When it comes to travel or even thinking about where to go next, few think to consider the Amazon Jungle. This remote location covers an area of 2,300,000 square miles, with a mass of rainforest filled with an incredibly rich variety of biodiversity. It’s almost unbelievable to think that you have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of such a different and intriguing part of the world that we live in.
How to get there
Naturally with the Amazon Jungle being so impressively large, there are different ways in which to reach the jungle within South America. Common ways to reach the Amazon Jungle are through either the cities of Manaus in Brazil or Puerto Maldonado in Peru.
Puerto Maldonado
A visit to the small but vibrant city of Puerto Maldonado in Peru is an adventure in itself! Not only does it act as your gateway to reaching the Peruvian Amazon, but it’s a bustling city of varying sights and sounds. From the buzz of motorcycles racing down streets, to the smells of exotic jungle fruits on sale at the local market. It’s definitely a world-away from life outside of this jungle town! Once exploring the city, you hop on to a riverboat for a 2 hour journey that gives you your very first glimpse of the river that leads you to the surprises that await…
Tambopata
The advantage of visiting the Tambopata province is that there are plenty of opportunities to go on day excursions. One of the most popular ones is a visit to Monkey Island (or Isla de los Monos in Spanish). Monkey Island is a conservation project that aims to rescue and protect three main species. These include the Brown Capuchin and the Squirrel Monkey. The excursions you take there, aim to teach you more about their way of life. Plus you get a chance to get up close and personal for feeding time!
The wildlife
With risk of sounding too obvious, the amazon is absolutely teeming with wildlife! Just sitting back, listening to the sounds of the jungle is an incredible experience. It’s also a fun game trying to match the sound to the animal (You’ll never win though!). Every corner you look will be slathered in creepy-crawlies, from termites to purple tarantulas. The rivers are flanked by birds fishing in the shallow waters alongside alligators. The waters are packed with fish such as piranhas, ready to be caught. And the trees are full of sluggish sloths and a myriad of monkeys swinging through the branches. And if you’re lucky, you’ll spot our favourite – the toucan!
In hindsight, a journey to the heart of the Amazon Jungle will change your whole outlook on travel. There is more than meets the eye when you journey to this mystical part of the world. The jungle teaches you about the wildlife that it inhabits, still kept pure, just as nature intended. Best of all, a visit to the Peruvian Amazon means it’s also the perfect opportunity to add other bucket-list activities to your time in Peru, such as taking on the iconic Inca Trail or visiting other nearby cities like Cusco.
