ECO HOTEL EL REFUGIO DE LA FLORESTA

Home away from home - in the Amazon!

+ PROS: Great room options for different budgets and needs. While it IS a hotel that focuses on being conscious of the environment, the accommodations are comfortable, the bedding is soft, the AC potent and not too loud and there is everything that you would find at a regular hotel.

+ Jhuliana and her darling mother are a power-team of hospitality. The are present, kind, welcoming, and ready to help you and your family/travel group have a great experience in the Amazon. They are locals and live in the hotel so they know the area, the people and know what to watch out for as well.
I was very impressed that Leticia is a safe city but also super impressed that Jhuliana would lovingly guide me as to how to stay safer and who to trust openly - especially when it came to transportation and tours (@Amazonasparaviajeros).

+ Breakfast is plenty. While the variety is not ample, the offering is plenty - eggs to order (I varied from omelets, to tomato and onion scramble, and then pan fried), bread with butter and yummy jelly, juice and coffee and fruit (papaya, orange and banana). They are happy to accommodate your needs within that offering, but don't make them guess what you may need. Just ask with a kind smile and the are glad to see you happy! Plus there is a supermarket down the down with veggies, fruits, cereals and anything else you may want for your needs.

+ Location. El Refugio is centrally located in Leticia just a few blocks away from everything you need - restaurants, a supermarket called Hiper, pharmacy, shopping for basics that one may have forgotten and even a few places to get a cocktail and cool down.
Transportation is easily found. The city is not very big so getting around is easy (even to and from the airport which is less than 10m away by tuk tuk)

- CONS: (as in: CONSIDERATIONS)
* The central location means that there will be city sounds all around, especially during holidays. So bring earplugs if you are a light-sleeper like myself. (I use foam ones and they work like wonders. Plus, the amazon is not a destination to go relax so with all there is to see, experience and do, one is tired at the end of the night).

* Another consideration is the accessibility. While MOST places in Latin America (and the EU) are different than hotels in the US with their elevators and large openings, it is important to know that breakfast is on the 4th floor (nice view) and there is a wooden staircase for the last floor.

* The other consideration is that the hotel doesn't have an actual pool; It DOES have a nice tub (on the 3rd floor) but it has to be "rented" for an additional, considerable cost.
THIS WAS NOT AN ISSUE!! I took my sweaty self and two teens a few blocks away to Hotel Real Amazonas, paid $15,000 Colombian pesos and enjoyed their big pool and spacious outdoor area until we got tired (they close the pool for non guests at 5:00 pm). What I like about this is that the Refugio doesn't have the noise associated with a pool crowd.
So we went, had fun and came back to rest in our beautiful room.

As an additional BONUS: El Refugio has a very nice sitting room and outdoor table on the ground level past the lobby. It was VERY relaxing, very green and just a great space to have a coffee, to read or write or even to make phone calls and plan.

Jhuliana - muchas gracias por tanto amor ♥ . We enjoyed the stay tremendously and will remember the way when our journey takes us back to AMAZONIA!

All the best to you!
Sandra

Agradecemos la atención recibida por parte de la señora Beatriz y el staff. Una opción de estadía en Leticia Amazonas #Colombia bastante agradable. La habitación que nos brindaron hicieron que pasáramos de una noche a tres. La nobleza en el trato los hace grandes. Jamás olvidaremos el desayuno que nos ofrecieron de pescadito frito con patacones. Bendiciones. Ha sido un gusto pasar el fin de año e iniciar este 2024 en su maravilloso refugio. 100 por ciento recomendable.

Everything was perfect at Eco Hotel El Refugio. We initially stayed 2 nights, and had nice recommendations from the staff about activities to do in Leticia and the surroundings, they explained and showed us everything we needed.
The rooms were great, with everything needed. If you are a light-sleeper, I suggest you to bring earplugs because some rooms don't have concrete windows but mosquito net, but overall it's doable.

In the end, we had to stay a 3rd night last-minute and everything was well-taken care off.

You can also leave your bag for a while if needed, 10,000COP if you pick it up the next day.

I recommend!

Very warm staff, good breakfast and super sustainable

Alojamiento una noche. Buenas instalaciones. Un poco de ruido en la noche al ser tan central.