amazon trip in brazil

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Amazon Rainforest Tours in Brazil

Find the best Amazon jungle and rainforest adventures in Brazil. We've got 37 tours and river cruises going to the Amazonas region in Brazil, starting from just 3 days in length, and the longest tour is 65 days. The most popular month to go is May, which has the most number of tour departures.

37 Amazon tours in Brazil with 980 reviews

• Hiking & Trekking
• In-depth Cultural
• Christmas & New Year

Peru Panorama

There are many aspects of this trip that I loved like the Peruvian people, the landscapes and Inca ruins. I loved the weather and the food. However for me the trek on the trail was definitely an adventure. It was more difficult than I thought and I had some trying moments like sleeping in a small tent in complete darkness, the inaccessibility of clean washrooms and lack of toilet paper, and the constant need to buy drinking water which was not readily supplied by g adventure. I liked the pace of the trip and the amount of travel and meeting a lot of new people.

Lima to Buenos Aires: Deserts & Dancing

A really good mix of hiking, culture, and exploration. I really enjoyed this tour, as it covers so many places that aren't otherwise accessible on your own. Arguable, Inca Trail was the highlight, but there was so much more. Ballesta Islands, Lake Titicaca, the Yungas Road in Bolivia, steak in Salta, etc etc. I enjoyed Bolivia much more than I expected (the museums in Potosi were world class). You have free time to explore the big cities such as La Paz on your own if you choose. Only downside were some inflexibility in restaurant choice. Overall a good trip I'll remember for a long time.

Peru Essentials

That was an impressive tour with a lot of new experiences. Overall, I had a great time, even though there are surely ways to improve the schedule a little (and the breakfast^^)

Amazon Jungle - 3 Days

This was an AMAZING tour! Great accommodation, delicious food, and easy transportation. The itinerary is great- guided jungle walks, camping, and boat rides/swimming. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and made the trip a lot of fun. Met some other great solo travelers as well. Thanks for a fantastic trip!

• Mountain Hikes

Inca Trail & Amazon Adventure

Smithie was an amazing guide. I personally did not like the time in the Amazon jungle. But the trek was an incredible and unforgettable experience.

Ecuador Treasures Bucket List 8 Days Tour

Alejandro was simply the BEST and made each and every day of our week long tour exceptional. He chose unbelievable accommodations that were unique and memorable and he knew the business owners and locals everywhere we went! Alejandro kept us on schedule so we could maximize our time there but remained flexible to meet the needs of our wanderlust and spur of the moment desires! We felt completely safe and "pampered" at all times. He is extremely knowledgeable of all things Ecuador, it's people, culture and environment.

• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

• Jungle Trekking

Amazon Rainforest Experience

Organization of and the Tour itself were excellent! I can highly recommend this Tour!

Peru Splendors with Peru's Amazon

The tour was truly amazing. I especially appreciate that it had two entrances to Machu Picchu and the perfect amount of days in the Amazons. Everything was well organized, we had great tour guides, and it was a real luxury to have everything planned and organized for you.

• River Cruise

Amazon Boat Cruise - 4 Days

Manaus, Discovering the Amazon

4 days Unique Experience @ Tariri Amazon Lodge , Total Immersion in the Amazon on a Jungle Adventure - Brasil

4 Days Wonders of the Amazon

Amazon Rainforest Adventure 4 Days /3nights

Manaus Amazon Jungle Adventure 5D/4N

While the rain forest was a bit different from expected, it was quite an enjoyable experience. Mathias was our guide and was very knowledgeable and provide a lot of information not just into the animals but survival in the forest and the way of life for people in the region. He very much made the trip extra special for me. While I arranged for a private room, I thought the cabin was quite reasonable including the bathroom and shower. The food and water were good, there was always plenty available for everyone and never experienced any stomach or other issues. The only suggestion I might offer was the communication on the trek from Manaus. I realise the 2 bridges being in-accessible made the journey unusual, but a number of us were uncertain what was happening and what we were supposed to do. We made our way fine in the end, but a bit more proactive communication may have removed some uncertainty and anxiety as to where we were to go or for what we were waiting.

Puerto Maldonado Amazon Superior Lodge 4D/3N (from Puerto Maldonado)

Our family's tour of Puerto Maldonado was incredible and everything we had hoped for! Tour Radar was very responsive to our questions from weeks before we booked the tour to days before it began. Everything from airport pickup to excursions to accommodations was exactly the way it had been explained to us. We couldn't be more pleased :)

Brazilian Amazon Tour Reviews

An amazing but very full on adventure. From day one, right through to the end it was very eventful, busy, challenging but most of all extremely rewarding. We had no expectations we we began the tour but our expectations were exceeded. We were blessed with mostly great weather, amazing scenery, fabulous fellow travellers and fantastic and very supportive guides.

A really good mix of hiking, culture, and exploration. I really enjoyed this tour, as it covers so many places that aren't otherwise accessible on your own. Arguable, Inca Trail was the highlight, but there was so much more. Ballesta Islands, Lake Titicaca, the Yungas Road in Bolivia, steak in Salta, etc etc. I enjoyed Bolivia much more than I expected (the museums in Potosi were world class). You have free time to explore the big cities such as La Paz on your own if you choose. Only downside were some inflexibility in restaurant choice. Overall a good trip I'll remember for a long time.

From the pick up from the hostel to the Tours inside the jungle everything was awesome! The only thing: you can book the same tour in Manaus with local companies and pay a lot less!! :)

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The Smooth Escape

Nature & adventure travel blog

How to visit the Amazon rainforest in Brazil: A complete guide

On my latest trip to Brazil, I had the opportunity to tick off a major bucket list item of mine – to visit the Amazon rainforest. It’s a destination that had fascinated me since I was a child, so it was a dream come true to finally see this mystical place with my own eyes.

Due to the immense size of the Amazon, planning a trip here can feel confusing and overwhelming. Therefore, I’ve put together this guide where I’m sharing my best travel tips on how to visit the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.

Covering an area of 6.7 million km2 (2.6 million sq mi), the Amazon spans 40% of South America and is by far the largest rainforest in the world. The Amazon basin is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and is believed to be home to 10% of all known species. 

Known as the Lungs of the Earth, the Amazon tops the wishlist of many travelers from around the globe and is an ideal destination for those looking to connect with nature.

Whether you want to explore the depths of Brazil’s jungles, lock eyes with wild animals, taste wonderful exotic fruits, relax on unspoiled beaches or cruise down the Amazon River – you will make memories that will last a lifetime! And this Amazon rainforest travel guide will show you exactly how to do that.

Without further ado, let’s dive into all the things you need to know for planning a trip to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil.

Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links from which I may make a commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase.

How to get to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil?

The best way to get to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil is to fly to Eduardo Gomes International Airport in the city of Manaus. Known as the gateway to the Brazilian Amazon, Manaus is the main tourist hub in the region and the capital of the Amazonas state.

You can take a direct flight from Sao Paulo to Amazon rainforest (Manaus), which takes about four hours. There are also direct flights to Manaus from other major cities in Brazil, such as Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia, as well as from Miami, Panama City and Bogota.

Alternatively, you could also fly to Santarem, which is a smaller town about 600km (370 mi) east of Manaus.

We started our Amazon trip by flying to Manaus and finished it by flying out of Santarem. To get from Manaus to Santarem, we took a ferry down the Amazon River. I’m explaining more about why we did this further below.

How many days do you need?

I would say three days is the minimum amount of time that you should set aside for visiting the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. In three days, you can do a handful of excursions, which will give you a glimpse of what this enchanting region has to offer. However, you’d only be skimming the surface.

I highly recommend spending a week or even 10 days exploring the Amazon rainforest if you can. This way, you’ll have enough time to visit several different areas of the Amazon region and enjoy a wider variety of experiences – from exploring jungles and rivers to relaxing on beaches and visiting waterfalls.

