What is the Amazon as a travel destination?
The Amazon rainforest covers around 5.5 million km² across nine countries; 58.4% lies in Brazil, 12.8% in Peru, 7.7% in Bolivia and 7.1% in Colombia. As a destination, it isn't a single place but a choice of gateway: a city on the river or at the edge of the lowlands, from which lodges, protected areas and ships can be reached.
This page compares six gateways across five countries. What they share is heat, mosquitoes and dependence on water levels; what differs is access, wildlife and safety. Entry requirements and money are handled by each country individually — the country pages for Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia summarize the rules.
Sources: Wikipedia
What does a trip to the Amazon feel like?
An Amazon trip is slow and shaped by water: you fly into a river town, continue by car and boat, and spend several days in a lodge or on a ship. Iquitos is said to be the largest city in the world not on an island that is still reachable only by plane or boat; Leticia, too, has no road connection to the rest of Colombia.
Excursions shape the day. For Pacaya-Samiria, PromPerú lists forest trails, canoe trips, piranha fishing, night tours to see tarantulas and caimans, and visits to indigenous communities.
The gateways are very different from one another: Manaus has around 2.2 million residents (2019) and an opera house dating to 1896, Iquitos has around 491,000 (2023), and Rurrenabaque around 19,000 (2012). The forest is inhabited; the Colombian department of Amazonas alone has 28 indigenous reserves (resguardos).
Sources: PromPerú (peru.travel) · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · ProColombia (colombia.travel)
Which Amazon gateway fits you best?
The choices are Manaus with the Meeting of the Waters (Brazil), Iquitos with Pacaya-Samiria (Peru), Puerto Maldonado with Tambopata and Manu (Peru), Leticia in the tri-border area (Colombia), Coca and Lago Agrio with Yasuní and Cuyabeno (Ecuador), and Rurrenabaque with Madidi (Bolivia). Coca has the shortest connecting flight, around 30 minutes from Quito; Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado are each around 1 h 40 min from Lima.
| Gateway | Access | Character | Wildlife-viewing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manaus | Direct flights from, among others, São Paulo, Bogotá, Panama City and Lisbon | Major city on the Rio Negro, starting point for Anavilhanas and Mamirauá | River dolphins, manatees, giant otters; bald uakaris in Mamirauá |
| Iquitos | Only by plane or boat, around 1 h 40 min from Lima | River city, departure point for river cruises | Over 1,000 animal species in Pacaya-Samiria |
| Puerto Maldonado | Around 1 h 40 min from Lima, direct flights also from Cusco | Lodges on rivers and oxbow lakes | Macaws at clay licks, giant otters in Lake Sandoval |
| Leticia | Only by plane or boat, flights from Bogotá | Small town next to Tabatinga (Brazil) | River dolphins, black caimans, giant water lilies |
| Coca, Lago Agrio | Around 30 min from Quito to Coca | Canoe lodges in Yasuní, lagoons in Cuyabeno | At least 596 bird species in Yasuní |
| Rurrenabaque | 45 min to 1 h flight from La Paz, or around an 18-hour bus ride | Small town on the Río Beni | 1,254 bird and 272 mammal species in Madidi |
Manaus and the Meeting of the Waters (Brazil)
At Manaus, the dark Rio Negro meets the clay-colored Solimões; the two flow side by side for several kilometers without mixing. Upriver on the Rio Negro lie the more than 400 islands of Anavilhanas National Park. For more wildlife, fly to Tefé, around 545 km from Manaus, to reach Mamirauá, a flooded forest reserve home to the endemic bald uakari.
Iquitos and Pacaya-Samiria (Peru)
Iquitos is the capital of Loreto, Peru's largest region; the Casa de Fierro recalls the rubber boom era. To reach Pacaya-Samiria, Peru's second-largest protected area, you travel around 2 h to Nauta and then around 1 h by boat to the community of 20 de Enero. River ships depart from Iquitos or Nauta and travel to the eastern tip of the reserve, where the Marañón and Ucayali rivers meet.
Tambopata and Manu via Puerto Maldonado (Peru)
Puerto Maldonado sits at the confluence of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers. Reaching the Tambopata reserve takes around 2 h by boat, and Lake Sandoval is around 30 minutes from town. Manu spans from around 4,000 m down into the lowlands, is home to over 1,000 bird species, and is accessible only through agencies authorized by the SERNANP protected-areas authority.
