I want to see Amazon animals in their natural habitat
October 23, 2019 2:30 PM Subscribe
Everyone has different reasons for why they travel. For me, it is to see animals (that I've only seen in pictures or zoos) in their natural habitats, doing their things. A dream of mine has always been to see the denizens of the Amazon rainforest - sloths, capybaras, anteaters, and so on - and I now have my chance to do it! My travel requirements are
Because I will be making the trip alone, but am not nearly adventurous enough (nor fluent in Spanish) to navigate everything on my own, I am looking for a preferably small group tour that is primarily focused on seeing and learning about the indigenous wildlife. Cost and, to a great extent, length of the trip are not concerns for me and I am physically fit enough to handle whatever hiking or other activity is involved. A tour operator that offers women-only trips would probably be ideal but not required. Are there specific tour companies and/or trips you can recommend for me? What month(s) would be best for this trip? Do you have any other advice for me?
Because I will be making the trip alone, but am not nearly adventurous enough (nor fluent in Spanish) to navigate everything on my own, I am looking for a preferably small group tour that is primarily focused on seeing and learning about the indigenous wildlife. Cost and, to a great extent, length of the trip are not concerns for me and I am physically fit enough to handle whatever hiking or other activity is involved. A tour operator that offers women-only trips would probably be ideal but not required. Are there specific tour companies and/or trips you can recommend for me? What month(s) would be best for this trip? Do you have any other advice for me?
I haven't done it, but based on jungle travel I have done, I'd look for something like this. Something that goes by boat. Here's another one that looks interesting. But note even that one cautions you not to bet on seeing the large mammals.
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:49 PM on October 23, 2019
posted by fingersandtoes at 5:49 PM on October 23, 2019
The Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica Lodge in Puerto Maldonado Peru was not cheap, but was a really incredible and completely all-inclusive wildlife viewing experience with wonderful local guides. I think it would work very well for a single female traveler. The deal is you stay in the lodge and select day trips in small groups in the area. We saw giant river otters (SUPER cool), red howler monkeys, spider monkeys, hoatzin (my favorite), galagos, caiman, toucans, oodles of macaws, trogons, leaf-cutter ants doing the thing, weird hummingbirds, ALL of the tarantulas (including a giant bird eater), and much much more. Great food, too. They even taught us to fish for piranhas, which we then ate for lunch - they’re tasty. And no mobile service, which made it even more relaxing.
posted by faineg at 6:04 PM on October 23, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by faineg at 6:04 PM on October 23, 2019 [8 favorites]
Upfront some caveats: I did this back in '08, so don't have recent experience and also Bolivia is experiencing some big political upheaval at the moment, so I'd wait that out before going. Also there have been big fires in the Amazon region, worth investigating more.
But: I really enjoyed a boat trip we did on The Reina De Enin - a triple storey catamaran. (English link). This is on a tributary to the Amazon, The Mamore. We saw: pink river dolphins, piranhas, a big family of capybara, lots of birds, caiman, rays, and even saw jaguar footprints on the beach.
In terms of when to go, the Amazon basically has a flood season and a not-flood season, and you'll obviously have a different experiences in each. We did not-flood and I think this meant we saw more animals? It's been a while and I can't remember.
Look up what vaccinations you need to get to travel, there are a few.
I think the biggest challenge won't be finding an English-speaking tour, but will be finding a tour guide to get you to the tour, perhaps. Although tourism is a big industry and you should be able to arrange a guide through travel agents.
posted by freethefeet at 4:45 AM on October 24, 2019 [1 favorite]
But: I really enjoyed a boat trip we did on The Reina De Enin - a triple storey catamaran. (English link). This is on a tributary to the Amazon, The Mamore. We saw: pink river dolphins, piranhas, a big family of capybara, lots of birds, caiman, rays, and even saw jaguar footprints on the beach.
In terms of when to go, the Amazon basically has a flood season and a not-flood season, and you'll obviously have a different experiences in each. We did not-flood and I think this meant we saw more animals? It's been a while and I can't remember.
Look up what vaccinations you need to get to travel, there are a few.
