Welcome to the Jungle: Planning Your Trip to the Amazon. Life in the Amazonian jungle - the meaning of the Amazonian rainforest

Even despite the not very favorable conditions for travelers, adventure and extreme tours in the Amazon are very popular among tourists from all over the world. The Amazonian jungle is 7,000,000 sq. km almost unexplored territories with impenetrable tropical forests.

The main base of the Amazonian jungle is an extensive system of rivers that covers more than half of the territory of Brazil and the countries bordering it.

The main attractions of the Amazonian jungle are thousands of rare plants, species of animals, birds and fish. These are unique mountain ranges and mysterious abandoned caves in the jungle. As a rule, tours to the Amazon jungle start from the port city of Manaus, where the main hotels of the Amazon are located.

Also, a journey into the world of the most luxurious jungle can be started from the starting point of Belem, which is located on the northern coast of Brazil, at the mouth of the Para River. It is here that you can relax in the main resorts of the Amazonian jungle, which are very popular among lovers of ecotourism.

Manaus(the capital of the Brazilian state of Amazonas) is a paradise for pseudo-extreme sports. A lot of fairly comfortable hotels have been built around the city right in the jungle, where tourists, with a not very great mood for real extreme sports, can enjoy walks in the jungle, get acquainted with the unique flora and fauna, canoe, have exciting cruises on the Amazon, during which, around the bend of the river, can be seen drinking water predators, as well as plunge into the mysteries of rituals local population- caboclos. Such extreme tours in South America - This is a great imitation of extreme travel.

Real extreme and exotic mysterious Amazonia

Genuine extreme in the Amazon is an adventure for especially hardy and adrenaline-hungry people in remote areas of the Amazon. There can be many options for such trips, and any of them will remain a vivid and unforgettable experience for life.

Real thrill-seekers go from Manaus to the upper reaches of the Amazon, then go by boat and kayaks to the area of ​​the Queiros River, where the most picturesque mountain, which the Indians call "the wall behind which there is nothing." Climbing this mountain is not so easy: you need to cut a path to the very top with the help of a machete, from where you can simply see an incredible view of the Guiana Highlands. And from this place, extreme tourists, led by an instructor-guide, are left face to face with a beautiful, but still wildlife, With unexplored places Amazonian jungle.

It should be noted that it is almost impossible to see predatory animals in the jungle, they go far from people and do not attack. But the monkeys and many different unique birds here you can meet at every turn.

Journey through the Amazon is always an opportunity to stir up adrenaline by hunting for caimans, take part in fishing for piranhas. For lovers of sparkling rafting - rafting along the numerous tributaries of the mighty Amazon. Going to cruises on the amazon you can get acquainted with the indigenous people - the Indians, see their homes, learn their traditions and way of life.

The Amazonian jungle, which is rightly called the "Light Planets", is a bright and unexplored magnet for real extreme people.

The Amazonian lowland is a real wonder of the world that boggles the imagination; an ecosystem unmatched in size and biodiversity; a place whose impact on travelers is akin to mystical. In the Amazon more water than in seven major rivers the world following her. Two Indias fit in the river basin, and the Amazon flows through the territory of eight countries. It is one of the most important sources of life on the planet, affecting the air, water and climate on which we are so dependent. If you think that behind every tree a jaguar or a half-naked Indian woman is waiting for you, you are in for a little disappointment. Count on armies of howler monkeys, an astounding variety of plant life, the hospitality of Amazonian villagers and towns, and the calm yet awe-inspiring strength of the great river.

When to go

Most right time for a trip to the Amazon - from May to June, after the rainiest months (February to April) and just before the heat and stuffiness (September to November). During the same period, the highest water level in the Amazon is observed. The river overflows in places and floods the surrounding woodlands. The water level rises and falls by as much as 12-15 meters throughout the year, and during the rise you can make an incredible unique canoe trip along the river and the flooded jungle. But the dry season is also attractive in its own way: clear weather and the ability to make long walks through the forests.

Holidays on the Amazon

Acquaintance with the Amazon for the bulk of tourists begins with accommodation in a "forest hotel". Most lodges provide privacy, home cooked food and daily tours. En-suite bathrooms and 24-hour power supply are not found in every hotel. Many lodges provide the opportunity to spend the night in the forest in a specially equipped camp during two- or three-day hikes through the Amazon forests (the so-called "survival tours"). Accommodation with comfort in decent lodges located near Manaus is offered travel agencies Amazon Gero Tours (addr: www.amazongerotours.com) and Amazon Antonio Jungle Tours. A higher level of service can be found at Anavilhanas Lodge and Juma Lodge located in the same area. And one of the most the best hotels throughout the state of Amazonas - Uakari Lodge (addr.: www.uakarilodge.com.br) in the Mamiraua Reserve.

