What's the best country to explore the Amazon rainforest?
Choosing the best country to explore the Amazon rainforest depends on what you're looking for in your experience and the activities you want to do. The Amazon extends over several South American countries. These include Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia.
Brazil: Brazil is home to most of the Amazon, offering ecological diversity and a variety of options for exploring the region. Popular destinations like Manaus, in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, offer boat trips, stays in eco-lodges, jungle treks and encounters with indigenous communities.
Size and biodiversity: The Brazilian Amazon covers most of the Amazon rainforest, accounting for around 60% of the total area. The region is incredibly vast and diverse, harboring exceptional biodiversity with a wide variety of plant, animal and aquatic species, many of which are endemic.
Accessibility: The Brazilian Amazon is relatively accessible to travelers, with several major entry points such as Manaus and Belem. These cities are well connected by air to major Brazilian cities, making the region easily accessible to travelers from all over the world.
Varied activities: Travelers to the Brazilian Amazon have the opportunity to take part in a wide range of activities, including boat trips along rivers like the Amazon, trekking through the forest, visits to indigenous communities, wildlife observation and unique cultural experiences.
Indigenous culture: The Brazilian Amazon is home to many indigenous communities who preserve their ancestral traditions and way of life in harmony with nature. Travelers can have the opportunity to meet these communities and learn about their culture, beliefs and traditional practices.
Conservation and sustainable development: Numerous conservation and sustainable development initiatives are underway in the Brazilian Amazon, aimed at protecting the region's biodiversity, supporting local communities and promoting responsible tourism.
Peru: The Peruvian Amazon is certainly one of the best places to explore the Amazon rainforest. Peru is home to a significant part of the Amazon, offering a rich and diverse biodiversity as well as unique opportunities for ecotourism and jungle exploration.
Remarkable biodiversity: The Peruvian Amazon is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, home to a multitude of unique plant and animal species. You can find emblematic species such as the jaguar, the tapir, the howler monkey, a variety of exotic birds and a vast array of plants and insects.
Accessibility: Parts of the Peruvian Amazon, such as the Puerto Maldonado region and Manú National Park, are relatively accessible to travelers, offering a reasonable tourist infrastructure to facilitate jungle exploration.
Indigenous culture: Peru is also home to many indigenous communities who have lived in harmony with the Amazon rainforest for generations. Exploring the Peruvian Amazon often offers the opportunity to meet these communities, learn about their traditions, their way of life and their knowledge of the jungle.
Variety of ecosystems: The Peruvian Amazon boasts a wide variety of ecosystems, from flooded forests to terra firma plains, swamps and rivers. This variety offers a unique experience of jungle exploration, and enables us to observe a wide variety of landscapes and wildlife.
Responsible ecotourism programs: Many companies and organizations offer responsible ecotourism programs in the Peruvian Amazon, offering visitors the chance to discover the jungle while supporting environmental conservation and the sustainable development of local communities.
Ecuador: The Ecuadorian Amazon is often considered one of the most accessible and diverse parts of the Amazon. Places like the town of Tena serve as a base for jungle excursions, visits to indigenous villages and activities such as birdwatching and river boating.
Impressive biodiversity: Despite its relatively small size, the Ecuadorian Amazon is home to remarkable biodiversity. This dense, lush region is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, including monkeys, exotic birds, reptiles and a multitude of insects.
Easy access: Parts of the Ecuadorian Amazon are relatively easy to reach from cities such as Coca (Francisco de Orellana) or Tena. These towns often serve as departure points for jungle excursions, offering a range of options for travelers wishing to explore the Amazon rainforest.
Vibrant indigenous culture: The Ecuadorian Amazon is also inhabited by numerous indigenous communities who maintain their ancestral traditions and way of life in harmony with nature. Travelers have the opportunity to meet these communities, learn about their culture, traditional practices and relationship with the environment.
Responsible ecotourism: Many responsible ecotourism initiatives are being developed in the Ecuadorian Amazon, aiming to preserve the region's biodiversity while supporting local communities. Travelers can take part in activities such as jungle treks, canoe trips, visits to conservation projects and homestays.
Spectacular scenery: The Ecuadorian Amazon offers magnificent scenery, including winding rivers, waterfalls, swamps and lush vegetation. Travelers can explore these spectacular landscapes on their jungle excursions.
Colombia: Although Colombia's share of the Amazon is relatively small compared to other countries, it nevertheless offers interesting opportunities for rainforest exploration, especially in regions like Leticia, which lies on the border with Peru and Brazil.
Unique biodiversity: The Colombian Amazon is home to impressive biodiversity, with a variety of ecosystems ranging from dense tropical forests to wetlands and savannahs. The region is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, some of which are endemic to the region.
Indigenous culture and local communities: The Colombian Amazon is inhabited by several indigenous groups, such as the Ticunas, Huitotos and Nukak, who have preserved their ancestral traditions and way of life in harmony with nature. Travellers have the opportunity to meet these communities and learn about their culture, beliefs and traditional practices.
Diverse landscapes: The Colombian Amazon features a variety of landscapes, including majestic rivers like the Caquetá, dense forests, swamps and lakes. These landscapes offer travellers a varied and unique experience when exploring the region.
Responsible ecotourism: Numerous responsible ecotourism initiatives are in place in the Colombian Amazon, aiming to preserve the region's biodiversity while supporting local communities. Travelers can take part in activities such as jungle treks, boat excursions, visits to conservation projects and homestays.
Accessibility: Parts of the Colombian Amazon, such as Leticia and Puerto Nariño, are relatively accessible to travelers. These towns often serve as departure points for jungle excursions, offering a range of options for exploring the Amazon rainforest.
Bolivia: Bolivia's Amazon rainforest is accessible from towns like Rurrenabaque, and offers opportunities for jungle excursions, river boating and wildlife observation.
Exceptional biodiversity: Although the Bolivian part of the Amazon is relatively small compared to other countries such as Brazil or Peru, it is home to an impressive biodiversity. The region encompasses a variety of ecosystems, from dense tropical forests to savannahs and wetlands, and is home to a huge diversity of plant and animal species.
Indigenous culture: The Bolivian Amazon is inhabited by several indigenous groups, including the Tacanas, Mosetén, Chimanes and Yuracarés, who have preserved their ancestral traditions and way of life in harmony with nature. Travellers have the opportunity to meet these communities and learn about their culture, beliefs and traditional practices.
Varied landscapes: The Bolivian Amazon features a variety of landscapes, including winding rivers like the Mamoré, dense rainforests, swamps and lakes. These landscapes offer travelers a diverse experience as they explore the region.
Ecotourism and conservation: Despite its relative obscurity compared to other parts of the Amazon, the Bolivian Amazon is developing ecotourism and conservation initiatives to protect its biodiversity and support local communities. Travelers can take part in activities such as jungle treks, boat excursions and visits to conservation projects.
Accessibility: Parts of the Bolivian Amazon, such as Rurrenabaque and Trinidad, are relatively accessible to travelers. These towns often serve as departure points for jungle excursions, offering a range of options for exploring the Amazon rainforest.
Choosing the best country to explore the Amazon rainforest therefore depends on your personal preferences, your specific interests and the region you wish to discover. Each of these countries offers a unique experience and opportunities for adventure in one of the planet's most emblematic regions.
