Travelling to the Amazon is not for the faint of heart. It is considered roughing it at its best. Cut to the scene of J-Lo in Anaconda, that was the Amazon, right? Although many travel providers have made it their business to add a dash of comfort or at least running water, the reward of seeing a piece of untouched rain forest is worth the heat and possibly, leaches.
The Amazon is Pretty Big
And that’s an understatement. The Amazon covers 5.5 million square km in nine countries, so it can be a challenge deciding where to start. The most popular place to begin the trips is from Brazil, Peru or Columbia.
Out of the three options, Brazil has the easiest access as 60% of the amazon runs through its borders. Brazil alone is an amazing holiday destination, so choosing an extended trip which combines the best of Brazil, like Carnival, with an Amazon tour will ensure you get the best value for money.
How to Get There
Most operators will collect tour goers from the Manuas Eduardo Gomes International Airport, and take you by boat transfer to their Homebase.
You can catch connecting flights from either Sao Paulo or Rio to Manuas and play online slots real money Canada while you wait for your flight.
The Amazing Things to See
Seeing that it is a forest the focus of your trip will be the wildlife. The Amazon is home to hundreds of animal species, thousands of bird species and close to 200 amphibian species. The further into the jungle you venture the more contact you will have with unusual species.
The Amazonia Pink and Grey Dolphins, known locally as boto, are the largest river dolphin species. They are light grey when the are born and turn pink as they get older. Three toed sloths are often seen hanging from branches on the on the river banks and every sunset you can see hundreds of parrots go in to roost. In the evenings a symphony of thousands of frogs will play their private concert just for you.
The Amazon is also home to 240 tribes of Brazilian Indians. Some so far removed from civilisation that their lifestyle has remained largely unchanged. Other tribe’s welcome visitors and are more than happy to show travellers their way of life.
The Rio Carnival
The beat of the samba music will get your hips swaying in no time, as the cocktails flow and you get to witness the true Brazilian culture. Carnival is celebrated in February every year to mark the beginning of Catholic Lent. See the parade as it makes its way through the Sambadrone or join a street parade in Rio city.
Other Things to See in Rio
A city tour will take you past the iconic Christ the Redeemer that sits on the mountain overlooking the city. Ipanema beach is a sunbather and surfers dream and is a cultural hub, it is littered with art galleries, street art stands, theatres and cafes. Lastly, you cannot leave Brazil without making time for a football game.
If you plan to go during carnival time it is recommended that you book 6 months in advance, as millions of visitor’s flock to the city to see the site and join the party.