The Amazon rainforest is the largest jungle in the world, covering 5.5 million square kilometers. This mesmerizing piece of heaven is crossed by the Amazon River, the largest lowland in Latin America. There are thousands of species of plants and wildlife and millions of insects! So there is a lot to learn before visiting the Amazon rainforest, especially to help tourists keep safe and prepared. Therefore, it is very important for visitors to know about the following things before heading to the Amazon rainforest.

UPDATE: 2023/04/17 14:28 EST BY MARIA BOU INK

14 Things To Know Before Visiting The Amazon Rainforest

What is better than reconnecting with Mother Nature and taking a few days to explore the splendid Amazon, the largest rainforest in the world? However, some tourists avoid it due because some areas are dangerous. Therefore, this list was updated to add more things to know before visiting the Amazon rainforest, so tourists can properly plan their vacation and have the safest trip ever!

Related: 10 Interesting Details About Bolivia's Amazon Forest

14 Phone Signal Coverage

iPhone social media apps
Photo by Piotr Cichosz on Unsplash
An iPhone displaying icons of popular social media platforms

Before tourists enter the Amazon rainforest, they should know that there is no phone service or WiFi. Although almost all smartphones, including iPhones, function flawlessly in Peruvian cities, tourists will probably only get a weak signal in the Amazon, and that is for the best, so they can soak up the whole beauty of their surroundings.

13 Wildlife Sighting

Tourists spotting wildlife in Amazon rainforest
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Tourists spotting wildlife in Amazon rainforest

Each tour in the Amazon is unique by itself. It is impossible to have two Peruvian Amazon expeditions with the same animal encounters due to the habitat's incredible biological diversity, which includes thousands of distinct varieties of blooming plants and butterflies, as well as hundreds of birds, fish, mammals, etc. If tourists have some patience and binoculars, they might be able to regularly see macaws, sloths, howler monkeys, and pink dolphins when visiting the Amazon rainforest.

12 How To Get There

Scenic view of Amazon rainforest
Photo by Arnie Chou via Pexels
Scenic view of Amazon rainforest

The huge rainforest is spread throughout nine nations in South America, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. However, Brazil is where it is most noticeable and popular. Each country offers a unique way to visit the Amazon rainforest and learn about it. If considering a trip to the Amazon of Peru, tourists should head to Cusco, from where flights may be scheduled to Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado. If they are interested in visiting the Brazilian Amazon, they should take a flight into Manaus in the north. If they want to see the Ecuadorian Amazon, they may take a five-hour bus ride from Quito to Tena City, where they can board a pickup truck. They may also take a 45-minute flight from La Paz to Rurrenabaque and then take a motorboat upriver to Madidi if they are anxious to experience the Bolivian Amazon.

11 Spoken Language

Group of tourists with a guide in Amazon rainforest
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Group of tourists with a guide in Amazon rainforest

The majority of people working in the tourism sector are English-speaking, but if tourists want to communicate with people in the villages, they will need to practice their best Spanish. If tourists are not familiar with the romance dialect, they may download Google Translate's Spanish language package before traveling to use it offline and on days without WiFi.

10 Vaccinations

Sunset Over The Amazon Rainforest

Before visiting the rainforest, all travelers will need to make sure to get a full set of vaccinations to prevent many common diseases, including malaria, meningitis, rabies, and many more. If tourists catch these diseases, they can develop serious problems and become ill. Being in a jungle, there will be limited facilities for medical and urgent transport. Therefore, for safe traveling to the Amazon, it is better to be well-prepared!

RELATED: Explore Malaysia's Tropical Rainforests On These Expeditions

9 Eating And Drinking

Aerial view of Amazon River, Tefé, Brazil
Photo by Rodrigo Kugnharski on Unsplash
An aerial view of the Amazon River in Brazil

Tourists need to make sure they only drink bottled water and nothing from the tap or a source from the forest. Foreigners often don’t have the ability to handle different bacteria which can be present in the water. Eating food from the streets here is not recommended as the Amazon has unique bacteria which will cause fevers and an upset stomach.

