One of the most unique and memorable experiences you can have is visiting a tropical rainforest. It is unlike anywhere else in the world. The lush canopy and colorful flora and fauna will excite all your senses. Stepping foot inside the Amazon Rainforest, you are transformed into another world. This world filled with exciting and unknown experiences around every corner.

When looking up above at the trees, you will be awed by the diverse animal life passing by. The songs of the exotic birds will titillate your ears.

The Amazon Rainforest transforms into a different experience when the sun sets in the west. All the creatures of the night come alive, and the songs sound uniquely their own. You can hear the frogs croak to one another while the bugs play their symphony.

Besides the tantalizing experience for your senses, the activities that the Amazon offers are magnificent. The jungle hikes are amazing and challenging. Sunset boat cruises on the Amazon River will take your breath away. Visit a monkey rescue and become a human jungle gym. Go piranha fishing and check out their pearly whites, (Jaws has nothing on them). Visit with a native tribe and learn their customs and stories.

If you are planning on seeing more than just the Amazon rainforest while traveling to Peru, check out my in-depth travel guide to Peru.

Did you know? More than 60% of Peruvian territory is covered by the Peruvian Amazonia rainforest, more than in any other country. Dense forests cover most of the Peruvian regions on the east side of the Andes, yet only 5% of Peruvians live in this area.

Plan Your Amazon Adventure

When traveling to the Amazon rainforest, there are certain precautions that you need to take before arriving. It is imperative to follow my advice. Please remember you are traveling to a place that is dense with exotic wildlife unlike anywhere else in the world.

First To Do

You will need to find a professional licensed tour guide company that will assist and guide you through the Amazon. It is crucial to find one that is knowledgeable and prepared for any situation that might arise.

DO NOT attempt to go backpacking into the Amazon alone or even with a group. You need to have a guide with you at all times. Make sure you do your research on the professional guide or the company you choose. You need to understand you are putting your life in someone’s hands.

The company I chose was Manti Expeditions. They were wonderful. I have nothing but positive things to say about this company. I included a link to their website if you would like to check them out.

They took care of everything for me. The only thing that I needed to do was book my flight to and from Iquitos. The price for the package included transportation to and from the airport to your chosen experience. It also included your lodging, food, and activities.

Flight and Local Travel

Here are a few things that you need to know about the flights. You will need to fly out of Jorge Chávez International Airport located in Lima, Peru to Iquitos, Peru.

Coronel FAP Francisco Secada Vignetta International Airport is the small airport serving Iquitos, Peru. There are about 2-4 flights in and out of Iquitos per day.

Once you arrive at the airport in Iquitos, you will need to travel to the downtown area to the Port of Nanay, where you will take a riverboat to your Amazon lodging. The boat ride is usually about two hours but can differ depending on the travel company you choose.

Lodging

When traveling to the Amazon rainforest, you will have multiple choices when it comes to choosing where you will be staying.

You will need to keep in mind that the minimum amount of time you will remain in the Amazon is two days. The travel to get into the Amazon is extensive. I would plan on staying 3-4 days for your first Amazon rainforest adventure. That is enough time to check out the exciting activities that the Amazon rainforest offers.

The lodging options to choose from are as follows.

Luxury Restort

New to the Amazon are luxury resorts. They have been popping up over the past few years, offering a “glamping” experience. They come with large suites that are comparable to staying at a 5-star resort. Most have a pool and bar. They are trying to appeal to the wealthy international traveler.

In my opinion, this is not the type of lodging to choose when visiting the Amazon. You are going to the Amazon rainforest for an experience. You can have a luxury resort experience anywhere, why choose to lounge by a pool in the Amazon.

Eco Lodge

A good option for most travelers is an Eco Lodge. They offer the Amazon experience while still offering the little luxuries like a flushing toilet.

They are little private bungalows that you can sleep safely and protected from the outside. Each cottage has a private bathroom with flushing toilet and running (cold) water for showering and washing. They also have beds and mosquito netting that surrounds your bed at night. Most Eco Lodges have access to power to charge your devices for an allotted amount of time per day.

They offer a community center where you will enjoy your freshly prepared meals with the other travelers staying at the lodge. The community center doubles as a meeting spot for daily scheduled activities as well.

