Colombia is home to the fascinating Monkey Island, or “La Isla de los Micos,” in Leticia, Amazonas, where hundreds of squirrel monkeys attract tourists from around the world. The island spans 450 hectares, and its main attraction is this species of monkey that is recognizable by their yellow hands and feet.
Arara Island is the original name of the Natural Reserve “Monkey Island,” located 35 kilometers from Leticia, the capital of the Amazonas department. To reach the island, visitors must take a boat service from Leticia to the township of Santa Sofia and then continue to where these primates live.
Indigenous community preserves Monkey Island in Colombia’s Amazon
The Huitoto indigenous community lives on the island and offers hand crafted items for sale. Additionally, with Colombia being home to the highest number of bird species in the world, the place presents ideal landscapes for bird watching.
Around Monkey Island, several restaurants have been established, but it is recommended to buy provisions in Leticia. Currently, no hotel center has been established within the island, so for accommodation during a visit to Monkey Island, it is advisable to return to the capital.
Other aspects that attract wildlife enthusiasts include caimans and lush trees up to 30 meters high, which tourists can climb to enjoy a stunning view of the Amazon jungle. Guides also offer canopy tours, while they share the myths and stories that surround the island, including tales about its creator and the origin of the indigenous people living there.
The intriguing story behind Monkey Island in Leticia
This place is also a pioneer in ecological tourism in Colombia. Hotels like the Decameron Decalodge Ticuna in Leticia offer complete tours that include the accompaniment of Indigenous environmental interpreters who explain the behavior of the monkeys, their social organization, reproduction, and feeding.
Monkey Island is said to have been significantly developed by an American adventurer of Greek origin named Mike Tsalikis, a controversial figure whose time on the island in the 1960s and 1970s gave rise to many stories, some verified and others not. During this period, he was known for living there along with a reported population of 12,000 monkeys and many species of reptiles.
According to historians, Tsalikis was a Greek drug trafficker who transformed the Colombian island into his refuge. As his power grew, so did his influence over the place and its inhabitants. Tsalikis allegedly not only used the island for his illicit activities but also established a connection with the local community while raising monkeys and other animals. Tsalikis passed away in 2018 after serving his sentence in Florida, United States