It’s also a good idea to have a few extra days as a buffer in your Amazon rainforest itinerary in case the weather turns out to be bad and prevents you from doing some of the activities you had planned (happened to us on a few occasions). In total, we spent 9 days in the Amazon but I wish we had a few more days.

If you’re interested in seeing more of Brazil (which I hope you are since there are countless amazing places to explore!), check out my post on 3 Brazil itinerary options to find inspiration for planning out the rest of your trip.

Best time to visit the Amazon rainforest in Brazil

There are two distinct seasons in the Amazon – the dry season and the rainy season. They are also known as the low water season and the flood season. Don’t let the word ‘dry’ fool you though. Remember that it’s still a tropical rainforest so you should expect to see some rain every day regardless of when you visit. 

There’s no clear ‘best’ time to visit the Amazon rainforest in Brazil since there are pros and cons to both seasons. The rainy season typically runs from January to July and the dry season from August to December. The temperature remains hot throughout the year (around 27-30°C or 80-86°F).

The advantages of visiting during the dry season are less rain, fewer mosquitoes, better access to the river beaches and better trekking options since the jungle won’t be flooded. 

The main advantage of visiting during the rainy season is that you’ll have better opportunities for boat/canoe tours. Higher water levels make it possible to access smaller canals and get deeper into the flooded forests, which are locally known as igapó . 

Be aware though that once the rainy season has kicked in and the water levels have risen (February-July), you won’t be able to enjoy the white sand beaches along the river banks, as they will be fully flooded.

In some parts of the Amazon, the water level in the rivers rises by a whopping 12 meters (40 ft) by the peak of the rainy season. I find this absolutely mind-blowing!

We visited the Amazon from the end of December until the beginning of January, which is a transitional period from the dry to the rainy season. We experienced a lot of rain in the Manaus area but only a little rain in the Santarem-Alter do Chão area. This shows that the weather in the Amazon can be quite unpredictable.

How to visit the Amazon rainforest in Brazil?

One of the best ways to visit the Amazon rainforest in Brazil is to stay at a jungle lodge in the region around Manaus. The majority of the lodges are within a 2-3 hour drive or boat ride from Manaus and usually offer all-inclusive packages that include transfers from Manaus, all meals and several excursions on each day. 

During the excursions, you’ll be accompanied by local guides who take you on jungle walks and boat tours and share their knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Amazon. 

As an alternative to a lodge, you could take an Amazon cruise where you’d stay on a liveaboard riverboat and go on daily rainforest tours. You could also base yourself in Manaus and take day trips, which is probably the cheapest option.

Besides staying at an Amazon jungle lodge or taking a river cruise, I also recommend visiting Alter do Chão for a totally different experience. This small town has a laid-back bohemian atmosphere and is known as the Caribbean of the Amazon thanks to its fabulous white sand river beaches. Be sure to read my Alter do Chão travel guide for more tips on what to expect when visiting this cool little town.

To get to Alter do Chão from Manaus, you’d need to either fly or take a ferry down the Amazon river to Santarem. We chose the latter option. From Santarem, it’s just a 35km (22 mi) drive to Alter do Chão.

To give you an idea of how to plan your Amazon rainforest trip and how many days to allocate to each place, here’s an outline of our Amazon itinerary:

• Day 1-3: Flying to Manaus and staying at a jungle lodge
• Day 4-5: Taking a ferry from Manaus to Santarem
• Day 6-8: Exploring Alter do Chão
• Day 9: Flying out of Santarem

Amazon rainforest lodges in Brazil

There are numerous jungle lodges to choose from around Manaus, ranging from more affordable ones with very basic amenities to more stylish lodges with comfortable bungalows.

Here are my top picks for Amazon rainforest lodges for varying budgets:

BUDGET: Amazônia Exxperience One of the cheaper Amazon lodges. The rooms are rustic and very simple but apparently, the excursions and the food are wonderful!

MID-RANGE: Dolphin Lodge This is the lodge where we stayed for two nights and I think it’s one of the best mid-range options you can find. It’s a small rustic family-owned lodge in a tranquil location overlooking a river and surrounded by the rainforest. We stayed in a private bungalow perched on stilts high above the forest floor and took daily tours with our knowledgeable guides to explore the surrounding jungle, lakes and rivers. 

LUXURY: Juma Lodge If you’re looking for a little more comfort, Juma Lodge is the place for you. It is one of the most famous lodges in the area and has a swimming pool and spacious bungalows with hot water showers.

Which vaccines are needed for a trip to the Amazon?

You are not required to have any vaccinations to visit the Brazilian Amazon. However, vaccinations against hepatitis A, typhoid and yellow fever are recommended. 

Some people also choose to take pills against malaria, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Alternatively, you could do your best to protect yourself from mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and trousers when in the jungle, using a mosquito repellent and sleeping under a mosquito net.

Which animals can you expect to see?

The Amazon jungle is home to countless species of wild animals that inhabit its rivers, treetops and forest floor. It’s one of the most biodiverse places in the world after all! 

With that said, many of the animals are extremely well camouflaged or hiding deep in the jungle, far from the curious eyes of tourists. Therefore, you definitely shouldn’t expect to see jaguars, anacondas and tapirs around every corner.

The most commonly seen animals in the Amazon rainforest are monkeys (howler monkeys and squirrel monkeys), caimans, freshwater dolphins (pink and grey ones), sloths, frogs, tarantulas, piranhas, and birds such as herons, macaws and toucans. During our 9 days in the Amazon, we saw all of these animals, though some of them were either very far or revealed themselves only for a brief second.

Seeing this adorable sloth (pictured below) from such a close distance was definitely one of the highlights of my Amazon trip in Brazil:

In terms of wildlife spotting, I’d say I’ve had a better experience in Costa Rica , the Galapagos Islands and Bonito (in Brazil) than in the Amazon. But the number of animals you see and how close you see them often comes down to luck! Nevertheless, I think the Amazon is a fantastic place to explore and still offers great chances of seeing wildlife.

A problem with wildlife tourism in the Amazon

While exploring the Amazon region, it became clear to me that unfortunately unethical wildlife tourism is extremely widespread there. The vast majority of the Amazon rainforest tours on offer include direct interactions with wildlife, which is problematic. 

These are activities like petting and swimming with pink river dolphins, hugging sloths and monkeys, taking photos with a baby caiman in your hands, feeding wild animals and so forth. This article by National Graphic explains pretty well why such interactions are harmful to wildlife. Wild animals should stay wild and we shouldn’t treat them as our pets or photo props.

Sustainable and responsible ecotourism in the Amazon still has a long way to go. Therefore, I encourage you to choose your tour operators and lodges wisely. 

I was happy to see that the tours we did with Dolphin Lodge didn’t involve any direct contact with wild animals.

Best things to do in the Amazon rainforest

Thanks to its unique geography and fascinating flora and fauna, there’s no shortage of amazing places to visit and things to do in the Amazon rainforest. Here are some of the best ways to get to know this region and its wonders. 

Jungle walk: Go on a trek in the rainforest with expert naturalist guides who will show you and educate you about a variety of exotic plants and wildlife. This was one of my favorite activities in the Amazon.

Canoe or boat tour: Take a tour on the calm waters of small rivers and lakes, where you’re likely to spot caimans, river dolphins and numerous birds. There are also piranha fishing tours and nighttime boat tours for spotting nocturnal animals.

Giant Amazon water lilies: Locally known as Vitoria Regia, these aquatic plants are the icon of the Amazon and can be found in ponds and lakes. They’re famous for their enormous leaves, which can reach up to 3 meters in diameter and can apparently hold the weight of a child or a small adult!

The beaches of Alter do Chão: Relax on beautiful sandy beaches along the Tapajós River, in an area nicknamed the Caribbean of the Amazon. Unlike the brown and murky Amazon River, the Tapajós boasts clear blue waters perfect for swimming.