One extra thing to keep in mind is that there is NO cellphone or WiFi service when you go into the Amazon jungle. You will ultimately be “off the grid.” I was not aware of this before arriving at my destination. I had loved ones back home who were concerned about my wellbeing when I did not check in with them for days. Luckily my boyfriend spoke Spanish and was able to call into the primary office back in Iquitos to receive the information that all was well.

Camping

If you are looking for a real Amazon rainforest immersion, you need to give camping in the jungle a try. The experience of being one with nature will be one of the greatest stories of your lifetime.

This option might not be ideal for families or anyone not in tip-top shape. By camping in the jungle, you will be exposing yourself to everything the rainforest can muster.

Camping is raw and dirty. You will not have running water or flushing toilets. You will be at the mercy of unpredictable weather shifts and could experience intense tropical rainstorms.

Suppose the negatives do not deter you from giving camping a try, you will not be disappointed. Falling asleep under the Amazon night sky and looking up at the stars is awe-inspiring.

You will be staying in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. It is located 250 miles (400 Km) from Iquitos. You will need to travel by boat on the Marañón River to arrive at your destination.

There are no jungle lodges in the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve because it is federally protected by the government of Peru. The only way to visit the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve is through an organized rainforest tour from a professional tour operator.

What to Bring

Packing the right gear is critical when venturing into the Amazon rainforest. Once you have arrived at your lodging of choice, you will not be able to purchase any of the items you might have forgotten to pick up or did not think was necessary to bring. I would make sure to have a list handy when packing for your trip. Check off each item as you place it into your luggage.

I have included a list of items that are recommended when staying in the Amazon. This list can differ slightly depending on where you are planning on visiting. Each type of lodging more immersed inside the jungle will require more specialized gear. For instance, if you are staying at the Luxury Resort, you will need less equipment than if you were staying at the Eco Lodge or Camping.

I have included links from Amazon for some of these items you may need to purchase. Please purchase through the links provided, it will not cost you anything additional, but it will keep our website and blog going, thanks so much!

Packing List For The Amazon Rainforest

Clothing & Clothing Accessories

Synthetic, quick-drying clothing is vital, it rains a lot in the Amazon, and the humidity prevents clothing from drying quickly.

Important Tip: Make sure when choosing your clothing, you want items that are a natural color like tan, green, or brown. It is important to keep mosquitoes and other insects away from you. Insects are attracted to dark-colored clothing, such as black, navy, blue, or red.

Luggage & Travel Gear

I would recommend investing in a travel backpack or hiking backpack to use when traveling in the Amazon. There is usually a hike into your camp. Bringing a heavy wheeled suitcase will make this task extremely difficult.

My favorite travel gear that I have used for years is from Osprey. They offer excellent quality backpacks with a lifetime warranty. Another great thing about the luggage that Osprey offers is that it is gender-specific. It is beautiful because, as a woman, it fits my frame like hips and chest perfectly.

I would recommend checking out the Osprey Farpoint. It offers a travel backpack with a detachable day bag, perfect for your day hikes through the jungle.

Men’s

Women’s

Having a day bag for hiking is essential. You will need to pack with you anything you might need throughout the day. You will need items like water, first aid kit, hiking poles, snacks, rain jacket, medications, bug repellent, sunscreen, etc.

Men’s

Women’s

Other travel gear to take into account are as follows.

• Luggage locks
• Luggage tags
• Waterproof bag cover
• Packing cubes
• Stuff sack (waterproof bags)

Travel Accessories & Extras

• Chargers for cell phone, camera & small electronic devices
• Rechargeable battery pack
• Cameras & extra batteries
• Sunblock and lip balm
• Insect repellent with Deet
  • Permethrin insect repellent (this is a different type of repellant that is sprayed onto clothes and gear and must dry before use)
• Handi-wipes or wet-wipes
• Hand sanitizer gel
• Headlamp & extra batteries (for night hiking)
• First aid kit
• Quick-dry travel towel
• Toiletry kit
• Contact lenses or glasses
• Money (you will need to tip the staff at the end of the trip, some lodges have limited items you can purchase, like snacks, water bottles, beer)

Travel Health

There are extra considerations that need to be taken into account with your health when traveling to the Amazon rainforest.

