For a while, I’ve been wanting to visit the Amazon rainforest. However, I don’t know which part is best to visit, country-wise. Should I go to the Brazilian section of the rainforest or the Peruvian section? Or what about the Ecuadorian section? If you’ve been to the Amazon rainforest, what country did you go to? Did you like it or not? Why or why not? Thanks!
I sailed down the Amazon from Iquitos (Peru) to Santarem and Belem, with a trans-Amazonian road-trip detour thrown in.
For a first trip, I’d go with Peru or Ecuador. Both have excellent Amazon lodges, incredible wildlife, and a well-established tourism infrastructure. Peru in particular lends itself to a great round trip. You can combine the Amazon with Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, and so much more.
That said, if you’re having a hard time deciding, there’s another option worth considering: La Triple Frontera, where Brazil, Colombia, and Peru meet deep in the Amazon. What makes it truly special is that you can cross between all three countries almost seamlessly. The Colombian town of Leticia and the Brazilian town of Tabatinga sit right next to each other with barely a border between them, and you can literally walk from one country to another. Despite the short distances, the language, food, and culture start to feel noticeably different almost immediately. It’s a really unique way to experience the Amazon from multiple angles!
Hey @AaronP
Personally I would base it on where you want to do the rest of your travels in South America, unless you only plan to go to the Amazon.
I went somewhere further off field in Bolivia - I worked in an animal sanctuary there for a few weeks pretty deep into the rainforest.
It was stunning, everything you would expect and more. Huge butterflies, insects, majectic trees, canopies and vines, lots of wildlife - but since you asked, the one thing I did not like were the supersized snakes (harmless and usually avoid tourists, it was just the remote area I was in I think)) - this is where having a tour guide will be very handy! But overall, this experience will live with me forever, its it a truly incredible place that connects you to natural life like no other.
What I’m trying to get at - I think wherever you go in the Amazon it will be beautiful - so if you want to say, go to Machu Picchu, or Ecuador/Brazil outside of this, you can pick based off that.
I would also consider accessibility - in Peru, it’s likely easier to travel to the Amazon locations where they have tourist facilities than some other countries. In Brazil, for example, if you wanted to see Rio, that is a very, very long way from the tourist stop in the Amazon (Brazil is huge). So that could be another deciding factor.
What else do you have planned for your South America trip @AaronP?