Leticia in the tri-border area (Colombia)
Leticia borders the Brazilian town of Tabatinga and lies close to the Peruvian town of Santa Rosa. Boats leave from the tourist pier for Isla de los Micos and Puerto Nariño, around 67 km away, Colombia's first certified sustainable destination. There you can see river dolphins and the giant water lily Victoria regia, which can reach up to 1.5 m in diameter.
Cuyabeno and Yasuní (Ecuador)
Cuyabeno, in the provinces of Sucumbíos and Orellana, is a system of rivers and lagoons; the capital of Sucumbíos is Nueva Loja, usually called Lago Agrio, which has an airport. Yasuní is the largest protected area on mainland Ecuador and home to the Waorani people. To reach lodges such as the Napo Wildlife Center, you travel from Coca by motorboat along the Río Napo and finally by canoe.
Rurrenabaque and Madidi (Bolivia)
Rurrenabaque sits on the Río Beni, where the river leaves the Andes; on the opposite bank is San Buenaventura, the gateway to Madidi National Park, which the Wildlife Conservation Society called the most biodiverse national park in the world in 2018. Around 100 km to the northeast, near Santa Rosa de Yacuma, the pampas along the Río Yacuma are a popular excursion destination.
Sources: Wikipedia · TAP Air Portugal · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá · Wikipedia · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Wikipedia · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Aqua Expeditions · PromPerú (peru.travel) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · ProColombia (colombia.travel) · ProColombia (colombia.travel) · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Ministerio de Turismo del Ecuador (ecuador.travel) · Wikipedia · Napo Wildlife Center (Comunidad Kichwa Añangu) · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia
When is the best time to visit the Amazon?
There is no single best time, because rain and water levels behave differently at each gateway. At Manaus, the Rio Negro peaks in June and is lowest in October and November, while at Tabatinga and Leticia the Solimões peaks as early as April and May. In Madidi, the dry season runs from May to September; in Tambopata, the rainy season runs from December to March.
Climate at four gateways
| Manaus | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 31 |
| Low °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 |
| Rainfall mm | 224 | 236 | 268 | 262 | 205 | 119 | 76 | 50 | 68 | 103 | 135 | 213 |
| Iquitos | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 |
| Low °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
| Rainfall mm | 301 | 251 | 367 | 305 | 278 | 218 | 167 | 157 | 189 | 286 | 291 | 298 |
| Puerto Maldonado | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 |
| Low °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
| Rainfall mm | 333 | 336 | 237 | 164 | 90 | 60 | 49 | 52 | 68 | 162 | 197 | 334 |
| Leticia (Amazonas) | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 31 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 |
| Low °C | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
| Rainfall mm | 309 | 256 | 289 | 236 | 199 | 158 | 132 | 117 | 144 | 210 | 230 | 280 |
Average daily highs and lows, and monthly rainfall. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station CAMPO PONTA PELADA (5 km, 81 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station CORONEL FRANCISCO SECADA VIGNETTA INTL (7 km, 93 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station PADRE ALDAMIZ (5 km, 201 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020. Temperaturen: Mittel der täglichen Höchst- und Tiefstwerte 2010–2024 der Station ALFREDO VASQUEZ COBO (2 km, 84 m). Niederschlag: NASA POWER, Monatsmittel 2001–2020.
| Region | High water or rainy season | Low water or dry season |
|---|---|---|
| Manaus (Rio Negro) | Peak in June | Lowest in October and November |
| Leticia (Tabatinga gauge) | Peak in April and May | Lowest in September and October |
| Iquitos, Pacaya-Samiria | Rainy season November to May | Lowest in October |
| Tambopata, Manu | Rainy season December to March | Driest months June to August |
| Cuyabeno | Rest of the year | Drier mid-December to mid-March |
| Madidi | Rainy season October to March | Dry season May to September |
The station data show that Manaus and Puerto Maldonado are noticeably drier from June to September, while Iquitos and Leticia get heavy rain every month. Near Iquitos, the Amazon River drops by 9 to 12 m by October.
Both water levels have their advantages: at high water, smaller boats can reach hidden side channels and lakes; at low water, trails that are otherwise submerged become walkable. Swings can be large — in Manaus, measured river levels range from around 12 m at low water to over 30 m at high water. In Madre de Dios, cold-air incursions (friaje) in June and July can push temperatures down to 8 °C.
Sources: Serviço Geológico do Brasil (SGB) · Wikipedia · Aqua Expeditions · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia
What are the entry requirements for the Amazon countries?
Entry rules for the Amazon follow those of each individual country. According to Germany's Federal Foreign Office, tourists from Germany need no visa for stays in any of the five countries; other nationalities have their own rules. Also worth noting are Colombia's online Check-MIG form, yellow fever certificates required for Bolivia and Colombia, and passport stamps at river border crossings. The relevant government authorities always have the final say.
