Travel Guide Isla De Los Micos

A river island about 20 kilometers northwest of Leticia that is overrun by capuchin monkeys(micos fraile), monkeys with yellow legs and tails longer than their bodies. This 450-hectare island, purchased by an American citizen in the 1960s, served as a research laboratory and supplier of monkeys to various zoos. The Colombian authorities put an end to this trade in 1974. Since then, the animals reproduce at a frightening speed: there would be approximately 5 000 specimens, of 4 different species. The micos come to meet the tourists in the hope that they give them a banana. It's funny, but this attitude repeated by groups for years has finally gone to their heads and changed their natural behavior. They will assault you to play with your hair, necklaces, and earrings, and some of them get a kick out of urinating on your head! This is one of the favorite tours for tourists, but we really don't recommend it. The monkeys are in semi-captivity, not being able to leave the island, and the guides generally know nothing about the animals. On top of that, the tour is not free and there is an additional $35,000 fee to access the island... If you are looking for real ecotourism, there are much more interesting things to do around Leticia. If you want to see monkeys, it's best to go to the Ticuna community of Mocagua, in Maikuchiga ("the house of the animals"), a much more rewarding and ethical visit.