Santander Park in Leticia: The Parrot Show that Costs Nothing

In the center of Leticia there is a show that happens every day of the year, without exception, without charging an entrance fee, without the need for a reservation and without depending on the river season or the water level. At 5 in the afternoon, thousands of Amazon parrots return to the trees of the Santander Park in Leticia and what happens during the next 45 minutes is one of the most extraordinary moments that Amazonian nature offers on a daily basis.

It's not in many travel guides. It does not appear on all operators' itineraries. And it is, for many travelers, one of the most vivid memories of the Amazon.

What is the Santander Park Parrot Show?

Every afternoon, without fail, thousands of Amazon parrots of various species return from their feeding grounds in the surrounding jungle to spend the night in the trees of Parque Santander — the main park in the center of Leticia Amazonas.

The process begins with the arrival of the first small flocks, around 4:45–5:00 pm. Then the flocks get bigger, noisier, more chaotic. Birds fight over the best branches, shout at competitors, constantly reorganize. The sound becomes deafening. The sky over the park is filled with green and movement.

By 5:30–6:00 pm, most of the parrots are already settled. The noise level gradually drops as darkness sets in and the birds calm down. The park, which half an hour before was a chaos of sound and movement, is once again a peaceful park — with thousands of birds asleep in its trees.

And tomorrow at 5 pm it happens again.

The Story: How the Parrots Came to the Park

The story of the origin of the Santander Park parrot colony is one of those facts that local guides tell with pride and that perfectly illustrates how Amazonian nature operates in unexpected ways.

In the 1940s and 1950s, a merchant in Leticia kept Amazon parrots as pets — a common practice at the time, when wildlife regulation did not exist in Colombia.

In the 70s, with the entry into force of wildlife protection laws in Colombia, the possession of parrots and other wild birds was prohibited. The merchant released his birds. The parrots, without the habit of autonomous jungle life but with the instinct to seek the company of their species, found in the trees of Santander Park an ideal refuge — centrally located, with large trees, without natural predators in the urban area.

The birds that were already free in the region also found the park as a congregation point to sleep. Generation after generation, the colony grew. Today there are thousands of birds that perpetuate the habit of sleeping in Santander Park without anyone having explicitly taught them to do so — it is avian cultural transmission, if you will.

When It Occurs: Exact Times

Time of arrival of first flocks: 4:45–5:00 pm Peak of show: 5:00–5:30 pm Birds calm: 5:30–6:00 pm

These schedules are consistent throughout the year but may vary slightly depending on the season:

• In the Amazon summer season (Jun–Nov), the sun sets a little later and the first arrivals can be at 5:05–5:10 p.m.
• In the growing season (December–May), with slightly shorter days, arrivals may begin earlier

The practical recommendation: Arrive at the park at 4:30 pm to have time to find a good observation point before the show starts.

What to See: The Parrot Species of the Park

The Santander Park colony is not a single species — it is several species of Amazon parrots that share the same communal roost:

* Blue-headed parrot (Amazona amazonica): * The most numerous in the colony. Green with blue touches on the head. The classic "sand parrot" of the Colombian Amazon.

* Royal parrot (Amazona ochrocephala): * Green with yellow on the head. Bigger than the previous one, more powerful voice.

* Red-fronted parrot (Amazona autumnalis): * Green with red on the forehead and blue on the cheeks. More striking coloring.

* Yellow-winged parakeet ( Brotogeris chrysoptera ): * Smaller than typical parrots, green with yellow and orange spots on the wings. It arrives in very large groups and makes one of the most notable contributions to the total noise.

Spotting them in the chaos of the spectacle is difficult with the naked eye — they go very fast and the evening light doesn't always help. Binoculars make a huge difference in identifying species.

The Sound: Prepare for the Choir

If the visual spectacle of thousands of birds filling the sky is already impressive, the sound is on a completely different level.

At the peak of the show — between 5:00 and 5:30 pm — the noise level in Parque Santander can exceed 85 decibels. It's not a metaphor — it's an acoustic chaos of thousands of birds calling simultaneously, jostling for branches, calling to their mates, and responding to those already settled.

For those not used to it, the first reaction may be surprise, even discomfort. The sound level is genuinely intense. But that intensity is part of the show — it's the vitality of the entire colony, the sonic expression of thousands of years of evolutionary behavior.

