10 Things You Should Know Before Visiting The Brazilian Amazon Rainforest

A Brazilian Amazon excursion offers everything imaginable for the archetypal rainforest adventure, including colorful locals, lush vegetation, and plenty of exotic wildlife. Yet there are some important tidbits a traveler should know before embarking on a trip to the region, if only to avoid discomfort and keep their expectations in check.

You won’t come across any long-lost indigenous tribes

Nope, not going to happen. The truly isolated Amazon tribes are actually illegal to visit, owing to the fact our modern day diseases would wipe these delicate communities clean off the map. Although there are some indigenous settlements that can be visited on a tour, they tend to live a fairly normal, 21st century existence complete with western fashion and satellite TV. For the next best thing, consider paying a visit to the Dessana tribe near Manaus.

The piranhas won’t eat you alive…

Although the mosquitoes certainly will

Forget about piranhas, because the mosquitoes are absolutely savage and love nothing more than the flesh of a pasty-white gringo. With some precaution, however, the annoyance of these thirsty little bloodsuckers can be significantly reduced. Always opt for lightweight, long-sleeve shirts and trousers, and apply a generous slathering of DEET at every opportunity.

English is not widely spoken

Although people in the tourism industry might speak passable English, expect little more than a blank stare from pretty much everyone else. Unless you happen to speak Portuguese, get ready for some creative sign language or a playful game of charades.

Every season has its pros and cons

December through May is the wet season, meaning sporadic downpours are the norm. On the plus side the Amazon almost entirely floods, which means dugout canoes can be used for an immersive wildlife safari experience. During the drier months, on the other hand, mosquitoes are relatively rare and wildlife is mostly located on foot.

Roughing it is not necessary

Despite being miles away from civilization, it is actually possible to travel like a king in the middle of the Amazon. Luxury jungle lodges offer a fine array of amenities, while the best river cruise ships are akin to a floating five-star hotel.

Just don’t expect to be connected

Aside from the cities, there is very little cellphone coverage over large swathes of the rainforest. This consequently means there is no internet, so travelers must finish their tour before logging on to Facebook. Seriously though, that’s really not such a bad thing.

Rivers instead of roads

With very few roads connecting the region, passengers and cargo are typically transported by boat instead. For a true Amazon experience, jump on a multi-day riverboat journey from somewhere like Belem to Manaus, very much a locals’-only affair that offers a true insight into life on the river.

Don’t Expect to See Loads of Wildlife

While spotting some species is a given, others are notoriously elusive. Even though a trained guide with a keen eye can spot what the layman would miss, sighting certain animals such as the jaguar is impossible to guarantee.

And the best safari experience is not in the Amazon

It’s actually far easier to see a bigger variety of wildlife in Brazil’s expansive Pantanal. This huge wetland region near the border of Bolivia is largely devoid of trees, meaning spotting an abundance of exotic wildlife is all but guaranteed.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.