What's the Best Country to Explore the Amazon From?

Being the largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon Basin occupies about 40% of South America's landmass and lies within the borders of the countries of Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, and Guyana.

Here are Adventure Life's picks for the top 4 countries for a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the Amazon:

1) Ecuador has easy access to the Amazon (just half an hour flight from the capital of Quito),  and world-class eco-lodges such as Sacha Lodge and La Selva Lodge which provide the most convenient, comfortable way to discover remote Amazonian wildlife and indigenous peoples. Combine a tour of the Amazon with the Galapagos Islands for the ultimate wildlife viewing vacation. Make sure to take a look at your local travel advisories, here are links from the United States, UK, Canada, India, and Australia to Ecuador.

2) Peru also has excellent rainforest lodges and cruises that navigate major tributaries of the Amazon. If you're visiting Machu Picchu, then the Puerto Maldonado and Manu National Park region is a quick flight away. The Iquitos region is more remote and only accessible by flights, but the vast majority of Amazon River cruises are based in Iquitos. Check out these links to see travel advisories from the United States, UK, Canada, India, and Australia to Peru.

3) Brazil is home to the majority of the massive Amazon basin, and hence long distances are required to reach lodges or cruise boats. The landscape tends to be flatter and wetter, and the ecosystems are different here than higher up in the Andes in Ecuador and Peru. But, Brazil is the only country where you can cruise the Amazon River itself instead of one of its tributaries.  Make sure to take a look at your local travel advisories, here are links from the United States, UK, Canada, India, and Australia to Brazil.

4) Bolivia has some of the most remote, best-preserved rainforest in the entire Amazon Basin such as Mididi National Park where you can experience the Amazon rainforest by a stay in Chalan Lodge managed by the local Quichua Indigenous community which is surrounded by over 4.5 million acres of primary rainforest.  Make sure to take a look at your local travel advisories, here are links from the United States, UK, Canada, and Australia to Bolivia