Brazilian Amazon

Luxury Amazon Travel

A vast natural wonder visible from space, the Amazon Delta needs no introduction. Shared by eight countries, Brazil claims the lion’s share and contains pockets so remote they’ve never been explored.  

A wild world of verdant tropical forest threaded by ancient, curlicue rivers and webbed by lakes, tributaries, and islands, the Amazon calls out to intrepid travelers. It’s an invitation to canoe through flooded forests and hike jungle trails. After dark, walk the rainforest, with your senses firing as a cast of night creatures begin to stir.  

Spending time in the Amazon, you’ll be astounded by the biodiversity—from animals and insects to birdlife and flora—both familiar and alien. There is much to learn from the Amazon, from the Indigenous communities who call it home to lessons in interconnectedness.  

We owe much to “the lungs of the Earth” and travelers will depart with an acute appreciation for the Amazon and an awareness of just how fragile this precious wilderness is—and how worthy it is of safeguarding.

Amazon Rainforest Travel Highlights

Enjoy a guided walk through the rainforest, stopping to inspect everything and anything that invites curiosity. 
Set out at dawn for a sunrise paddle through braided channels or flooded forests (depending on the place and time of year). 
Venture out with a flashlight after dark to experience the Amazon and its nocturnal cast of creatures.
Cruise a labyrinth of canals, lakes, and islands that make up one of the largest river archipelagos, keeping an eye out for pink dolphins.
Cast a line for some catch-and-release fishing, perhaps hooking a piranha.
Cruise the Rio Negro, stopping to swim, and enjoying a barbecued lunch in a scenic spot. 
Visit a riverside community to learn about local life in the Amazon, from fishing to agriculture to handicrafts.
During the dry season, stake out a spot at a “birdwatching pool” to—fingers crossed—spy rare avian species.
Soak up the luxe treehouse vibes at an eco-lodge ensconced entirely by rainforest.
Staying at a lodge with an observation tower offers a novel perspective of the forest canopy.
Bite into gourmet Brazilian fare infused with Amazon-sourced ingredients such as puxuri (Amazonian nutmeg), açaí berries, and tambaqui (pacu fish).  

How to Get to the Amazon Rainforest 

Fly into the international airport in Manaus, gateway city to Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest. If you‘re already in Brazil, direct flights from Rio de Janeiro or Sao Paulo take approximately four hours.  

Most people only spend a night in Manaus, but this state capital has a more than 350-year history. If time allows, view the “Meeting of the Rivers” (where the black waters of the Rio Negro visibly meet the muddy Solimões River), stop by the pink, elaborately domed opera house, peruse the central market, and sample some of the produce and fish sourced from the surrounding Amazon. From Manaus, travel onward to your luxury eco-lodge via boat or vehicle—or a combination of both.

The Best Time to Visit the Amazon Rainforest 

The best time to visit the Amazon rainforest depends on what you want to see, do, and experience.  

Rainy season: January to June is the highwater mark for seasonal flooding in the Amazon which may reduce dryland adventures like hiking and walking in low-lying areas. It’s a great time for boating and canoeing, and spotting marine life. 
Dry season: Running July through December, travelers experience less humidity and rain, maneuvering in greater comfort. Lower water levels expose more dry land for excursions on foot.  

Explore the Brazilian Amazon on a Map

Brazil Travel Itineraries Featuring the Amazon

Best Luxury Lodges in the Brazilian Amazon