First, you need to let the travel company or guide know if you have any medications you are taking or medical conditions that they need to be made aware of. Example: food allergies, bee allergies, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, etc.

Travel Insurance

I would recommend looking into travel insurance for your trip. It is crucial to prepare for the unexpected. If you do have an emergency or need medical attention, the hospitals expect payment at the time of service. Your current health insurance provider does not cover any medical costs accrued outside of your country.

Vaccinations and Medications

You will need to receive some vaccinations before traveling to the Amazon rainforest. To have the most benefit, see a health-care provider at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for your vaccines to take effect and to receive medication to prevent malaria.

If you are in the US, you will need to find a travel clinic that specializes in travel health prevention. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website has a find a clinic search to look for a clinic closest to you.

Before visiting the Amazon, you may need to get the following vaccinations and medications for vaccine-preventable diseases and other diseases you might be at risk for at your destination.

• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG)
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Yellow Fever

(Finding a clinic that has the Yellow Fever vaccination can be difficult. Some states only have one location in their entirety. Check the CDC’s website for more information.)

Suppose you take prescription medicines every day. Make sure you have enough to last during your trip. Keep them in their original prescription bottles and always in your carry-on luggage.

You will also need to bring your travel clinic medications. They will usually prescribe you antimalarial drugs and antibiotics for diarrhea caused by water or food pathogens.

Did you know? The Peruvian Amazon jungle is one of the most biologically diverse areas on Earth and has the most significant number of bird species in the world.

Inside The Amazon Rainforest

Once you arrive at your Amazon destination, your days will become filled with new life-affirming activities and experiences. Your senses will become excited by all of the unique sounds, colors, smells, and tastes.

Activities in the Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon filled with fun activities and exploration. Here are some of what you can expect and possibly see and do while visiting. Most tour companies plan for two events per day.

Day and Night Hikes

One of my favorite activities when visiting the Amazon was taking hikes through the jungle. Filled with so much flora and fauna, it seemed like I stepped into a National Geographic magazine. The guide is extremely informative, and I learned all kinds of fascinating facts about the Amazon rainforest.

Swim in the Amazon River

If you have the nerve, give swimming in the Amazon River a try. You will have bragging rights for months. The Amazon is hot, a dip in the river will be a refreshing feeling.

Piranha Fishing

Piranha fishing will be a unique expedition. These little fish have razor-sharp teeth and can not wait to take a bite out of your bait on the end of your hook. They are intelligent and sneaky and know how to eat around the hook to fill their bellies.

Visit with a Native Tribe

Visiting with a native tribe was so enriching and enjoyable. While you are in the tribal village, you will witness the native dance. If you are lucky, you will also get to test your skill at shooting a blowgun at a target.

Monkey Rescue

Are you interested in getting up close and personal with some awesome monkeys? Take a tour of Monkey Island. It is a rescue where they stop the illegal sales and ownership of our closest relative. If you’re lucky, you might get a new buddy that will hitch a ride on your shoulder.

Pink River Dolphin Spotting

Amazon pink river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) is a fantastic animal. These gentle creatures are the largest freshwater dolphins in the world. They love to follow boats and jump alongside as you move.

Canoe Rides

Slowly paddle your way along the Amazon River. Witness all the wildlife in their natural habitat. The winding river creates a feeling of wonder and amazement.

Ayahuasca Ceremony

Some travel companies offer Ayahuasca ceremonies. The tradition has drawn people to the Amazon more than ever. People travel from all over the world for the experience. It helps individuals find enlightenment and brings healing effects from the physical level, the emotional level, the mental level, and most importantly, the spiritual level, where all illness starts from.

Conclusion

Leap and transform your life. You will come out of the Amazon Rainforest, a different person. When you leave the Amazon jungle, your whole being will be more humble and vibrate with new knowledge. The Amazon is filled to the brim with unique life experiences that you will never forget. Do not fear the unknown and try something new. The key to having a spiritual soul-awakening trip is to prepare for your journey and take what you learn along the way.

The Amazon might not be for everyone. But there are those curious travelers who will find meaning and enlightenment from all that mother nature has to offer. I hope you discover excitement and purpose through your new journey into the Amazon Rainforest.

Just remember my new travel friends, we are all in this together.

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