- Colombia: Check-MIG must be completed within 72 hours before both entry and exit; a yellow fever certificate is required when entering from Brazil and for some national parks.
- Peru: At land border crossings, travelers must visit the immigration office in person; without a properly registered entry, exit will be denied (Swiss FDFA).
- Ecuador: Travelers entering overland from Peru or Colombia need an apostilled and translated police clearance certificate.
- Bolivia: Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for travel to yellow fever regions, including Beni and Pando.
- Brazil: Visa-free for German citizens for up to 90 days, with no yellow fever requirement on entry.
Swiss travelers can find the regulations under the FDFA's "Travel documents, visa and entry" section and through the embassies; Austrians can consult the BMEIA, which notes, for example, visa-free entry to Peru for 90 days. Other nationalities have their own rules; the embassies and immigration authorities of the five countries provide information — for example the visa portal of Brazil's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombia's visa list, or Bolivia's visa groups.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · HealthyTravel (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine) · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Ministério das Relações Exteriores (Brasil) · Cancillería de Colombia · Embassy of Bolivia in London
What vaccinations and health precautions does the Amazon require?
Yellow fever affects the entire Amazon lowlands: healthytravel.ch recommends vaccination for every gateway on this page, and Bolivia requires it for Beni and Pando. Malaria occurs in all gateway regions, ranging from low risk in central Manaus to high risk in Loreto and in northern Beni and La Paz. Vaccinations and malaria prevention should be discussed with a travel medicine specialist.
| Region | Malaria risk |
|---|---|
| Manaus, Amazonas state | Low in the city center, high in parts of the state, medium on large river ships |
| Iquitos, Loreto | Medium in the city, high in Loreto and the villages around Iquitos |
| Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata, Manu | Low in the city, medium in some areas |
| Leticia | Medium in the center, high in the border departments |
| Cuyabeno, Yasuní | Medium in parts of the Amazon basin below 2,000 m, including Yasuní |
| Rurrenabaque, Madidi | High in Pando and in northern Beni and La Paz |
The yellow fever vaccination must be given at least 10 days before arrival. In Colombia, anyone traveling by land or river must carry proof of vaccination; for Leticia, Colombia's tourism board calls the vaccination essential. The US CDC states that Colombia and Bolivia require proof of vaccination when entering from a yellow-fever-risk country; travelers arriving directly from a country without yellow fever risk do not need proof, according to the CDC. Peru and Ecuador, per the CDC, do not require proof of vaccination for entry at all — but the current guidance from each country's own authorities remains decisive.
For Loreto, healthytravel.ch recommends mosquito protection and drug-based malaria prophylaxis, and for medium-risk areas an emergency stand-by medication after consultation; which medication is appropriate should be clarified with a doctor. The CDC lists the entire state of Amazonas in Brazil as a malaria area. In case of fever, malaria should always be ruled out with a blood test. Mosquito protection also helps against dengue during the day. Because of Oropouche outbreaks in Brazil, pregnant travelers should seek detailed medical advice.
Sources: HealthyTravel (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine) · HealthyTravel (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine) · HealthyTravel (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine) · HealthyTravel (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine) · HealthyTravel (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine) · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · ProColombia (colombia.travel) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
How safe are the Amazon gateways?
The situation varies clearly from one gateway to the next. Switzerland's FDFA advises against travel to Peru's and Ecuador's border areas with Colombia and recommends a knowledgeable local guide for the Peruvian Amazon. Near Iquitos, according to Germany's Federal Foreign Office, two tourist boats have been hijacked. Colombia's Amazonas department, home to Leticia, is not on the FDFA's list of departments to avoid.
- Peru: Road and river blockades occur throughout the Amazon region. In areas with illegal mining, such as Madre de Dios, the situation is tense. Only book Amazon river cruises with trustworthy operators.
- Ecuador: Germany's Federal Foreign Office also advises against the border region with Colombia, and Austria's BMEIA sees a high security risk there. Cuyabeno lies in Sucumbíos, the province bordering Colombia.
- Brazil: The FDFA considers travel generally safe but advises against the border region with Venezuela.
- Bolivia: Tourist boats are often poorly maintained; the BMEIA sees a high security risk in La Paz.
Sources: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria · Wikipedia · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA), Austria
How do you get to the Amazon?