Ferry on the Amazon River: Hop on an authentic ‘no-frills’ ferry used by the locals and sail 740km (460 mi) down the Amazon River to reach Santarem. You won’t see much wildlife on this journey since it’s a transportation ferry but it’s a unique experience nevertheless. Watching the sunset on the Amazon River is something I’ll never forget.

Survival tour: On a survival tour in the jungle, you’ll learn about medicinal plants, fishing techniques, how to build camps, make fire etc. There are one-day tours (such as this one ) as well as multi-day tours where you’ll camp in the rainforest.

Waterfalls at Presidente Figueiredo: This area is known for its waterfalls, caves and natural pools surrounded by gorgeous lush jungle. You can visit it on a day tour from Manaus . I would have really loved to explore this area but unfortunately couldn’t fit it into my Amazon itinerary.

Meet a local community: Take a tour to an indigenous community to learn about their way of living, their customs and agricultural practices.

Meeting of the waters: A unique phenomenon where the black waters of Rio Negro and the light brown waters of the Solimões River meet and run side by side for several kilometers before mixing.

Map with the main points of interest

On the map below, I’ve marked the main points of interest that I mentioned in this Amazon rainforest travel guide as well as the lodges I recommended. Click on the icon in the top left corner of the map for more details.

Is it safe to visit the Brazilian Amazon?

Yes, the Brazilian Amazon is safe to visit. I can say that I felt totally safe throughout our entire Amazon trip. However, there are still some risks and dangers that you should be aware of.

Your biggest threat is mosquitoes that might carry malaria or yellow fever, which are both serious diseases. Always take precautions to protect your skin from mosquito bites.

Another common risk is getting an upset stomach due to the different kinds of bacteria in local food and water, which foreigners’ stomachs are not used to. To reduce your chances of getting sick, avoid drinking tap water during your Amazon trip in Brazil.

Also, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t wander into the depths of the jungle on your own when visiting the Amazon in Brazil. Always go with an official guide. Without one, it’s easy for tourists to get lost or wander into unsafe territories.

In terms of wildlife, there definitely are some dangerous animals in the Amazon but it’s unlikely that they’d attack you unless you provoke them or get too close. To avoid potentially dangerous encounters with animals, do your jungle hikes and river explorations with a guide.

What to wear in the Amazon rainforest?

Since it’s going to be hot and humid, shorts, T-shirts, flip-flops, a swimsuit and a hat to protect yourself from the sun are a must. It’s also going to rain so it’s a good idea to bring a rain jacket. 

Trousers and long sleeves are necessary when going on jungle walks in order to protect yourself from mosquitoes and sharp plants. Also, it’s apparently better to dress in light, neutral colors to avoid mosquitoes.

Remember to also bring sneakers or hiking boots. Alternatively, your lodge might provide you with rubber boots if you’re going to walk in particularly muddy areas. 

I wore long leggings, a linen shirt and sneakers during our hike in the jungle and I think it was a great choice – I wasn’t feeling too warm and I didn’t get any mosquito bites.

In terms of fabrics, aim for light and breathable ones because it’s almost impossible to dry your clothes in the humid rainforest.

Final thoughts on visiting the Amazon rainforest in Brazil

And there you have it! These were my recommendations on how to visit the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. I hope this travel guide inspired you to explore this fantastic one-of-a-kind region and that you will find it useful for planning your own perfect trip!  

If you have any questions about traveling to the Amazon rainforest, drop them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them. 

For more photos and videos of my Amazon trip in Brazil, check out my Instagram account (look for the highlight called Amazonas).

Be sure to also check out my other Brazil travel guides for more tips on spectacular ecotourism destinations, gorgeous beaches and fun cities to visit:

• 10-day Brazil itinerary – 3 different options
• Visiting Alter do Chão, a hidden gem in the Amazon
• Visiting Iguazu Falls, one of the 7 Wonders of the World
• Best things to do in São Paulo
• Fun things to do in Rio de Janeiro
• Hiking in Brazil: Chapada Diamantina

Disclosure: I was invited to stay at Dolphin Lodge but as always, all opinions are my own.

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Hey! Can you tell me what the cruise was you booked from Manaus to Santarem? How was it and how was the price? Thanks! Michael

Hi! It wasn’t really a cruise what I took. It was a very basic old transportation ferry used by the locals. We just went to Manaus port the day before and bought our ferry tickets there from the ticket booth. The price for a cabin was around 470 BRL but if you’re willing to sleep in a hammock like most people do, it’s much cheaper.

Hi! I would like to visit Manaus and visit the Amazon rainforest. Can I take an uber to the Amazon? If yes, how long it takes? Can I spend just two hours there? Are there bathrooms there? Thanks.

Hi Javier. Manaus is already in the Amazon rainforest. I don’t think taking an Uber to a random place on your own is a good idea. I recommend taking a guided tour instead. This usually involves getting on a boat, sailing along the rivers and hiking in the jungle not driving around in an Uber.

Can you send me an email of your Brazil trip with hotel info etc. what you posted is something we as a family can probably do. Thanks in advance.

Hi Daniel. The info about where I stayed is in the blog post 🙂

Thanks for the post, very useful info. I’m curious to know, how do you get to these hotels on the river. From Manaus is there just a bunch of boat-taxi services which will take you where you need to go?

Do most people rely on their hotel to buy excursion packages from? From Manaus do people advertise their packages by the (presumably) boat launch? Going to Mexico I remember the moment you get into the city there are hundreds of people advertising their tours. Is it similar? If so would you expect them to pick you up from your hotel?

Thanks in advance.

Hi Dwayne. If you’re staying at a hotel in the jungle or on the river, transfers are usually included in your stay. Excursions are usually also included but in case they’re not, it would makes sense to do them with the hotel you’re staying at. There are lots of tour operators in Manaus but I’d only recommend buying tours from them if you’re staying in the city not in a hotel out in the jungle or on the river. These hotels are usually so remote that it wouldn’t make sense traveling back to Manaus each day and do the excursions from there.

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The Amazon is itself a place of near-mythical status. What traveler drawn to the wild places of the planet hasn't imagined a trip to the Amazon, not only to admire the towering trees, secretive wildlife and awesome river, but to enter, in a real sense, the very life spring of the planet? Expecting a Discovery Channel–like experience (jaguars in every tree, anacondas on every shore) is a recipe for disappointment. In fact, the Amazon’s quintessential experiences are more sublime than superlative: canoeing through a flooded forest, dozing in a hammock on a boat chugging upriver, waking to the otherworldly cry of howler monkeys. On a river whose size is legendary, it’s actually the little things that make it special. Give it some time, and the Amazon is all this and more.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Reserva Extrativista Baixo Rio Branco-Jauaperi

This newly minted extractive reserve is an outstanding place to immerse yourself in the best the Amazon has to offer, with excellent wildlife-watching –…

Floresta Nacional do Tapajós

If you came to the Amazon to see primary rainforest, look no further than the Floresta Nacional do Tapajós. Wildlife is a possibility – from birds to…

Jardim Botânico Adolpho Ducke

Spanning over 100 sq km, this 'garden' is actually the world’s largest urban forest. There's a network of five short trails (guides and closed shoes…

Serra do Aracá State Park

Although this state park was established in 1990 to preserve the unique canyons carved out by the Rio Aracá, it wasn't until recently that the massive…

The floodplains east and southeast of Santarém are among the Amazon's most rewarding excursions. Flooded for much of the year, the plains are home to…

Teatro Amazonas

This gorgeous theater was built at the height of the rubber boom, using European designers, decorators and even raw materials. The original driveway was…

Mercado Ver-o-Peso

The name of this waterfront market, with its iconic four-turreted structure at its southwestern end, comes from colonial times, when the Portuguese would…

Encontro das Águas

Just beyond Manaus, the warm dark Rio Negro pours into the cool creamy Rio Solimões, but because of differences in temperature, speed and density, their…

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• 9 days Indigenous Community Deep Jungle Tour

Jungle Tours in the Amazon Jungle

We do jungle tours to Maçarico which is located 90 kilometers from Manaus. You can choose between 2 to 5 days. You will sleep in a nice jungle lodge at night and go on adventures during the day. We will go animal spotting in the jungle, you will learn basic jungle survival skills, and gain some cool knowledge about the plants and animals of the Amazon river and rainforest. The jungle lodge tours always start and end in Manaus and all transportation is included in the price.

