From a scientist’s search for a rare monkey to a lodge that floats on the river itself, here are a few facts about Uakari Lodge, deep inside Brazil’s Mamirauá Reserve
On a stretch of the Solimões River near Tefé, deep in the Brazilian Amazon, sits one of the region’s most unique places to sleep: a lodge built entirely on water. Uakari Floating Lodge sits inside the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve, a 1,124,000-hectare protected area of várzea (flooded) forest, and rises and falls with the river by as much as 12 meters a year.
Named after the striking, red-faced monkey that calls this forest home, the lodge has operated for close to three decades as one of the Amazon’s earliest examples of community-based tourism, co-managed by a federal research institute and the riverside communities who actually live here.
Photo: Gui Gomes
Curious what makes a floating hotel inside a protected reserve worth the trip up the river? PlanetaEXO, an ecotourism platform specializing in Amazon Rainforest tours in Brazil, has put together these 8 facts about Uakari Lodge. Check it out below!
1. Uakari Floating Lodge exists because a scientist went looking for a rare monkey
Brazilian primatologist José Márcio Ayres traveled to the region in the 1980s specifically to study the white uakari monkey, the same animal the lodge is named after, and found the area threatened by unregulated exploitation.
Driven by a vision to safeguard the regional ecosystem, he proposed creating a protected sanctuary in 1985. This initiative spurred the establishment of the Mamirauá Ecological Station in 1986, followed by the founding of the Instituto Mamirauá in 1998, the federal research institute responsible for managing the lodge to this day.
Ayres earned his PhD at Cambridge with a doctoral thesis on uakaris and the Amazon flooded forest, based on fieldwork near Tefé. Uakari Lodge emerged directly from this research around 1998, expanding upon a floating research laboratory operated by the Institute within the reserve. For nearly 30 years, the lodge has hosted visitors while continuously reinvesting tourism revenue into local community projects.
2. Floating foundations built from one of the Amazon’s lightest trees
Uakari Lodge does not sit on stilts like most riverside builds; it actually floats.
The structures rest on massive logs of assacu (Hura crepitans), a native Amazon tree that can grow over 30 meters tall and has an unusually low wood density (around 0.36–0.38 g/cm³), light enough to keep an entire building buoyant on the river.
The design itself came from inside the reserve, developed jointly by researchers at the Instituto Mamirauá and AAGEMAM, the local riverside guides’ association, applying traditional Amazonian floating-construction knowledge to a modern guest lodge.
3. Run by a research institute and the local community
Uakari Floating Lodge is owned by the Instituto Mamirauá, formally founded in 1999 as a federal research body linked to Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Day to day, it is co-managed with AAGEMAM, the association representing the reserve’s riverside communities, giving local people a direct stake in how their own protected area receives visitors.
This environmental protection is backed by significant institutional recognition. Encompassing 1,124,000 hectares of flooded várzea forest where the Solimões and Japurá rivers meet, the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve was recognized as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1993. Later, in 2003, its Demonstration Area was incorporated into the Central Amazon Conservation Complex, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
4. Pioneering spirit and river levels
Mamirauá became Brazil’s first-ever Sustainable Development Reserve, a protected-area category created specifically for it, when the law establishing it was signed on July 12, 1996.
Unlike blackwater regions, this white-water várzea floodplain experiences extreme seasonal shifts. Water levels fluctuate by approximately 10 to 12 meters from the low-water period (September to November) to the high-water period (May to July), with localized surges reaching up to 16 meters.
The forest around the lodge stays submerged for about four months of the year, which is exactly why Uakari needed to float in the first place.
Since there are no roads through a flooded forest, every activity here runs by canoe or small boat, including trips through the flooded forest itself, night walks with caiman-spotting, traditional piranha fishing, pink river dolphin sightings, and a guided visit to one of the reserve’s own riverside communities.
Uakari Floating Lodge offers stays of 3, 4, or 7 nights, plus a dedicated 4-night birdwatching program for travelers chasing the reserve’s bird list specifically. Because it is a small, remote operation with just a handful of rooms, the hotel generally asks that children be over 10 years old.
Getting there takes some effort: travelers fly into Manaus, then take a roughly 1-hour domestic flight to Tefé, followed by a boat transfer of about 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the lodge itself.
The lodge generates its own electricity from solar power, collects rainwater for guest use, and treats its wastewater before it ever reaches the river.
This commitment to sustainable community impact was globally honored in 2015. Uakari Lodge secured the Silver award for “Best for Poverty Reduction” at the World Responsible Tourism Awards, a distinction shared with only two other international finalists, celebrating a model designed to directly direct economic benefits back to local villages.
Photo: Gui Gomes
7. One of the best places on Earth to see the Amazon’s pink river dolphin
The waters around Uakari Floating Lodge hold some of the highest recorded densities of the Amazon pink river dolphin (boto-cor-de-rosa) found anywhere, up to 61 individuals per square kilometer in confluence areas, alongside 64 individuals per square kilometer of tucuxi, the smaller grey river dolphin.
Dolphins are far from the only wildlife on offer. The reserve is also home to jaguars, black caiman, sloths, coatis, and, of course, the lodge’s own namesake, the white uakari monkey, a species found almost nowhere else on the planet.
8. Uakari Lodge helped save one of the Amazon’s biggest fish from disappearing
The Instituto Mamirauá’s participatory pirarucu (Arapaima) management program, developed alongside riverside communities, is one of the best-documented fish-recovery stories in the world.
Through local fisher self-enforcement and stock counts, managed lakes saw the pirarucu population surge from around 2,500 to over 190,500 by 2018, which played a pivotal role in removing the species from Brazil’s endangered list.
The model has since been replicated in other parts of Amazonas state, a direct outcome of the same conservation-through-tourism approach that built Uakari Lodge in the first place.
Now that you know how a scientist’s search for a rare monkey turned into one of the Amazon’s most community-driven lodges, the next step is seeing the Mamirauá Reserve for yourself.
As an ecotourism platform focused on travel experiences in ecolodges in the Brazilian Amazon, PlanetaEXO maintains a long-standing partnership with Uakari Floating Lodge. Working directly with local ground operators, our team creates tailor-made, hassle-free stays within the reserve. Contact us now!
Is the Amazon Rainforest dangerous? Learn what actually poses risks and how experienced professionals can help you have a safe, enjoyable travel experience
The largest tropical forest on Earth covers 5.5 million km², with 60% of it sitting inside Brazil. The sheer scale can be scary, but reality paints a different picture. If you are wondering if it is safe to visit the Amazon Rainforest, the answer is yes, as long as you have experienced professionals by your side.
Licensed guides, local operators, and jungle lodges run the same rivers and the same trails hundreds of times a year. That repetition is exactly what turns wild country into a planned trip.
Contrary to what movies might suggest, the real dangers of the Amazon are far less cinematic. High temperatures, mosquito bites, and discomfort while engaging in forest activities are the most common issues—all of which are avoidable with the right information and assistance.
PlanetaEXO, an ecotourism platform specializing in Amazon Rainforest tours in Brazil, has put together this guide to every real risk in the jungle and how it gets managed on the ground. Check it out below!
Is the Amazon Rainforest dangerous? What the risk actually looks like
In the sense most people mean it—predators hunting humans, a wilderness that swallows people whole—the Amazon Rainforest is not dangerous.
The risks that do exist are ordinary, measurable, and ranked in an order that surprises almost everyone: heat, insect-borne disease, waterborne infection, small injuries in places far from a hospital, and the same petty crime you would watch out for in any large city. Wild animals come last, and by a wide margin.
The reason an organized trip is safe is structural. You travel on fixed routes with fixed schedules and a guide who is professionally responsible for the group. Boats carry life jackets, while lodges carry first-aid kits, and someone always knows where you are and when you are due back.
It is safe to travel the Amazon Rainforest when you travel properly, backed by professionals who care for your safety and enjoyment.
Photo: Felipe Castellari
Manaus, the gateway city to the forest
Nearly every Amazon trip in Brazil begins in Manaus, a city of more than 2 million residents and the gateway airport (MAO) for the entire region.
Day to day, the risk in Manaus is opportunistic theft rather than violence, and it responds to the same habits that work in São Paulo, Lisbon, or Mexico City.
To stay safe in Manaus, use the same common sense you would in other busy cities. Keep your phone out of sight on the street, use Uber and 99 instead of hailing cars, avoid walking alone at night in empty areas, split your cash and cards between two places, and carry a copy of your passport while the original stays in the hotel safe.
Book your tours before you arrive with a reliable operator you have checked, rather than from someone approaching you at the port or the airport.
Dangerous animals in the Amazon Rainforest (and why you probably won’t meet one)
The list of dangerous animals in the Amazon Rainforest is genuine: jaguars, anacondas, black caimans, lanceheads, bushmasters, and electric eels. The list of travelers hurt by them is very short.
Because the jungle is immense, its fauna scattered, secretive, and mostly active at night, dense foliage conceals almost everything. On the majority of excursions, a guide’s main challenge is locating wildlife for visitors rather than fending it off. Spotting these creatures is the objective, not a safety concern.
The one wildlife risk with real numbers behind it sits at ground level. Between 2010 and 2020, Amazonas state recorded 16,868 snakebites, most caused by Bothrops (lanceheads) and then Lachesis (bushmasters).
Although snakebites are significant in the Amazon region, most cases involve rural or indigenous residents working barefoot in the forest, which means it does not fall on visitors walking marked trails in closed boots alongside a guide.
Photo: Marcelo Bonifácio
Insects are the animals that will actually shape your trip. Mosquitoes can carry diseases like dengue or Zika, while ants, wasps, bees, and spiders cause stings, painful reactions, and the occasional allergic emergency. This is where your prevention effort belongs:
Use repellent with 30% DEET or 20%+ picaridin on exposed skin, reapplied every 4 to 6 hours, as the CDC advises for tropical travel.
Treat clothing with permethrin—it keeps working through multiple washes. Never put permethrin on skin.
Wear long sleeves and long pants on trails, especially at dawn and dusk, when biting activity peaks.
Keep windows and doors closed at night. Most Amazon jungle lodges are screened, and many supply mosquito nets over the beds.
Shake out and check your boots before you put them on every single morning, as scorpions and spiders like dark, warm spaces.
Skip perfume and strongly scented products, which attract insects, and leave neon clothing at home.
Heat and humidity: the risk almost everyone underestimates
Manaus averages a maximum of 32°C across the year and 81% relative humidity, with September the hottest month at an average high near 34°C, according to INMET’s 1991–2020 climate normals.
The temperature alone is manageable, but the humidity is what can make the Amazon Rainforest dangerous: high humidity limits sweat evaporation—your body’s primary mechanism for cooling down—making standard physical exertion far more draining than back home. As a result, staying cool requires extra effort.
Heat exhaustion is more common on Amazon trips than any animal encounter. Some warning signs are headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, heavy sweating, and reduced urine output.
Notify your guide immediately if you notice any symptoms—addressing them early requires only brief rest in the shade, whereas ignoring them can lead to heatstroke, a critical medical condition in remote jungle environments.
Photo: Marcelo Bonifácio
Drink around 1 liter per hour while walking in the heat. Do not wait until you feel thirsty.
