Amazon Destinations

Brazil

The largest part of the Amazon forest lies within the borders of Brazil. It is a huge area that's best to traverse by local boats.

In Brazil, among the top destinations is the city of Manaus. Although Manaus is not a prime natural site itself, within easy reach are some excellent nature lodges that offer wonderful opportunities to observe wildlife. You might also want to check out Pico da Neblina National Park, Parque Nacional da Amazonia, and Reserva Biológica do Rio Trombetas. Belém is an alternative access point to the Amazon from which you can also reach Marajó Island. Other notable destinations in Brazil are Pantanal, Brasília National Park, the Atlantic Forest, and parks close to Rio de Janeiro, such as Parque Nacional de Tijuca, Parque Nacional de Serra do Orgãos, and Parque Nacional de Itatiaia.

Over half of Bolivia's 1,098,000 sq km (or 424,000 sq miles) is the Amazon Basin. Bolivia's Amazon Basin is unique because it not only contains the lowland tropical forests, but also has habitat types as diverse as montane cloud forests, dry inter-montane valleys in the eastern Andes, tropical savanahs, and dry scrub forests associated with the central plateau of the Brazilian Shield.

You might want to check out the Parque Nacional Amboró, the Parque Nacional Noel Kempff, and the Ríos Blanco and Negro Wildlife Reserve.

Western Colombia

This is probably the most rewarding region in Latin America for observing wildlife. However, the ongoing confict and friction makes Wester Colombia much too dangerous to visit at present time.

Among destinations, or bases, to explore the Amazon in Western Colombia are Chocó, La Planada, Cali, Alto Anchicayá, Río Tatabro, Santa Marta, Parque Nacional Chingaza, Serranía de la Macarena, and Leticia.

Ecuador

Even though it is one of the smallest South American countries, Ecuador has some of the best wildlife-viewing and ecotourism in the Amazon Basin.

Amazon destinations here include the Sangay National Park, or Parque Nacional Sangay, about 200 km (125 miles) south of Quito, the Mountain Tapir, and the Oriente.

The Guianas

The Guianas refers to the three Guianas: Guyana (formerly British Guiana), Suriname (formerly Dutch Guiana), and Guyane (or French Guiana). These three countries vary very little in their geography.

In Guyana many travelers visit Kaieteur Falls and Karanambu Ranch, as well as Shell Beach, a protected stretch of Atlantic coastline that's one of the best places to view turtles. Well known destinations in Suriname is Raleighvallen/Voltzberg Nature Reserve and Central Suriname Wilderness Nature Reserve.

Peru

Peru contains some of the most spectacular environments in Latin America that run from the High Andes to the Amazonian Basin. The Amazon begins some 4,000 km (or 2,500 miles) from its mouth in the northeast corner of Peru, where the waters of the Río Napo and Río Ucayali meet. Some of the best known destinations in Peru are Iquitos (biggest city of the Amazonian lowlands), Reserva Nacional Pacaya-Samiria, Historical Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, Parque Nacional Bahuaja-Sonene, Parque Nacional Manu, and Zona Reservada Tambopata-Candamo.

Venezuela

Venezuela is a prime destination for ecotourists as it has some of the largest stretches of virgin rainforest in the world.

Venezuela offers three very different regions: The Orinoco-Amazon Basin, the Caribbean Coast, and the Andes.

A good base to launch your tours from is Caracas, where most international flights arrive from Europe and North America. From here you can move south.

Top tourist destinations are El Avila, Guatopo, and Henri Pittier (or Rancho Grande) in the Caribbean Coast. Pico Bolívar in the Venezuelan Andes. Between Venezuela and Colombia there is the Perija peninsula.

The Amazon River is connected to the third largest river in South America: the Orinoco. It is possible to sail from the Orinoco Delta to the Amazon, via the Upper Orinoco, over to the Río Negro by the Casiquiare, and then continuing to the Amazon.

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