Hipilandia Reviews 

I payed in advance for two trips and that was my mistake.

Tour Calderon

- I waited an hour for my transport, which never arrived. I called the number provided, but no one answered. I contacted the hostel, and they assured me someone would pick me up—no one came. Eventually, I was told to take a taxi. In the end, I spent an hour at the airport waiting for a service that had been confirmed a day earlier.

- We never visited Tabatinga. The tour is called "3 Borders," but we never made it to Brazil.
- Instead of 3 guides, only 2 arrived. This left us waiting alone on the Calderon riverbank for 1.5 hours. One of the guides got lost.
- The boat that picked us up was damaged and unsuitable for 8 people—we almost sank. This was a serious and dangerous situation; 3 people had to disembark urgently so the boat could continue.
- The guides were friendly, and one clearly knew the route, but the other relied on GPS. When it came to explaining the jungle, plants, and animals, we had to ask every time—they lacked initiative and proper training as guides.

- I had informed them of my dietary restrictions, yet 3 times I was served the same food as everyone else, just without the protein.
- Calling rice with lentils a "healthy breakfast" is misleading.

Javari Tour

- This was not the tour I was sold. We never visited the Javari River!
- The tour was advertised as: "Discover and experience the real lifestyle of indigenous people in the Amazon region." It did not match the description at all.
- I had to wait an hour at the dock after being picked up from the hostel. The host explained they were looking for fish for me, as they weren’t aware I didn’t eat meat—despite my dietary restrictions being communicated in advance.
- Calling rice and eggs a "traditional meal" is misleading.
- Fishing was postponed until the day after our arrival. The accommodation was not in an indigenous family's home but in a guesthouse owned by a woman from Leticia, who traveled with me from Leticia.

Overall, the experience fell far short of expectations and the promises made in the tour description.

I didn’t end up taking a tour with this company as we preferred a different itinerary. But I was in contact with Stefany for several days while deciding which company to choose and she was extremely helpful.
Out of 10 companies we spoke with this is by far the most professional and responsive with the best and easiest to understand itinerary sheets. & the best most committed sustainablity practices.

English:

I arrived in Hipilandia based on several recommendations, and I've had an excellent experience. They offer a variety of tour options, tailored to your preferences in terms of duration and adventure level.

This place provides a wide range of tour choices, customized according to your desired length and level of adventure. The tours are in small groups, allowing you to fully enjoy the experience and connect authentically with the local residents.

I opted for the 3-day tour. During this time, I engaged in various activities, including a peaceful Amazon river cruise, thrilling jungle excursions during the day and night to observe animals such as sloths, tarantulas, and scorpions. We also had the opportunity to take a boat trip on one of the Amazon's tributaries, where we learned to fish and understood its vital importance to the local community as a crucial part of their diet. Additionally, I can't forget to mention the exciting alligator sighting tour, and if you're lucky, you might even spot the elusive pink dolphins of the Amazon.

My experience in Hipilandia wasn't limited to tourist activities alone. I also had the privilege of staying in the Gamboa Community. This community, founded a few years ago by local Amazon residents, gave me the chance to deeply immerse myself in their culture and way of life. It was a truly unforgettable experience.

Additionally, Hipilandia offers two budget-friendly hostels in Leticia where you can spend your first and last nights, making you feel right at home.

Español:

Llegué a Hipilandia por varias recomendaciones y he tenido una experiencia excelente. Tienen una variedad de opciones de tours, adaptados a tus preferencias en cuanto a duración y nivel de aventura.

Este lugar ofrece una amplia gama de opciones de tours, adaptadas según la duración y el nivel de aventura que desees. Los tours se realizan en grupos pequeños, lo que te permite disfrutar plenamente de la experiencia y conectar de manera auténtica con los residentes locales.

Opté por el tour de 3 días. Durante este tiempo, participé en diversas actividades, como un tranquilo paseo en el Amazonas, emocionantes excursiones por la selva durante el día y la noche para observar animales como perezosos, tarántulas y escorpiones. También tuvimos la oportunidad de hacer un recorrido en barco por uno de los afluentes del Amazonas, donde aprendimos a pescar y comprendimos su importancia vital para la comunidad local, ya que es una parte esencial de su dieta. Además, no puedo olvidar mencionar la emocionante excursión para avistar caimanes, y si tienes suerte, incluso podrías avistar a los esquivos delfines rosados del Amazonas.

Mi experiencia en Hipilandia no se limitó solo a actividades turísticas. También tuve el privilegio de hospedarme en la Comunidad de Gamboa. Esta comunidad, fundada hace unos años por residentes locales del Amazonas, me brindó la oportunidad de sumergirme profundamente en su cultura y estilo de vida. Fue una experiencia verdaderamente inolvidable.

Además, Hipilandia cuenta con dos hostales económicos en Leticia donde puedes pasar tu primera y última noche, y te sentirás como en casa.

This company is very active on varies platforms, but most reviews are made by the owners, their friends, or from accounts which only reviews Hipilandia. When you find reviews from verified or accounts with an established track record the reviews are rarely flattering.

Addition after the company response: This company literally have a review with 5 stars on Trustpilot made by the owner by in their own name! This is not good business ethics. This is a sadly not a case of a few friends leaving positive reviews.

And correct, after having realised that it wasn’t the tour I had booked with them (that they had “forgot”) but something many times more expensive and a bit sketchy because it was with a plain-clothes guide in a hostel that didn’t properly sign me in, I did not go. This is after two hours of arguing, where I had to get help from a Spanish-speaking friend to argue my case.

Going into the jungle with a (unauthorised guide with a hostel that did not seem to register my stay seemed like a red flag). I had high hopes for this place because of the reviews, so I just advice anyone to less naive than me.

Update 17. Sep.
The company has added another fake review.

Kind and helpful people. Feels like home!

An unforgettable experience!
I had the pleasure of taking a truly unique and authentic guided tour in the Amazon rainforest. The pacing was neither too soft, nor too tough.
The guides are indigenous to the area and are extremely knowledgeable on all relevant aspects concerning the jungle: plants and trees (including medicinal properties and noteworthy facts), animals, history, etc. They also taught me a few tricks such as how to climb palm trees and how to make rooftops out of plant leaves. And, finally, they were really good company - if you speak and understand Spanish.
The tour is also environmentally conscious, allowing all visitors to plant a different plant/tree during their experience, to allow reforestation.
The greatest experience during the treck was going out during the dark and observing many insects/aracnids in their true habitat.
I had a wonderful time, and Hipilandia made me feel at home from the very beginning. Their spirit is truly unique and comforting.