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Rainy Vs. Dry Season: Which Is The Best Time For Amazon River Tours

Amazon River Tours have a huge following among backpackers. Nature lovers have so much to discover in this mighty river flowing over 4000 miles and the region is home to about 10% of the world’s flora and fauna. Therefore, Amazon cruises are both interesting and intriguing. Amazon is a must-visit destination for people interested in unusual kind of tours. If you might wonder which one is the best season for Amazon River tours, here is the answer to let you make an informed decision for best results.

The best time for Amazon River tours Just choosing a river cruise might look simple for you. You might imagine Amazon River tours like exploring a good deal, and then choosing the ship and itinerary. In this, you have not covered the biggest and the most important part namely when to sail. Remember with regard to Amazon tours, choosing the right time is as important as choosing where to go and which cruise to choose.

Weather is a crucially important aspect that will decide what you can see and do on and off the river. Access to the wildlife, excursions on the shore, and ports will highly depend on water levels and hence this is an important topic to understand.

The downsides to travel in the Amazon during wet season are a phenomenal increase in mosquitoes around this time, many hiking trails in the forest becoming inaccessible during this season making you spend more time on the skiff than on foot.

The dry season, also called as the low-water season runs from June through November. In fact, the term ‘dry’ is out of context in this rain forest as Amazon is an ever green forest. The only difference is you will come across fewer rains during this season. If fishing excursions and jungle walks are your interests, then the dry season is the best time for Amazon River tours. Since fish will swim in a lower volume of water during this season, it is easier to catch a piranha. Though this is the hottest time in the year, the mosquitoes will be fewer to contend with.

Take away Always choose your Amazon River cruise itinerary wisely and plan the tours during the right time to make the most of this fantastic experience. To this end, doing some research and updating you with some good information about the region will be highly useful.

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Amazon Cruise Itineraries To Choose From

Few expeditions on this earth can be as exciting and fulfilling as Amazon Cruises do. There is so much to do on an Amazon River Cruise that there is something for everyone to make the most of this experience. Before you book for Amazon cruises, you must gather enough information so that you can choose the right options and book the right packages. Here are a few interesting Amazon cruise itineraries to choose from.

Some interesting Amazon River Cruise Itineraries to choose from Amazon River Cruises have got some wide range of packages ranging from just three nights to as long as 70 nights. The right one for you will depend on your preferences and what thrills you the most in Amazon Cruises. First let us understand a few cruise types to be able to make a decision.

Brazilian Amazon Majority of Amazon cruises start from Manaus or Rio de Janeiro. From these places, they sail up the Amazon River towards the port of Macapa. Occasionally, some cruise lines also feature an Amazon cruise trip around Brazil.

Peruvian Amazon Amazon Cruises stretching over three, four or seven days originate from Iquitos to some of the most fascinating Peruvian stretches of the river. Apart from moving through different tributaries, these cruises also feature a tour of the Yacapana Isles, best known for their rich iguanas population and carry the travellers to watch the Yarapa River's grey and pink freshwater dolphins, to explore the Madgalena village, which is a famed home to gigantic water lilies, and to socialize with the Cocama Indians of Puerto Prado.

Amazon plus Caribbean Some Amazon Cruises starting at the Florida ports of Fort Lauderdale or Miami focus on sailing the river, combining it with calls on a few Caribbean islands like Grenada, Barbados, and St. Thomas, visiting the Devil's Island in French Guiana, which is the home to the deadly prison regime mentioned in the thriller novel "Papillon".

Amazon plus South America or Antarctica Some longer Amazon Cruise itineraries are rather more adventurous and they start at Manaus or Rio de Janeiro. Some such cruises feature an Amazon cruise trip around Brazil. Some others of this kind merge the Amazon with cruises near Ecuador and Galapagos Islands. Amazon River cruises longer than 60 nights either start or conclude in Valparaiso, Chile. Often their river trips include a voyage surrounding South America and Antarctica.

Take away Before booking your Amazon cruise, it is good to explore some packages and understand if they have the elements that interest you. This is a great way to land the best cruising experience on the oceanic river.

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Some Interesting Things To Do In The Amazon River

When you book for Luxury Amazon River Cruises, one of the most exciting expeditions of a lifetime awaits you. What you can do in the Amazon River is literally endless and depends on the itinerary and activities planned by the cruise provider you choose. However, here are a few very interesting things you might get to enjoy on the Amazon River during your cruise.