Carry rehydration salts, since water alone does not replace what you lose sweating for several hours.
Wear light-colored, quick-dry long sleeves rather than a tank top. Covering skin is cooler than exposing it, doubling it as insect and sun protection.
Use SPF 30+ sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat (biodegradable formulas are better in the river).
Accept the schedule. Excursions begin at first light and pause during the early afternoon to avoid peak temperatures rather than to lengthen the itinerary.
The yellow fever vaccine for Brazil and the other shots the Amazon calls for
While it is not a requirement for foreigners to be vaccinated to enter the country, the yellow fever vaccine for Brazil is strongly recommended for anyone traveling to Amazonas and the wider Amazon region.
To allow sufficient time for immunity to build, receive the vaccination no less than 10 days prior to arriving in a high-risk region. Per the WHO’s updated 2014 International Certificate of Vaccination guidelines, a single dose provides lifelong protection.
Manaus’s municipal health department also asks travelers to be current on measles protection and notes that the yellow fever and measles vaccines cannot be given on the same day—they need roughly a 30-day interval between them.
That single detail is why you plan vaccines 6 to 8 weeks out, not the week before departure. Beyond those two, a travel doctor will normally review hepatitis A and B, tetanus and diphtheria, typhoid, and rabies, depending on your itinerary.
Food and water: what to eat and what to leave alone
Inside the jungle lodges and on Amazon river cruises, eat and drink what you are served without anxiety.
Operators hosting international travelers filter or bottle their drinking water and buy from licensed suppliers. Most lodges provide potable water for refills, so a reusable bottle is worth the space in your bag.
Never drink untreated water from a river, stream, or igarapé, however clear it looks. Forest water carries parasites and bacteria that a healthy-looking surface tells you nothing about. Manaus’s health department advises bottled water in the city too, along with washing your hands with soap several times a day.
In the city, eat where there is turnover and a visible license. Street food is part of the experience and worth having—just choose the stall with a queue of locals and food coming off the grill in front of you.
Injuries, illness, and what happens when something goes wrong
Most medical events in the forest are small. Blisters, insect stings, a scraped shin, an upset stomach, an ankle rolled on a wet root.
Lodges and guides carry first-aid kits and handle these on the spot. You should still bring your own supply of any personal medication in its original packaging, plus painkillers, antihistamines, anti-diarrheals, blister plasters, and rehydration salts. Pharmacies are a boat ride away, which can take hours.
For minor issues, guides and lodges provide on-site first aid. For severe cases, operators follow strict protocols to transfer patients to Manaus. As outlined by municipal health authorities, the city has emergency units across five zones, including specialized centers like the Fundação de Medicina Tropical for animal bites.
Brazil’s public health system is free at the point of use, including for foreign visitors, under the constitutional principle of universal access—though a public emergency room is a fallback, not a plan.
The plan is insurance, and the fine print matters more than the price. Buy a policy that explicitly covers medical evacuation from remote areas and names the activities on your itinerary—trekking, kayaking, boat travel, camping, etc.
Standard policies routinely exclude both remote-area evacuation and adventure activities, which is precisely the combination an Amazon trip consists of. Check that repatriation is included, and carry the policy number somewhere you can reach it without a phone signal.
In the right stretch, at the right time, with your guide’s approval, yes, it is safe to swim in the Amazon River. In fact, swimming is a normal part of most itineraries.
The Rio Negro is the classic swimming water of the region precisely because its dark, acidic, tannin-stained water carries far fewer mosquitoes and parasites than the sediment-heavy white water of the Solimões. Some stretches are excellent, but others not so much, and the difference is not something you can read from the bank.
What makes a stretch unsafe is almost never a fish, but current, depth, submerged branches, and mud holes you cannot see through dark water.
Brazilian fire-service guidance for river bathing is direct: do not go deeper than knee height where the current is strong. If a current takes you, swim diagonally toward the bank rather than fighting it head-on.
Aquatic animals also deserve attention, though the dangers are far less severe than commonly imagined. Despite the reputation of piranhas, these fish rarely attack humans—though they can become somewhat more aggressive when protecting their eggs. Eels pose a greater risk of incapacitating their victims than of delivering electric shocks, while caimans only appear at night.
Photo: Felipe Castellari
Here are some rules that keep river swimming uneventful:
Always follow your guide’s directions on where and when to swim, and never enter the water alone.
Stay out of the water at night, dawn and dusk, when caimans move close to the banks.
Do not swim with open wounds or after drinking alcohol.
Wear the life jacket on the boat. Brazilian Navy-certified jackets are standard on licensed operations, and most incidents involve people who were not wearing one.
Watch the children in the water constantly, even in calm-looking shallows.
Visiting local communities: respect is the safety rule
Riverside ribeirinho and Indigenous communities are part of many Amazon itineraries, and a number of them welcome visitors into their homes for genuinely good exchanges—food, crafts, and the working knowledge of a place they have lived in for generations.
Community-based tourism is of great importance to the Amazon region, providing financial and social support to local families while also fostering numerous environmental conservation efforts.
Isolated peoples are an entirely separate matter, for which tourism is deliberately kept away from them. FUNAI, Brazil’s Indigenous affairs agency, has 115 documented records of isolated Indigenous groups, with 29 officially confirmed—all located within the Amazon, representing the world’s largest isolated population.
Brazil enforces a strict non-contact stance, meaning tour leaders and operators always steer itineraries far away from these protected areas. This is not only a legal boundary but a lethal one: isolated groups have no immunity to diseases that a visitor would barely notice carrying.
Photo: Isadora Sá
For communities open to visitors, local etiquette doubles as the primary safety guideline:
Always request permission prior to taking photos, particularly of children.
Avoid distributing candy, money, or presents independently. Your guide can advise on appropriate items to prevent unforeseen issues following your departure.
Respect host boundaries by taking cues from local families on where to walk or sit.
When you are unsure about anything at all, ask your guide first. That single habit prevents most of the awkwardness and all of the offense.
Amazonian expeditions require varying levels of endurance. Paddling through flooded forests is vastly different from full-day jungle trekking or spending the night in a hammock at a remote outpost. Constant heat and humidity further compound the effort, making even light activity demanding at 32°C.
If you are not comfortable with something, say so before it starts. Guides plan alternatives as a matter of routine, and a group that knows one member is sitting out the long hike is a group that stays together and on schedule.
Respecting the limits of your own body and mind is one of the most effective ways to avoid an unpleasant situation entirely. The riskiest person on any trip is the one who does not want to look weak, as someone pushing past their limit is how a manageable day turns into an evacuation.
Photo: Marcelo Bonifácio
Always follow your guide
How to stay safe in the Amazon Rainforest comes down to a single habit: do what your guide tells you and tell them what you are experiencing. Qualified professionals read this forest at a level no visitor can match after a week or a month.
They know which plants sting, which stretch of river is safe, what a change in the sound of the canopy means, and how to deliver first aid hours from a hospital. That knowledge only protects you if you use it.
Photo: Gui Gomes
Stay with the group and on the trail. Never walk into the forest alone, not even a short distance from the lodge.
Ask before touching any animal, plant, or fruit. Many are harmless, several are not, and they are hard to tell apart.
Declare medications, allergies, medical conditions, and phobias when booking your trip.
Keep to the timings. Dawn departures and dusk returns are safety decisions about heat, wildlife, and light, not scheduling preferences.
Ask questions. Guides expect them, and a group that understands why a rule exists follows it much more reliably.
Safe trips to the Amazon with PlanetaEXO
Now that you know that it is safe to visit the Amazon Rainforest when you travel with experts and respect what nature tells you, it’s time to book your trip!
PlanetaEXO is an ecotourism platform specializing in Amazon jungle tours, working alongside the best local operators, lodges, and guides in the region—the same professionals who make this forest a safe place to travel. Our team handles all the planning and logistics, so all you have to do is enjoy yourself. Contact us now!
From award-winning architecture to pink river dolphins at the doorstep, here are 8 facts about Mirante do Gavião Amazon Lodge, one of Novo Airão’s most distinctive places to stay
On the right bank of the Rio Negro, about 180 kilometers northwest of Manaus, sits one of the Brazilian Amazon’s most unique places to sleep. Mirante do Gavião Amazon Lodge stands in Novo Airão, directly facing the Anavilhanas archipelago, and it holds just 13 suites inside a building shaped like an upturned boat.
So what makes a small riverside lodge worth the trip up the river? The short answer is a rare mix of award-winning design, certified native wood, community-run hospitality, and a stretch of the Rio Negro where pink river dolphins surface almost daily.
Want to know what really sets it apart from an ordinary jungle lodge? PlanetaEXO, an ecotourism platform specializing in Amazon Rainforest tours in Brazil, has put together these 8 facts about Mirante do Gavião. Check it out below!
1 – What “Mirante do Gavião” means (and the eagle behind the name)
In Portuguese, “mirante” means “lookout,” and “gavião” means “hawk,” so the name reads roughly as “the hawk’s viewpoint.”
It totally fits: the lodge’s raised decks and terraces give guests a bird’s-eye view over the forest canopy and the Rio Negro, the same commanding angle a hawk has from above.
The name is not only poetic. The harpy eagle, known in Brazil as the gavião-real, is one of the largest and most powerful birds of prey on Earth, and it inhabits this part of the Amazon. Spotting one is rare and never guaranteed, but the forests around Novo Airão are genuine harpy country.
@kaigner
2 – Its front yard is Anavilhanas, the world’s second-largest river archipelago
Mirante do Gavião Amazon Lodge looks straight out onto Anavilhanas National Park, one of the natural wonders of the Amazon. The Anavilhanas archipelago is the second-largest river archipelago on the planet, made up of more than 400 islands scattered across the Rio Negro.
During the high-water season, much of the archipelago floods into igapós, or flooded forests, that you can paddle a canoe straight through. It is one reason the water around Novo Airão is considered some of the most scenic in the whole Amazon basin.
3 – A boat-shaped lodge with award-winning architecture
The first thing you notice about Mirante do Gavião Amazon Lodge is its silhouette. The main buildings were designed to resemble the inverted hull of a wooden boat, a nod to the fact that families in Novo Airão have built river vessels by hand for generations.
The design borrows directly from Amazonian shipbuilding techniques, with curved timber frames and elevated lookouts that some compare to the outstretched wings of a hawk. Rather than clearing the forest to impose a building on it, the architecture was made to sit inside the landscape and echo the river culture around it.
Far from merely claiming to be unique, the lodge features a roughly 1,678 m² design crafted by the studio Atelier O’Reilly. This distinguished project has been featured by ArchDaily, a premier global architectural publication.
In its opening year, the design won first prize from the Brazilian Association of Corporate Architects in the commercial building category. That recognition is a big part of how a former riverboat stopover in a small Amazon town became a destination in its own right.
4 – Built entirely from certified reforestation wood
Every timber structure at the lodge is made from certified reforestation hardwood, mainly itaúba, a dense Amazonian wood well suited to the humid climate.
The buildings stand on stilts, following the same logic riverside communities have used for centuries to live with a river that rises and falls several meters a year.