River rafting is another way to get to know the Amazon. During river tours, vacationers sleep on board, go on an excursion during stops on the river bank. River tourist boats differ significantly in the level of comfort and service. As a place to sleep, you can be offered both a simple hammock and a luxurious bed. Typical duration of a river tour: 5-10 days. Operators with good reviews and decent service: Lo Peix (addr: www.lopeix.com), Eco Adventures (addr: www.amazonecoadventures.com) and Swallows & Amazons (addr: www.swallowsandamazonstours.com).

Tree climbing and sport fishing are also popular among tourists. These activities may also be part of multi-day tours with accommodation in an eco-lodge or rafting on the Amazon. Tropical tree climbers may be interested in Amazon Tree Climblng (addr: www.amazontreeclimbing.com) or Tropical Tree Climbing (addr: www.tropicaltreeclimbing.com); sport fishing - Maia Expeditions (addr.: www.maiaexpeditions.com). All are in Manaus.

Almost every tourist who comes to the Amazon necessarily takes part in long-term hiking and / or canoeing on the river, while getting to know the Amazonian forests and representatives local fauna. You can also visit local residents, spend the night in the jungle, try to catch a piranha or watch the caimans.

How long to go

For most vacationers, in order to have a great time and enjoy the Amazonian nature, a ten-day tour is enough. If you take a couple of days for flights / transfers / road, 5-6 days remain for excursions and all kinds of entertainment. If you plan to spend in the Amazonian forests more than a week, try to break the trip into several parts and spend them in different areas Amazon.

Where to go

Manaus - The largest city the region from where it is fastest and easiest to go to the jungle. In the state capital of Amazonas, you will find many serious tour operators offering tours ranging from budget options and up to the most exclusive and expensive. The only negative is that the groups are usually numerous, and the nature along the routes is not so virgin.

Prefer to walk? There are many options. One of the best is a visit to the Mamiraua Reserve, located 675 kilometers upriver from Manaus, at small town Tefe. There is only one eco-lodge where you can stay - Uakari Lodge (url .: www.uakarilodge.com.br). Accommodation is not from the budget, but it's worth it: the rooms are comfortable, the level of service is high, as is the professionalism of the guides, and the richness of the reserved nature is beyond praise. Hardly there the best option.

About six hundred kilometers from Manaus is the tiny town of Alter do Chao (Alter do Chao) - the starting point for boat trips on the Rio Tapajos (Rio Tapajos) - one of the most important tributaries of the Amazon. The program of boat tours includes stops at local settlements with excursions to rubber plantations. The town of Alter do Chao itself is different great beach with white sand and clean air. The most attractive tours are offered by Areia Branca Ecotour (url.: www.areiabrancaecotour.com.br) and Mae Natureza.

How to get there

Manaus is connected by direct flights with almost all major cities in Brazil and even with Miami (USA). You can get here and water transport from any city on the Amazon, including Belem and Porto Velho. In this case, get ready for long road(from two to five days).

Air or river transport can be reached from Alter to Chao or Tefe. Most of the air and river routes leading to Tefe passes through Manaus. You can’t get to Alter do Chao directly from Manaus. You will have to get by plane or boat to Belem or Santarem, and from there by bus or taxi to Alter to Chao (about 35 kilometers). Speed ​​boats run between Manaus and Tefe. They go much faster than ordinary boats and, of course, cost less than air travel.

By plane, which is also natural, you can get there even faster than by speedboat, and air tickets are sometimes not much more expensive. On the other hand, traveling through the Amazon on river transport by itself interesting adventure: you can sleep in a hammock, chat with other passengers. True, if the route passes along the main fairway, you will not observe much nature.

Rates

Most eco-lodge and boat tours are charged per person per day (abbr. pp/dd) and include accommodation at the eco-lodge, meals, drinking water, guide services, excursions and transfers. In credible budget lodges, the cost varies between $75 - $125 per person per day, and boat rental + accommodation with the best level of service will cost $150 - $250 and even more.