I think the biggest challenge won't be finding an English-speaking tour, but will be finding a tour guide to get you to the tour, perhaps. Although tourism is a big industry and you should be able to arrange a guide through travel agents.
posted by freethefeet at 4:45 AM on October 24, 2019 [1 favorite]
Oh- and a note on language- if you do a trip to Brazil, the language spoken there is Portuguese, not Spanish.
posted by freethefeet at 4:49 AM on October 24, 2019
posted by freethefeet at 4:49 AM on October 24, 2019
I'm proposing slightly more independent approach, but still totally organized way of doing this.
Fly to Manaus in Brazil (from US it's easy to get through Panama City, Panama on Copa Airliners) and go/ stay with Mirante do Gaviao lodge up the Amazon about 3 hours drive from Manaus. They can pick you up from the airport or you could book-end the trip with stays at a hotel in Manaus.
The place is absolutely amazing and even better than the pictures show. It combines luxurious "bungalows" and culinary experience, with expert guides on the river. You won't be a part of a group as such, but will meet other travelers. We were there with 3 kids (aged between 5 - 10), while other guests included Canadian doctor couple on their honeymoon, group of South Africans men on an adventure trip, and few single travelers.
The guides are really good and they'll make sure to have the right guides for whoever is staying at the time. We worked with two different guides; one was from a native Amazon tribe from far upriver and other was an university educated conservationist with mixed jungle tribe/ English Guyana background. Days had 2 (sometimes 3) trips on the river to see snakes, crocodiles, piranhas, spiders, etc. You can see mammals (including jaguars depending on your luck), but I don't remember whether we saw anything beyond monkeys. However, whatever you see it is absolutely intriguing and exciting.
Every group or solo traveler will have their own guide & trips, but these can be combined depending on your and other guests wishes. The restaurant overlooking the river is the nexus of the social experience, where you talk with the guides and others, so a solo traveler would not fee alone even as this is not group tourism.
posted by zeikka at 8:15 AM on October 24, 2019 [2 favorites]
Fly to Manaus in Brazil (from US it's easy to get through Panama City, Panama on Copa Airliners) and go/ stay with Mirante do Gaviao lodge up the Amazon about 3 hours drive from Manaus. They can pick you up from the airport or you could book-end the trip with stays at a hotel in Manaus.
The place is absolutely amazing and even better than the pictures show. It combines luxurious "bungalows" and culinary experience, with expert guides on the river. You won't be a part of a group as such, but will meet other travelers. We were there with 3 kids (aged between 5 - 10), while other guests included Canadian doctor couple on their honeymoon, group of South Africans men on an adventure trip, and few single travelers.
The guides are really good and they'll make sure to have the right guides for whoever is staying at the time. We worked with two different guides; one was from a native Amazon tribe from far upriver and other was an university educated conservationist with mixed jungle tribe/ English Guyana background. Days had 2 (sometimes 3) trips on the river to see snakes, crocodiles, piranhas, spiders, etc. You can see mammals (including jaguars depending on your luck), but I don't remember whether we saw anything beyond monkeys. However, whatever you see it is absolutely intriguing and exciting.
Every group or solo traveler will have their own guide & trips, but these can be combined depending on your and other guests wishes. The restaurant overlooking the river is the nexus of the social experience, where you talk with the guides and others, so a solo traveler would not fee alone even as this is not group tourism.
posted by zeikka at 8:15 AM on October 24, 2019 [2 favorites]
Have you considered the Pantanal? We planned visiting the Amazon a few years ago, but our research suggested that most of the same animals were more easily seen in the Pantanal so we went there instead. We were not disappointed. We seen jaguars and anteaters as well as caimen and capybara by the dozen. The birdlife was amazing. My personal favourite were the giant river otters who were worth the trip alone. I can't remember the tour company off the top of my head, but feel free to drop me a memail if you're interested and I can look up the details.
posted by Jakey at 4:28 PM on October 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Jakey at 4:28 PM on October 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
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I'm sorry, I don't have any recommendations for you - I was there on an artist residency (though my art is about animals, plants, and ecology).
posted by vegartanipla at 5:21 PM on October 23, 2019 [1 favorite]