Is the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest safe?
Welcome to our Brazilian Amazon Rainforest safety guide.
This massive jungle region is a must-visit for any travelers heading around Brazil.
Here we can see many exotic animals, rare plants and also get to interact with local indigenous tribes. It’s also great to visit year-round too, with each season offering something slightly different.
Brazilian Amazon Rainforest Quick Summary:
- 📍 Where is it: Western Brazil
- 🗺 Difficulty Getting There: Easy/Moderate
- ⏱ Time needed: 4-8 Days
- ☀️ Best Time to Visit: July-December
Is the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest Safe?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you’ll need to know about Safety in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest as a backpacker or traveler.
We’ll look at all the different factors, our top safety tips, other useful information as well as an FAQ section where we answer your key questions.
Got travel insurance for the Amazon Rainforest?
Is the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest Safe Right Now?
Quick Answer: It’s important to first mention that the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest is a massive area – so it all depends on where you will be heading.
Given Manaus is the main base camp, we’ll assume that you will be heading here (if going elsewhere then please do your own independent research as well).
The jungle around this region of course has its risks such as wild animals and tricky terrains, however this is all alleviated when you go with a reliable tour operator. Also the city of Manaus can feel somewhat run-down and sketchy in areas, and below we’ll show you the best neighborhoods to base yourself in before and after your rainforest tours.
Manaus itself can feel like quite a seedy city in parts, so you’ll want to stick to the Centro region which is more touristy. Always leave valuables in your apartment when walking around, and avoid heading out alone after dark.
Where to Stay in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest
As already mentioned, The Brazilian Amazon alone covers a massive area of over 4 million square kilometers (and is home to 60% of the entire Amazon which is shared between different South American countries). This is impossible for us to account for every area ourselves!
However Manaus remains the main gateway, and as such we will mention our experiences here which includes where is best to stay. Overall the area of Centro in the south of the city is the best. Here we’ll find a range of accommodation options, as well as many city highlights, restaurants and nightlife to enjoy.
If you want to stick to a low backpacking budget, then we highly recommend staying at the Local Hostel. It’s just a block from the main plaza (Largo de São Sebastião), and you’ll find many great tour companies and restaurants nearby. They also include a buffet-style breakfast in the room rate!
Those who want an upgrade in comfort and facilities will want to stay at the Seringal Hotel. Here you’ll be staying in a beautiful private room with AC close to the main plaza. As well as including breakfast, you can also enjoy the on-site restaurant which serves up both regional Amazon foods and international dishes.
Things to do in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest
Given this is such a highly endemic and expansive area, there is an almost unlimited number of things we can do here. Wildlife Spotting has to be among the very best, where here you can see Monkeys, Anacondas, Caiman, Pink River Dolphins and even a Jaguar if you’re lucky.
There are additional unique activities that you can do too, such as Piranha Fishing along the Amazon as well as heading on Nightwalk tours (much much different when compared with the day!).
Many companies also offer Jungle Survival Tours, where you can head off into the Amazon and learn a variety of skills that could potentially save your life if you got lost. This full-day tour is a great option, where you’ll learn to build your own raft, find food and also make your own jungle shelter.
Is the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest Safe to Visit?
The Brazilian Amazon Rainforest Travel Warnings
There are no current travel warnings against visiting the Brazilian Amazon (especially in and around Manaus). Whilst the city itself does have rough edges, the surrounding jungle is pretty safe to visit as long as you follow your tour guide’s advice.
One important thing to mention is the prevalence of mosquito-borne illnesses. In these areas of Brazil, there have been reports of Dengue Fever, Malaria, Yellow Fever and Chikungunya). This means it’s vital to get any necessary injections before you come here, as well as bringing a high DEET mosquito spray too to keep them at bay.
Crime in The Brazilian Amazon Rainforest
Human crime is very rare in these areas, given there are hardly any people living in the jungle. This is even more so since these areas depend on tourism, so safety standards and respect towards tourists always remain high.
Having said that, there have been incidents in the past between locals and tourists. However these have happened in much deeper-lying areas (such as near Tabatinga), and were due to on-going feuds and investigations into corruption.
Overall though, if you’re a normal person looking to explore the jungle and wildlife, then there is virtually no risk presented in terms of crime.
Safety in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest during the day
This goes without saying – regardless if it’s day or night you should never explore these areas solo or stray off from your guide. The Amazon Jungle can be pretty lethal, so it’s always best to follow the advice of locals who know it well.