Interacting with the jungle community If you stop by the local villagers’ community, you get to meet the San Francisco Jungle Community that lives there for several generations. Children at the schoolhouse greet you cordially as they love entertaining visitors. You can also buy the crafts made by the village folk and support the locals.

Explore the jungle Near the Marañon River, the eco-system is quite unique and highly interesting. If you happen to visit during mornings or evenings, you will find the wild life active. Exploring the jungle here will let you learn a lot about the Amazon eco-system, local villages and a long list of medicinal plants.

Pacaya-Samiria Reserve Pacaya-Samiria Reserve is sure to thrill bird-lovers with more than 450 species of birds, more than 100 species of mammals, and around `130 species of reptiles and amphibians besides a large collection of plants. Around 13 species of primates inhabit this reserve. This is the largest wetland reserve in the world.

Island of the Iguanas The Island of Iguanas situated near the Marañon River is a very interesting place as this is a popular destination to catch and release fish. You get to watch piranhas very closely.

Rio Ucayali Wild life lovers will find the Rio Ucayali a wonderful place to watch the wildlife along the Amazon River. You can find gray river dolphins and Amazon pink dolphins near the shore by the boat. This area is surrounded by rainforest and presents abundant opportunities to watch birds, sloths and monkeys. You will also find giant water lilies. Watching the fishing bats in the evenings will be a thrilling sight.

Ubos Lake Home of piranha fishing, the Ubos Lake is where the visitors can catch piranha for their dinner.

Yanayacu/Pucate Rivers The Yanayacu and Pucate rivers seen beautifully diverting into lagoons and creeks are known for their bio-diversity and are some top attractions of Amazon River cruises. Some tours provide stand up paddle or kayaking to get the firsthand feel of the beauty of this place.

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What To Expect From Amazon Cruises

Amazon Cruises are once in lifetime experiences for anyone who wants to discover the best of nature. You must expect a startling variety all the way as you will not be stuck on the boat for the whole week. Quite often, you will be off the boat, go on Safari and explore the lands too. Skiffs are the typical kind of boats used for Amazon Cruises, which are solid and can move swiftly on the turbulent currents of the Amazon River filled with logs and trees. The passengers get a plenty of opportunities for wildlife watching. The safaris can be either in the day or night. So, the entire expedition is bound to be highly exciting.

Guides, activities and safaris In each safari, there might be one or two guides who are knowledgeable and well-experienced about the whole region. They make it easy to watch the wild life in the jungles. Once you learn how to spot wild life with the help of the guides, myriad surprises will await you during safaris. Every new day will bring you newer and unique experiences depending on the places you visit and the activities you engage in. mornings safari immediately after breakfast will be especially amazing.

On some days, you will get your breakfast out during safari so that you will not have to go back to the boat during that early morning. Sometimes, entire mornings will be spent on the river. On other days, you will wake up to watch the sunrise and spend a great time with the guides on the deck to watch wildlife and birds while enjoying fresh coffee and your favorite snacks.

On some mornings, you will have free hours to get started with a delightful buffet breakfast before going on a safari in the river until lunch time. On every evening, the itinerary and activities for the next day will be explained so that you stay prepared for all the excitements on the next day.

Take away Every safari you get to experience as part of Amazon Cruises is unique and different. Sometimes, you will search for birds and monkeys, while some other times, you will watch pink dolphins. While most safaris happen on the boat, there are some excursions happening on the land to explore the region. During jungle walks, you will learn about the medicinal plants and the fauna and flora of the area. Village walks let you experience the lives of locals. You can also shop for some handmade jewelry. So, there are loads of excitements to expect during Amazon cruises.

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Some incomparable thrills that amazon cruisers enjoy

Amazon River cruises are some of the most unforgettable lifetime experiences that await any traveler to the region. With a large number of cruising companies waiting all prepared to take you on a thrilling journey on the largest river on the earth, you will find the whole experience a much more rewarding one than what you might spend on the package you are booking. Here are some of the incomparable thrills that you can expect during your Amazon River cruising adventure.

Moving upstream on the Amazon River

When you visit the Amazon basin in a ship, most probably your cruise will happen in Brazil, the point where the Amazon River pours its contents into the Atlantic Ocean. Usually the large ships sail upstream to Manaus and even on a 1,000 mile voyage upstream, you will not be able to see the river from bank to bank as it is so wide.

