There are several countries where you can explore the Amazon rainforest, but Brazil stands out as one of the most developed options, offering wider rivers and slightly better facilities. Despite the challenging and uncomfortable journey, every time I reflect on it, it remains a classic and unforgettable memory. Allow me to share our itinerary with you.
When we embarked on this adventure, we didn’t make any reservations beforehand. As soon as we stepped off the plane, an uncle at the exit was enthusiastically promoting a tour. Without much hesitation, we followed him. Looking back now, we were incredibly brave—or perhaps reckless—but fortunately, he turned out to be legitimate. He worked for a reputable travel company, and we were taken to their office to sign the contract. [Laughing R]
Our three-day, two-night stay in the rainforest offered the option to upgrade to a cabin or an air-conditioned room for additional comfort. While I opted for the extra cost to ensure some ease, my adventurous mother insisted on camping in the rainforest alongside two other individual travelers. Naturally, I couldn’t let her go alone, so I joined her, and of course, the extra money we had paid wasn’t refunded.
We began by visiting the Brazilian version of the confluence of two rivers, the mouth of the mighty Amazon River. From there, we boarded a completely rustic minivan for a bumpy ride lasting four to five hours, then transferred to an electric boat, and finally, a hand-paddled canoe.
Here, roads don’t exist; everything depends on paddling. The canoe felt like it could capsize at any moment. The surroundings were eerily silent, devoid of any human presence. If it weren’t for the two fellow travelers, we might have genuinely suspected we were being kidnapped.
Our accommodation consisted of small cabins set up by the travel company deep within the rainforest. You could swim and fish in the Amazon River, take guided tours through the dense jungle, and even embark on a night safari to spot crocodiles under the cover of darkness.
The air in the Amazon rainforest is oppressively hot and humid, teeming with mosquitoes that deliver excruciating bites. They swarmed over our legs, arms, and necks—I hadn’t done my research and didn’t realize vaccinations were necessary—and within less than two hours, my legs were swollen from bites, making it nearly impossible to remove my pants. On the verge of breaking down, when my teammate suggested camping, I was truly on the brink of tears but gritted my teeth and agreed.
The local indigenous people carried large backpacks and hammocks to the campsite first. Our guide, a young man, carried a bag filled with pots, pans, rice, oil, a chicken, a sausage, and two fishing rods, leading us deeper into the rainforest. Mosquitoes relentlessly accompanied us the entire way. When we arrived at the campsite, we discovered it was semi-open—no doors or fabric, just a simple roof.
The young man demonstrated how to sleep in a hammock. Upon inspecting it, I noticed it had two layers. He explained that snakes might crawl up in the middle of the night, and the dual layers were designed to prevent bites. [Embarrassed R]
After a quick briefing, we split into teams and assigned tasks. Our group took on the challenge of catching piranhas, while the others focused on building a fire, boiling water, and preparing the meal. Despite their fearsome reputation, piranhas were surprisingly easy to catch. With their wide mouths and rows of sharp teeth, they put up quite a show—but unfortunately, not much meat to match.
Though I felt a sense of accomplishment in reeling them in, one bite was enough for me; I couldn’t bring myself to eat another.
That night, as the rain pattered softly against the dense canopy of the rainforest, my mind raced with thoughts of unseen creatures—crawling insects, slithering snakes—and the stifling humidity that clung to every surface. Drenched and overheated, my heart pounded in my chest, keeping sleep at bay. In just a few hours by boat and car, we had left the comforts of civilization far behind.
It was surreal to think about how isolated we truly were, an experience both thrilling and unnerving all at once.
The night passed uneventfully, mercifully free of snake encounters.