Opting for certified, reforestation-sourced wood holds immense significance in an area facing continuous threats from illegal logging. By taking this approach, Mirante do Gavião ensures its architectural design actively supports its environmental mission rather than undermining it.
5 – Just 13 suites, by design
Mirante do Gavião Amazon Lodge is deliberately small. It has only 13 suites, split across three categories: Treehouse, Luxury, and Premium.
The Premium suites are the most spacious, some with hydromassage tubs (ofurôs) on private balconies that open right onto the forest.
Keeping the lodge to 13 rooms is a decision, not a limitation. Fewer guests means quieter decks, more personal service, and a lighter footprint on the surrounding forest, which is exactly what most travelers want after coming this far up the Rio Negro.
6 – Amazonian cuisine at the Camu-Camu restaurant
The Mirante do Gavião’s restaurant is named Camu-Camu, after a small Amazonian fruit with one of the highest natural vitamin C contents of any food on Earth.
The kitchen serves contemporary Amazonian food à la carte, built around regional ingredients such as tucupi, tambaqui fish, jambu, and cupuaçu.
The menu is led by chef Débora Shornik, who spent around eight years working alongside Argentinian chef Paola Carosella before bringing her cooking to the rainforest. The result treats regional Amazonian ingredients as fine dining rather than an afterthought.
7 – Wildlife from the lookout decks (including pink river dolphins)
True to its name, the lodge is dotted with elevated lookouts and observation decks. From them, guests regularly spot birds, sloths, and iguanas without leaving the property because the buildings sit right up against native forest, with Brazil nut and tucumã palm trees growing between them.
The main attraction, however, lies on the water. The stretch of the Rio Negro surrounding Novo Airão stands out as one of Brazil’s top locations to spot the pink river dolphin (also known as the boto-cor-de-rosa), an iconic species of the Amazon.
At PlanetaEXO, we favor natural encounters over staged ones. Watching a pink river dolphin choose to surface beside your canoe, on its own terms, beats any forced interaction. Sightings are never guaranteed in a wild ecosystem, but they happen more often than you think.
8 – More than a lodge: a community partner in Novo Airão
Mirante do Gavião Amazon Lodge is deeply tied to the town it belongs to. It was built largely by the local community, with around 60 residents trained and employed across roughly two years of construction, applying traditional boat-building carpentry to reforestation wood.
Its sustainability commitments run through the whole operation, from solar power for electricity and hot water to an organic garden, composting, effluent treatment, and rainwater use.
The lodge’s community ties reach well beyond its own walls. Mirante do Gavião is a sponsor of the Fundação Almerinda Malaquias (FAM), a Novo Airão non-profit that trains local people in craftwork and soap-making, runs environmental education for young people, and supports responsible ecotourism. In 2024 alone, FAM helped 190 people enroll in school and 45 families generate income across ten riverside communities.
That blend of comfort, design, and real community roots is what makes the lodge such a natural fit for ecotourism travelers.
Experience Mirante do Gavião Amazon Lodge with PlanetaEXO
Now that you know what makes this award-winning lodge in Novo Airão so distinctive, the next step is to see it with your own eyes, from the decks over the Rio Negro to the flooded forests of Anavilhanas National Park.
As an ecotourism platform, PlanetaEXO has a long partnership with Mirante do Gavião. From the moment of booking to the customization of your itinerary, our team helps organize your trip to ensure your experience is as hassle-free and fulfilling as possible. Contact us now!
Native river fish, cassava in a dozen forms, and fruits you’ll find nowhere else are some of the Amazonian food that await you in the largest rainforest on Earth
Amazonian food starts with three ingredients and thousands of years of practice. The first is fish, as the Amazon basin holds more species than any river system on Earth. The second is cassava (mandioca), a root domesticated in the southwestern region roughly 10,000 years ago. The third is fruit: açaí, cupuaçu, tucumã, and dozens more that grow wild in the forest.
Layered over all of it is the deepest influence of all: the Indigenous and ribeirinho (river-dweller) kitchens that invented most of these dishes long before anyone wrote them down.
That makes food here far more than dinner. Cassava alone sustains the regional economy: the North region grows 36% of Brazil’s crop, with the state of Pará producing almost 4 million tons a year. Açaí is a billion-real business: Pará supplies over 93% of Brazil’s production and is the world’s largest exporter of the fruit.
Dishes like tacacá and pato no tucupi anchor festivals, religious processions, and daily rituals from Belém to Manaus, which is why Amazonian cuisine is treated as heritage, not just a menu.
Want to know what actually lands on the table? PlanetaEXO, an ecotourism platform specializing in Amazon rainforest tours, has put together this guide to 7 typical dishes, featuring what they are, where they come from, and how to eat them the way locals do. Check it out below!
1. Tambaqui
The tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) is one of the largest scaled fish in the Amazon River basin, reaching up to 108 cm and 40 kg.
It is also a frugivore, which means that when the rivers rise, it swims into the flooded forest and eats fruit and seeds, cracking hard nuts with a powerful set of teeth and scattering seeds over long distances: a single fish can carry up to 1 kg of seeds in its gut. That fruit diet is exactly why its meat is prized: firm, fatty, and mild.
It is the fish the region cooks most. The tambaqui is the most farmed native fish in Brazil, second overall only to imported tilapia. On an Amazonian table, it shows up two ways above all.
Costela de tambaqui are the ribs, salted and grilled over charcoal until the fat crisps, eaten with farinha and lime. Caldeirada de tambaqui is a stew in which the fish is simmered for about 20 minutes with tomato, onion, pimenta-de-cheiro, and cilantro, then served with white rice and cassava flour.
Where to try it: Grilled tambaqui is on nearly every menu in Manaus and Santarém, and it’s a staple lunch on a 7-day Amazon River Cruise.
In the Amazon, açaí is not a dessert. The frozen, sweetened açaí bowl topped with granola and banana that went global (and the sugary version eaten across the rest of Brazil) would puzzle people born and raised in the Amazonas and Pará.
Authentic Amazonian açaí is thick, deep purple, unsweetened, and savory, usually poured over a plate and eaten with farinha, fried fish, or dried shrimp as a main meal. It comes from the Euterpe oleracea palm and has fed Indigenous and ribeirinho communities for centuries.
It is also one of the Amazon’s economic engines. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, Pará produces an average of nearly 1.7 million tons a year, shipping 8,200 tons abroad in 2023, led by the town of Igarapé-Miri (25% of the exports). For millions of families, the daily bowl is both dinner and income.
Where to try it: Ask for it puro (pure, unsweetened) with farinha at any market in Belém or Manaus.
@paraiaca
3. Tucumã
Tucumã is the fruit of the Astrocaryum tucumã palm, common across central Amazonia. Its name comes from the ancient Tupi tukũ, “fruit of the spiny plant,” after the black thorns covering the trunk and leaves.
The edible part is a bright orange, fibrous pulp (firm, oily, rich in vitamins A and C, and in omega 3, 6, and 9) with a flavor somewhere between pumpkin and roasted nut.
In the state of Amazonas, it is recognized as cultural heritage and a marker of local identity. Its most famous form is the X-caboquinho: a French roll filled with tucumã, fried plantains, and queijo coalho (curd cheese), usually washed down with milky coffee. This is a breakfast so tied to the city that it is listed as intangible cultural heritage of Manaus.
Locals also turn tucumã into patê, farofa, and arroz de tucumã (rice cooked with the pulp).
Where to try it: Any bakery or street stall in Manaus sells the X-caboquinho from dawn.
@yasaibrasil
4. Tapioca
You’ll find tapioca griddled on street corners from São Paulo to the beaches of the Northeast, a fixture of Brazilian food nationwide. It is made from cassava starch, the goma that settles out when grated cassava is soaked and pressed.
Although tapioca is widely consumed throughout the country, its origins are in the Amazon region, and even the name is Indigenous:tipi’óka is the Tupi word for the “clot” that forms. The Tupi-Guarani were extracting it and safely detoxifying the poisonous bitter cassava millennia before any chemist explained how.
Cassava is still the backbone of the regional diet and economy: Pará is Brazil’s largest producer, growing almost 4 million tons (about 17.9% of the national crop).
Tapioca itself is endlessly versatile, taken sweet with coconut and condensed milk or savory with cheese and meat. But the most Amazonian way to eat it is simple: a hot tapioca folded around queijo coalho and tucumã, the two regional flavors meeting in one bite.
Where to try it: Anywhere in Brazil, from North to South, but the authentic Amazonian version can be found in Amazonas and Pará.
Cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) is a close relative of cacao, native to the eastern Amazon. The fruit is large, with a hard brown shell and a white, juicy, intensely aromatic pulp that smells like a cross between chocolate and pineapple.
Indigenous peoples ate the fresh pulp and roasted the seeds into a bitter chocolate long before the fruit had a scientific name. Today, those roasted seeds make cupulate, an Amazonian answer to chocolate.
As an Amazonian food deeply rooted in locals’ lives, it is the region’s most versatile dessert ingredient. Rich in fiber and enzymes, the pulp goes into juices, mousses, ice cream, puddings, sweets, compotes, and liqueurs.
Most of Brazil’s cupuaçu comes from Pará, Amazonas, and Amapá, where it also feeds sustainable agroforestry systems.
Where to try it: Order a cupuaçu juice or ice cream anywhere in the north of Brazil.
@fazendabomsossego
@slechipitangueiras
6. Pato no tucupi
Pato no tucupi (duck in tucupi) is the most iconic dish of Pará. It brings together duck, tucupi (the bright-yellow broth pressed from bitter cassava and slowly cooked until its natural cyanide is gone), and jambu, an Amazonian leaf that leaves a tingling, slightly numbing buzz on the lips and tongue. Garlic, pimenta-de-cheiro, and chicory round it out, and it is served with fluffy white rice and farinha.
Its origin is the story of Amazonian food in miniature: the tucupi and jambu are Indigenous and ribeirinho, mastered on the rivers centuries before contact, while the duck arrived with European colonizers: a fusion cooked in a single pot.
Today it is the traditional dish of the Círio de Nazaré, the Marian procession in Belém that draws around two million people every October, where families gather over pato no tucupi as part of the celebration.
Where to try it: There are several options for eating pato no tucupi in Belém, the capital of Pará, such as the restaurants Ver-O-Açaí and Amazonia na Cuia.
@combu_da_amazonia
7. Tacacá
Tacacá is Amazonian food at its most ceremonial and its most everyday. It’s served scalding hot in a cuia (a gourd bowl) and sipped straight from the bowl, formed with a base of tapioca goma, flooded with tucupi, and then loaded with jambu and dried shrimp.
The result numbs and warms the mouth at once. It descends from mani poi, an Indigenous soup that European travelers were already describing in the 16th century. Nowadays, it is sold on the street by tacacazeiras, women who have made it the same way for generations.
For over 20 years, the Tacacá na Bossa festival has filled Largo de São Sebastião, the square in front of the Teatro Amazonas in Manaus, with free regional music performances and steaming bowls of tacacá.
Meanwhile, in the community of São Braz in Santarém, Pará, the Tacacá Fest brings together regional music, cultural attractions, religious rituals, and traditional Amazonian food.
