Updated on 05/10/2024
Dear reader,
I would also like to recommend our Colombia travel guide, which provides a perfect overview of the tourist attractions in Colombia. Enjoy reading it!
The Amazon is a region of Colombia that covers more than 400,000 square kilometers of rainforest, rivers, lakes, and biodiversity. It is an ideal destination for nature, adventure, and indigenous culture lovers. Due to its extension and isolation, the best way to get there is by air, and for this it may be convenient to use charter or private flights.
Airports in the Amazon
In the Amazon, there are several airports and landing strips that allow access to charter and private flights. Some of the most important ones are:
Alfredo Vásquez Cobo International Airport
This is the main airport in the region, located in the city of Leticia, the capital of the Amazonas department. It features a 2,200-meter-long paved and illuminated runway, accommodating planes with up to 150 passengers. Services include:
- Immigration
- Customs
- Air traffic control
- Fuel
- Hangars
- Maintenance
- Security
- VIP lounge
From this airport, you can take charter or private flights to various destinations within and outside the Amazon, such as Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Iquitos, Manaus, and Tabatinga, among others.
La Pedrera Airport
Located in the municipality of La Pedrera, about 391 miles north of Leticia, this airport has a 1,000-meter-long dirt runway, allowing the landing of planes with up to 12 passengers. It offers basic services such as fuel and security. From this airport, you can take charter or private flights to Leticia, La Chorrera, Mitú, among others.
La Chorrera Airport
Situated in the municipality of La Chorrera, approximately 292 miles north of Leticia, this airport has an 800-meter-long dirt runway, accommodating planes with up to 9 passengers. It provides basic services like fuel and security.
Charter Flight Overview in the Amazon
In the Amazon, there are several companies offering charter or private flight services, both nationally and internationally. These companies have a diverse fleet of aircraft, that adapt to the needs and preferences of customers.
Available Aircraft Fleet
The available aircraft fleet varies from small aircraft like Piper and Cessna, ideal for short flights and remote destinations, to larger and more luxurious planes like Beechcraft and Embraer, offering greater capacity and amenities for long-distance flights.
Cessna Fleet
Cessnas are small, single or twin-engine aircraft that can carry between 2 and 12 passengers, depending on the model. They are ideal for short flights and to remote destinations, as they can land on short, unpaved runways. Some examples are:
- Cessna 172
- Cessna 208 Caravan
- Cessna Citation
Piper Fleet
Piper aircraft are similar to the Cessna, with one or two engines, and can carry between 2 and 10 passengers, depending on the model. They are also suitable for short flights and to remote destinations, as they can land on short, unpaved runways. Some examples are:
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee
- Piper PA-31 Navajo
- Piper PA-46 Malibu
Beechcraft Fleet
Beechcraft are medium-sized, two- or four-engine aircraft that can carry between 6 and 19 passengers, depending on the model. They are faster and more comfortable than the Cessna and Piper, but also more expensive. Some examples are:
- Beechcraft King Air
- Beechcraft Baron
- Beechcraft 1900
Embraer Fleet
Embraer are large, two- or four-engine aircraft that can carry between 19 and 120 passengers, depending on the model. They are the fastest and most luxurious, but also the most expensive. Some examples are:
- Embraer ERJ 145
- Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia
- Embraer Phenom 300
Destinations for Charter Flights To and From the Amazon
The Amazon is strategically located, bordering two neighboring countries: Brazil and Peru.
International Destinations
Some of the most popular international destinations for charter flights from the Amazon are:
Leticia to Manaus
It is the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas and is located on the banks of the Negro River. It is a city with a rich culture and history, and an important commercial and tourist center of the Amazon region.
- Duration: 1 hour and 10 minutes.
- Landing at: Eduardo Gomes International Airport.
- Speed: 497 mph.
- Distance: 586 miles.
Leticia to Iquitos
It is the largest city in the Peruvian jungle and is surrounded by the Amazon, Nanay and Itaya rivers. It is an ideal destination for nature and adventure lovers, as it offers various activities such as boat rides, animal watching, visits to indigenous communities and nature reserves.
- Duration: 1 hour and 20 minutes.
- Landing at: Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport.
- Speed: 497 mph.
- Distance: 666 miles.
