What's the Best Country to Explore the Amazon From?
Being the largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon Basin occupies about 40% of South America's landmass and lies within the borders of the countries of
Brazil,
Peru,
Ecuador,
Bolivia,
Colombia, Venezuela, and
Guyana.
Here are Adventure Life's picks for the top 4 countries for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the Amazon:
1) Ecuador has easy access to the Amazon (just half an hour flight from the capital of
Quito), and world-class eco-lodges such as
Sacha Lodge and
La Selva Lodge which provide the most convenient, comfortable way to discover remote
Amazonian wildlife and
indigenous peoples. Combine a tour of the Amazon with the
Galapagos Islands for the ultimate wildlife viewing vacation. Make sure to take a look at your local travel advisories, here are links from the
United States,
UK,
Canada,
India, and
Australia to Ecuador.
2) Peru also has excellent rainforest lodges and
cruises that navigate major tributaries of the Amazon. If you're visiting
Machu Picchu, then the
Puerto Maldonado and
Manu National Park region is a quick flight away. The
Iquitos region is more remote and only accessible by flights, but the vast majority of
Amazon River cruises are based in Iquitos. Check out these links to see travel advisories from the
United States,
UK,
Canada,
India, and
Australia to Peru.
3) Brazil is home to the majority of the massive Amazon basin, and hence long distances are required to reach
lodges or
cruise boats. The landscape tends to be flatter and wetter, and the ecosystems are different here than higher up in the Andes in Ecuador and Peru. But, Brazil is the only country where you can
cruise the Amazon River itself instead of one of its tributaries. Make sure to take a look at your local travel advisories, here are links from the
United States,
UK,
Canada,
India, and
Australia to Brazil.
4) Bolivia has some of the most remote, best-preserved rainforest in the entire Amazon Basin such as Mididi National Park where you can experience the Amazon rainforest by a stay in
Chalan Lodge managed by the local Quichua Indigenous community which is surrounded by over 4.5 million acres of primary rainforest. Make sure to take a look at your local travel advisories, here are links from the United States,
UK,
Canada, and
Australia to Bolivia
