport, so if you're flying in and moving on to a different country you may as well get an exit stamp when you land. Don't wait several days between getting your exit stamp and the next entry stamp; however leaving it one day doesn't cause any problems.
By boat
- 🌍 Port of Santa Rosa (Embarcadero fluvial Santa Rosa).
Fast (about 10 hr, US$75 or S/200) and slow (about 2-3 days, US$20-25) boats run upstream to Iquitos. Small ferries run the short distance across the river to Leticia in Colombia and Tabatinga in Brazil.
If on the slow boat, take a hammock (available in Santa Rosa/Tabatinga/Leticia), as beds aren't provided, and something to eat out of and with (food is provided, plates and cutlery aren't - tip: a 2 litre plastic bottle cut in half makes a good bowl).
Get around
The town is small and easily covered on foot. Small boats run across the river to Tabatinga and Leticia.
See
- Floating market
- The Amazon River
Do
Marvel at being in the middle of nowhere.
Buy
All three countries' currency are freely traded in this area.
- 🌍 Municipal market. Near the port area.
Eat
Sleep
Santa Rosa is the cheapest of the three towns for accommodation.
- 🌍 Hostal Las Brisas, ☏ +51 9 43178318 (mobile), +57 3115207834 (Colombia), lasbrisas.74@gmail.com. Check-in: open 24 hr. The hostel/restaurant is the first building on the right hand side when you ride the motor taxi into town, no more than 400 meters from the dock. The owner is very kind and will wake you up and walk with you to the dock at 3AM. Though the accommodation was basic at the hostel, it has at least a toilet (instead of a hole) which, once you get to Santa Rosa, you will see why. They also have electricity for two hours every evening. Again, a pleasant surprise! 20,000 Colombian pesos/night.
- 🌍 Hostal Yautino.
- 🌍 Hospedaje Amazonas.