Spread across nine countries (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Venezuela, Suriname and French Guiana), the Amazon jungle is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. These are some recommendations to prepare your trip.
1. In the suitcase
It is important to wear comfortable clothing, preferably cotton and light colors. Dark tones attract the attention of insects. It is also essential to wear closed shoes or high boots, especially in swampy areas. They tell many stories about travelers who have had a bad time as a result of leeches Kambo practitioner training. And since the dangers do not only come from water, it is advisable to wear long-sleeved shirts to avoid mosquito or insect bites that can spread various diseases. It is essential to wear special pants for expeditions in the jungle, made of quick-drying materials.
2. In the medicine cabinet
Pain relievers and antihistamines will help relieve headaches or discomfort caused by constant exposure to the sun and insect bites. Essential is, of course, insect repellent . It doesn’t hurt to take two or three bottles to constantly smear yourself with this magical liquid that, although it burns the skin, scares away the dreaded and unpleasant mosquitoes. The use of sunscreen is also essential. If we notice something strange in our stomach, we have spots on our skin or there is something different in our body when we return from the trip, we should go to the doctor immediately. And don’t forget that vaccines against yellow fever and tetanus must be given 10 days before our trip.
3. In the canteen
During tours through the jungle, it is important to constantly consume liquids, since the tropical heat makes us dehydrate very quickly and we do not stop sweating. It is essential to ensure that the liquids we consume are prepared with drinking water. A good option is to put some tablets to purify water in your backpack . It’s better to prevent than to cure.
4. Contact with indigenous people
If we have the opportunity to visit an indigenous community, it is essential to respect its inhabitants. Before taking a photo or recording a video, you must ask permission. A quite controversial issue is whether or not we should pay for photos. In the most remote places, not used to mass tourism, people do not usually ask for any financial remuneration for taking photos. However, in the most touristy places, asking for coins has become a tradition. We will be the ones who decide what to do, although we must be clear that if they ask us for money we must pay or not take the photo. It will be necessary to avoid collecting samples of native fauna or flora and carrying elements that could contaminate.
5. A prepared guide
Walking through the jungle may seem like a lot of fun, but the truth is that in addition to being dangerous, it is downright difficult. The exuberance of vegetation makes it easy to get lost and we have to carry a machete to make our way through the tangle, which is not very advisable for the protection of the environment. Unless the path is really well signposted, it is advisable to be accompanied by expert guides.
6. Against excess humidity
Humidity can seriously affect our electronic equipment, so it is advisable to store them in hermetically sealed plastic bags to prevent deterioration. It is also very common for camera lenses to fog up from the inside. There is nothing to do, just be patient.
7. Lack of electricity
In some remote towns it is likely that electricity will be out for much of the day and/or night. It is advisable to always have a travel flashlight or headlamp on hand. It doesn’t hurt for photography or smartphone lovers to carry a spare charged battery.
8. Light luggage
We are going to the jungle, not to a five-star hotel in Punta Cana. The ideal is to carry a single backpack-type suitcase, so that we can walk calmly through the undergrowth and through the swampy terrain. Wheels are not very useful for walking through the jungle, so we should refrain from carrying suitcases with wheels. Yes, the plastic covers with which you can wrap backpacks are useful against rain.
9. Travel by boat
Getting around the Amazon is not as difficult as it may seem at first. In some countries like Ecuador, a fantastic highway connects the entire ‘Orient’. In Peru, Colombia and Brazil, due to the large expanse of tropical forest, there are many isolated localities in the middle of the jungle. However, the fastest way to move through the Amazon is the rivers. Numerous ships link the main Amazonian cities and cross Latin American borders. It must be taken into account that navigation from one city to another usually lasts several days, with their respective nights. On many of these boats you sleep outdoors, lying in a hammock. It is advisable to always be attentive to our belongings (even tying or locking them), especially during night stops.
10. Hallucinogenic plants
There are many stories of people who went to the jungle to do ayahuasca sessions, got too high and everything was stolen from them. There are even versions that claim that they sexually abused the avid startup entrepreneurs. If you are going to take an astral trip with ayahuasca, it is recommended that you go with a friend who remains conscious and has not taken the substance while the rest of the travelers enjoy their trip. Many news items circulate in Latin American newspapers in which they talk about robberies perpetrated with scopolamine, a substance obtained from a plant called Datura Arbórea. The thief takes out a piece of paper and sprinkles the victim with some powder that makes him drowsy, dizzy and makes him lose consciousness, a moment that the criminal takes advantage of to take everything from him.