Jungle Lodge & Adventure Tour (5 days / 4 nights)

Jungle Lodge & Adventure Tour (4 days / 3 nights)

Jungle Lodge & Adventure Tour (3 days / 2 nights)

Jungle Lodge & Adventure Tour (2 days / 1 night)

Deep jungle tours from manaus.

We also offer extraordinary deep jungle tours to Maraã which is located 900 kilometers from Manaus. These tours always start and end in Manaus and all transportation is included in the price. You will get to experience some of the most pristine and untouched parts of the Amazon rainforest. We guarantee that this experience will stay with you for the rest of your life.

You can choose between two deep jungle tours. The adventure tour focuses on jungle trekking, survival skills and learning about the flora and fauna of the Amazon jungle. The indigenous community tour focuses primarily on the culture of the native inhabitants of the Amazon rainforest, but you will also get to experience some of the amazing animals of the jungle.

Indigenous Community Deep Jungle Tour (9 days)

Amazon Adventure Deep Jungle Tour (9 days)

Swimming with dolphins.

Exclusive private day tour packed with activities. You will see The Meeting of the Waters, visit Parque Ecologico January, meet an indigenous tribe and last but not least you will get to swim with the amazing pink dolphins of the Amazon.

Swimming With Dolphins (Private Day Tour)

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The Best Amazon Tours in Brazil

When traveling abroad, there are often two sides to every destination. On the one side, you can visit the typical spots of interest and see the more polished, high-traffic areas that cater to tourists. This is the most popular way to experience a destination, and it can certainly offer plenty of unique memories. However, the other side of traveling abroad is taking a more immersive approach. Instead of going where everyone else has been, you can choose to go where the locals go, live how they live and enjoy a richer slice of culture by diving deeply into a brand new experience.

This second option is at the heart of Amazon Deep Jungle Tours, and it’s what sets us apart from other Brazilian tour agencies that offer Amazon rainforest tours. Amazon Deep Jungle Tours is the result of one man’s deep passion for his Amazonian roots combined with a lot of hard work and dedication. Eduardo Tenhave is a native of the small, remote village of Maraã, which is located 920 kilometers from Manaus. His intense love for the Amazon and his family’s way of life, combined with his intrepid spirit and desire to connect with others, has led him to found this unique travel agency.

Amazon Deep Jungle Tours give people the chance to be fully immersed in the sights, sounds and lifestyle of Maraã, and allows you to safely enjoy the breathtaking beauty and wonder of the virgin Amazon jungle that surrounds Maraã. We want to create authentic and unforgettable adventures for visitors from around the world.

Our two destinations: Maraã and Maçarico

Our Amazon rainforest tours are unlike any that you can find anywhere else in Brazil. There are plenty of tour agencies to choose from, but there are none that can offer you a genuine and unique adventure like we can. Amazon Deep Jungle Tours takes great pride in offering a number of exciting tours that range from as little as two days to a full nine-day immersive experiences that will change your life. Regardless of which tour you choose, you will be treated to a trip that is packed full of amazing adventure, breathtaking beauty and wonderful people.

Maraã is the jewel of our Amazon tours, so we offer multiple ways for visitors to experience this unique local community and the surrounding area. Because it is so remote, all of our tours span multiple days so that you can enjoy the trip and absorb as much of the wild beauty of the Amazon as possible during your stay. Each of the 9-day Amazon jungle tours highlights a different aspect of Maraã and the indigenous way of life.

The Indigenous Community Tour

This tour spans nine days and allows visitors to become truly immersed in the culture of Maraã. The primary focus of this tour is to let you experience every aspect of the Maraã way of life, from fishing for your lunch to conversing with the locals about their daily lives.

One of the best parts of this tour is how connected to nature and each other you will begin to feel. The locals will be able to teach you a lot of new things about how their everyday lives go, and you will learn about a broad variety of techniques that the indigenous people use to not only survive but thrive within the depths of the Amazon rainforest.

This Amazon forest tour will also include plenty of opportunities for you to see and experience the jungle in all of its wild glory. The local guides are highly experienced in navigating through the jungle, and they will be able to point out all kinds of flora and fauna that are native to the area.

As a part of this tour, you will get to visit a few of the villages in the Maraã area and even spend a night in the rainforest living off the land just like the locals do. The tour guides are all residents of the area who have spent their entire lives in the Amazon, so you will be in excellent and capable hands the entire time.

The Adventure Tour

If you love adventure and exploration, or you want a truly immersive Amazon jungle tour, the rapids tour is an excellent trip to embark upon.

Instead of spending the bulk of your time becoming acquainted with the Maraã locals, you will spend the majority of the trip camping in the jungle near the Comapi rapids. You and your local guides will explore various fishing and hunting techniques to catch each meal, and you will learn about how to track and hunt animals.

During your treks through the jungle, you will get to learn about various medicinal and edible plants while also learning about the abundant wildlife that you will not see in other, more commercialized portions of the jungle.

Near the end of the tour, you will be able to get a glimpse of the indigenous culture and visit with the Maraã locals. You will get to see how the natives do things like cultivate crops, create food staples and make various other tools that they use to get through each day.

Maçarico is closer to Manaus than Maraã, but it still offers visitors plenty of opportunities for a unique jungle experience. Just 90 kilometers outside of Manaus, the jungle survival lodge in Maçarico is the perfect place to travel for a short, highly memorable adventure.

You can choose an excursion from 2-5 days in length, and your trip will be packed with the amazing sights and sounds of the Amazon rainforest regardless of how long you choose to stay.

During your excursion to Maçarico, you will get to swim and canoe in the Amazon river, search for native wildlife, catch wild caiman, learn to fish for your meals and so much more. You will have the opportunity to camp beneath the stars, meet with native residents of the jungle and experience how the jungle comes alive during the day as well as at night.

What makes us unique?

The Amazon is a true wonder of the world. It spans nearly 40 percent of South America, and it encompasses 1.4 billion acres of tropical forest and over 6,500 kilometers of river. There are 40,000 species of plants, 3,000 kinds of freshwater fish and over 370 species of reptiles, and this staggering list barely scratches the surface.

The absolutely astounding amount of plant and animal life that is found in the Amazon basin means that you could spend a lifetime exploring and still not see everything there is to see. This is why we choose to base our tours out of Maraã.

We take you where nobody else does

There are plenty of well-trodden places that tourists can visit to say that they’ve seen the Amazon, but we choose to take our guests to more remote and untouched locations so that you can get a true glimpse of the forest without human interference.

Our agency is the only one based in Maraã, so our tours are truly unlike any others available to you.

We teach you true Amazon culture

We believe in letting you experience the “back to nature” lifestyle that the people of Maraã live. We will teach you how to thrive as the locals do. The villagers are quite literally our family, and they are thrilled to meet new people and share their culture with you. They have lived in harmony with nature for generations, and they love to teach others how to appreciate the bounty of the Amazon.

No other tour agency has the kind of rapport with the indigenous people that we have, so your experience with us will have a level of authenticity that cannot be found anywhere else.

We are locals

Our authenticity and commitment to supporting the local communities is what sets us apart from other Amazon tour groups. All of our guides are natives, and everything we do is with the intent of bringing as much prosperity as possible to the people whose communities we are visiting.

Because we are a part of the people we are taking you to visit, you will have the privilege of getting to see the true culture of the Amazon rather than a more sanitized and “tourist-centered” experience.

We offer a unique bridge between your way of life and the culture of the Maraã people so that you can expand your horizons and take a small piece of the Amazon home in your heart.

