You work hard all year long at your chosen profession. Sometimes the weekends do not arrive soon enough and are gone far too quickly! But there is that saving grace of a holiday where you are free to take yourself and your family to destinations far and wide. If you are very fortunate, you may even have two blocks of time during the year to get away. This is the time to forget all the hassles of work and stresses of daily life. Pack your bags and head off on holiday for exciting adventures or relaxation or both.

Holidays are the only release from all this stuff

If you are in search of a truly exotic destination consider the Amazon. A trip to this magical location in South America will be a trip you will think about and talk about for years to come.

In order to determine if you are the Amazonian type, let us consider some of the sights and sounds, flavours and cultures you are likely to encounter. The old adage, “Where there is water, there is life,” could not be more true than in this tropical rainforest. The Amazon River is the destination for drainage from tributaries the size of the United States. Although the Nile is the longest river on Earth, the Amazon is the widest and has the greatest volume of water. Instead of those large numbers no one can quite comprehend, let’s use the following analogy: The amount of water that flows out of the river into the Atlantic every day would meet the water needs of New York City for nine years!

That’s a lot of water. Think I need the loo…

Amazon is ranked in first place in natural areas on the New Seven Wonders of the World list. The seven million square kilometre area is the largest and most fruitful rainforest in the world. This wet forest is home to more species of plants and animals than any other spot on the Earth. Of course, there are still areas within the forest that are as yet undiscovered. But at last tally, scientists have identified 40,000 plant species, almost 1,300 different birds, over 400 mammals, somewhere around 100,000 invertebrates and an astounding 2.5 million different species of insects! All in this rainforest!

For the true nature lover, these facts are probably enough to get them booking their next flight to the Americas! You will want to plan your holiday from June to October because there are basically two seasons in the Amazon – the wet season and the wetter season. These months are classed in the first group and have lower humidity. You flight destination is likely to be Belem, Brazil. This is a metropolitan city of almost 2 million people and offers all the comforts expected in any large city. If you are the type of nature lover who must have a comfy bed, hot showers and restaurants, then make this your choice for accommodation.

Check out all the rain

Belem is home to many festivals throughout the year that showcase local culture and celebration. If you stay in any one of the cities, restaurants provide international cuisine for all tastes. In order to fully experience this land, however, ask a local where they like to eat. This will guarantee you a culinary delight that most visitors will not have the pleasure of experiencing!

From Belem, you can book all manner of tours and excursions into the rainforest. There are many private companies that offer daily jaunts and touring packages while bringing you back in the evening to the creature comforts of the city. There are river cruises and fishing opportunities for those finned creatures you will not find anywhere else on the planet. There are also excursions devoted to bird watching and wildlife spotting.

You can go wildlife spotting

If however, you are of a more adventurous spirit, you will definitely want to avail yourself of the many lodges and packages deep within the rainforest itself. These particular accommodation choices range in amenities from moderately “modern” to extremely primitive. Be sure to ask all the specific questions before booking so you will not have any surprises upon arrival. This is after all, a completely “wild” tropical environment with all the accompanying critters. As a friendly, pre-trip reminder, the Amazon is home to the jaguar, super-sized anaconda, electric eels with deadly voltage, poison dart frogs, very large spiders, and Vampire bats… This is not an area to wander around in unchaperoned – it is the critters’ home and we are merely visitors.

Once in the Amazon, you should devote some time to experiencing the indigenous cultures of the area. There have been human inhabitants here for thousands of years, and many native peoples still reside throughout the area. Ask your tour guide or travel company if they have any trips to local areas. This is also something you will not be able to do on your own. Again, remember you are a visitor and should practice all your good manners and social graces to respect your hosts!

These are the real inhabitants of the Amazon

An Amazonian holiday is best approached with an open mind and willingness to be flexible in this most unique environment. The rainforest is all about nature so make sure you do not harm this precious area by leaving litter, picking plants or disturbing the wildlife. This location should be on everyone’s life list of travel destinations. With a little preparation ahead of time, it will be a life-changing experience among the richest natural environment on the Earth.

There is no other place on Earth quite like this rich biosphere. If you are moved by its grandeur, you may even want to support protection efforts once you return home. There is a continuing battle to preserve the integrity of the place called “The lungs of the earth” because the Amazon is producing oxygen for us all. There are oil and logging companies who do not see the value of the Amazon to the planet, and are only concerned with their short-term profit margins. If they succeed, the health of the planet is in peril. Carry your passion and your rainforest experiences home from holiday, and take a stand to protect the Amazon.

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