Whose lives have been the subject of countless films for Discovery and the BBC, you will immerse yourself in the richest natural world of our planet, which has no equal in its parameters:

1. The Amazon Basin is the largest tropical rainforest in the world with over 6 million km2.
2. Humans settled in the Amazon Jungle at least 11,200 years ago. The Amazon Rainforest itself has existed for over 55 million years.
3. The Amazon rainforest makes up more than half of total area remaining rainforest our entire planet.
4. 20% of the Earth's oxygen is produced by the Amazon rainforest, which is why it is often called the "lungs of the planet."
5. Amazon is the most deep river peace. She takes out in Atlantic Ocean up to ⅕ of the flow of all the rivers of the world. The Amazon River and its tributaries collect water from the territories of 9 states: Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana.
6. The biological diversity of the Amazon is the highest on Earth: over 150,000 plant species, 75,000 tree species, 1,300 bird species, 3,000 fish species, 430 mammals, 370 reptiles, and over 2.5 million different insects.
7. The Amazon jungle is home to a number of deadly inhabitants of the Earth: jaguars, electric eels, piranhas, poisonous snakes and spiders, etc.
8. About 80% of the food we eat comes from the rainforest - rice, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, coffee, chocolate, corn, pineapples and more.
9. About 400-500 indigenous Indian tribes today live in the Amazon rainforest. It is believed that about 75 of these tribes have never had contact with the outside world.
10. The city of Iquitos (Peru) is the largest city in the world that has no land connection with other cities. It is located deep in the jungle and has over 400,000 inhabitants.

Wild nature. Flora and fauna of the Amazon jungle

The Amazon forests are rich in a variety of trees and plants, many species of flora and fauna of the jungle are endemic - all over the world they can be found only here. At the same time, 10% of all currently known plant and animal species of the planet are found in the Amazon jungle.

Jaguars, cougars, monkeys, sloths, caimans, anacondas, copybaras, turtles, river dolphins, parrots, toucans, hummingbirds and many, many other inhabitants of the jungle are part of world heritage humanity. In terms of the number of species of animals and plants, the Amazon jungle far exceeds the tropical forests of Africa and Asia.

The jungle is a real treasury of useful plants - the fruits of some are used for food, parts of others serve as the basis for modern medicines.

Ferns, orchids, mosses, cacti, epiphytes - every plant has adapted to drawing everything useful from the humid air of the jungle. Frequent rains and high humidity led to the fact that some of the inhabitants of the jungle moved to the trees. Frogs in such conditions lay their eggs high in the trees.

The Amazon River is one of the 7 natural wonders of the planet.

In 2011, Amazon was recognized as one of the seven natural wonders planets.

This is the deepest river in the world. The Amazon and its tributaries form a system of inland waterways with a total length of over 25,000 kilometers. At the confluence with the ocean, the depth of the river reaches 100 meters.

During the dry season, the Amazon reaches a width of 11 kilometers, covering 110 thousand square kilometers with water, and triples during the rainy season, during this period the waters of the river rise to 20 meters, covering an area of ​​350 thousand square kilometers and spilling over 40 km and more.

There are about 3,000 species of fish in the Amazon and its tributaries, but the most famous inhabitants of these rivers are piranhas - predatory fish that can attack even large predators crossing the river.

Wild tribes of the Amazon

Of the more than 10 million Indians who lived in harmony with the jungle, this moment only about 200,000 survived.

According to various sources, 400-500 tribes live in the Amazon rainforest today. Of these, about 75 tribes do not have contact with the outside world.

These people serve as a living reminder of the fragility of ancient cultures. The Indians stood in the way commercial exploitation Amazons. In the past, oil extraction led to aggressive and disastrous contact with isolated Indians - in the early 1980s, Shell research led to contact with the isolated Nahua tribe, subsequently about 50% of this tribe died within a few years. Wild tribes are powerless in front of modern society - Indians do not have immune protection against epidemics of modern diseases.

Almost all isolated Indians are nomads - they move through the forest in small groups depending on the season. During the rainy season, when the water level is high, the tribes that do not use canoes live far from the river, deep in the forest. During the dry season, when the water level is low, they live on the banks of rivers.

In the dry season, river turtles lay their eggs on the banks of rivers, burying them in the sand. Eggs are an important source of protein for the Indians, so this is also a reason for moving to the banks of the rivers, along with fishing.

In addition to turtle eggs, non-contact Indians eat a variety of meat and fish dishes, bananas, nuts, berries, roots, and larvae.

Rest in the jungle of Peru. National parks of the Amazon

Most of the Amazon River basin is still unexplored and dangerous to humans; you can get into the wild rainforest only in protected areas permitted by the government, and only accompanied by accredited guides.

On the territory of Peru there are 3 interesting protected areas to visit the Amazon Jungle:

• Nature reserves in the Iquitos area
• national park Manu
• Nature reserves in the Puerto Maldonado area

1. Iquitos

It is the largest city in the world that has no land connection with other cities. You can get to Iquitos only by water or by air.

