The Amazing Amazon!
If you were to take the time to see the whole of the Amazon river, running through the eight different countries (including Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela), you’d have to book half your life off work. The Amazon’s rainforest, boasting more than 30,000 species of plant, 1,300 species of bird, and 165 types of amphibian, is one part of the 4,440 mile river. Suffice to say, the Amazon is not a straightforward vacation route that you can travel by RV or by motorcycle! It is such a vast area that it is impossible to give specific details about every single part of the river. Some parts are the more obvious vacation destinations, while some pose significant challenges.
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When Should I Travel?
As it is such a vast area, you cannot really state when the best time of year is to travel, given that the weather or the seasons aren’t clearly defined. The rainy season is generally between November or December up until June, but Ecuador has a dry spell between the months of January and March. The dry period goes from July until December, and as the rain dries, it reveals lots of beaches and trails. So if you are a keen fisher or hiker, these months would be of benefit to you.
How Should I Travel?
There are many options for the budding traveler into the Amazon. If you have time on your hands and want to see as much of the place as possible, you can fly to Belem and book onto a boat and take your pick between flights or bus trips, but this can come with its share of issues. If you’re stuck for time and want to see the Amazon in some style, book an Amazon river cruise where you can kick back and enjoy the sights with a bit of luxury while also taking in some interesting facts during some lectures.
Where Should I Travel?
The sheer scale of the Amazon means that you have a huge choice of where you’d like to pick up the trail. In Peru, the city of Iquitos is one of the more common entryways into the Peruvian Amazon. The Manu National Park is accessible by road from Cusco and has become a popular destination for many travelers trekking into the Amazon, as well as the Tambopata reserve near to Puerto Maldonado. Both boast great wildlife and some amazing opportunities for kayaking, and you can swing by Machu Picchu too! Colombia is another option, the Parque Nacional Amacayacu has plenty of monkeys, birds, and dolphins during its rainy season, but you can also try Isla de Los Micos for some sightings of sea life like freshwater turtles.
Why Should I Travel?
As a solo experience, or with family members, the Amazon has options for everyone. If you’re going by yourself, remember to pack essentials like a mosquito net, and pack for all sorts of weather. You should see the Amazon in your lifetime because as a place of absolute diversity, you could spend your whole life traveling up and down the Amazon and still find something new!