Leticia to Panama
It is a country located on the isthmus that connects South America with Central America. It is famous for its canal, which connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, and for its cultural and natural diversity. It is a destination that offers everything from paradisiacal beaches and tropical forests to skyscrapers and shopping malls.
- Duration: 2 hours and 50 minutes.
- Landing at: Tocumen International Airport.
- Speed: 497 mph.
- Distance: 1411 miles.
National Destinations
Some of the most popular national destinations for charter flights from Leticia are:
Leticia to Bogotá
- Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Landing at: El Dorado International Airport.
- Speed: 372 mph.
- Distance: 559 miles.
Leticia to Medellín
- Duration: 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- Landing at: José María Córdova International Airport.
- Speed: 372 mph.
- Distance: 838 miles.
Leticia to Cali
- Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes.
- Landing at: Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport.
- Speed: 372 mph.
- Distance: 932 miles.
Restrictions on Charter Flights in the Amazon
The Amazon has some particularities and restrictions to consider if you plan to travel by air. Some of them include:
Weather
The Amazon has a humid tropical climate, with temperatures ranging from 24 to 32 degrees Celsius and annual precipitation exceeding 3,000 millimeters. This implies a high probability of rain, storms, fog, winds, among other meteorological phenomena that may affect visibility and flight safety.
Topography
The Amazon has varied topography, with flat, mountainous, forested, and riverine areas. Therefore, there is a diversity of airports and landing strips with different characteristics and conditions.
It’s important to know the type of aircraft you will be using and the type of runway you will be landing on to avoid inconvenience or risks. For example, some planes require long, paved, and illuminated runways, while others can land on short, unpaved, and unlit strips.
Migratory Process for Charter Flights in the Amazon
The Amazon has a constant flow of people and goods between Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, requiring immigration and customs control.
If you travel on a charter flight to Alfredo Vásquez Cobo International Airport, know that the immigration process is conducted at the same location where the plane lands, as Migration Colombia personnel handle it in the private hangar. This means you don’t have to queue or waste time to board.
Below, we mention the traveler control for charter flights by Migration Colombia for your consideration.
- Arrival, document verification, and presentation: Before landing, migration personnel head to the private hangar where your plane is. A crew representative presents the properly filed General Flight Declaration via the entity’s web channel to the migration officer.
- Document review and migration control: Migration control involves document review and verification, checking information such as digital seal, flight date and details, aircraft registration, crew, and passenger names.
With the reviewed and accepted declaration, the officer conducts migration control, verifying that the individuals subject to migration control are those registered in the General Flight Declaration. - Document delivery: Once the control is complete, you’ll receive your travel documents with migration stamps. All information will be recorded in the Migration Colombia system.
- Alerts and feedback: Staff will dismiss alerts and provide feedback. Migration movement registration won’t be allowed if the traveler isn’t facing the migration officer. If there are movements, the officer records updates and notifies the coordinator or shift leader and the CECAM (Joint Strategic Center for Migration Analysis).
- Air operator obligations: The compliance with air operator obligations according to Resolution 3167 of 2019 regarding the Advance Passenger Information System APIS will be investigated.
- Sanctions and compliance: In situations where obligations aren’t met, the flight supervising officers will inform the operational staff about possible economic sanctions and potential non-attention to the flight by the migration authority. Therefore, ensure to hire a company that can fulfill all the aforementioned processes to guarantee a hassle-free experience.
Having said that, remember to fill out the Check-Mig form 24 hours before entering or leaving the country.
More about Charter Flights in Colombia
- How To Get Around Colombia Like A Pro: An Expert Transportation Guide
- Finding the Top Charter Flight Service in Colombia: A Comprehensive Guide
- Your Complete Guide to Colombia’s Airports: Where to Land and What to Expect
- Travel to Colombia on your Private Jet – Hassle-Free Guide
- Charter Flights in Santa Marta, Colombia – Travelers Guide
- Charter Flights in Santander, Colombia – Travelers Guide
- Charter Flights in the Coffee Triangle, Colombia – Travelers Guide
- Charter flights in Meta, Colombia – Travelers Guide
- Charter Flights in the Amazon, Colombia – Travelers Guide
- Charter Flights in San Andres, Colombia – Travelers Guide