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Amazon Tours Brazil

The Amazon Rainforest is synonymous with Brazil, not surprising given a staggering 60% of the Amazon lies within its borders. More amazing still, around a third of all known species in the world reside in the Brazilian Amazon. Brazil jungle tours allow travelers privileged access to its wildlife-rich backwaters, tributaries, and lakes, and a diverse population of Amazonian tribes and mestizo communities.

Join a Brazil wildlife expedition to the Amazon Eco-Corridor and the Anavilhanas Reserve where you will see 20 million hectares of protected habitat, bursting with wildlife and natural scenery. Or embark on a Amazon river cruise in Brazil and see the Meeting of the Waters, a natural phenomenon where the black waters of the Rio Negro and the sandy-colored Amazon River meet. Between jungle treks, jungle lodges, piranha fishing, paddle boarding, birdwatching and more, there is an adventure for everyone on Amazon tours in Brazil!

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Visiting The Amazon Rainforest in Brazil

Have you ever dreamed of a visit to the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil?

Located deep in the heart of South America lies the Amazon Jungle.

Spanning several thousand kilometers and bordering 9 countries, The Amazon is one of the richest areas for biodiversity in the world .

What's in this guide?

Visiting The Amazon Rainforest

The Brazilian side is the most popular to visit, and in this guide I’ll go through my experience trekking through this part of the jungle and what I learnt.

I’ll also cover other important things like when to visit, how to get there and my own recommendations. So without further ado…

Why Visit the Brazilian Amazon?

Once you’ve decided you’ll visit the Amazon, you’ll then need to choose which country to start a trek from.

The Amazon can be explored from Colombia , Venezuela, Brazil , Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, with each having their own distinct experience and advantages.

There are small portions located in Guyana, French Guiana and Suriname too.

The Brazilian side is the largest of all , with around 60% of the jungle located here. This country is the best for longer and deeper treks into the rainforest where you can really get off the beaten path.

Of course, we can’t miss out on all the animals and wildlife you’ll see too.

Some of the best to see here include:

• The Pink River Dolphin (native to the Amazon)
• Howler Monkeys
• Exotic Birds
• The Three-toed Sloth

From Manaus, there are many organized Amazon jungle tours you can jump on where you’ll also explore indigenous tribes, camp out in the wild jungle and also have the chance to take the mystical Ayahuasca (I’ve done this several times since being here so will write up an article on my experience soon).

This customizable, multi-day tour is a good option for those looking to explore deeper into the Amazon.”

How to Get to The Brazilian Amazon?

One advantage of choosing the Brazilian Amazon is that it’s easy to get to.

The sprawling jungle metropolis of Manaus is located in the heart of the rainforest, with dozens of flights arriving from many major cities in Brazil.

Other countries such as Bolivia or Ecuador will require more effort to reach the Amazon, so this option is best for those who want to get there with ease.

The other ways to reach Manaus include by river (from Belem on the coast or Tabatinga which is deeper in the jungle, near the Colombian and Peruvian borders), or by driving, with the highway connecting to Boa Vista to the north and then onwards to Venezuela and Guyana.

Once in Manaus, your best bet for going deep into the Amazon is by tour, with some lasting up to 7 or 8 Days. Book my favorite tour (with free cancellation).

You can try to do it yourself, but let’s be honest, it’s probably not the best idea with everything in the jungle seeing you as food (and also the very high chance of getting lost too).

Amazon Jungle Trek

When I went to Manaus, I only planned a few days but ended up staying 10 days in total.

I wish I could say all 10 were spent in the jungle, but it was down to airlines hiking the prices and me waiting it out in the city for them to drop back down.

Manaus itself really isn’t special. Being honest here, it was one of my least favourite places in South America , and that’s saying something.

The only real benefit is that it’s the gateway to the jungle. There is the teatro and also the highway connecting to Presidente Figureido (jungle town known for its waterfalls), but that’s about it.

I actually started with a one-day tour where we swam with pink river dolphins in The Amazon, explored parts of the nearby jungle, got acquainted with a local tribe and also saw where the two rivers meet that form the Amazon.

This option is great for those on a strict time schedule, however you’ll see hardly any virgin jungle or animals.

After this I actually went and took Ayahuasca (again), and then decided I was to go back in and see more of the remote and deeper jungle .

I headed back to the same agency and booked a two-day tour, where we took several boats to head further away from civilisation.

This one was tonnes better, where we spent the day fishing for piranhas , catching alligators at night (in the small wooden boat you start to feel a little less invincible) and hiking through uncharted jungle.

You’ll see many spiders, monkeys , sloths and other beasts along the way too.

Best Time to visit Brazil Amazon

Now let’s take a look at the best time to visit this incredibly diverse region of the World. Here we’ll explore both the best time in terms of weather, and also when to see the most wildlife.

The Best Time for the Weather

Here we’ll cover the annual weather and the best time to visit for Manaus.

Know that as soon as you head into the deeper jungle, weather patterns can and do shift quite considerably , with heavier rainfall in certain areas.

Average temps throughout the year barely deviate from between 79-81°F.

With this in mind you’ll know that it’s best to pack lighter and more breathable clothes . It’s also important to bring lots of high quality sunscreen as even though it can sometimes feel cool with cloud cover, you’ll still get toasted pretty well.

Technically there is a wet and dry season here, although you’ll feel like it’s all pretty wet regardless. December until May sees the most downpour , with between 300-400mm throughout each month.

With 395mm, March is the wettest month to visit Manaus and nearby jungle.

June until October is drier (you’ll still need a raincoat), with between 100-200mm falling throughout each of these months. If you hate rain, then head here in August which is the driest month with around 110mm of rainfall.

Given the jungle is going to be wild and un-maintained, you’re going to need a solid pair of hiking boots with good traction (as well as to stop you getting bit by the less friendly residents). We recommend these hiking boots for the guys , and also these solid boots for the gals .

The Best Time for seeing Wildlife

Of course, it’s also important to note your best chances of seeing different animals before pinning your flights into the Brazilian Amazon.

The best time to see wildlife is between late-June until early October.

This is due to shrinking river banks as there’s less rain, meaning more animals will be out and about for all to see.

It’s an especially good time to potentially spot Jaguars , which otherwise remain quite elusive and hard to see.

Visiting the Brazilian Amazon: Tips

• Firstly: double-check the weather before booking your flights, so you can set better expectations. Want the best chance to see lots of wildlife? Head between April and October. Want to completely avoid getting wet? Sorry but this is the Amazon, so bring that raincoat and get ready! There are better times for less rain, so again check these out in this guide.
• Secondly: I suggest a minimum of 4 days in Manaus (The Amazon Jungle). This would be enough to see a decent portion of the jungle, wildlife and other worthwhile experiences. Whilst I didn’t do the longer 7 day tours, many other travelers I met did and swear it was the best thing they’ve done in a while, so if you have the time then consider a longer tour.
• Lastly: Please keep an open mind and try new things when in the jungle! Here you can try some tasty foods such as Pirarucu and Tucupi, as well as a drink blended from Guaraná plant. See our Brazilian Amazon safety guide for more advice.

Got travel insurance for Brazil?

Visiting The Brazilian Amazon

And that’s all for my action-packed guide to trekking in the Brazilian Amazon.

With over half of the Amazon lying in Brazil, this area is one the best to explore the more remote areas of the jungle.

Here you’ll also spot more wildlife, and be able to get in touch with tribes and have other incredible experiences.

In this guide I’ve covered the best time to visit, my suggestions as well as what you can expect from some of the organised jungle trips from Manaus.

Remember to read our backpacking South America guide, and if you have any questions, drop a comment below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.