Some travelers carry earplugs. It's not necessary, but if you have hearing sensitivity, it doesn't hurt.

What does occur, invariably, when the sound is at its peak and the sky is full of moving green, is a type of inner silence — the kind that occurs when something is so intensely beautiful and strange that the brain simply stops processing everything else.

The Best Points to See the Show

Santander Park has several points from which to see the arrival of the parrots, each with its advantages:

Central park benches: The most popular spot and the one used by the most spectators. Good general view of the show but can be very crowded in high season (August).

North edge of the park (towards the Cathedral): Slightly elevated compared to the interior. Good perspective to see the flocks arriving from the north and northwest.

Corners of the park: From the corners you can see both the sky and the trees at an angle — useful for photography.

Our Lady of Peace Cathedral: The cathedral tower, which overlooks the park, has a viewing platform from which the view of the spectacle is completely different — from above, watching the flocks arrive at eye level before descending into the trees. The viewpoint costs $5,000 COP and has to be opened by church staff. Ask at the cathedral if it is available.

Photography in Santander Park

The parrot show is photogenically challenging and highly rewarding at the same time.

The challenge: Birds move very quickly, the evening light is constantly changing, and the background of the urban park is not always the cleanest. Photographing birds in flight requires high shutter speeds.

*Recommended phone settings:*

• Burst mode to capture motion
• If your phone has "action" or "sports" mode, use it
• Shoot towards the open sky to have a clean background

*Recommended camera settings:*

• Shutter speed: minimum 1/1000 to freeze motion
• Aperture: f/4 to f/6.3 to have sufficient depth of field
• ISO: Raise based on available light (dusk can be dim)
• Burst mode

Best time to photograph: First arrivals (4:45–5:00 pm) with the best lighting conditions. When the show is at its peak (5:15–5:30 pm) the light may be falling too fast for phones.

What Else Is Around the Park

Santander Park is not just the parrots — it is the urban heart of Leticia and the meeting point of the city, especially at sunset.

Amazonian artisanal ice cream parlor: Next to the park (and in the immediate vicinity) there are artisanal ice cream stands with Amazonian flavors that you can't find anywhere else: copoazú, arazá, açaí, aguaje. Trying a copoazú ice cream while you wait for the parrots to arrive is one of those Leticia rituals that are repeated without having planned them.

Amazonian fruit juice shop: Fresh juices from the same fruits. A good alternative if you're not in the mood for ice cream.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace: The main church of Leticia, in front of the park. Its tower has the viewpoint we talked about above. Simple architecture but with history for the city.

Local atmosphere: At sunset the park has the most authentic atmosphere in Leticia — families going for a walk, children playing, locals doing their evening routine. It is one of the best times to see the daily life of the city, away from the tourist dynamics.

How to Get to Santander Park

Parque Santander is in the center of Leticia, a few minutes walk from most hotels in the center.

From the airport: 5 minutes by taxi. Ask to go to "Parque Santander" or "the central park".

From the civil port: 10–15 minutes walking to the city center.

From downtown hotels: On foot, between 2 and 10 minutes depending on the location of the hotel.

Admission: Completely free. The park is public.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the parrot show happen every day? Yes, every day of the year without exception. The colony of parrots has established Santander Park as a permanent roost and they return every afternoon regardless of the season, rain or any other variable.

At what exact time do the parrots arrive at Parque Santander? The first flocks arrive around 4:45–5:00 pm. The peak of the show is between 5:00 and 5:30 pm. It is recommended to arrive at the park at 4:30 pm to get a good point.

How much does it cost to see the parrot show in Leticia? It's completely free. Santander Park is a public space and the parrot show is a natural phenomenon. There is no entrance, no reservation, no guide needed.

How many parrots arrive at Santander Park each afternoon? Estimates vary but there are several thousand individuals of different species. The exact number has not been officially counted but the density of birds in the park's trees at the peak of the show is notable.

Why do parrots sleep in the Santander Park in Leticia? The colony has its origins in parrots released by a local merchant in the 70s. Generation after generation the colony grew and the park became established as a roost. Today the behavior is culturally transmitted among the birds of the colony.

Santander Park is a mandatory stop on all our tours. [leticia.travel](https://leticia.travel)