Amazon Travel Tours

While planning trips to the rainforest, we often ask our travelers what kind of Amazon journey they’d like to embark on: Based at a lodge or on a riverboat cruise? Both great options, but have their unique characteristics.While planning trips to the rainforest, we often ask our travelers what kind of Amazon journey they’d like to embark on: Based at a lodge or on a riverboat cruise? Both great options, but have their unique characteristics.

• LODGE-BASED STAYS: The pros of a lodge-based stay include:
  • More flexibility, given there are no set departure dates
  • A more in-depth experience, as you’ll be staying in the rainforest itself, where creatures of the jungle – including birds and monkeys – will be your neighbors
  • More room for free-time roaming, as you’ll be free to explore nearby paths early in the morning or late in the afternoon, before and after your day’s activities
  • The rustic elegance of your accommodations — with natural surroundings, thatched roofs and materials native to the region—giving travelers the feeling of really being in the rainforest

However, the tradeoffs of a lodge-based stay include occasional glitches like the electricity going out for short periods, supplies delayed from upriver, unstable or non-existent Wi-Fi, etc.

• RIVER CRUISES – Similarly, river cruises in the Amazon rainforest have their own pros. These include:
  • First-Class Amenities: luxury riverboats are often considered “floating boutique hotels,” attended to by fully-trained staff and crew members, enjoying excellent food, air-conditioned rooms, regular access to hot water, and comfortable lounge areas and balconies.
  • Covering more ground during short trips, allowing embarkations for day trips at a number of destinations along the river
  • Trips to pristine locations: A cruise can allow you to discover places largely untouched by tourism, whereas the trails at most lodges are more well-trodden
  • Easier excursions: With less hiking involved, excursions from cruises tend to be a bit easier, which is especially great for older or younger guests

Explore the Amazon, one of the planet’s most diverse ecosystems, teeming with exotic flora and fauna. Witness the electrifying calls of howler monkeys in the treetops, spot the gleaming eyes of caimans during nighttime jungle safaris, and observe families of Giant otters on serene lakes. The Amazon also offers a unique cultural experience, with indigenous communities. Participate in mesmerizing ceremonies led by traditional shamans and capture the beauty of the rainforest and its rivers through your lens. Immerse yourself in the Amazon’s natural wonders and rich indigenous traditions

While Amazon rainforest visits are generally safe, it’s crucial to be aware of potential risks, especially when delving deep into the jungle. Surtrek prioritizes your safety during Amazonian tours, whether on riverboat cruises or at luxury jungle lodges. We select top-rated accommodations with CPR-trained staff, first-aid supplies, and close communication with local health and security professionals. These accommodations serve fresh, properly prepared food and purified bottled water, while experienced local guides accompany you throughout your Amazonian journey. To further ensure a safe adventure, travelers can also follow some common-sense steps:

• Getting the appropriate vaccinations and medications before you go to the Amazon
• Protecting yourself from mosquito bites (using insect repellant, wearing long sleeve shirts…)
• Keeping a safe distance from wild animals and NOT provoking them
• Not drinking tap water or using ice cubes
• Rinsing fruit in purified water
• Keeping an eye on your luggage and take practical steps to avoid pick-pocketing in tourist areas

The Amazon experiences distinct seasons, often referred to as the “low water” and “high water” seasons due to frequent rainfall. The ideal time to explore the Amazon basin, especially for rainforest hiking, is during the low-water season from June to November. Fewer daily showers, lower rivers, and accessible hiking trails make it easier to explore deeper parts of the jungle on foot. Additionally, the low-water season means fewer mosquitoes, and wildlife gathers around remaining wet areas, enhancing your chances of wildlife encounters. In contrast, the high-water season from December to May brings rising rivers, which facilitate waterway navigation but may flood some jungle trails

Packing for an Amazonian rainforest adventure is a unique challenge. While the jungle heat is expected, travelers often overlook frequent heavy rains, jungle critters, weight limits on flights, and high humidity. Beyond the conditions, you’ll encounter extraordinary activities like piranha fishing, nocturnal river safaris, wildlife treks, and kayaking on the Amazon River. To ensure you’re well-prepared, Surtrek provides a detailed packing list after booking your unforgettable rainforest adventure. In general, we recommend including the following types of clothing and gear:

AMAZON PACKING ESSENTIALS:

