Plan Your Trip
For the intrepid traveler, an Amazonian lodge-based land tour or riverboat cruise opens up a mysterious world of mindboggling mega-diversity. Experience this legendary South American rainforest on a worry-free Surtrek-led expedition.
Hike deep into the rainforest to explore the jungle at night, go fishing for piranhas, kayak alongside Pink river dolphins, sleep in a world-class luxury jungle lodge or sail along an Amazonian tributary aboard a modern, state-of-the-art Amazon riverboat. Each night, fall asleep to an orchestra of jungle amphibians and insects and wake to the calls of brilliantly colored tropical birds. Plus, when making contact with remote indigenous communities, get a sense of what it means to be in harmony with nature and one’s own natural essence.
For all of this, your Surtrek Amazonian tour will be custom designed to meet your particular, needs, interests, abilities, schedule & budget. Simply contact one of our travel experts to start planning your Amazon experience today.
While planning trips to the rainforest, we often ask our travelers what kind of Amazon journey they’d like to embark on: Based at a lodge or on a riverboat cruise? Both great options, but have their unique characteristics.
While planning trips to the rainforest, we often ask our travelers what kind of Amazon journey they’d like to embark on: Based at a lodge or on a riverboat cruise? Both great options, but have their unique characteristics.
However, the tradeoffs of a lodge-based stay include occasional glitches like the electricity going out for short periods, supplies delayed from upriver, unstable or non-existent Wi-Fi, etc.
As we know, the Amazon is the most bio-diverse areas on the planet, home to an incredible array of exotic plants and bewildering animal species. Given this, a wildlife-watching itinerary can be designed for you to experience the hair-raising roar of a troop of howler monkeys high in the forest canopy, spot the glowing eyes of caimans on the riverbank during a nighttime jungle safari, or observe families of Giant otters as our canoe crosses a lake.
In addition, a unique cultural experience awaits you in the rainforest, given the extraordinary indigenous peoples who populate the region. Visit a remote indigenous community and take part in a magical ceremony led by a traditional shaman. And keep your camera at the ready, as nothing compares to experiencing an Amazonian river and the rainforest first-hand.
While typically safe and problem-free, visits to the rainforest pose some risks to be aware of – some with a different twist when journeying deep in the Amazon. To ensure your safety on your Amazonian tour — whether on a riverboat cruise or based at a luxury jungle lodge — Surtrek has selected highly rated accommodations based in part on them having CPR-trained staff, first-aid supplies, and being in close radio contact with local health and security professionals. In addition, the fresh food at these highly rated accommodations is always properly prepared, purified bottled water is served, and experienced local guides accompany travelers throughout their entire Amazonian experience.
However, there are a number of “common sense” steps that travelers themselves can take to help guarantee a safe adventure:
These include:
Since rainfall is so common in the Amazon, it might be best to describe its seasons as the “low water” and “high water” seasons.
It’s generally considered that the best time of the year to visit the Amazon basin is during the low-water season (extending roughly June to November) – especially for rainforest hiking.
During this period, there are fewer daily showers, though the rivers are lower and some are unnavigable; however, hiking trails allow explorers to gain access to deeper parts of the jungle on foot. There are also fewer mosquitoes during this low-water period, and wildlife can be more easily spotted congregated around the remaining wet spots.
During the high-water season (December to May), the opposite conditions are true: Rivers can rise up to 23 feet (7m), which makes these waterways accessible and more navigable, though some of the jungle trails are flooded.
Packing is always tricky, but it’s even more so when preparing for a unique, nature-based adventure in the Amazonian rainforest. Most travelers expect the jungle heat, and therefore think that a few token shorts, t-shirts, and a pair of flip flops are enough. But what some don’t consider are the frequent and heavy rains, the creepy-crawly jungle critters, the strict weight limits on small charter flights, or the high humidity that makes it hard for some types of clothes to ever dry. But more than these conditions, you’ll need to be prepared for all kinds of unusual adventure activities – everything from piranha fishing and nocturnal river safaris to rainforest wildlife treks and kayaking on the Amazon River.
Given the wide range of conditions and activities in the Amazon, you’ll receive a detailed packing list after you book your once-in-a-lifetime rainforest adventure tour with Surtrek. In general, though, the types of clothing and gear we recommend include the following:
AMAZON PACKING ESSENTIALS:
Documents & money
Travel Luggage and Packing
Toiletries & glasses
Clothes
Gear and gadgets
The Amazon region is vast, covering around 40% of all South America and spans into eight countries. Below, Surtrek has selected three of the most popular countries for accessing and experiencing the mysteries of the Amazonian rainforest:
Since 1993, Surtrek has been introducing adventurous travelers to authentic, tailor-made luxury travel experiences in the Amazonian rainforest. Over this time, we have become adept at offering some of the best and most complete tour services in the rainforest and across all of South America. With our experienced travel team of 25 members strong — including native speakers of five different languages — we will work one-on-one with you to custom-design an Amazonian tour that perfectly suits your particular interests and needs. Just contact one of our travel experts to start planning your Amazon experience today.
Interested in more information about any particular South American destination or trip?
Simply let us know your interests or question, and one of our travel experts will be more than happy to assist you -- at no charge, of course!
“We had an absolutely amazing trip! Surtrek coordinated a Galapagos Cruise on the Natural Paradise yacht and then a stay at the Napo Wildlife Center. Everything was beyond our expectations!! I highly recommend Surtrek.”