“ Dear traveler! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you . Your support means a lot and helps us to carry on traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”

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Manaus Amazon Tours Brazil

Manaus, Amazon rainforest in Brazil, your gateway for incredible Amazon jungle tours. Various Amazon tours are available to experience the unique ecosystem of the Amazon rainforest. River cruises (boat tours), jungle survival tours, jungle expeditions, fishing, Presidente Figueiredo Waterfalls, swim with dolphins, indigenous village  and City tours.

Amazon Boat Tours

Presidente figueiredo, kabanas native tour, special packages.

Dolphin Swimming & Trekking

Swim with pink dolphins in their natural habitat.

• Departure date:
• Wed - Sat - Hollydays
• 6 People minimum

From: $ 100.00

Super Dolphin Tour - Holidays

This tour is private for small groups.

• Tue - Thu - Sun - Hollydays

From: $ 85.00

Kabanas Survival Tour 7D/6N

7 days of adventure in a jungle lodge.

• Every 10th & 20th
• 2 People minimum

From: $ 750.00

Presidente Figueiredo Waterfalls

Discover waterfalls, rapids and caves

• Mon - Thu - Sat - Hollydays
• 4 People minimum

From: $ 90.00

Amazon Jungle Tours

Discover the fantastic Amazon jungle and its charms doing on fantastic jungle tours exploring wonderful áreas of the brazilian rainforest. Several Amazon tours await you for a fantastic adventure exploring lakes, waterfalls, rivers and jungle.  Jungle Tours, Jungle Expeditions, jungle survival tours, jungle trips, trekking tours and camping tour. The Amazon Jungle has lots of secrets to reveal and mystery to decode. Just pack your bag and set your mind to go for an adventurous Amazon jungle tour from Manaus.  We provide our tourists with some specific packages as per their needs and requirements.

Kabanas Native Tour 5D/4N

Kabanas Camping Trip 3D/2N

Amazon Indian Tour 4D/ 3N

Amazon Day Camping 4D/3N

Amazon day tours.

Amazon day tours typically refer to guided excursions or activities that take place within the Amazon rainforest, in the city or its surrounding areas. When planning Amazon day tours, it’s essential to consider the specific region (or activity) you’ll be visiting or doing; River tour (boat tours) Presidente Figueiredo waterfalls, city tour, swim with dolphin and visit do indigenous village

WaterFalls Presidente Figueiredo

There are more than 150 waterfalls and caves in the municipality.

Amazon Dolphin Tour - Swim

Manaus City Tours

Discovering the wonderful history of the city of Manaus and the Amazon.

Our Amazon Jungle Lodges

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Tucan Amazon Lodge

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Kabanas Amazon Lodge

Amazon Kabanas Lodge is located in the Rio Juma reserve 100 km on the South region of Manaus in an area of primary forest. Leaving from Manaus on a 3 hours to reach the Lodge on a fantastic Route that offers chance to seeing different species of Birds and Other animals during  the journey. The Lodge offers an opportunity to experience

Amazon Lodge Sol do Amanhã

Welcome to Amazon Lodge Sol do AmanhãThe Lodge Sol do Amanhã (Sun of tomorrow) its a jungle lodge located in the Amazon rainforest, more specifically south of the city of Manaus in the Maçarico lake, at a distance of approximately 90km from the city. The Lodge was built maintaining the rustic characteristic peculiar to the Amazon region and at the

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Discover the amazon rainforest

Enjoy it's beauty, plants and animals in a great tour

If you  dream to discover the beauty and mystery of the Amazon rainforest, a tour with a native indian for whom the jungle has always been home, is the best choice for you.

Amazon jungle tours

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Amazon river cruises

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About your guide

Rosiney Lima Maia

Hi I am Ney and will show you around in the jungle, the place where I grew up.

Visiting The Amazon While In Brazil? Here’s What You Need To Know

Brazil is a beautiful country filled with bustling cities, pristine coastlines, and gorgeous rain forests, unlike those found anywhere else in the world . When visiting Brazil, checking out the rainforest is a must, but this can leave you wondering if it is safe to do so and if you need to know anything before you start packing your bags.

Generally, it is safe to visit the Amazon Rainforest if you go on an organized tour. However, there are still some risks to visiting the rainforest, and you should be aware of these risks before you embark on your trip. 

To ensure you are properly prepared for your Amazon Rainforest adventure, k eep reading to find out all about the Amazon Rainforest and the dangers and wonders concealed in its midst. 

How Big is the Amazon Rain Forest?

The Amazon Rainforest is huge. It covers over 2.1 million square miles and touches eight different countries in South America. This means that there are country borders obscured in the rainforest itself. The Amazon Rainforest is also home to one-third of the planets living organisms.

Sixty percent of the Brazilian territory consists of the Amazon. This means that visiting the Amazon while in Brazil is very easy, and there are many areas to do so. However, this also means that visiting the rainforest isn’t a walk in the park. You will need specific plans to visit the rainforest and book with a company rather than wandering in. 

How Dangerous is the Amazon Rainforest?

The Amazon Rainforest is known worldwide for its unique beauty and the ability to see creatures that you can’t see anywhere else on earth. However, this doesn’t mean that it is safe, and there are several dangers you need to be aware of. 

As mentioned above, the Amazon is safe to travel to, as long as you are aware and prepared for the dangers which may present themselves. Below is a list of some of the most common dangers tourists encounter in the Amazon.

The biggest danger, reported by almost everyone who has had the ability to visit the Amazon, is getting some kind of illness. This is because rainforests are filled with bugs of every sort and breeding grounds for mosquitos. And the mosquitos in the Amazon carry Yellow Fever and Malaria—two diseases that can be quite deadly. 

And if this weren’t enough, many tourists report catching illnesses from the food and water. So, of course, it would help if you did not drink any of the water in the Amazon, except that which comes in a sealed plastic bottle. But even if you are careful with the water, the naturally existing bacteria in the food you are eating may be different from your body at home, which can cause stomach upset. 

Some stomach upset is normal, but if it continues for a long period of time, it can lead to dehydration which is a serious condition that can lead to death. This is the biggest risk you take when traveling to the Amazon, and it’s important to keep in mind the amount of water you will want to drink to keep yourself healthy.

After illness, the next biggest risk to travelers in the Amazon is the weather. This is because the weather can often be unpredictable in the rainforest, and it can cause a chain of events that can create dangers for travelers. 

The biggest weather danger is the torrential downpours which can cause the river to rise rapidly and flood all of the channels that come from the Amazon river. These floods can wash out roads and create unfamiliar currents capable of sinking some of the most experienced boats. 

Because these floods are so dangerous, most guided tours of the Amazon only occur during a certain part of the year when these heavy rains are less likely. Therefore, June through September tends to be the best months of the year to visit when trying to avoid heavy rains. 

The whole reason you are headed to the Amazon is to see some amazing wildlife! But this wildlife can also be quite dangerous . Before you start imagining the danger of jaguars, alligators, and piranhas, which do exist in the Amazon, you should know that the real dangers you are facing will be much smaller. 

As we mentioned earlier, your biggest (and smallest) animal enemy in the rainforest is the mosquito, which carries many illnesses. But after that, you actually need to be more worried about leeches than any other creature. The Amazon has large populations of the Tryannobdella Rex, a species of leech that is deadly to humans. 

Even if you avoid the water and other places where pesky leeches could hide, you also have to worry about venomous snakes and frogs. These small animals can hide out in the underbrush, leading you to come into contact with them unexpectedly. 

Frogs can be especially dangerous because even the poisonous ones may look cute to the unsuspecting tourist. In general, you should know in advance not to touch any of the creatures you come across. This includes plants as well, as although most plants aren’t dangerous, there are some in the Amazon poisonous to humans. 

If you’re starting to panic, don’t, as cases of animal attacks are quite rare in the Amazon. And the first step to avoiding poisonous creatures is to be informed and aware that they are there so that you know what to look out for.

What Do You Need to Survive the Amazon Rainforest?

If you haven’t been scared off just yet, then it’s time to learn about some of the things you will need to enjoy your Amazon adventure. If you collect all the things on this list and take the utmost caution, you’ll surely be able to enjoy a trip to the Amazon without mishaps.