The scenic beauty

When you move through the Amazon River, you are actually heading to a trip that is far removed from the civilization. You will feel so close to the rainforest, the amazing bio-diversity of the region and some incredible animals like river dolphins, macaws, jaguars, caimans, anacondas, tamarinmonekys and three toed sloths.

The PacayaSamiria National Reserve

While accessing the Amazon basin in Peru travelling from Lima, you are so close to the PacayaSamiria National Reserve that includes three river basins namely the Pacaya, Samiria and Yanayacu-Pucate that receive the abundant waters of the Andes stream. Accessible only by water, this is a protected area that teams with a variety of life. On your trip, you will go to places only on the river and you will be accompanied by natural guides while moving deep into the rainforest.

The seasonal surprises

During all times of the year, the Amazon regions receive at least some rainfall. Throughout the year, you can spot spectacular wildlife. Sighting pink dolphins during all seasons is guaranteed to every traveler. During the high water season (December – May), the water level will be 23 feet higher. During this time, everywhere it is navigable and it is possible to go deeper into the Amazon jungle canopy to watch turtles, caimans, monkeys and other interesting species of animals. However, the walkable areas are fewer and you will confront mosquitoes that will be the biggest nuisance to your trip.

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Why Amazon is a popular destination among cruise lovers

Among the several adventures you can plan for a holiday, river cruises are highly sought after as they provide a unique kind of experience that you can fall in love with your entire family or team. River cruises have been around us for so long in different parts of the world. Nevertheless, few other river cruises on the earth are as popular as the Amazon Cruises for the several obvious reasons. Year on year, a large number of tourists book for Amazon Cruises to take advantage of the several most wonderful things the whole experience has got to offer.

Reasons that make Amazon Cruises stand out from other getaway options

The longest and largest river

The charm of the entire cruising exercise ensues from the fact that Amazon is the largest and the longest river on the earth stretching for 4,345 miles long between Peru and Brazil and discharging the largest quantity of water into the sea.

Stunning diversity of life

Amazon River waters a region dense with rain forests. The Amazon forest is a home to the most diverse kind of flora and fauna. As the river meanders through the forests and when you are in a cruise boat, you get to enjoy stunning views of the plants, animals and birds that you have never known to be existing on the earth.

A large number of cruising companies and itineraries to choose from

One of the real challenges in front of the cruisers looking forward to book for Amazon Cruise is to choose the best company to book their trip with and to select the right package from the myriad options each of these companies can provide you. Once you do a deep research on this topic, this will not be a tough job as you will know what you want from your trip.

Find the right Amazon cruise company

Once you do some research, you will come across a large number of companies offering Amazon Cruise packages. Consult some good reviews and also take referrals from your friends or contacts who had already experienced some kind of cruising on the Amazon River so that you can get some valuable inputs to plan the whole mission in a meticulous way. If you have decided to set your foot on an Amazon cruise with your family or friends, you are in for a real treat that you will all remember for the whole of your life.  

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Some spices that add flavor to Amazon River Boat Cruises

If you have planned for an Amazon River Boat Cruise, a stunning adventure which is a real treat to the whole of your being awaits you. A discussion on what to expect from an Amazon cruise can grow endless into several volumes of huge books. Here are a few most wonderful things that spice up the whole experience you get from an Amazon River Boat cruise.

From dawn to dusk

Between December and May, over ninety percent of the Amazon forest is fully flooded with waters. Some parts of the forest which were earlier accessible by foot would now be accessible only by boats. As you cruise during the daytime, the prankish plays of the monkeys, the cruising games of the pink dolphins, and the chirps of the birds will keep you engaged. Once the sun sets in the evening, the whole of the forest experiences a stillness with all signs and sounds vanishing from around you with the forest entering into a deep slumber for the day.

Going with naturalists

In the mornings and evenings of your Amazon River Boat cruise, you will be taken on smaller trips to enjoy the diverse kind of flora and fauna of the Amazon jungle. Most guides accompanying you are called as naturalists who have a vast breadth of understanding of the Amazon rainforest. In fact a number of them had grown up there in the forests and enjoy deep connections with the region that most of us can never comprehend. 