Documents & money

• Passport (valid 6 months after the date of travel) + 1 photocopy
• Visa or visa fee requirements (if applicable)
• Tickets or e-tickets
• Itinerary
• Guidebook & maps (cellphone downloads)
• Insurance cards (medical & travel insurance)
• Credit cards (+ credit card contact info)
• Cash (a minimal amount and in small untorn newer bills)
• Emergency contact info
• List of your personal medications
• Copies of all documents and cards (hardcopies & saved online)

Travel Luggage and Packing

• Backpack, duffle bag, or duffle-backpack
• Packing cubes
• Packable day pack or cross-body purse or for urban exploring
• Drybag(s)

Toiletries & glasses

• Toiletry bag (1-quart size, 7”x8”, clear plastic)
• Preferred toiletries
• Personal medications
• Broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 minimum)
• Insect repellant (50% DEET minimum)
• Contact lenses (+ saline solution) &/or extra glasses
• Polarized sunglasses (100% UVA UVB blocking)

Clothes

• Comfortable walking shoes or athletic (running) shoes
• Flip flops
• Sturdy sandals (like Tevas), for non-hiking day-activities (beachcombing, horseback riding)
• Socks – Moisture-wicking, lightweight, hiking socks with little or no cushioning recommended
• Underwear (polyester, nylon or merino wool) / sports bras without clasps
• T-shirts/tank tops (blended cotton-synthetic, which are soft and moisture-wicking)
• Long pants and shorts (breathable, lightweight, moisture-wicking and quick-drying)
• Casual shirts/blouses (merino wool or merino-synthetic blends recommended, avoid cotton)
• Jacket (breathable, water-resistant, & wind-resistant)
• Micro-fleece hoodie &/or merino wool sweater
• Long-sleeve thin shirts or t-shirts to protect your arms from the Brazil sun
• A wide-brimmed hat or sun hat
• Swimwear (+ long-sleeve T-shirt to wear while swimming if you sunburn easily)
• Beach towel (quick-drying micro-fiber travel type)
• Accessories (a belt, gloves, costume jewelry…)
• Nightwear (warm pajamas)

Gear and gadgets

• Camera & gear / GoPro (with extra memory disks, rain covers, batteries)
• Unlocked smartphone
• Battery charger/ lip-stick-sized powerbank / power cords
• Voltage adapter
• Plastic water bottle
• Collapsible travel umbrella
• Binoculars (8 x 40 are excellent for dim lighting beneath the forest canopy)
• LED Flashlight or headlamp for nighttime jungle excursions

The Amazon region is vast, covering around 40% of all South America and spans into eight countries. Below, Surtrek has selected three of the most popular countries for accessing and experiencing the mysteries of the Amazonian rainforest:

• Ecuador: Access to the Ecuadorian Amazon is easy. After landing in the capital city of Quito, Surtrek guides will meet you and assist you with making a short 45-minute flight to the Amazon. Landing at a local airport, you will be transferred to a world-class eco-lodge or Amazonian riverboat via a 4×4 vehicle or a motorized canoe to begin an unforgettable adventure.
• Peru: Home to the second largest area of the Amazon, the Peruvian Amazon is also the most wildlife-rich. When you touch down in Lima, Surtrek partners will be there to welcome and accompany you throughout your lodge-based tour or Peru riverboat adventure. You will fly to one of two areas in Peru to experience for your Amazonian tour. Spend time in either in the northern Peruvian Amazon outside the city of Iquitos or in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon, where the most visited areas are the Tambopata National Reserve and Manu National Park (Manu is assessable via Cusco, so can be more easily combined with a Machu Picchu tour).
• Bolivia: The Bolivian Amazon is just as biologically diverse as Brazil’s yet visited by fewer tourists. To begin your once-in-a-lifetime adventure here, upon your arrival in the Bolivian capital of La Paz, you will be assisted in flying to the town of Rurrenabaque – the gateway to the Bolivian rainforest. After being welcomed in that town, Surtrek representatives will transfer you to the local river’s dock for a motorized canoe ride into Madidi National Park and onward to your upmarket lodge, shrouded in the mysteries of the Amazonian rainforest.

Since 1993, Surtrek has been introducing adventurous travelers to authentic, tailor-made luxury travel experiences in the Amazonian rainforest. Over this time, we have become adept at offering some of the best and most complete tour services in the rainforest and across all of South America. With our experienced travel team of 25 members strong — including native speakers of five different languages — we will work one-on-one with you to custom-design an Amazonian tour that perfectly suits your particular interests and needs.

Just contact one of our travel experts to start planning your Amazon experience today.