Boat tours on the Amazon River

Tour operators in Manaus, Alter do Chão (near Santarem in Brazil) and Iquitos offer overnight or single day trips. Jungle lodges throughout the Amazon region run river trips as part of their itineraries. For smaller groups these are often bespoke.

If you’re staying on the Amazon river itself – in Iquitos or Manaus, aim to spend as little time as possible on the river. The action is on the smaller tributaries. When the water is high be sure to ask for a trip that enters the flooded forest; and when the water is low, the oxbow lakes – where there’s usually good bird wildlife watching; and to request a night boat ride to look for caiman. Standard trips will usually take in floating or stilted villages, and involve piranha fishing.

If you’re taking an overnight boat trip (the best leave from Manaus, Iquitos and Alter do Chao), choose a classic wooden double-decker river boat; and make sure it’s towing a launch for side trips.

The best boats for overnight trips are converted traditional Amazon double or triple-decker river boats, with plush wood cabins and plenty of deck space.

Tours can be taken all year round – when the water is high or low. Climate changes little over the year and as rains are usually short and heavy, any month is good to visit.

Months with the most rain depend on geography more than time of year – so check the weather charts for your hub destination. Insect numbers vary according to river acidity and not season (as a rule, black and blue water rivers have few mosquitoes, coffee-coloured rivers will have plenty). The best time to see wildlife is early morning and late afternoon.