Traversing through the home to local communities

When the modern life is advancing around us so fast, there are still laidback local communities in the Amazon jungles that continue to live an involved traditional way of life. They rely on few modern amenities and are found immersed in the kind of natural life the jungle has to offer them. On a river boat cruise, you may come across a few members of the local tribes whose appearance, activities and courage will stun you.

The stunning Amazonian experience

During the rainy season in the early mornings, you will often see the sun veiled by dense grey clouds. At times, there could be drizzles or a heavy downpour. If your luck lets you confront a clear morning, you will glimpse the sun meandering through the rainforest, the thick canopy of the trees, and over the flowing waters of the river. This is the most unique Amazonian experience you will cherish for a lifetime.

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A short guide to Peru Amazon Cruises

When you confront the desire to book for an Amazon River cruise, you have a plethora of options in front of you and hence the whole experience can be more baffling than you had ever imagined. Here are some insights that will help you plan your Peru Amazon cruises in the best way possible and get the most out of it.

The region watered by the mighty Amazon River and its tributaries is so vast covering a massive area of about 2.1 million square miles in South America. The second longest river of the world is 4,000 miles long. In terms of water flow, it is the largest in the world. a large number of tributaries many of which deserve to be of the size of the largest rivers in many continents create a matrix of waterways that cover one fifth of the South American continent including greater parts of Peru, Ecuador, Columbia and Brazil.

Peru Amazon cruises

There are two regions when you talk of Peru Amazon Cruises namely Northern Peru and Southern Peru. Peruvian Amazon Cruises happen on the Marañón River and the Ucayali River at the point where they pour their contents into the Amazon River and become one with it. The unique charm of Amazon cruises ensue from the rare chance of exploring the pristine rainforest sections. The tall excitement of fishing for piranhas and enjoying exhilarating swims with the most famous pink Amazon River dolphins can be unforgettable for a lifetime.

The most exciting part of the Peru Amazon cruises start in Nautawhich is in fact an upstream from Iquitosand move through the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. The cruises from Iquitos, which have much in similarity with the cruises from Coca and Ecuador, must pass a certain degree of development to touch the unspoiled Amazon. A number of travelers mix up shorter cruises with a much longer tour of Machu Picchu and some other regions of Peru.

Something interesting about Peru’s Amazon

Peru’s Amazon is quite distinct due to the fact that it has high water and low water seasons. High water season stretches from November to May. It will allow for a much larger exploration and access through the waters. Between November and May, you can expect rains from 60 to 180 inches here. Hence a large number of riparian plants flower and fruit during this time. This is perhaps one of the best times to visit this region to spot monkeys and birds at the edge of the river. When the waters are higher, there is a chance of accessing the flooded forests deeper. Those dreaming to duck into the most isolated corners of the Amazon Rainforest can find this a real boon.

The low water season runs from June to October and this time enables trail walks on the terra firma. Between June and October, the rains are from 30 inches to 100 inches and hence the river recedes a bit. There is a chance to explore the sandy river beaches, and hikes on the terra firma. You can go meandering through the forests with knowledgeable guides to learn about the most stunning flora and fauna of the region.

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Safety guide to Amazon Cruises

An Amazon Rainforest cruise is an unforgettable experience for a lifetime for adventure lovers and nature admirers. When you wait for the best of the jungle experience, here are a few safety guidelines that will help you avoid some undesired risks and dangers and enjoy the cruise to the fullest.

Safety in the cruise

Most cruises have CPR trained staff onboard and also first-aid kits. There are also health professionals who will help the local villages. All the guests will have safety brief so that everyone is given to understand the safety procedures onboard. The expert guides will clear if you have any extra concerns and doubts. You have access to many professionals onboard who have lived in the forest and are exposed to jungle experience very well. So, regarding your safety, there is nothing to fret about.

Consult your physician

Before travelling to Amazon, it is always good to consult your physician to get some professional advice. Carry the medicines you need with something in excess as getting medicine supplies in the region can be most times unthinkable. You must carry your regular prescriptions along with you for the time you will complete the cruise.

Beware of motion sickness

Though this is not a very common issue, a word about it will help you understand where you stand. The river boats always move slowly and calmly on the Amazon River. If you have motion sickness or if you have not experienced any cruise in your lifetime before, it is good to carry some gravol with you. There are chances that some can experience nausea, dizziness and vomiting. Mild cases of motion sickness can be overcome by exposing to the fresh air from the deck.