You first fly to Lima, Bogotá, Quito, La Paz or São Paulo, then take a domestic connection: Lima–Iquitos and Lima–Puerto Maldonado each take around 1 h 40 min, Quito–Coca around 30 min, and La Paz–Rurrenabaque 45 min to 1 h. Manaus (MAO) has its own international flights to Panama City and Bogotá, seasonally to Miami, and TAP lists Manaus as a destination from Lisbon.
Lima, Bogotá and Quito have nonstop connections to Madrid, Amsterdam, Miami, Atlanta, Houston, New York and Panama City, and Bogotá and Lima are also connected to Toronto, Montreal and Mexico City. Copa Airlines flies nonstop to Manaus from Panama City year-round, Avianca flies nonstop from Bogotá year-round, and GOL flies seasonally from Miami (as of September 2026). According to Germany's Federal Foreign Office, travelers collect their luggage at Brazil's entry airport and re-check it for the domestic flight. For Madre de Dios, PromPerú names Cusco as the main gateway; Puerto Maldonado has direct flights to both Cusco and Lima. Leticia (LET) is served several times a day, nonstop, from Bogotá by Avianca and LATAM, with a flight time of around 2 h.
In Peru, the FDFA recommends flying long distances within the country, since bus accidents are common there. In Bolivia, delays and cancellations are to be expected, so a buffer day in La Paz is worthwhile. On the clock: Manaus is on UTC−4, while Leticia and neighboring Tabatinga are on UTC−5.
Sources: Wikipedia · TAP Air Portugal · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · PromPerú (peru.travel) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Napo Wildlife Center (Comunidad Kichwa Añangu) · Wikipedia · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland · Wikipedia · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · FlightConnections · Avianca · Copa Airlines
What does an Amazon trip cost, and what money do you need?
Each country has its own currency: real in Brazil, sol in Peru, peso in Colombia, US dollar in Ecuador, and boliviano in Bolivia. Tambopata and Manu may only be visited with authorized agencies, so booking there runs through an agency or lodge. Entry to Tambopata, Manu and Pacaya-Samiria costs 30 soles each for foreign visitors (as of September 2026).
In Peru, cash is available from ATMs with a credit card, but only in a very limited way with a debit card. In Ecuador, shops and banks generally do not accept $50 and $100 bills. PromPerú puts cash on the packing list for Pacaya-Samiria and Manu. At the Pousada Uacari in Mamirauá, a socio-environmental fee for community projects is included in the room rate.
The interactive website of Peru's protected-areas authority SERNANP (gob.pe/sernanp) could not be opened during this research; the 30-sole figure therefore comes from PromPerú, but matches SERNANP's own fee documents (PDF) from previous years.
Sources: Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · Federal Foreign Office, Germany · PromPerú (peru.travel) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá · Servicio Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas por el Estado (SERNANP)
Lodge or river cruise: where do you sleep in the Amazon?
You either stay in a forest lodge, usually reachable only by boat, or aboard a river ship. Lodges are found around Tambopata, Yasuní, Madidi, Mamirauá and near Leticia; expedition ships in Peru depart from Iquitos and Nauta toward Pacaya-Samiria.
| Criterion | Lodge | River cruise |
|---|---|---|
| Example | Posada Amazonas, Tambopata: around 30 rooms, 42-m-high tower | Expedition ships with 16 or 20 suites |
| Strength | Clay licks and lakes with fixed viewing points | High water, when skiffs can reach side channels |
| Malaria (German Foreign Office) | Low to high depending on area | Medium on large ships with overnight stays |
Posada Amazonas lies in the community forest of the Ese Eja people and is reachable only by river. The suites on the expedition ships measure around 23 to 30 m².
Sources: Rainforest Expeditions · Aqua Expeditions · Federal Foreign Office, Germany
What do you eat in the Amazon?
Amazon cuisine relies on river fish, plantains, cassava and forest fruits. In Peru's Madre de Dios, Pescado en Paca, Patarashca and Tacacho con Cecina are considered typical dishes; in northern Brazil it's the soup Tacacá; in Leticia it's mojojoy (grubs), fariña and freshwater fish.
Tacacá combines tucupi, a broth made from wild cassava, with jambu leaf, tapioca and dried shrimp, and is served hot in a gourd bowl. Patarashca is fish seasoned with sweet chili and wrapped in banana leaves; Tacacho con Cecina are balls of roasted or fried plantain served with pork.
Sources: PromPerú (peru.travel) · Wikipedia · ProColombia (colombia.travel)
Which cultures shape the Amazon?
