What to Do in Santa Rosa: The Peruvian Island on the Triple Border

In the middle of the mighty Amazon River, across from Leticia (Colombia) and Tabatinga (Brazil), lies Santa Rosa Island, a small Peruvian town that offers visitors a unique experience: experiencing the Amazon from a different perspective, with flavor, culture, and riverside calm.

Many travelers arriving in Leticia wonder what to do in Santa Rosa, and the answer is simple: cross by boat to enjoy its cuisine, walk its simple streets, spend time with its people, and feel the experience of "being in Peru" in just minutes.

Enjoy typical Peruvian cuisine

The main reason tourists cross to the island is the food. Santa Rosa is a small gastronomic paradise on the border, home to family restaurants and improvised kitchens with authentic flavor. Among the most sought-after dishes are:

• Peruvian ceviche — made with fresh river fish, marinated in lime and served with red onion and chili.
• Tacacho con cecina — a mix of roasted, mashed green plantain served with smoked pork.
• Juane — rice seasoned with Amazonian spices, wrapped in bijao leaves.
• Paiche and dorado — grilled or fried Amazonian fish, served alongside the local table.

The experience is not just about food, but also culture: tourists have lunch overlooking the Amazon River, with views toward Leticia and Tabatinga, enjoying a unique atmosphere that blends calm with bold flavors.

Stroll through the town and experience local life

Another simple answer to what to do in Santa Rosa is to walk its streets. Although the town is small, it offers an authentic slice of everyday Amazonian life. Unlike other riverside communities, concrete buildings and dirt roads predominate here, reflecting its role as a border point more than a traditional village.

In Santa Rosa you can watch fishermen returning with their nets, families engaged in small-scale farming (plantain, cassava, corn), and traders supplying locals and tourists alike. You will also find small bars and shops selling basic goods, plus Peruvian institutions that serve as immigration, health, and security offices.

The atmosphere is calm, ideal for those looking for a short stroll, taking photos with the "Welcome to Peru" sign, or simply sitting to watch the boats coming and going between Leticia, Tabatinga, and Iquitos.

Learn about its immigration importance

One thing that makes Santa Rosa special is its immigration role. Although you do not need to get your passport stamped if you are only crossing from Leticia for lunch or a short visit, the island is the official gateway into Peru on the triple border.

If your plan is to travel further — for example, by boat to Iquitos or into inland Peru — you will need to visit the immigration office in Santa Rosa to register your exit from Colombia and entry into Peru. The same applies for those wishing to continue into Brazil: although Leticia and Tabatinga function as open cities, traveling further into inland Brazil requires immigration paperwork.

For this reason, Santa Rosa is not just a tourist spot, but also a key logistics point for international travelers in the heart of the Amazon.

Excursions and plans from Santa Rosa

Although the island itself is small, excursions to other Peruvian Amazon destinations can be organized from Santa Rosa. One of the most common is the boat trip to Iquitos, which can take two to three days along the river, passing through riverside communities and nature reserves.

It is also possible to arrange visits to nearby indigenous communities, where visitors learn about traditional customs, buy handicrafts, and take part in cultural activities. Some travelers prefer to use the island as a short base before starting longer adventure routes in the Peruvian Amazon.

For those with limited time, the best option is a short but intense experience: cross over, enjoy a typical lunch, walk around the town, and return to Leticia or Tabatinga the same day. In fact, many tourists consider this simple plan one of the most authentic snapshots of the triple border.