The Amazon basin covers huge swathes of South America, with multiple access points offering different experiences.
Travelers can get into the Amazon from various different countries. Bolivia is probably the cheapest, and the small town of Rurrenabaque serves as a gateway. Just a short flight from La Paz, Rurre, as it is known to the locals, sits on the border between the Amazon and the swampy pampas.
Amazon Rainforest, Ecuador © Pablo Hidalgo | Dreamstime
Swim with pink river dolphins and ogle at caiman in the pampas and then book a trip into the jungle with one of the various local tour companies. For serious wildlife spotters, longer trips are advised, while most people go for three to five days to get a taste of Amazonian life.
Another way to experience the Amazon is on a slow boat down the river from Yurimaguas to Iquitos, Peru. These boats serve as a lifeline for isolated communities and transport all manner of goods and people. Voyages take up to five days and sleeping in a hammock on deck is the perfect opportunity to meet locals.
Clown Tree Frogs of the Peruvian Amazon Basin © Brandon Alms | Dreamstime
There are other services down river to Leticia, where flights depart to the Colombian capital of Bogotá. If you want to continue traveling overland, stay on board to the Amazonian city of Manaus, Brazil, or even down to the mouth of the river in the Atlantic Ocean.
From major settlements along the river it is possible to book trips further into the rainforest at one of the numerous eco-lodges and hotels. If you want to spot wildlife you will have to trek for days away from human habitation, but it will be worth it if you spot jaguar or puma.
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