Where to try it: You can enjoy tacacá at various spots in Belém, with street stalls being the most traditional option (Barraca da Fafá, Tacacá da Dona Maria, and Tacacá da Flávia). In Manaus, it is worth checking out Tacacá da Tia Socorro, Tacacá da Gisela, and Netos Tacacá.
Taste delicious Amazonian food while traveling with PlanetaEXO!
Now that you know these mouthwatering dishes, the best way to understand Amazonian food is to eat it where it’s made, whether that is in a market stall in Belém, a festival in Manaus, or a boat gliding across the waters of the Rio Negro.
PlanetaEXO is an ecotourism platform specializing in Amazon rainforest tours. Working alongside the best local operators, guides, and cooks in the region, our team handles everything, from hassle-free vacation planning to tailor-made experiences. Contact us now!
Hiking, canoeing the flooded forest, piranha fishing, night spotting, community visits, and much more. Plus, how your choice of lodge, cruise, or camp decides which ones you get!
The Amazon runs on water. The river gauge in Manaus harbor has been read by hand every single day since 1902, telling a simple story: the Rio Negro rises to its peak between May and July, usually in June, then falls to its low point at the end of October. This information is crucial to the people of the state of Amazonas because the water level dictates a lot of what happens in the region, including tourism.
Therefore, it’s important to understand it before you book your Amazon Rainforest vacation. At high water, you paddle a canoe through the forest, between branches, over ground you would have walked on in October. At low water, white sand beaches appear where the canoe was. Same place, same trip name, completely different days.
PlanetaEXO, an ecotourism platform specializing in Amazon Rainforest tours, has put together this guide to the 7 main activities that fill almost every itinerary in the forest—and to how lodges, cruises, and camps change each one. Check it out below!
Lodge, cruise or camp: where you sleep decides your days
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Aerial view of an Amazon river cruise boat moored at a white-sand river beach at sunset
Pink river dolphin (boto) surfacing with its mouth open in the dark waters of the Amazon
Before any activity, one decision shapes all of them: your base. The three options are not three price tiers of the same Amazon jungle vacation, as they give you different access to the forest.
An Amazon jungle lodge is fixed. You get a bed, a fan or air conditioning, a restaurant, and a radius: everything you do happens within a couple of hours of the dock. For many travelers, that radius is the trade-off, as the good lodges sit inside territory worth staying still in. Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge, for example, faces the Anavilhanas archipelago, a blackwater maze of islands protected as a national park covering 350,469 hectares.
On the other hand, Amazon river cruises are all about reach. The boat moves overnight, so you wake up somewhere new and never repeat a stretch of river. That is how vessels can take in Jaú National Park—one of the largest protected areas in the Amazon and a UNESCO World Heritage site—plus Indigenous communities and dolphin encounters all in one itinerary.
A camp gives up both. On tours that involve jungle survival courses, like the 4-day Amazon Survival Tour, people sleep in hammocks under tarps, with a mosquito net and a guide awake through the night watching for animals.
1. Forest hiking
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Naturalist guide teaching two travelers to read the forest during an Amazon jungle hike
Young monkey perched among the leaves in the Amazon rainforest canopy
Here is the honest version of an Amazon rainforest hike: you will not see a jaguar. What you will see are trees—and that turns out to be the point once somebody teaches you how to read them.
Across the basin, a 2013 study in Science estimated roughly 16,000 tree species among about 390 billion individual trees and found that just 227 of those species (1.4%) account for half of every tree standing in the Amazon. Diversity that dense is invisible to an untrained eye.
That’s why having a guide by your side is crucial. A trained professional walks the same trail you do and narrates a different world, including which bark brings down a fever, which vine holds drinkable water, which scratch on a trunk was left by a peccary that morning, and which animal belongs to a call you hear among the trees.
Expect heat, stagnant humidity, mud, and a pace closer to a museum than a workout (trails typically run 2 to 3 hours). The forest floor is dark and quiet because nearly all the life is in the canopy above.
2. Canoeing the flooded forest
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When the Rio Negro rises, it does not just fill its banks, but it crawls into the forest and stays for months. The result is igapó, a blackwater flooded forest stained the color of strong tea by tannins from decaying leaves. Its whitewater counterpart is várzea, flooded instead by the sediment-heavy Solimões River. Both are forests you paddle through rather than past, and the canopy that was 15 meters over your head in October is at eye level in June.
A motorboat cannot go there. The gaps between trunks are too narrow, the water hides submerged branches, and the engine noise would empty the place. Instead, you take a paddle canoe, whose quiet gliding lets you get close to the inhabitants of the area, such as sloths, caimans, squirrel monkeys, and many more.
The best water is the Rio Negro and its side channels known as igarapés, plus the flooded lakes of Anavilhanas and, on the Pará side, the Arapiuns and Tapajós.
One catch worth planning around your Amazon Rainforest vacation: at low water, the igapó is dry land. If paddling under the canopy is your reason for going, travel between roughly May and August.
3. Traditional fishing
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Long before it was an activity, fishing was lunch—and across most of the Amazon, it still is. The basin holds over 2,400 described fish species, while the Rio Negro alone accounts for 1,165 of them, with 156 found nowhere else on Earth. This is the most fish-diverse river system on the planet, and the people living on it have eaten from it for millennia.
Piranha fishing is the version almost every itinerary includes. It’s low-tech on purpose: sticks, lengths of line, hooks, and scraps of meat are all the equipment you need, plus a lot of slapping the water to imitate something in trouble.
Before you get scared, piranhas are not the animal the films sold you. Of the roughly 30 species in South America, most are omnivores and scavengers. In fact, people swim in piranha water every day across the Amazon. It’s important to be mindful, of course, but follow your guide’s instructions and you’ll be just fine.
Other fish you may meet:
Tucunaré (peacock bass), the largest cichlid in the Americas, at up to 99 cm and 12.2 kg.
Aruanã, which reaches 90 cm and jumps clear of the water to take insects off low branches.
Tambaqui, up to 108 cm and 40 kg, which eats fruit and seeds dropped into the flooded forest.
Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas), one of the largest freshwater fish in the world at up to 4.5 meters and 200 kg, is an air-breather that has to surface every few minutes.
Traditional Amazonian fishing does not harm the ecosystem the way mass fishing does. Many local communities manage their own lakes, counting fish, setting quotas, and monitoring the entry of outside boats. This not only helps keep the practice respectful and sustainable but also contributes to these families’ income.
On Amazon Rainforest travel itineraries, you and your guide will fish using handlines, keeping only what will be consumed and returning the rest to the water.
4. Night spotting
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Caiman with glowing eyeshine spotted on the forest floor at night in the Amazon
Tree boa coiled around a branch during an Amazon night walk
After dinner, you get back in the boat. Someone kills the engine, someone else sweeps a flashlight along the margin, and the bank lights up with pairs of orange coals floating on the water.
That eyeshine is not a trick of the light. Caimans have a tapetum lucidum: a layer of guanine crystals behind the retina that bounces incoming light back through it a second time, doubling the chance each photon is caught. It is why they hunt well in near-total darkness and why they are easy to find at night and nearly impossible to spot by day.
Two eyes wide apart and low in the water mean a big animal; the gap between them scales with the skull, so an experienced guide estimates the length before anything moves. The black caiman is the one to hope for—it’s the largest predator in the Amazon basin, reaching around 5 meters.
Other animals might make an appearance after dark. Expect tree frogs, fishing bats, boa constrictors, potoos, kingfishers, and, with luck, a night monkey, the only nocturnal monkey in the Americas.
Survival guide weaving palm fronds during a jungle survival course in the Amazon
Hammocks with mosquito nets strung between trees at an Amazon jungle survival camp
In a survival camp, you carry what you need into the forest, sleep where you stop, and spend the days learning how the people who live there stay alive. The setup is deliberately spare: hammock, mosquito net, a tarp overhead against the rain, a fire for cooking, and a guide awake through the night. Meals are simple and partly caught that day.
A jungle survival course in the Amazon typically covers making fire in wet conditions, building a shelter from what is standing nearby, finding drinkable water in vines and rainwater traps, orientation without a trail, identifying edible and medicinal plants, basic traps and knots, and cooking over an open fire.
You learn all this and much more from expert survival guides who know the forest like the back of their hand. The goal here is to learn to read the forest’s signs , so follow their instructions and don’t leave with any unanswered questions.
Not everyone enjoys an experience like this. Amazon jungle camping is aimed at travelers who want to immerse themselves in the rawest form of nature. If you want to develop survival skills and are fine with heat, insects, not using a proper bathroom, and being totally disconnected from the outside world, then this is the right option for you!
6. Visiting riverside and Indigenous communities
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Aerial view of children holding hands in a circle in an Amazon riverside community
Hand reaching into a woven basket of roasted seeds at an Amazon riverside community
A large proportion of those living in Amazonas reside in Manaus or other urban areas, but the forest is not inhabited solely by animals.
Brazil’s 2022 census counted 1,694,836 Indigenous people across 391 peoples speaking 295 languages—and 867,900 of them, 51.2%, live in the Legal Amazon. Alongside them are the ribeirinhos, the river-dwelling communities whose houses stand on stilts or float outright.
When you book your Amazon Rainforest vacation with respectful operators, visits are arranged in advance, the community sets the tone, and the money lands locally. What you actually do depends on who is hosting.
At São Marcos, near Alter do Chão, the living is made from cassava—you will see the flour mill that produces the farinha eaten with nearly every meal in the region. At Aldeia Atodi, a female-led Indigenous village on the Arapiuns, the guardians walk you through the forest on the theme of medicinal plants.
At Coroca and at Santo Antônio, the day runs through orchards, flour houses, and forest trails with the people who work them. At the Aturiá community on the Rio Negro, the visit is deliberately unhurried: local customs, family histories, seasonal fruit straight from the orchard, and even a football match with the kids.
The deepest version on offer is the Pico da Neblina expedition, where the trek to Brazil’s highest peak at 2,995 meters enters Yanomami territory and is guided at every step by Yanomami leaders.
Beyond the incredibly rich cultural experience, guided tours contribute to the maintenance and development of the communities. Many families derive a significant portion of their livelihood from ecotourism, which benefits not only the people but also the forest, as individuals can earn a living without engaging in practices that are potentially harmful to nature.
If cultural experiences are something you’re interested in, remember: ask before you photograph anyone, buy the craftwork, and take the guide your operator arranged rather than turning up unannounced.
When the water falls, the Amazon hands back something most visitors never expect: beaches. Fine white sand, warm water, no salt, no tide, and no way to get there except by boat.
An Amazon river beach is a sandbank that spends half the year underwater. As the river drops from its June peak toward the end of October’s low, the banks surface one by one, and by the time the level bottoms out, they can stretch for hundreds of meters. Then the floods return and erase them completely. They are seasonal in the strictest sense, which means the beach you swam on last year may not come back in the same shape.
The best time to visit the Amazon Rainforest for beaches is, therefore, the mirror image of the canoeing season—roughly September through December, peaking around the low water. The clearest water is on the blackwater and clearwater rivers: the Tapajós at Alter do Chão, known as the Caribbean of the Amazon, and the Rio Negro around Anavilhanas.
