Amazon travel tips
The Amazon rainforest is a dripping, squawking, seething mass of biodiversity dominating South America. But don't let its size deter you from planning the ultimate jungle adventure
Amazon advice
- Some exotic diseases can take months to develop. If you’re feeling unwell on your return, or have to visit your doctor for any reason, tell them you have spent time in the Amazon. It’s an essential bit of knowledge when diagnosing illness.
Be prepared to see nothing. It’s tough to spot wildlife in all that rainforest: relish the unique environment, go with low expectations – then anything extra will be a bonus.
If travelling the Amazon by public boat, allow plenty of time (delays are common) and be prepared for cramped conditions (boats are almost always packed); many boats don’t have cabins so you will be battling for deck space.
To get a better view of life on the riverbank, explore the smaller tributaries rather than the Amazon itself, which can be several miles wide in places.
Consider taking a waterproof camera, or buying a waterproof housing for your existing camera. It rains. A lot.
Consider packing a pair of (waterproof) binoculars and a magnifying glass – both good for examining creatures great and small.
As a rule, the more the remote your jungle lodge, the better your chances of spotting wildlife.
When to visit the Amazon
Temperatures are fairly steady – in the high 20°Cs. Rainfall ranges from wet to very wet, but when the rain comes it tends to be for short, intense periods rather than hours on end.
In the areas of the rainforest that flood, high water is a better time to see forest life, as everything has to take to the trees, while low water is better for aquatic animals, as they are more concentrated in shrinking river channels and waterways.
Amazon health & safety
Make sure you’re up to date with immunisations for tetanus, diphtheria and polio. If you’re going to Brazil, and you’ve visited certain countries recently or are travelling overland, you may need a yellow fever jab – check before travelling. For longer trips, typhoid and hepatitis A and B vaccines may be recommended.
Several diseases are transmitted by mosquito, the most common and widely known being malaria. It is a serious infection with symptoms of high fever, shivering, chills and sometimes nausea. Dengue and yellow fever are also transmitted by mosquitoes.
Prevention of bites is the best approach. Wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts, and use insect repellent that contains at least 30% DEET. If infection is suspected, get medical advice as soon as possible.
On the animal front, you can still look out for them without putting yourself at risk. Don’t stick your hands under logs or into tree holes to seek out creatures. If you want to go looking for spiders, snakes, scorpions and the like, tread carefully, not stupidly.