The daytime is usually safer to explore the jungle, given you have better visibility as well as most wildlife is at rest (rather than looking for its next meal).
Of course you’ll still need to follow the trails and not head off-piste, and also to prepare properly before heading on a hike. This includes wearing long trousers, using mosquito repellent as well as not trying to touch any wild animals.
It’s important to mention that this same advice applies for the whole Amazon region – regardless if you’re visiting the rainforest here in Brazil, the Venezuelan Amazon, the Bolivian Amazon Jungle and so on.
The Brazilian Amazon Rainforest Safety at Night
When the sun begins to fall, the jungle wakes up. And if you’ve ever been to the Amazon before, then you’ll know exactly what I mean!
All kinds of animals begin to shriek and get moving at this time to find food, so again it’s really important to stay close to your guide when on a night-time walk (this goes without saying – you should never be walking alone in the jungle – especially at night!).
Mosquitoes are also more active given that the temperatures begin to cool, so it’s really important to layer up with a high DEET mosquito spray (before jungle walks and also wherever you’re staying, since they always find a way in!). Most tours will provide mosquitos nets on beds, so be sure to make good use of these.
7 Safety Tips for the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest
Below we will list 7 of our top safety tips for when heading to the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest.
Only use Reputable Jungle Tours
As we’ve already mentioned, this area can be pretty lethal at the best of times. That’s why it’s vital to only explore with locals who know the Amazon Jungle well (both to stay safe and also have the best chance of seeing a variety of wildlife). We highly recommend heading with this flexible tour, where you can customize the length of your trip whilst having all lodging, food and experiences included.
Bring High DEET Mosquito Spray
Unfortunately mosquitos can be a common nuisance in the jungle, where they become most active at night. In this region they can carry various diseases too (such as Malaria or Zika), so using a high DEET mosquito spray is essential. We recommend re-applying several times a day if possible, and also to use nets for your bed (most tours will include these).
Bring a Variety of Clothing
This one is perhaps the most surprising of all, and tends to catch many travelers out. I (George) keep getting this wrong, so best to learn from my mistakes! Although the jungle is hot, you’ll also want to bring trousers and a poncho. This is to help avoid getting bit by any snakes or insects, and also to have a jacket ready in case the rains fall from out of nowhere. Much better than going in sandals and swimming trunks for sure…
Don’t Touch the Wildlife
On most tours you’ll see a huge number of different animals, and to be fair most here are ones you probably wouldn’t want to risk your hand for (such as Caiman, Piranhas or Tarantulas). However it’s also important not to touch anything else too, given you could harm both yourself and the animals too. Whilst it’s all beautiful, let’s keep it so too for the future generations who want to visit after.
Drink from Safe Water Sources
Most tours will provide you with all bottled water that you’d need to use during your trip, and even the jungle lodges will also boil all water well before use. However if you do for some reason need to change things up, then either use a quality water filter bottle or ask your guide from where you can drink. Again, it can be really easy to catch parasites or nasty bacteria when drinking from poor sources.
Double-up on the Sunscreen
The Amazon Jungle remains hot year-round, so having a high SPF sunscreen is vital to keep your skin protected. This is even more important if you will be spending more time on river boats, since they’re hit or miss whether they will have a roof (and trust us – even 2 hours in direct sunlight can cause some pretty bad burns here).
Always Take out Solid Travel Insurance Before Your Trip
This is arguably the most important of all, and will cover you financially if anything were to happen during your trip in the Amazon Jungle. Picking a reliable provider is really important here, who will cover for you a variety of activities, and also have a good medical cover.
The Brazilian Amazon Rainforest Safety FAQ Guide:
Is the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest Safe? Final Words
And that’s all for our guide on how to stay safe in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest.
The largest and most diverse rainforest on our planet, it’s no wonder that the Amazon Jungle makes most bucket lists.
Here we can see all kinds of land-based and water-based wildlife, and also enjoy some more unique experiences during your time spent deep within the region.
Overall the Amazon Rainforest is a safe place to visit, as long as you go with an organized tour and follow local advice. It’s important to remember that whilst touristy in places, the Amazon Jungle remains a wild region that can be unforgiving.
In this guide, we’ve explored the current safety situation in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest, which includes whether it’s safe to visit, as well as any current travel advisories.
As well as looking at the best things to do in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest, we’ve also included our FAQ which answers your most burning questions.
While you’re still here, be sure to read our Backpacking Brazil Itinerary to learn more about what you can do when in this giant of a country.
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