What you do on a river beach is not that different from a traditional beach—with the exception of the lack of ocean, of course. Swim, eat lunch on the sand (don’t litter!), get a tan, or take a nap by the banks. Perfect for a slow-paced, relaxed moment in your Amazon jungle vacation.
Ready to plan your Amazon Rainforest vacation? Start with PlanetaEXO!
Now that you know what actually fills the days in a nature tour on the largest rainforest on Earth, the only real question left is which base gets you the version you want and which month puts the water where you need it to be.
PlanetaEXO is an ecotourism platform specializing in Amazon Rainforest tours. Working alongside the best local operators and guides in the region, our team handles everything from hassle-free vacation planning to tailor-made itineraries for travelers from all over the world. Contact us now!
Learn everything you need before enjoying your Amazon tour in Brazil, including when is the best time to visit, how to get there, what are the main activities and much more!
Are you a nature lover and your ultimate dream to visit the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil so you can experience the fascinating wonders of the largest tropical rainforest in the world? If the answer is a loud and clear “yes!”, then you’ve come to the right place!
There are many ways to discover it, from guided tours with wild camping, to staying in luxury jungle lodges, or even enjoying river cruises.
To help with your vacation planning, PlanetaEXO, an ecotourism platform specialized in Amazon Rainforest tours in Brazil, has created this carefully curated travel guide. Check it out below and discover how to visit the Amazon and other important information about this spectacular destination!
If it were a country, the Amazon would be the seventh largest in the world. It spans 6.7 million km² — twice the size of India!
The impressive numbers go on, this time regarding fauna and flora: there are 30 million species of animals — although not all of them have been officially cataloged yet —, 2.5 million types of insects, and 2,500 and 30,000 varieties of trees and plants, respectively.
When it comes to the watershed, 20% of the planet’s freshwater belongs to the Amazon. The Amazon River alone has an extension of 6,400 km, going down the Andes Mountains and flowing into the Atlantic Ocean.
Such richness holds more than half of the world’s entire biodiversity, making the value of the Amazon Rainforest immeasurable and irreplaceable.
The Amazon Rainforest is in South America, reaching eight different countries: Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.
59% of its area is solely located in Brazil, touching the states of Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Pará, Acre, Amapá, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins.
Can you visit the Amazon Rainforest?
Yes, absolutely! But it’s important to rely on professionals who truly know the area. The forest is incredibly beautiful, but the wilderness can be harsh. So if you’ve ever wondered if it’s safe to visit the Amazon Rainforest, the presence of qualified guides is crucial and non-negotiable.
This is also the best way to appreciate nature in its fullness, since an expert will know how to move around the jungle. The activities are vast, but some factors should be considered for everyone’s enjoyment, like weather conditions and the right placesto spot animals.
Brazil Amazon tours are actually encouraged because they can also be a great way to ensure its preservation. Ecotourism is a powerful tool to provide work for local communities. When sustainable travel companies employ these people, they inspire them to work in favor of the forest instead of its degradation.
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Ecotourism also raises awareness about environmental issues, like deforestation, pollution and climate change. Upon seeing the wonders of the Amazon, travelers fully understand why it is so important to protect it, which can make them engaged in conservation projects not only in the rainforest but also in their home countries.
There are a few ways to visit the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, but the most convenient one is flying to Manaus, capital of Amazonas.
From the US, travelers can depart from Miami (MIA) and fly straight to Manaus (MAO). From Fort Lauderdale (FLL), connecting flights have layovers in Bogotá (BOG), Panama City (PTY), Belém (BEL) and São Paulo (VCP or GRU).
From Europe, layovers are also expected in Rio de Janeiro (GIG), Belo Horizonte (CNF), Recife (REC), Fortaleza (FOR) or Brasília (BSB), depending on the departure location.
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The Amazon in Mato Grosso and Pará are also amazing vacation spots to explore nature. In this case, flying to these states’ capitals is the best option.
When is the best time to visit the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil?
Although the Amazon is considered a year-round destination, the period from January to September offers the best conditions because it avoids the peak of the dry season. At the same time, there are good hiking trail options and enough water for aquatic activities.
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The wet season (December to May) is great for people who want to enjoy the Amazonian rivers by kayaking, canoeing, swimming and exploring the igapós (flooded forests). Rainstorms are common, but don’t last too long.
Meanwhile, the dry season (June to November) is popular because it usually allows both water and land-based activities. However, extended droughts are becoming more frequent, especially from October to December. This causes low water levels and limited access to a few areas and itineraries, though things tend to get better by January.
In addition to how to visit the Amazon Rainforest, what to do during the trip is a very frequently asked question by people who are interested in spending their vacation there.
There are millions of species of animals in this ecosystem, but some are considered symbols of the forest, like the mysterious harpy eagle, colorful macaws (red and blue), black spider monkeys, beautiful jaguars, cute-looking sloths, friendly Amazon pink dolphins and ravenous piranhas.
The last two, in particular, are big Amazon stars. Interacting with dolphins is an absolute fan favorite, while fishing for piranhas brings everyone’s adrenaline to its maximum — an activity always monitored by experienced guides and respecting sustainable practices, of course.
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Keep in mind: despite the abundant fauna, there is no absolute guarantee that these animals will be spotted for a few reasons — the dense vegetation makes wildlife sightings more difficult, some species tend to hide from humans (especially during the day) and local operators follow strict protocols to not disturb animals.
Many people wonder if there are hotels in the Amazon. The answer is yes, but they’re known as jungle lodges since they are located in the middle of the forest.
Photo: Felipe Castellari
Lodges offer comfortable accommodations, leisure areas (swimming pools, entertainment areas, gyms, lounges, bars, gift shops…), great restaurants and exclusive activities around the forest. From modest to luxury, there’s an option for everyone.
Another alternative is the river cruises, which work similarly to classic cruise ships on the ocean, but with fewer passengers and sailing across the waters of Amazonian rivers, like the Rio Negro, Solimões, Tapajós and the Amazon River.
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The best Amazon cruises in Brazil include wonderful ensuite cabins, a restaurant onboard and many entertainment options, this is a fantastic way to experience nature.
If you don’t mind giving up comfort so you can completely immerse yourself in nature, then our suggestion is the Amazon Jungle Survival Tour, a fantastic trip where you get to spend your nights camping in the middle of the forest! Accompanied by qualified guides, you’ll sleep in hammocks, cook your food on the campfire and even learn survival techniques.
How long should you stay in the Amazon Rainforest?
The length of your trip depends on how immersive you want your experience to be.
A 3-day tour is recommended for those on a tight schedule — it’s short, but still allows for river tours, guided jungle walks and a first introduction to the rainforest’s unique ecosystems. It’s a good option if you’re passing through Manaus or combining the Amazon with other destinations in Brazil.
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Traveling to the Amazon in Brazil: how much does it cost?
The cost of a trip to the Amazon in Brazil depends on various factors, like accommodation category, group size, trip length and itineraries.
Photo: Samuel Melim
For example, wild camping tours are a more budget-friendly option, offering a raw and immersive experience, while luxury lodges provide high-end comfort at a higher price. Solo travelers may face higher costs due to single occupancy charges, whereas group travelers can benefit from shared costs.
PlanetaEXO curates the best Amazon Rainforest Tours in Brazil, with prices (per person) ranging from US$ 418 for basic camping expeditions to US$ 4,392 forpremium luxury packages — not including flight tickets.
Do you need a vaccine to go to the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil?
Unlike other countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Panama, and Venezuela), there is no requirement of yellow fever vaccinations to visit the Amazon in Brazil because ANVISA (Brazil Health Regulatory Agency) doesn’t consider the disease a risk in national territory.
However, it’s strongly recommended that foreign tourists get their shots at least ten days before the trip — especially if they intend to visit the rainforest in the countries previously mentioned. Better safe than sorry!
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Is it safe to visit the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil?
Yes, it’s safe to visit the Amazon, as long as you explore with experienced local guides. Travelers might think there are wild animals and hidden dangers along the trails, but tours are carefully planned to avoid risky situations.
Tour guides know the forest inside out and ensure that every activity, from jungle walks to boat trips, is carried out with complete safety and respect for nature.
Since itineraries are designed only for observation, you won’t come across animals that pose any threat. Besides, most species prefer to stay hidden, so encounters are peaceful moments to admire their beauty.
With professional guidance, comfortable logistics, and well-structured activities, visiting the Amazon is a safe and unforgettable adventure for all travelers.
It’s more than worth it! The Amazon Rainforest is the richest place on the planet when it comes to natural resources. The jungle, the rivers, the animals, the food, the people — everything holds an inexplicable beauty and magical atmosphere not found anywhere else.
Adventure and ecotourism enthusiasts should spend at least a few days in this surreal destination so they can witness with their own eyes what Mother Nature is truly capable of.
We hope this guide on how to visit the Amazon has been helpful to kick off your travel plans!
As an expert platform that works with the best local operators, PlanetaEXO offers incredible Amazon Rainforest tours in Brazil with tailor-made itineraries and all the support you might need. Contact us now!
Vibrant and incredibly valuable for the planet, the Brazilian rainforest is a top destination for ecotourism. Here are our 15 facts about the Amazon!
Beautiful, colossal, diverse, and always at the center of attention in international discussions about the environment, the Amazon Rainforest is, undoubtedly, one of the most fascinating places on the planet.
That’s why the number of visitors is growing every day. Only in the first four months of 2025, tourism in the state of Amazonas grew by a total of 13%, with a 21,85% increase in foreign tourists, according to the Amazonas State Tourism Company. Here’s your first fact about the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil!
To give a taste of what awaits you, PlanetaEXO, an ecotourism platform specialized in Amazon Rainforest tours, has put together a list with 15 fun facts about the Amazon. Check it out below!
1 – How big is the Amazon Rainforest?
The Amazon Rainforest’s size is impressive: with an area of 6.74 million km², it extends over eight different countries in South America: Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela, and Suriname. Unsurprisingly, it’s the largest rainforest on Earth.
To give you an idea of how massive this is, the Amazon is almost the size of Australia (7,692,024 km²) or twice the size of India (3,287,590 km²)!
Photo: Andre Dib
2 – Largest share of the Amazon
60% of the Amazon Rainforest’s share — approximately 4.2 million km² — is located in Brazil, divided between the states of Amazonas, Amapá, Acre, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, Tocantins, Mato Grosso and Maranhão.
The largest portion is in Amazonas (1.285.216 km²), followed by Pará (947,303 km²) and Mato Grosso (423,967 km²).
Some of the most interesting facts about the Amazon in Brazil involve the Amazon River. Up until 2008, the Nile River, in Africa, was considered the longest in the world, ranging from 6,650 km.
However, satellite images taken by the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) — a unit of the Brazilian Ministry of Science — concluded that this title actually belongs to the Amazon River and its imposing 6,992 km.
The river’s source is in the Andes Mountains, Peru, whereas its mouth is located in Ilha do Marajó, in the state of Pará, where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean. This long path has more than 1,000 tributaries along Brazil, Colombia, and Peru, representing 20% of all continental freshwater on the planet.
This is also the largest basin in the world, with an area of 7,000,000 km². The river is the main source of water for thousands of different species of animals and millions of plants, contributing to the climate maintenance of the region.