Again, mosquitos are some of your biggest enemies in the entire rainforest. Therefore, you will want to be sure you have an up-to-date yellow fever vaccine and take malaria pills as instructed before you go. This will help protect you on your journey from most diseases carried by mosquitos.

Please speak with your doctor before you go, as they may have some additional vaccines to recommend. For example, when going to South America, many doctors recommend a hepatitis A vaccine that can help protect against one of the biggest causes of stomach upset on the continent.

Doctors may also recommend additional vaccines for the area, such as rabies, typhoid, and hepatitis b. You’d want to carry proof of all your vaccines on you, and be sure you let your tour guide know where to find your information if you were to be too hurt or ill to provide it. 

Just because you are vaccinated against yellow fever doesn’t mean you want to let the bugs have their way. Be sure to bring plenty of bug spray to protect yourself against their bites. Additionally, botflies are common in the Amazon, and if it lays eggs on you, the results can be disastrous (and gross) , so be sure to get a bug spray that protects against botflies as well. 

Wear Boots and Pants

Although it will probably be quite warm and humid when you visit, you must wear pants and boots at all times. This will again protect you from insect bites, as well as keep other critters like spiders and snakes away from your feet and ankles. 

Just be sure that you check your boots every morning before putting them on just in case something crawled in while you were sleeping.

Anti-Itch Cream

If you get bitten by something, the last thing you want to do is scratch and cause an open wound on yourself, which can lead to bigger problems. So be sure to pack plenty of anti-itch creams as well as some sort of wound cleaner like Neosporin to keep all your wounds clean, clear, and disinfected.

A Mosquito Net

Suppose you are camping while in the Amazon Rainforest. You will definitely want to grab a mosquito net to bring with you. Even if you aren’t camping and are staying on a river cruise instead, a mosquito net can be an invaluable tool to keep the bugs away at night. 

A Flashlight or Headlamp

Even if you are planning to hike during the day, there are places in the rainforest where trees almost completely obscure the sun. This means that you will want to bring light to be sure you can avoid stepping on a creature you would rather not. You’ll also enjoy being able to see where you are going as well. 

Sunscreen and a Hat

The sun can be quite powerful in South America, and even if you think you are used to the sun, a day on the river can have you fried to a crisp in a minute. So bring a hat with a wide brim to protect your face, as well as sufficient sunscreen for your entire trip. Be sure to reapply frequently.

It is also good to bring after sun cream or aloe vera for that spot you will inevitably miss with sunscreen. 

As mentioned in the previous section, you will want to avoid getting too close to the wildlife in the Amazon. But of course, this is also probably the whole reason you are there! S o invest in a good pair of binoculars to take with you to see the sights and animals from a safe distance. 

Bottled Water and Water Purification Tablets

Once again, you will want to avoid drinking the water while in Brazil. If you are in a city or on tour, you will likely have regular access to bottled water that is safe for you to drink. However, if you are planning on trekking and camping, it’s best to invest in a water purification bottle or tablets to be sure that you can make any water you come across safe for you to drink. 

Imodium and Other Over the Counter Drugs

Imodium is an over-the-counter drug known for its ability to help those suffering from diarrhea. And if you’re in the middle of the rainforest, this can be a real lifesaver. But, of course, you’ll also want to bring things like ibuprofen and basic first aid supplies with you as well. 

This is also something that you will want to discuss with your doctor before you go, as they can help you pick out other essential over-the-counter drugs that you may need while on your Amazonian journey. They can also make sure that whatever you pick is safe for you to take. 

Is it Safe to Swim in the Amazon River?

When planning a trip to the Amazon, you’ll probably read about how hot and humid it is. This can leave you thinking that it might be nice to take a dip in the Amazon waters when the temperature gets high. 

Unfortunately, this is not a good idea, as the waters are filled with leeches, alligators, and piranhas. This doesn’t mean that you can’t swim in the Amazon, though, because you can. Certain parts of the river are safe for swimming. It is best to ask the locals where these places are.

That being said, the water of the Amazon river is a murky brown color, and the water is warm year-round. This means that it will not be as refreshing as you think it might be, and just taking a look at the light brown-colored water might be enough for you to decide you’d rather not risk the dangers of swimming in the water of the Amazon. 

Can You Call Emergency Services from the Amazon?

Another reason Amazon is so dangerous is that it is completely off the grid. So once you are walking around and exploring underneath the canopy of trees, you can assume that you will have zero cell service. 

This is another reason it is so important to go on an organized tour. An organized tour guide will usually have a way to radio for help, such as by walkie-talkie or maybe a satellite phone. Additionally, they will know the area and terrain and be sure that you won’t get lost. 

Although it wasn’t mentioned in the necessities list, it is good to have travel insurance for a trip to the Amazon. This is mainly because of the prevalence of food-borne illnesses in the region. So even if you don’t suffer a serious mishap (and hopefully you won’t), it can be nice not to worry when you want to have a certain bug bite or stomach symptom checked out. 

Do You Need to Speak Portuguese to Visit the Brazilian Rainforest?

When traveling to another country where they speak a different language, communicating is always a concern, and the Amazon in Brazil is no different.

If you book a tour, you will clearly be with a guide that speaks the language the entire time. This is a good thing because although many Brazilians in the cities in touristy areas speak English, once you venture out into the Amazon, you should be prepared for people to only speak Portuguese or another indigenous language. 

This doesn’t mean you have to learn the entire language before going, as a few words to help you in a bind will probably suffice. Just be prepared mentally to encounter people who speak not a word of English and have some hand motions and pointing ready to go. 

Is There a Risk of Robbery in the Amazon?

Just like when you go on any vacation, you will always want to keep a close eye on all of your belongings. However, it is highly unlikely that you will get robbed in the Amazon. You are much more likely to be robbed in a larger city or the airport than you are while trekking through the rainforest.

If you are the victim of a robbery, it is best to let the thief have any of the items they are trying to steal. This is because it is not uncommon for robberies to turn violent. Also, be sure to take a copy of your passport with you and keep it in a separate place from your passport. This way, you will get a replacement if your passport is stolen. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, visiting the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil can be a safe and amazing experience. However, you need to be sure that you are informed of and prepared to face all the dangers of this unique and beautiful land. 

So schedule your vaccinations, pack all the essentials, and brush up on your Portuguese because your journey to Brazil is right around the corner! And whatever you do, don’t forget that bug spray!

While you’re here, I think we might interest you with these:

Where Is The Pantanal Exactly? Not in the Amazon Forest – It’s a very common mistake to think the Brazilian Pantanal is located in the Amazon, but it’s not! Click and find out where it is actually located!

A Backpackers Guide To Brazil – Wanna know all the details about backpacking in Brazil? We have all the important info right here!

5 Great Places for Fishing in Brazil – Brazil is a great place for fishing with its rich and diverse fauna. With that in mind, we listed the 5 best places to go fishing while in the country!

Cover Photo: boat swimming through the Amazon River – Credit: ID  177556709  ©  Anna Artamonova  |  Dreamstime.com

Bruno Reguffe

What's up, everyone! I'm Bruno, and I'm a nutritionist living in Rio de Janeiro. I've been a longtime friend of Ana's, and I'm excited to help her expand on all things Brazilian with y'all, as well as sharing some of our culture and a few personal experiences while living in the country!

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Deep in the Amazon Rainforest, a Bucket List Trip With a Thoughtful Mission

T HE FANTASY VERSION of the Amazon that often seduces travelers—of a pristine, impenetrably vast jungle populated by jaguars, sloths and isolated pockets of indigenous tribes—does not prepare one for Manaus. A sprawling metropolis of more than two million people in the middle of the rainforest, the city is Brazil’s pre-eminent free-trade zone and home to multinational corporations like Foxconn and Samsung.