Vaccines

All the visitors to the Amazon are normally advised to take malaria pills few weeks before they set out to travel. This will leave you with enough time to get a prescription from your doctor. It is good to check with your doctor if you have been vaccinated for yellow fever. If this is not the case, you need to get yourself one and also get a certificate to this end. Many airports expect you to carry a vaccination certificate. To prevent any mosquito bites, you must carry a lot of insect repellent containing enough deet. Hydrocortisone cream will also help you is you suffer any critter bite.

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Stunning Amazon River Cruises You Must Not Miss Out

For several reasons and especially for its baffling bio-diversity, a large number of frequent travelers keep Amazon Cruises at the top of their travel wish list. The second largest river on the earth wades through the South American continent crossing the regions of Brazil, Columbia and Peru. The river basin of this mesmerizing river is the home to more than third of the world’s animal species.

Some of the notable animal species you will really love to see in the region include giant otters, jaguars, squirrel-size tamarin monkeys, piranhas, anacondas, monk saki monkeys, scarlet macaws, Amazon River dolphins, electric eels, three-toed sloths, Amazonian manatees, caimans, bull sharks, and several others. Here are some highly interesting Amazon River Cruising Packages you will love once you book for one.

Upper Amazon Cruise The highlights of this cruise will include visiting Iquitos to Nauta, and discovering what is there at the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve.

Riverboat Adventure in Amazon Once you choose this theme, you can include places like Iquitos, Amazon, Maranon, Ucayali Rivers, and the most interesting Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.

Cover from Inca Empire to Peru This Amazon Cruise can be planned as an Iquitos round trip covering places as Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco, in addition to an involved cruise on the Amazon River.

Cover Caribbean Islands and Amazon This can be a most thrilling package you can hope for while booking for Amazon River Cruises. The places of interest in this itinerary will include some interesting spots from Fort Lauderale to Manuas and Brazil.

Bird watching in Amazon Amazon jungle is the home to a large number of bird species. You will come across more than 1,500 bird varieties in this region which will make this the most fantastic option for those who love to watch spotting the avian wildlife. The birds inhabiting the Amazon region are bright, colorful, playful, and often very large. It is a real fun to watch them. One of the best places for watching birds is Peru. Take a boat up to the river to enjoy bird watching. As a bonus, you will also get to see a large number of animals on the route like dolphins that will swim along the boat.

Explore some packages to plan Plan your Amazon River Cruise by exploring some interesting packages offered by cruising companies and making an informed decision in choosing the right package will let you get the most out of your Amazon River Cruise.

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Read This To Enjoy A Smoother River Cruise

While river cruise can be an exciting and invigorating experience to the cruisers, many things need to be focused on if you want a smooth trip. Here are a few tips to make the most of your Amazon Cruise experience.

Double Check The Documentation Well in advance before the actual cruising date, you must double check the documentation so that you are not strangled during the last minute. Check if you have applied for the necessary tourist visas. Get to know the rules of the place you are planning to go and equip yourself with all the compliance documents necessary.

Keep Track Of Your Flights Online This is perhaps the second important thing to do about your trip. Keep your booking information readily accessible anytime and cross check if the flights are on the same schedule. Between the time of booking and your actual date of the journey, there are chances that the flights are rescheduled. Also it is good to ensure that the accomplices of your travel are seated together.

Make Some Reading About The Amazon Cruise It will be highly useful if you can read some background information about Amazon River cruise. Reading about some reviews and travelogues by those who have already cruised on the river can help you learn more about the cruise. If you can get to know the problems the travelers faced during their cruising trips, you can stay prepared to avoid them during your trip.

Carry As Less Luggage As You Can Luggage is very much a necessity when you go on any trip. You need the basic minimum luggage so that you avoid any hassles and inconveniences. However, too much luggage can turn into an inconvenience in itself. Plan well to make sure what you will need absolutely and what you can manage without. Some things you can get on the move. So, doing the necessary homework can find you travel comfortably.

Be Ready To Be Flexible As is the case with most types of travels, river cruise can be unpredictable and is subject to changes due to weather events and local conditions. Since unforeseen situations can impact your travel, you must be flexible enough to accept the unavoidable changes and modifications if necessitated by the conditions around you.

Check Your Insurance It is good to get yourself insured especially while you are on a river cruising trip. It will help you during emergencies. His little spending can help avoid bigger expenses if situations force them upon you.