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People benefit as well. Riverside and Indigenous communities use these waters for their day-to-day needs, but the Amazon River is also important for activities like fishing, agriculture, animal husbandry, and tourist attractions—like river cruises.
In total, Brazil has 1.7 million indigenous people, while half of them call the Amazon their home. There are over 180 indigenous communities occupying an area of 1.110.000 km² in the forest, mostly in the states of Mato Grosso, Maranhão, Amazonas, and Roraima. The Yanomami are the largest group, with 27,152 people, followed by Raposa Serra do Sol (26,176) and Évare I (20,177).
Indigenous communities had lived in Brazil long before the Portuguese arrived in 1500. Protecting their lands and supporting their causes are ways of preserving their culture and the very essence of the country, while also caring for the Amazonian biodiversity.
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Though there are a handful of isolated groups, most indigenous communities welcome visitors to teach them about their traditions and raise awareness on the importance of the Amazon Rainforest.
5 – Cultural experiences
One of the most amazing facts about the Amazon in Brazil is how diverse the culture in this region actually is. Aside from indigenous people, the rainforest is home to riverside communities — mostly composed of caboclos (non-indigenous people born in Amazonian territory) and quilombolas (descendants of enslaved Africans who fled from sugar mills to create their own groups from the 16th and the 19th centuries).
This multiculturalism offers incredible experiences for many travelers, who are welcomed by locals to engage with their families and learn about their beliefs, food habits, crafts, and close relationship with nature.
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6 – Unique wildlife
Brazil’sInstitute for Society, Population and Nature (ISPN)states that the entire Amazon fauna has not been fully documented yet. While researchers are sure there’s still a lot more to discover, about 30 million species have been officially cataloged to date.
In Brazilian territory, there are 311 types of mammals, 1,300 birds, 232 amphibians, 273 reptiles, and 1,800 fish. Some animals are considered symbols of the Amazon Rainforest, like pink dolphins, giant anteaters, giant otters, spider monkeys, piranhas and anacondas.
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Other little creatures play a big role in balancing the Amazon ecosystem. It is estimated that over 2.5 million species of insects live in the forest, including the world’s biggest collection of butterfly species — at least 133 only in Brazil, according toAmazonian Butterflies, a project of the State Museum of Natural History in Karlsruhe, Germany.
7 – Abundant flora
Nonprofit World-Transforming Technologies (WTT), in association with Agência Bori, charted over 1,070 scientific articles about Amazonian plants published from 2017 to 2021. The operation was able to point out that the Brazilian Amazon is home to up to 40,000 species — with more to be cataloged, most likely.
Researchers also estimate that 2,500 types of trees grow in the forest, representing one-third of all tropical trees on Earth. Some of them are known worldwide, as their fruits are used for tasty treats and even cosmetics, like açaí, Brazil nut, buriti, and tucumã.
Photo: Alex Da Riva
8 – Ecotourism hotspot
One of the most significant facts about the Amazon Rainforest is the unforgettable ecotourism alternatives, including guided hikes, canoeing through flooded forests, wildlife observation, etc.
Not only is the government committed to creating policies to promote sustainable trips, but the best Amazon jungle lodges in Brazil have their own set of protocols to ensure the forest’s conservation without compromising itineraries and stay experiences.
Rainwater harvesting, usage of solar/wind power, recycling, and limiting the number of guests per tour are just a few solutions.
The Meeting of Waters is a remarkable phenomenon where the waters of the Negro and Solimões rivers — black and brown, respectively — run side to side, but never mix. This scenario is a true sight for the eyes, but how does it happen?
There are three reasons for this:
Current speed: While the Negro River’s speed is 2 km/h, Solimões is faster, flowing at 4 to 6 km/h.
Temperature: The Negro River is fairly warm, with an average temperature of 28º C. At 22º C, Solimões is a lot colder.
Acidity: Due to the number of organic acids in Negro River, its pH levels go from 3,8 to 4,9, while Solimões’ stay between 4,5 and 7,8.
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10 – Sumaúma trees
Here’s another fun fact about the Amazon in Brazil: the rainforest is home to a tree that can grow up to 45 meters tall! We’re talking about the iconic sumaúma (or kapok tree).
The oldest sumaúmas in the country are located in the Tapajós National Forest, in Alter do Chão, Pará. The most ancient one is believed to be around 900 and 1,000 years old! This tree is known as the Queen of The Amazon or vovózona (big grandma). Appropriate, isn’t it?
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This particular sumaúma tree is so big it takes twenty-six adults to hug its trunk, while it’s also capable of releasing thousands of liters of water into the air every day.
Overall, it rains between 1,500 mm and 3,000 mm per year in Amazonian territory. The volume is this high because the Amazon basin is so vast, it’s only natural that the rain would follow the same logic.
Coming from the Atlantic, the wind blows towards the continent, which brings humidity to the forest. At first, the soil and vegetation absorb the water. Then, part of the evaporated rain is transpired into the atmosphere, which increases the rainfall.
A 2022 study by the University of São Paulo shows that 25%ofBrazil’srainintheSouthandtheSoutheastisdirectlyrelatedtotheAmazonRainforest — which up in the North. It also has a great impact on all of South America.
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This natural system, however, is under threat. Deforestation, forest fires, and climate change have been greatly affecting the Amazonian rainfall. The low water levels are the biggest problem, hurting the well-being of animals, plants, and people who depend on the rivers to survive.
Deforestation is a terrible thing for the Amazon, but forest fires have been proven to create even greater casualties. From January to October 2024, the fires destroyed 67,000 km² of natural areas, while deforestation affected 6,300 km² between July 2023 and August 2024. The information was disclosed at COP29 (29th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC) by the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM).
It’s a domino effect. Deforestation in the Amazon means climate change, which hurts the rainfall. The lack of humidity and the high temperatures make the soil dry enough for the fire to spread without difficulty.
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COP30, which took place in Pará’s capital Belém in 2025, brought together world leaders to develop plans to deal with fires, deforestation, and the consequences of global warming that directly affect the Amazon and other biomes, such as the Pantanal.
Fire prevention policies, constant surveillance and laws focused on minimizing and reversing damage to the environment are the best ways to solve these problems.
The process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere is called carbon sequestration. This greenhouse gas is very harmful to the environment, which means its absorption helps to prevent climate change.
Through satellite data, the nonprofit Amazon Conservation discovered that Amazonian trees held 56.8 billion metric tons of CO2 above ground in 2022. From a scientific point of view, the term “lungs of the Earth” isn’t quite accurate, but it sums up the importance of the rainforest for the planet’s ecosystem pretty well.
Photo: Andre Dib
14 – Anavilhanas Archipelago
Not everything is lost. National parks in Brazil are extraordinary assets to care for the forest — Anavilhanas being one of them. Covering a total area of 350,000 ha, it protects 400 islands in the Negro River, making it the second-largest river archipelago in the world. The first one is Mariuá, also in Amazonas.
From September to February, during the dry season, many river beaches appear on the park’s horizon. Orla, Aracari, Bararoá, and Camaleão are some of the most famous.
Photo: Felipe Castellari
Located within the boundaries of the national park, Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge, one of the best accommodation options in the Amazon Rainforest, offers five-star stay experiences in the heart of the forest, allowing guests to dive deep into nature while never putting comfort and luxury aside.
15 – Manaus, gateway to the Amazon in Brazil
Finally, our last fact about the Amazon in Brazil is that Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas, is the primary hub for ecotourism in the Northern region and the best starting point to explore the rainforest.
That’s why many travelers choose to fly to Manaus, at Eduardo Gomes International Airport (MAO), to enjoy their Amazon tours most conveniently.
Our 15 Amazon Rainforest facts have surely made you want to experience this grandiosity firsthand!
PlanetaEXO is an ecotourism platform that works with the best local operators and specializes in Amazon tours in Brazil. Our team is ready to assist with everything you need for your next vacation planning. Contact us now!
The richest ecosystem on Earth is home to countless species of animals. Discover the wildlife of the Amazon Rainforest!
Known for its incredibly rich vegetation, the Amazon Rainforest is dense and diverse, with over 2,500 species of trees and 30,000 types of plants—out of 100,000 in all of South America. While the flora is abundant, so is the fauna.
From mammals to fish, amphibians to birds, Amazon animals are as impressive as the place they call home. The rainforest is the Brazilian biome with the most species, sheltering over 75% of mammals and 80% of birds in national territory.
To help you discover the secrets of these creatures, PlanetaEXO, an ecotourism platform specialized in Amazon Rainforest tours in Brazil, has selected 15 fascinating animals that live in the largest tropical forest on the planet. Check it out below!
What animals live in the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil?
According to Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation), there are approximately 30 millionanimals in the Amazon jungle, not counting those that haven’t been cataloged yet.
The rivers are home to almost 3,000 species of fish and notorious mammals, while predators, monkeys, and birds hide among the trees.
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Keep in mind: although the Amazon fauna is undeniably rich, the animals are camouflaged by the dense vegetation or follow nocturnal habits. It’s not impossible to spot them, but it’s less common than in the Pantanal—considered the best place for wildlife watching in Brazil.
Perhaps the symbol of the Amazon Rainforest fauna, the river dolphin is known for its pink skin and friendliness, always welcoming and interacting with humans. Though it’s particularly famous in Brazil, it’s also found in other countries (Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela).
Fun facts about Amazon river dolphins:
Largest freshwater dolphin in the world, measuring up to 2.5 meters and weighing an average of 200 kg.
Male dolphins are larger and pinker, while females are smaller and grey-colored.
To move around in the rivers and flooded forests, as well as find food in the dark waters of the biome, Amazon river dolphins have a well-developed echolocation system.
Local legend says the Amazon river dolphin turns into a charming man during the full moon in the month of June. In human form, it attends festivities, seduces women, and leaves them behind to return to the river. This myth was widely used in popular tradition to explain fatherless children.
2) Amazonian manatee
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The Amazonian manatee is the smallest manatee in the world, measuring up to 3 meters and weighing an average of 450 kg. This gentle giant has been protected by Brazilian law since 1967, though it’s still hunted for the illegal meat trade, and calves are often accidentally caught in fishing nets.
Fun facts about Amazonian manatees:
Just like a fingerprint, each manatee has a white or pinkish spot on their bellies.
Around Marajó Island (Pará) and the coast of Amapá, Amazonian manatees live in sympatry with their marine counterpart (West Indian manatee).
By feeding on aquatic and semi-aquatic plants, they contribute to the nutrient cycling of rivers and vegetation control.
Discreet and fairly solitary, its lifespan is estimated at 60 years.
One of the most fascinating Amazon animals, the harpy eagle is the largest bird of prey in the Americas, reaching a wingspan of just over 2 meters and weighing up to 9 kg for females and 5 kg for males. As an apex predator, it feeds on sloths and monkeys, with claws strong enough to rip them off tree branches.
Fun facts about harpy eagles:
Some Brazilian indigenous groups call them uiraçu, which means “bird bird.” They also believe it to be the personification of the tribes’ chiefs.
Despite their size, it’s difficult to spot them due to their agility and solitary nature.
They usually choose the tallest trees (over 40 m) to build their nests.
