🌿 The Amazon

The Amazon is one of the most extraordinary places on Earth — a vast world of rainforest, mighty rivers and incredible wildlife stretching across much of northern South America.

From exploring the waterways by boat and waking to the sounds of the jungle, to searching for colourful macaws, monkeys, sloths and the elusive pink river dolphin, an Amazon journey offers a completely different way to experience wildlife.

But it isn’t only about the wildlife. Indigenous cultures, fascinating cities, remote communities and unforgettable landscapes all form part of the experience.

Whether you’re looking for a dedicated Amazon adventure or want to combine the rainforest with other highlights of Brazil, your journey can be tailored around the experiences that matter most to you.

The Amazon: one rainforest, nine destinations

When you think of the Amazon, Brazil is probably the first country that comes to mind. And with around 60% of the Amazon rainforest lying within Brazil, that’s understandable. But the Amazon is far bigger than Brazil alone.

This extraordinary ecosystem stretches across Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname, as well as French Guiana. Each country offers a different way to experience the rainforest, with different landscapes, wildlife, cultures and styles of travel.

So which part of the Amazon is right for you?

🇧🇷 Brazil – the classic Amazon experience

Brazil has the largest share of the Amazon and offers some of the most varied ways to experience it. Manaus is a major gateway, with jungle lodges, river cruises and excursions into the surrounding rainforest.

The Meeting of the Waters, where the dark Rio Negro meets the muddy Solimões, is one of the region’s iconic sights. Around Manaus and the Anavilhanas National Park, you can explore huge river systems, forest islands, waterways and jungle communities. Pink river dolphins, colourful birds and an extraordinary variety of rainforest wildlife are among the highlights. (Visit Brasil⁠)

Best for: a classic Amazon experience, river journeys, jungle lodges, rainforest scenery and combining the Amazon with other Brazilian highlights.

🇵🇪 Peru – exceptional wildlife and photography

For wildlife enthusiasts and photographers, Peru is one of the most exciting choices.

The Amazon around Tambopata and Manu offers incredibly rich wildlife habitats, while Iquitos provides access to a different Amazon experience based around the huge rivers and flooded forests.

In Tambopata, you can look for colourful macaws and parrots, monkeys, giant otters, caimans and an impressive range of birdlife. The lakes and waterways around the region can also offer opportunities to see black caiman and, with luck, giant river otters.

Best for: wildlife, birdwatching, photography, jungle lodges and combining the Amazon with Machu Picchu and the Andes.

🇪🇨 Ecuador – biodiversity in a compact area

Ecuador’s Amazon may cover a smaller area, but it packs an extraordinary amount into it.

Yasuní National Park is one of the country’s great wildlife destinations, with parrots, toucans, monkeys and jaguars among the species found here. Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve offers a very different landscape of flooded forest, rivers and lagoons, where you can look for pink and grey river dolphins, caimans, manatees and giant otters. (ecuador.travel⁠)

Ecuador also makes it relatively easy to combine the rainforest with the Andes and Galápagos, creating an incredibly varied South American adventure.

Best for: biodiversity, wildlife, indigenous culture and combining the Amazon with the Andes and Galápagos.

🇨🇴 Colombia – wildlife, rivers and indigenous culture

The Colombian Amazon is centred around Leticia, close to the meeting point of Colombia, Peru and Brazil.

From here you can explore the Amazon River, Amacayacu National Park and the wetlands around Puerto Nariño. Wildlife includes pink river dolphins, black caimans, monkeys, sloths, macaws and an extraordinary variety of birds. (Colombia Travel⁠)

Colombia also offers particularly interesting opportunities to learn about the region’s Indigenous cultures and their relationship with the rainforest.

Best for: wildlife, birdwatching, river experiences, Indigenous culture and a more off-the-beaten-track Amazon adventure.

🇧🇴 Bolivia – wild and wonderfully diverse

Bolivia’s Amazon is particularly interesting because of the dramatic transition from the Andes into lowland rainforest.

Madidi National Park, reached via Rurrenabaque, encompasses an extraordinary range of habitats. The park stretches from high mountain environments down into Amazonian forest and supports an exceptional diversity of plants and animals. Jaguar, monkeys, tapirs, macaws and many other species can be found here. (madidi.sernap.gob.bo⁠)

Nearby wetlands and savannahs add another dimension to a Bolivian wildlife adventure.

Best for: biodiversity, adventurous wildlife experiences, rainforest combined with the Andes and community-based tourism.

🇬🇾 Guyana – for serious wildlife enthusiasts

Guyana is one of the Amazon region’s real wildlife specialists and is particularly appealing to adventurous travellers and keen photographers.

The Iwokrama Forest is home to more than 500 bird species as well as jaguars, giant river otters and an incredible range of rainforest wildlife. Its famous canopy walkway provides the opportunity to experience the forest from above. (iwokrama.org⁠)

Guyana is also known for its “Giants of El Dorado”, including the jaguar, giant anteater, giant river otter, harpy eagle and arapaima. (guyanatourism.com⁠)

And then there is Kaieteur Falls, one of South America’s great natural spectacles.

Best for: wildlife specialists, birdwatchers, photographers, jaguars, harpy eagles and adventurous travellers.

🇸🇷 Suriname – remote rainforest and cultural experiences

Suriname offers a much less-visited side of the Amazon.

Much of the country’s southern interior is covered by rainforest, with destinations such as the Central Suriname Nature Reserve and Brownsberg offering opportunities for hiking, wildlife watching and experiencing the forest.

Suriname is particularly interesting for travellers who want to combine rainforest exploration with the country’s fascinating cultural heritage.

Best for: remote rainforest experiences, nature, hiking and cultural exploration.

🇻🇪 Venezuela – rainforest, rivers and spectacular landscapes

Venezuela’s Amazon region lies in the country’s south and includes huge areas of rainforest and river systems.

For travellers able to visit, the wider region offers opportunities to experience some spectacular wilderness, with wildlife including monkeys, sloths, giant otters, jaguars and an impressive variety of birds.

The country’s wider natural landscape also brings together rainforest with the dramatic tepui landscapes of southern Venezuela, creating scenery unlike almost anywhere else in the Amazon region.

Best for: spectacular landscapes, wilderness and combining rainforest with Venezuela’s extraordinary tepui country.

🇬🇫 French Guiana – the French Amazon

French Guiana gives you a rather different way into the Amazon.

More than 80% of the territory is covered by forest, and the Guiana Amazonian Park protects a huge area of rainforest along the Brazilian border. Wildlife includes jaguars, tapirs, giant otters, monkeys, caimans and an extraordinary range of birds and insects.

Away from the deep forest, the Kaw Marshes offer excellent opportunities for wildlife watching, while the coast is famous for nesting leatherback turtles.

Best for: French/European travellers looking for something very different, rainforest, wildlife and leatherback turtles.

So which Amazon is best for you?

There isn’t really a single “best” Amazon — it depends on what you want from your holiday.

We can help you choose the right country — and build the Amazon into a wider tailor-made South American adventure.

Explore the sections below to discover the different ways you can experience the Amazon. 🌿🦜🐬