A superb vantage point for people watching is a window seat at Caxiri, a restaurant overlooking Teatro Amazonas, a Belle Epoque opera house that opened in 1896. Back then, legend has it, Manaus was awash in so much wealth that some rubber barons shipped their clothes to Europe to be laundered. Today, the crowd at Caxiri is a frothy mix of the Amazon basin’s modern power brokers: deal-making executives, government officials, NGO leaders, activists and tour operators, all trying to protect or exploit the area’s resources.

Caxiri—where starters include crispy fried piranha, fangs still bared—is the brainchild of Débora Shornik, 47, a chef who has been cooking in the region for more than a decade. “I came here to discover the Amazon,” Shornik says. “I wanted to learn something different. Here I found fruits, vegetables and fish like nowhere else I’d ever been. I also met mentors, mostly home cooks, who taught me how to use these ingredients, all of which were new to me.”

Shornik was lured back here from São Paulo by her business partner, Ruy Carlos Tone, 56, a civil engineer and entrepreneur who renovated the mansion that houses Caxiri. Tone first toured this region of the Amazon as a sightseer in 2004 and enjoyed the trip so much, he pitched the tour boat’s captain on joining forces in a venture that offers small-group expeditions.

The buzzing lunchtime crowd at Caxiri is in some ways a microcosm of Brazil’s conflicting agendas over the future of the Amazon. Some see the rainforest as a vast resource that a developing nation must tap into; others believe protecting its ecosystem at all costs is the planet’s last, great hope for staving off a climate catastrophe. Though recent trends point to a reduction in deforestation in the first half of 2023, threats to the Amazon are rife: cattle ranching, farming, logging and mining cleared 9 percent of its forest cover in the first two decades of the 21st century. Climate change has brought drought so severe that, last fall, water in the Rio Negro near Manaus fell to its lowest level in more than a century.

Tone’s quest is to take visitors to the farther reaches of the rainforest so they can see with their own eyes what’s at stake and meet the riverine communities that have called the region home for more than a century. He will take me down the Rio Negro to see the riverside lodge he built in 2014 and to visit the site of his latest project, pending construction, a property deep in the jungle.

“Before the pandemic, people from Manaus would rather fly to Miami for a vacation than drive three hours to my jungle lodge,” he says. “Today, they’re learning about what is here—and why we need to protect this place.”

On the way out of the city we cut through Manaus’s bustling market on the banks of the Rio Negro, where açaí berries sit alongside lesser-known fruits like the bright, bitter tucuma, and where freshly caught pirarucu, a massive species of river fish, are hacked down for sale or dried and preserved. Decks of enormous ships overflow with passengers, many lounging in hammocks hung for the long journey upriver into the rainforests toward Colombia, or downriver to Belém, a busy port city near Brazil’s Atlantic coast.

Tone was born to Brazilian-Japanese parents in São Paulo (Brazil is home to the largest Japanese community outside Japan). As a child he dreamed of adventure, but before he could see the world his father died unexpectedly. With four younger sisters to support, he took over the family’s small civil-engineering concern and eventually grew it into a large, profitable enterprise.

After a dozen or so years, Tone decided to scratch his travel itch another way. His expedition company, Katerre, is now run out of an office on the grounds of his riverside lodge, Mirante do Gavião, located in the Novo Airão municipality. While many of the area’s lodges resemble summer camps or research stations, Mirante’s modernist architecture evokes the wooden vessels that ply the Amazon.

Tone introduces me to Paul Clark, a Scotsman, and Bianca Bencivenni, an Italian, who co-founded a school in Jauaperi, an area along a remote tributary of the Rio Negro. The couple have lived in the region for nearly three decades, and Tone is their main backer. Clark explains that parts of the Amazon have for decades been under severe pressure from overfishing, cattle farming, poaching of endangered animals and other extractive enterprises. “When we first moved here and my daughter was born, about 26 years ago, there were over 50 kinds of fish we caught and ate regularly,” he says. By the time his son arrived, eight years later, the number of edible species had dwindled by half.

Clark helped organize a local movement that lobbied for a law prohibiting commercial fishing and later succeeded in designating Jauaperi a federally protected reserve. He and his neighbors also worked to restore a turtle population that had nearly disappeared from illegal consumption. Clark slept on the beach during egg-hatching season and confronted armed poachers in a nonviolent way, saying, “Is it really worth killing me just to get a turtle egg?”

Our journey down the Rio Negro, which runs more or less parallel to and a few hundred miles north of the Amazon River, is taken aboard an eight-cabin boat piloted by Tone’s business partner, Oziel Rodrigues. “People imagine the Amazon to be uninhabited, like a national park or a nature preserve,” Tone says as we drift past settlements. “But there are small communities all along the river, people who have been here for a very long time.” Protection of these areas was neglected during the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, from 2019 to 2022. The administration cut funding for park rangers and other enforcement agents, allowing commercial fishing and cattle ranching to expand, largely unchecked, even in regions where such activities were outlawed. “One of my goals,” Tone says, “is to find ways to help these people, through education, through employment, so that they don’t turn to poaching or illegal fishing to survive.”

Most people living in the riverside communities of Amazonas refer to themselves as caboclos, a word akin to mestizo, signifying a mix of indigenous and settler heritage (typically Portuguese). Though it was once considered a derogatory term in Brazil, today many locals are embracing and celebrating their caboclo identity.

Leaving the big boat, we venture farther into the forest on powerboats that accommodate three or four people, or smaller wooden canoes. At this time of the year, toward the end of the rainy season, the water level is so high that, in many places, only the tips of trees are visible, and the jungle becomes known as the flooded forest.

Navigating by canoe involves paddling around treetops—venturing into narrow channels so densely packed with vegetation, the midday equatorial sun is nearly eclipsed.

At dusk we spot a flock of bright-green macaws, then a pair of toucans streaking across the sky. Our guide points to a sloth dozing in some high branches. The Rio Negro offers a distinct advantage over other waterways: The remains of long-decayed trees make the water highly acidic, deterring mosquitoes. While the Amazon River is rife with insects and traversed by cruise ships, here we eat outdoors in short sleeves and pass only an occasional local boat after leaving town in Novo Airão.

Tone has been telling me about his progression as a travel entrepreneur, starting with Katerre Expeditions, then Mirante do Gavião lodge, which offers day trips. Now he’s developing much longer voyages of around two weeks aboard a new vessel, La Jangada, “where we take visitors deeper into nature, and into the way of life of people who live on the river.”

The remote setting of his newest project, Madada lodge—about three hours by boat upriver from Novo Airão—will include spaces that front the forest canopy. Its biomimetic design is based on a structure that debuted at the 2021 Venice Biennale, in which the architecture is patterned after the surrounding flora. “Because of its location and these new kinds of structures, the idea is that you are completely immersed in the forest at the lodge,” Tone says.

On my last day in the Amazon, we visit Biatüwi, a restaurant that Tone and Shornik helped launch in a colonial-era neighborhood of Manaus. Chef-owner Clarinda Maria Ramos, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in anthropology while running the restaurant, is a member of the Sateré-Mawé, an indigenous group from the border area between Amazonas and Pará; her husband, anthropologist João Paulo Lima Barreto, who hails from the Tukanos of Rio Tiquié, in the upper Rio Negro system, runs an adjacent center for indigenous medicine. Biatüwi’s menu is drawn from both traditions and features an intensely sour, peppery fish soup served with an optional side: your choice of two varieties of jungle ant, one of which bears the distinct flavor of lemongrass.

“We are proud to be the first indigenous people selling our own food, in our own place,” Ramos says. “This is what we make at home. It’s not a formal meal. It’s restorative, healthful, natural—it’s what we serve to make people feel good.”

Brazil's plans to drill for oil in the Amazon hit stiff Indigenous resistance

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Reporting by Marta Nogueira in Oiapoque and Fabio Teixeira in Rio de Janeiro Editing by Brad Haynes and Alistair Bell

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