Since harpy eagles prey on relatively large animals, they need to hunt in areas averaging 100 km²—the equivalent of 10,000 football fields!
4) Hyacinth macaw
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With bright blue feathers and yellow features, the hyacinth macaw flies in pairs or groups and is very faithful to its mate. Sadly, they’re threatened with extinction due to hunting, illegal trade, and deforestation.
Fun facts about hyacinth macaws:
Feed on nuts from two types of palm trees (acuri and bocaiúva).
At around seven years old, they start to look for mates to breed.
During the first 45 days of life, they are extremely fragile and unable to defend themselves—not even against cockroaches and ants.
They’re also found in the Pantanal and in the Cerrado.
5) Woolly monkey
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Woolly monkeys have very specific features, including a rounded head covered in short fur and long fur across the abdomen, which gives the impression of a robust stomach. That’s why this lovely ape is known as macaco-barrigudo (big-bellied monkey) in Portuguese.
Fun facts about woolly monkeys:
They primarily inhabit the Amazon Rainforest on firm ground but may use flooded forests during periods of high fruit abundance.
They live in the Negro-Solimões interfluve area, except for the eastern part. Also found in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Wool-like coat with a brownish-gray color, a bit lighter on the head.
Categorized as gregarious animals, they live in large groups (12–70 individuals).
Short-eared dogs are part of the list for rare animals in the Amazon Rainforest, as it’s quite difficult to spot them. Their elusiveness works as a form of protection, though deforestation can put them at risk.
Fun facts about short-eared dogs:
They feed on small mammals, reptiles, birds, insects, and fish.
They look like medium-sized dogs, with dark brown or greyish coats, long snouts, and weighing over 10 kg.
Habitat records exist in floodplains, upland forests, swamps, bamboo plantations, and along rivers.
Due to their avoidance of humans, knowledge about them is still considerably limited.
7) Red-bellied piranha
Photo: H. Zell
Contrary to popular belief, piranhas aren’t considered the Amazon Rainforest’s most dangerous animals. Red-bellied piranhas, in particular, don’t tend to attack humans at all—despite their very sharp, triangle-shaped teeth.
Fun facts about red-bellied piranhas:
Their diet consists of insects, aquatic invertebrates, mollusks, crustaceans, other fish, fruit, seeds, and aquatic plants.
Highly valued in local cuisine, it is considered an aphrodisiac.
Inhabits rivers, lakes, and muddy water lagoons.
They reproduce during the rainy season, mostly from April to May. Females lay approximately 5,000 eggs on newly submerged vegetation in nests built by males.
Classified as territorial predators, the giant otter is considerably more aggressive than the Asian small-clawed otter. Excellent swimmers and skilled hunters, fish, crabs, frogs, snakes, and lizards are some of their favorite food.
Fun facts about giant otters:
Widely found in the Amazon, they also inhabit other Brazilian biomes (Pantanal, Cerrado, and the Atlantic Forest).
Distinguished by the white markings on their necks (unique to each individual).
They live in groups of up to 20 members, consisting of a couple and several offspring.
Giant otters use a kind of communal toilet, which also serves to mark their territory with its characteristic scent.
9) Uakari
Photo: Denis Jervis
Uakari is the common name for the New World monkeys from the genus Cacajao. Its most striking features are the lack of fur on the top of its head and a reddish face—the redder the face, the healthier the animal is.
Fun facts about uakaris:
Also known as macaco-inglês (English monkey) in Portuguese.
Native to Brazil, but can also be found in the Colombian and Peruvian Amazon.
Though it’s categorized as a vulnerable species in the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, it has a considerable population near the town of Tefé.
A major inspiration for Uakari Lodge, a jungle hotel located in the Mamirauá Reserve.
The Pantanal is the best place in the world to spot jaguars, but they’re also a part of the Amazon Rainforest wildlife and even the Cerrado. This habitat variation occurs for a single reason: the incredible adaptability of the largest feline in the Americas.
Fun facts about jaguars:
As of October 2025, just over 6,300 jaguars had been recorded in protected areas of the Amazon, according to the Mamirauá Institute.
The dense vegetation of the Amazon makes hunting more difficult than in the open fields of the Pantanal. Therefore, jaguars in the Amazon region are smaller.
Just like the human fingerprint, the rosettes (black spots scattered across the jaguar’s body) serve as a form of identification for each individual.
11) Black caiman
Photo: Marcelo Bonifácio
Deadly and silent, the black caiman is an expert in camouflage and hunts equally dangerous predators, like the anaconda. During night tours, it’s one of the easiest Amazon animals to spot due to their bright eyes shining in the darkness.
Fun facts about black caimans:
One of the largest crocodilians in the world, it measures over 4 meters and weighs 400 kg.
When young, they are hunted by other animals but become apex predators when they become adults due to their massive size.
Unlike other Brazilian species, the black caiman is solitary and is very rarely seen close to each other.
Essential for the ecological balance of the Amazonian ecosystem, as well as controlling populations of capybaras, fish, mammals, and even birds.
The cane toad is fascinating, but not many people get close to them due to their appearance—coarse skin, warts spread across the body, and a fairly unfriendly face—and the milky venom they squirt on attackers, which can affect the heart and cause hallucinations. Who would’ve thought this would be one of the most dangerous animals in the Amazon Rainforest?
Fun facts about the cane toad:
Reproducing at any time of the year, females lay up to 30,000 eggs.
Big and bulky, they can weigh up to 1 kg (especially pregnant females).
Known for the very loud, almost incessant croaking when searching for mates.
The venomous squirt can reach a distance of almost 2 meters.
13) Pale-throated sloth
@devinbelliston
Slow-paced and lazy, the pale-throated sloth sleeps over 14 hours a day. It rarely comes down from the trees, except to relieve itself once a week. Though deforestation can put these Amazon animals at risk, they’re often spotted as there is a healthy population across the rainforest.
Fun facts about pale-throated sloths:
A sloth’s daily movement is approximately 38 meters—and nothing else.
In comparison to their slowness on land, they’re surprisingly good swimmers and are quite fast in the water.
Despite the sharpness of their claws, pale-throated sloths don’t fight off predators and only use them to climb on trees.
To avoid predators like harpy eagles, jaguars, and large snakes, they tend to move around only when night falls.
The Amazonian electric eel is known locally as poraquê, which means “the one who puts to sleep” in the indigenous Tupi language. The name makes sense—their electrical discharges are around 500 volts but can reach up to 1500 volts, according to studies by the National Institute for Amazonian Research.
Fun facts about the electric eel:
With a cylindrical and elongated body similar to a snake, they can grow up to 2.5 meters in length.
There are two species: Electrophorus voltai (found in Pará, Amazonas, Rondônia, and Mato Grosso) and Electrophorus electricus (found in the north of Amapá, Amazonas, and Roraima, in addition to French Guyana and Suriname).
Comparable to a battery, the frontal part of its body has a positive charge, while the tip of its tail has a negative charge.
The Electrophorus voltai was named in honor of Italian physicist Alessandro Volta, creator of the battery.
15) Anaconda
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Famous in pop culture and feared by humans and animals, the anaconda is deadly, but not poisonous. When it finds its prey (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, fish), it wraps its bulky body around the victim until they suffocate. Then, the feast begins.
Fun facts about anacondas:
There are five different species: green anaconda, northern green anaconda, yellow anaconda, beni anaconda, and dark-spotted anaconda.
The green anaconda is the largest (up to 7 meters and 130 kg) and the most commonly found in the Amazon River fauna.
In Portuguese, they’re called by various names: sucuris, boiaçus, boiçus, arigboias, sucurijus, viborões, etc.
The Anaconda horror franchise has seven films. The first one, released in 1997, was a huge success at the box office, and it is now considered a cult classic.
See the Amazon animals up close with PlanetaEXO
While the animals in the Amazon jungle are quite shy, travelers can still spot a few of them during boat trips, guided hikes, or night tours, especially river dolphins, sloths, caimans, and different species of birds.
With PlanetaEXO, an ecotourism platform specialized in Amazon Rainforest tours in Brazil, you explore nature in an authentic, responsible way. Our talented team works with the best local partners to ensure you’ll have the adventure of a lifetime. Contact us now!
Not sure when is the best time to travel to the Amazon? This guide will teach you everything about the forest’s seasons and help you plan your next vacation!
With two very well-defined seasons (wet and dry seasons), the best time to visit the Amazon Rainforest depends on what you’re looking for. This is an all-year-round destination, but some periods are more favorable to certain activities than others
The weather is warm throughout the entire year, but it’s the humidity you should pay attention to—it is a rainforest, after all. The rain is mostly an everyday occurrence, but there are specific times when rainstorms are more common. But don’t you worry: your experience will not be affected!
To help with your vacation planning, PlanetaEXO, a platform specialized in Amazon Rainforest tours in Brazil, has put together a guide on when you should book your trip. Check it out below!
Visiting the Amazon in the wet season
December, January, February, March, April and May
The wet season is when rainfall is the heaviest, from December to May. Rivers get higher, the Amazon Basin starts to flood and the weather is slightly cooler, with an average temperature of 25,8 ºC (78 ºF).
Rainstorms hit the forest daily, but your trip won’t be negatively affected, since they only last about an hour per day. When the sky clears, you can go back outside and enjoy yourself.
Another impressive feature of the rainy season is the igapós. The intense rainfall causes some areas of the forests to become flooded. Depending on river levels, the water can reach up to 10 meters in height, transforming the vegetation into a natural pool that delights underwater animals and humans alike.
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Amazonian winter
While the rest of Brazil heats up with spring and summer, the Amazonian winter (December to March) affects the Northern states.
Despite its name, the season is really not about temperature — which remain high, as usual —, but the intensity of rainfall that causes rivers to rise and forests to flood. In the Amazonian winter, it’s possible for the amount of rain that would normally fall in an entire month to fall in two or three days.
This phenomenon happens for a few reasons:
Lack of well-defined season in the North
Oscillation of a band of cloudiness over the Equator
Transport of humidity from the North Atlantic
Specific climatic phenomena, such as La Niña
Your travel experience isn’t negatively affected by this, but some activities are more favorable than others during this time, as detailed below.
What to do during the wet season in the Amazon Rainforest?
This is the perfect season for water-related itineraries. Due to the heavy rainfall, you don’t walk through the forest, you navigate through it:
Igapós (flooded forests): Canoe, swim or go on aquatic hikes between treetops, orchids, bromeliads and other plants at eye level.
Wildlife watching: Terrestrial animals tend to climb to the treetops when the forest floods, making it much easier to spot sloths and monkeys. Various species of birds and the famous Amazon pink dolphins are also frequently seen.
Destinations for the Amazon rainy season:Anavilhanas National Park, Mamirauá Reserve and Alter do Chão are some of the top places to travel during this period. Explore water labyrinths, admire the wildlife and join canoe trips.
River cruises: Sailing across the Amazon, Negro or Solimões rivers on 3-floor vessels is a wonderful way to experience nature from a whole new perspective.
June, July, August, September, October and November
Between June and November, the dry season makes the temperature warmer, with an average of 27,9 ºC (82 ºF). It still rains, but it’s less frequent and the water volume is lower. This allows the floods to drain, unblocking various hiking trails that were previously submerged — although there still are a considerable amount of flooded areas.