The Amazon is home to numerous indigenous peoples — for example the Ticuna, Huitoto and Yucuna around Leticia; the Bora, Kukama and Yagua in Loreto; the Waorani in Yasuní; and the Tacana and Ese Ejja around Madidi. Added to that is the legacy of the rubber boom around 1900, visible in the Teatro Amazonas in Manaus and the Casa de Fierro in Iquitos.
The Teatro Amazonas was inaugurated on 31 December 1896 and seats 701. The Festival Folclórico de Parintins, held on the last weekend of June, is a competition between the Boi-Bumbá groups Garantido and Caprichoso. Switzerland's FDFA reminds travelers to visit communities only with consent and to photograph people only with permission.
Sources: ProColombia (colombia.travel) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA, Switzerland
What can you experience in the Amazon?
Wildlife and water are at the center: macaws at the clay licks of Tambopata, river dolphins near Leticia and in Pacaya-Samiria, giant otters in Lake Sandoval, and over 1,000 bird species in Manu. Add to that the Meeting of the Waters near Manaus, nights in treetop canopy towers, and boat trips through flooded forest.
- Clay licks: In Tambopata, macaws and parrots gather at collpas such as Chuncho and Colorado.
- Treetop canopy: Near Leticia, you can climb 35-m-tall trees and spend a night in a kapok tree platform.
- Night excursions: In Pacaya-Samiria, guides help you spot tarantulas and caimans after dark.
- Lakes by rowboat: On Lakes Sandoval and Tres Chimbadas you paddle by rowboat; giant otters live in Lake Sandoval.
- River dolphins: near Leticia and Puerto Nariño, in Pacaya-Samiria, and in Mamirauá, home to the boto and tucuxi.
- Birdwatching: Madidi counts 1,254 species, Manu over 1,000, and Yasuní at least 596.
PromPerú's packing list includes light clothing, a rain poncho, flashlight, binoculars and insect repellent.
Sources: PromPerú (peru.travel) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · ProColombia (colombia.travel) · ProColombia (colombia.travel) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia
Which protected areas and sustainable operators exist?
Behind every gateway is at least one large protected area: Anavilhanas and Mamirauá in Brazil, Pacaya-Samiria, Tambopata and Manu in Peru, Cuyabeno and Yasuní in Ecuador, and Madidi in Bolivia. Community-owned lodges such as Chalalán in Madidi or the Napo Wildlife Center in Yasuní belong to the local communities themselves.
| Protected area | Area | Status since |
|---|---|---|
| Mamirauá (Brazil) | around 11,000 km² | 1996 |
| Pacaya-Samiria (Peru) | 20,800 km² | 1982 |
| Manu (Peru) | 1,716,295 ha | 1973, UNESCO World Heritage 1987 |
| Yasuní (Ecuador) | around 10,000 km² | 1979, Biosphere Reserve 1989 |
| Madidi (Bolivia) | 18,957.5 km² | 1995 |
- Chalalán (Madidi): Founded in 1999, owned by the village of San José de Uchupiamonas.
- Pousada Uacari (Mamirauá): Run on a rotating basis by local residents, supported by the Mamirauá Institute since 1998.
- Posada Amazonas (Tambopata): Jointly run by Rainforest Expeditions and the community of Infierno.
- Napo Wildlife Center (Yasuní): Lodge belonging to the Kichwa community of Añangu.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Chalalán Ecolodge · Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá · Rainforest Expeditions · Napo Wildlife Center (Comunidad Kichwa Añangu)
What can you combine the Amazon with?
Each gateway has a partner city in the same country: Puerto Maldonado with Cusco, Iquitos with Lima, Leticia with Bogotá, Coca with Quito, Rurrenabaque with La Paz, and Manaus with São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro. Connecting two gateways usually means routing through that country's capital, since lowland airports mainly serve domestic connections.
Coca is around 30 flight minutes from Quito, so Yasuní can easily be added to an Ecuador trip that includes Quito or Galápagos.
Sources: Wikipedia · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Wikipedia · Wikipedia · Napo Wildlife Center (Comunidad Kichwa Añangu) · Wikipedia
Who is the Amazon a good fit for, and who should think twice?
The Amazon suits travelers who want to watch wildlife and are willing to accept heat, humidity and mosquitoes. It's less suited to families with babies, since yellow fever vaccination is only recommended from nine months of age; to pregnant travelers, because of the Oropouche outbreaks in Brazil; and to anyone looking for beach days, nightlife or unbroken road connections.
Travelers short on time should choose Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado or Coca, which have short connecting flights.
Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) · HealthyTravel (Swiss Expert Committee for Travel Medicine) · PromPerú (peru.travel) · Napo Wildlife Center (Comunidad Kichwa Añangu)