The city began to grow in the 19th century in connection with the beginning of the "rubber fever". Here they began the production of rubber from natural raw materials - a tree growing in the Amazonian selva. The tycoons who owned rubber factories set up luxurious mansions that still give the city a unique style.

From Iquitos you can make a lot of interesting trips into the jungle, immerse yourself in the world of the jungle, get to know the local tribes and their culture.

How to get there: There are 8-9 daily flights from Lima to Iquitos. You can view tickets on the websites of local airlines: LAN Perú, Peruvian Airlines and Star Perú. The flight takes 1 hour 45 minutes.

2. Manu National Park. Foggy Andean Forests

Manu National Park is one of the largest reserves in the world: it covers almost 2,000,000 hectares and is located at an altitude of 300 to 4000 meters above sea level. Due to this location and vast territory, several different ecosystems meet in the park, which provides a great variety of plant, insect and animal species. Manu is a reserve with the most big amount species in the world!

Most of the park is closed to visitors, only scientists are allowed in, but even for them it is difficult to get a pass. Visitors can access protected area Manu, but only as part of groups organized by accredited agencies. A limited number of visitors are allowed into the park daily. In this part of the park you can observe a huge variety of landscapes, animals and flora, river bends form lagoons with a magnificent variety of flora and fauna.

How to get there: Groups accompanied by accredited guides leave for the Manu Reserve from Cusco. You can get to Cusco from Lima by plane (1 hour) or by bus (24 hours).

3. Puerto Maldonado

This small town 55 kilometers from the border with Bolivia, it is very similar to Iquitos, but getting to it is much easier. In the vicinity of Puerto Maldonado there are several national parks where you can see caimans, monkeys, capybaras and other animals, reptiles, insects and birds.

How to get there: There are direct flights to Puerto Maldonado from Cusco (the flight takes only 1 hour) and from Lima (1 hour 40 minutes).

Amazon Jungle Tours

The Amazon Jungle Tour is an amazing adventure where you can feel the primeval forces of nature and hear the call of the wild Earth.

Houses on stilts, mosquito nets over beds, night walks with flashlights, boat trips on a seething river, bungee rides and much more will become unforgettable moments of your bright adventure.

Even at night, you will feel with all your senses that you are at the mercy of the wild jungle.

What's included in the tours:

• Transfer
• Accommodation in houses
• Professional English speaking guide
• Meals: all breakfasts, lunches and dinners
• Drinks and water to refill your bottles
• Excursions, active recreation programs

Not included in tours:

• Travel insurance
• Single occupancy (upon request)

Comfort and safety in the jungle. Important information

Do not forget that the jungle is not artificial park adapted to people. The Amazon forests hide many dangers that are invisible to our eyes - sharp thorns can hide under the soft moss on the trees, and cute ants on your way can be poisonous.

Being close to the best jungle guides, you can be sure of your safety, but you must be vigilant and strictly adhere to the rules that will be announced to you upon arrival.

If you are planning a trip to the rainforests (Manu National Park), we recommend getting vaccinated against yellow fever. We also recommend that you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites: use repellents and wear long sleeves and trousers whenever possible.

When to go. Seasonality, climate, temperature

You can go to the Amazon Jungle in any season, each of them has its own advantages: in the rainy season you can see flowering plants that attract birds and primates descending to the water itself, in the dry season, when the water level drops, you can see migrating schools of fish, birds attracted by easy prey, fish-hunting caimans.

The average temperature in the jungle throughout the year is +30º

Rainy season: mid-December - mid-May.

Dry season: mid-May - mid-December.

The highest water level in the river is in May, the lowest is in September.

What to bring? Clothing, footwear, protective equipment

• Clothing: We recommend bringing light, quick-drying, preferably cotton clothing, including several short-sleeved T-shirts, a long-sleeved sweater/jacket, several pairs of socks, a raincoat, and a bathing suit.
• Headwear for sun protection
• Comfortable waterproof shoes
• Flashlight and spare batteries
• Camera and spare battery
• Binoculars
• Repellent (we recommend OFF factor 35)
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• water bottle

In the jungle you will be given rubber boots.

FAQ

Can you get into the jungle on your own?

Some tourists dare to go into the jungle unaccompanied, but this does not always end well. You can find a guide who will agree to work individually and live with tourists for several days in a wild forest away from organized accommodation (hotels and lodges).

What is the maximum group size?

Usually there are no more than 8 people in a group. In the case when the group is large - 10-16 people, it is accompanied by one or two additional guides.

Is there an age limit for being in the jungle?

There are no age restrictions. Lodges welcome guests of all ages.

What if you didn't get vaccinated?

You can get vaccinated in Lima, but you will need to wait 10 days for the vaccine to take effect before heading into the jungle.