Less rain also means reduced rivers and a better look at different species of fish and even Amazon pink dolphins. When the water recedes, aquatic animals have less space to swim around, so their occupation is concentrated in smaller zones.
Keep in mind: from October to December, extended dry seasons are becoming more frequent, causing rivers to shrink, limiting access to a few areas and potentially reducing encounters with some species of animals and plants. The rivers are expected to slowly start rising by November and December. The conditions are much better by January, so the recommendation is to book your tour from this month onwards.
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What to do during the dry season in the Amazon Rainforest?
Land-based itineraries are the highlights of the dry season, but it’s still very much possible to do incredible aquatic activities:
River beaches: Known as the Caribbean of the Amazon, Alter do Chão is the main destination for visiting river beaches, though Anavilhanas and the Manaus region are also great spots.
Jungle hiking: This is the perfect time for modest hikes or long treks in the forest — including caves and waterfalls —, as well as camping and night walks.
Night spotlight: As the flooded area shrinks drastically, caimans gather on the banks of the main rivers and the remaining lakes. At night, “spotting” (shining flashlights into their eyes) reveals hundreds of bright spots in the water. With some luck, you might see other nocturnal creatures, too.
Amazon river cruises: Cruises are one of the most versatile activities in the Amazon, as they can be enjoyed during both the rainy and dry seasons.
The high season is the time of year when the greatest number of people visit a certain destination. Increased demand doesn’t harm the travel experience, but it can affect aspects such as higher prices, more visitors, and reduced availability in the best Amazon jungle lodges.
The following months are usually the busiest:
December and January: Holidays, vacations, and work/school breaks cause people to travel more.
February: Carnival is one of the most important holidays in Brazil. After four days of festivities, tourist activity in the Amazon tends to grow (usually in the second half of February, depending on the annual calendar).
June, July and August: School break in Brazil, and North American and European countries.
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The low season occurs during the months not mentioned above. If you are looking for more peacefulness, exclusivity, and affordable prices, this is the best time to go to the Amazon!
Amazon Rainforest weather
The Amazon in Brazil is big enough to reach eight different states, but we’ll focus on three: Amazonas, Pará and Mato Grosso. All of them, of course, have their own features, travel options and weather patterns.
To help you decide when is the best time to go to the Amazon, check the widgets below to see how the weather is right now in these locations.
Manaus is the capital of Amazonas, the state in which the forest occupies the largest portion – about 29% of the Brazilian Amazon, ranging 1.450.000 km². It’s bigger than the entire country of Peru (1.285.216 km²)!
That’s why Amazonas is the most seeked out destination for a lot of people who want to immerse themselves into the Amazon Rainforest. Makes sense, huh?
Belém, Pará
Pará sits right beside Amazonas, in the North of Brazil. The Amazon takes up a smaller area here, with “only” 930.000 km². It’s almost as big as Tanzania (947,303 km²), in Africa.
See below how the weather is right now in Belém, the capital of Pará.
Alta Floresta, Mato Grosso
Alta Floresta is a town in Mato Grosso with a population of over sixty-two thousand people, located in the north of the state and the south of the Amazon. The rainforest takes up 470.000 km² — larger than the California area (423,967 km²).
Take a look at the current weather in Alta Floresta:
The best time to visit the Amazon in Brazil is whenever you want!
As a year-round destination, the Amazon allows for incredible experiences at any time — it all depends on your schedule and preferences.
Now all you have to do is choose the most convenient date to plan your trip with PlanetaEXO, the ecotourism platform specialized in Amazon Rainforest tours in Brazil that works with the best local partners. Our team will help with everything you need to make your vacation one of the best moments of your life. Contact us now!
Both incredible Brazilian biomes, the Pantanal is home to jaguars and other fantastic animals, while the Amazon Rainforest allows for unbelievable jungle experiences
When planning an adventure into Brazil’s wildest landscapes, two destinations may come to mind: the Pantanal or the Amazon. Both are ecological powerhouses teeming with biodiversity, but they offer different experiences.
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Simply comparing travel itineraries is not enough, since both destinations are among some of the planet’s richest biomes in terms of biodiversity and untouched beauty. In their own unique ways, they provide incredible activities for those who wish to connect with nature in its most exuberant form.
No, the Pantanal is not part of the Amazon Rainforest. Although neighboring biomes in Brazil, they have fairly different ecosystems.
Spanning the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, the Pantanal is considered the world’s largest wetland.
Meanwhile, the Amazon is the largest tropical rainforest on Earth, covering areas of eight different states: Amazonas, Pará, Mato Grosso, Acre, Amapá, Rondônia, Roraima and Maranhão.
Pantanal safaris: wildlife watching at its finest
If your dream is to see wildlife up close, the Pantanal is the perfect destination. Besides the incredibly rich fauna, the open landscapes make it much easier to spot animals in their natural habitat compared to anywhere else in Brazil.
By boat or four-wheel drives, Pantanal safaris allow visitors some of the best wildlife watching experiences in the world. With the help of expert guides who know just the right places to spot animals, you might see capybaras, giant otters, caimans, macaws, etc.
Photo: Ondrej Prosicky
All species are fascinating, but it’s safe to say that the largest feline in the Americas is the star of the show. The Northern region, especially near the town of Porto Jofre, is considered the best place in the world to see jaguars.
The Pantanal’s abundance of wildlife is a striking highlight compared to other biomes. Amazon jungle tours in Brazil are wonderful for a total immersion in nature, but spotting animals there requires more patience and a bit of luck.
The Amazon Rainforestis an endless sea of green. With trees that reach over 40 meters in height, the forest creates a closed, humid environment where sunlight barely touches the ground, and houses thousands of plant and animal species.
Hiking in the Amazon is almost mystic. Different sounds and aromas are enveloped by the forest grandeur and a constant sense of mystery. Such an atmosphere can make anyone very aware of the warm, yet relentless power of Mother Nature.
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By joining Amazon tours in Brazil, travelers witness the importance of the rivers, which determine the local way of life as natural highways that connect riverside communities and grant proper access to deeper parts of the forest.
Negro, Solimões and Amazonas are just some of the rivers that cut through the vegetation and form igarapés (small bodies of water), igapós (flooded forests) and breathtaking views of immeasurable value for the fauna, flora and locals.
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Wildlife is rich, but discreet. Except for pink river dolphins, most animals live in the tree tops, are camouflaged by the jungle or only make themselves known at night. The focus is on immersion: smelling the wet earth, listening to the music of nature, breathing fresh air and understanding the privilege of being surrounded by the most complex ecosystem on the planet.
Both the Pantanal and the Amazon are spectacular. There is no better destination — only the better option for your preferences.
While the Amazon stands out for the vastness of its closed forest, imposing rivers and the constant sounds of the jungle, the Pantanal mesmerizes with its flooded fields, open vegetation and the spectacle of wildlife on view. Despite the contrasting differences, these two wild destinations represent the richness of Brazilian biodiversity and sustainable travel.
Besides understanding what makes each biome so great, it’s also important to point out how the experiences are influenced by their distinctness.
@matthias_kern_photography
Pantanal tours activities
Book your trip to the Pantanal if you love:
Photo safaris: explore the wetlands by boat or 4×4 car to spot some of the most beautiful Brazilian animals, including jaguars, anteaters, tapirs, toucans, and many more.
Birdwatching: keep your eyes open to spot some of the native birds, including toucans, macaws and the enigmatic jabiru stork.
Horseback riding: delve into the flooded plains on horseback like a true Pantaneiro.
Trekking: accompanied by qualified guides, trek across open fields and immerse yourself in nature.
Boat rides and catch-and-release fishing: discover the wetlands by joining boat tours and fish for typical Pantanal species, like pacu and dorado.
Farm life: some lodges are actually adapted farmhouses, but day-to-day life is still heavily based on ranch culture — which guests are more than welcomed to participate in.
Cinematic sunrises and sunsets: wide-open skies offer unforgettable views when dawn breaks or when the sun sets.
Keep in mind: itineraries vary in North and South Pantanal. Make sure to learn the differences of both regions before booking your trip!
Brazil Amazon tours activities
Plan your vacation in the Amazon if you can’t get enough of:
Forest hiking: immerse yourself in the forest by hiking with expert guides to explore the fauna, flora and local traditions.
River cruises: high-end vessels provide a one of a kind sailing experience across the rivers in Anavilhanas and Jaú national parks.
Boat trips: smaller boat and canoes sailing through igarapés and igapós are some of the most authentic activities in the forest.
Night expeditions: animals (caimans, snakes, frogs, owls…) tend to roam around the forest more freely when night falls, making it an ideal time for wildlife watching in the Amazon.
Pink dolphins sightings: unlike other native animals, the iconic pink river dolphins aren’t shy and are often spotted during boat rides across Solimões and Negro rivers.
Lodging in the forest and floating houses: rustic or sophisticated stay experiences, always integrated with nature.
Visiting riverside and indigenous communities: contact with local cultures, traditional cuisine, handicrafts and even ceremonies conducted by indigenous leaders.
How to get to the Pantanal and the Amazon in Brazil?
The Pantanal and the Amazon Rainforest are located in remote regions, with logistical challenges that can directly influence the tourist experience. However, with the growth of ecotourism in Brazil and the development of local infrastructure, these trips have become increasingly viable.
Divided between North and South, the Pantanal is assessable via Cuiabá (Mato Grosso) or Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do Sul), both capitals connected by dirt roads to the lodges and ranches. The dry season (May to October) is a great time for wildlife watching and other outdoor activities due to the decrease in water level.
If you’re traveling to the Amazon, the route depends on which areas you’re visiting. Manaus, capital of Amazonas, is the main getaway to the forests, served by direct flights from major Brazilian cities, but there are also tours in the states of Pará and Mato Grosso.
River levels vary greatly between the wet and dry seasons, so activities can change depending on the time of year. The rainy season (December to May) is best for canoeing, while the dry season (June to November) allows for longer hikes.
Both the Pantanal and the Amazon are biomes of global importance for environmental conservation. Sustainable travel has proven to be a powerful tool for preserving these regions and supporting local communities.
By choosing responsible lodging, hiring local guides, opting for operators that follow sustainable practices and taking part in activities focused on environmental education, tourists contribute directly to maintaining communities and enhancing biodiversity.
Ecotourism efforts, such as ecological lodges in the Amazon, or adapted farms in the Pantanal, help generate income for local populations and create alternatives to deforestation, poaching and predatory exploitation of natural resources.
Prioritizing experiences that respect the rhythms of nature, limit the number of visitors and are committed to sustainable practices is essential to ensure that these landscapes continue to exist for generations to come.
In conclusion, should you choose the Amazon Rainforest or the Pantanal?
Go to the Pantanal for easier wildlife watching, open landscapes and safari-style experiences, or choose the Amazon if you’re looking for immersive jungle exploration, cultural encounters, and the feeling of being in the middle of a tropical rainforest.
Better yet: plan your trip to both destinations, since each reveals a unique side of Brazil’s untamed beauty.
There’s no wrong choice here, just different kinds of adventures!
Photo: Samuel Melim
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