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Tabatinga is a city in the Amazon region of Brazil. It sits just across the border with Leticia, Colombia.
Introduction to Tabatinga
The first village in the area was founded by the Jesuits in the middle of the 17th century. A Portuguese military outpost, Forte de São Francisco Xavier de Tabatinga, was built nearby in 1766 by Fernando da Costa Ataíde Teives. It established a border between the colonies of Portugal and Spain.
On July 28, 1866, the border between Peru and Brazil was drawn, marking the date of the city’s official foundation. The border between Colombia and Brazil wasn’t drawn until 1924. The city was elevated to a municipality on February 1, 1983.
The local economy is based on cross-border trade with Colombia. Unfortunately, it’s also a drug trafficking route and has seen its fair share of violence. The name of the city in the indigenous Tupi language means white clay.
Getting There
The town has an open border with Leticia. You can walk right across without visiting passport control. To head further into Brazil, however, you’ll need to show your passport and a visa, if necessary, to the authorities.
Tabatinga International Airport (TBT) serves regional flights from Manaus. You can also take a riverboat from Manaus or Iquitos, Peru.
Our Visit to Tabatinga
Our visit to Tabatinga was on a shopping excursion from Leticia. We boarded a bus and crossed the border. Our first stop was at the Mansão de Chocolate (permanently closed) to purchase Brazilian chocolates and other goods, then we went to a street lined with stores selling Brazilian flip-flops such as Havaianas and Ipanemas. Of course, they didn’t have my size!!!
Overall, the tour was a disappointment and the city isn’t worth visiting. The shopping isn’t that great and Tabatinga is not exactly a beautiful place. The highlight was sitting down for a nice cold açaí smoothie.