8 What To Wear

Tourists in Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest
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Tourists In Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest

When in the Jungle, tourists need to prepare and always cover their skin to protect from the bites, and stings from the insects that are here as well as rashes caused by the many plants; trousers, and a long sleeve T-shirt will be fine. A very good pair of waterproof boots are essential for exploring the forest, and it is suggested to always check boots before putting them back on as poisonous creatures can hide in them. Always tuck the cuffs of the trousers to reject pests from crawling up.

7 Mosquitoes

Sunlight filtering through the trees in the amazon rainforest

The rainforest is full of insects, including mosquitoes which can be quite dangerous to humans and is the main reason why all tourists need to make sure they are vaccinated. Mosquitoes are known for carrying and passing harmful diseases which is why visitors should be prepared. Tourists should pack mosquito repellent and keep this topped up and sprayed all over, and sleep in a mosquito net to avoid the insects biting and stinging the skin.

RELATED: Osa Peninsula: Visiting The Last Remaining Lowland Rainforests In Central America

6 What To Take

Colorful Amazon rivers

There are many things tourists should pack for their visit to the Amazon rainforest, but the most important things include a hat to avoid sunstroke. Additionally, hiking boots are essential. Sunscreen is needed and will need to be reapplied constantly to avoid burning. Bug spray is recommended to keep bugs away, but sometimes they still get to the skin and bite or sting, so after a bite, lotion should be packed too, along with a flashlight which will really come in handy as there is no electricity in the rainforest.

5 The Best Time To Go

Sunset at The Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon jungle can be visited all year round, and the weather never really changes, with it usually just being warm, humid, and rainy. The wet season is from January to June, and rain showers happen daily during this time which makes it feel cooler, but river levels are higher and it will be harder to get around and explore, unlike the dry season, which stretches from July to December.

  • Best time: Dry season

4 Where To Stay

Treehouse Peruvian Amazon

The most used accommodation in the Amazon rainforest is the jungle lodges. They usually include single or shared rooms with en-suite bathrooms, and rooms are usually accommodated with mosquito nets and sprays which is a big bonus! Another option is to stay on a riverboat or cruise where tourists can sleep onboard instead of inside the jungle, and these last around 10 days. Tourists can also spend their night at a treehouse in the heart of the Amazon.

  • Lodges: Sani Lodge, Ecuador; Cristalino Jungle Lodge, Brazil; Refugio Amazonas, Peru; etc.

RELATED: There's An Entire Rainforest Inside Of This Vietnam Cave, And It's Worth Touring

3 Tips For Exploring

Kaieteur Falls, Guyana

Tourists should always make sure to pick up any rubbish they have and never leave it lying around the Amazon rainforest! They should also respect that they are in the home of all the wildlife there and should keep a good distance from them, especially the dangerous and poisonous ones. Tourists should always carry a water bottle that can be filled up and taken along when exploring, and most importantly, they should always listen to the guide and follow the routes they suggest to stay extra safe.

2 How Long To Go

Amazon rainforest in Brazil
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Amazon rainforest in Brazil

The Amazon Jungle has a lot to be explored; tourists can decide to stay in one place or explore different parts each day. About one week is enough time for a trip here; this would leave around two to three days for traveling and five days for exploring and activities. To walk around the whole of the jungle would take 869 days! So tourists should choose wisely about how to spend their trip.

1 What To Do

Amazon Rainforest Cruise

There are so many choices of activities, things to see, and places to explore in the Amazon jungle, which is the largest jungle in the world. A long jungle walk is one of the top things to do here since it is full of wildlife and greenery to admire and explore. Tourists can also go on a kayak down the Amazon River and spot all the marine life too. There is also a very high canopy bridge here, which is an exciting experience; tourists can walk across and see all the beautiful scenery below them. Additionally, they can book tours to have the ultimate experience.