For generations, the word safari conjured images of dusty Land Rovers bouncing across the Serengeti in search of lions and elephants. But new species of plants and animals are discovered in the Amazon every week. Floating safaris are the new item on the bucket list, and they rival anything found in Africa.
Travelers swap African safaris for Amazon river cruises for a more luxurious animal-centric experience. Photo credit: Depositphotos.
The Amazon River is rapidly becoming the new frontier for wildlife enthusiasts who want the thrill of discovery without the rough terrain. A modern Amazon river cruise offers a unique experience without the crowds and often at a far lesser cost.
This isn’t the Amazon of history books that terrified early explorers. Gone are the days when a trip into the jungle meant sleeping in a hammock and battling the elements with a machete. Today, adventurous travelers are discovering the best way to see the world’s largest rainforest and its abundance of animal and plant species is from the balcony of a luxury suite with a pisco sour in hand.
Redefining the safari experience
The concept of a safari comes from the idea of a journey. In the Amazon, that journey takes place on water rather than land. While an African safari relies on a jeep to get you close to the action, an Amazon safari utilizes sleek, shallow-draft skiffs. These small boats take travelers deep into the blackwater tributaries where the main vessels cannot go. It’s a quieter and more intimate way to explore. Without the roar of a diesel engine and clouds of dust, guests can get close to the wildlife safely to sit and just watch the animals in their element.
On safari, you often seek out the watering holes to catch the big five as they gather to drink. The Amazon works differently, as the animals don’t need to hunt for water in the same way, so you’ll find them in trees and amongst vegetation constantly throughout the day.
From survival to sophistication
The history of Amazon travel is paved with tales of hardship. From the early conquistadors like Francisco de Orellana, who accidentally navigated the length of the river in 1542, to Theodore Roosevelt’s harrowing journey down the River of Doubt, the Amazon was long considered a place to be survived rather than enjoyed.
The Amazon’s reputation began to change with the rubber boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which brought wealth and European architecture to cities like Manaus in Brazil and Iquitos in Peru. But it is only in the last two decades that purpose-built luxury vessels like those Delfin Amazon Cruises utilizes have truly opened the region to leisure travelers.
Modern luxury ships are designed to navigate the river’s fluctuating water levels while providing five-star amenities. They act as moving basecamps. Guests unpack once and experience a multitude of locations and vistas throughout their travels. This logistical ease has democratized the Amazon. It’s no longer just for biologists and backpackers, but also attracts families, retirees and anyone with a sense of wonder. You don’t have to be in great shape to enjoy it, and after a few hours on the skiff, you have the comfort of air conditioning to recharge.
Spotting the wildlife of the rainforest
Managing expectations is key to enjoying an Amazon cruise. In Africa, the animals are large and often stand out against the horizon. In the Amazon, the animals are masters of camouflage, driven by their need to survive. The forest is dense, vertical and teeming with life that prefers to hide. This makes spotting wildlife a challenge, but guides are excellent at locating them, helping travelers find the animals amid the foliage.
The stars of the show are different here; visitors are on the lookout for the Amazonian equivalents of the African big five. You’ll want to explore the river at different points in the day, as each species has its own time when it’s most active.
The pink river dolphin is the most iconic, and they play in the wake of skiffs and hunt at the confluence of rivers, making them easy to spot. Unlike their marine cousins, they have unfused neck vertebrae that allow them to turn their heads 180 degrees to navigate through flooded forests in addition to their unique coloring.
Visitors to the region will see more monkeys than anything else, but that doesn’t make them any less special. There are several varieties, from the tiny squirrel monkeys that travel in large and chaotic troops to saddleback tamarins skittering along branches or inquisitive capuchins looking for fruit near the water. It’s common to see hundreds in a single outing, yet the sight of a baby clinging to its mother’s back as she leaps between trees never loses its magic.
Both two-toed and three-toed varieties of sloths hang high in the cecropia trees. They’re often hard to notice because they tend to be so still for much of the time, but periodically you’ll catch one climbing up or down a tree, adding to the magic of the moment.
The birdlife is staggering with white-necked herons, macaws and jaburu storks, just to name a few species. Cormorants are everywhere, and seeing flocks of thousands of them take flight at the same time is something you’ll never see anywhere. The famous black vultures sit high in trees early in the day, spreading their wings to kill the bacteria in their feathers before going in search of the day’s meal.
At night, you’ll spot an entirely different set of creatures. You’ll need a good guide to find the caimans lurking near the banks of the river in the evenings. The hardest ones, however, are jaguars and anacondas that spend less time near the water, making those sightings even more special.
Activities throughout the day
A typical day on a floating safari revolves around the light. Early mornings are essential because the jungle wakes up before the heat sets in, so guests are often in the skiffs by sunrise to watch troops of squirrel monkeys and howler monkeys moving through the canopy. The naturalists possess an almost supernatural ability to spot a turtle sunning itself on a branch from 50 yards away.
Midday is for retreating to the air-conditioned comfort of the ship as the equatorial sun beats down. This is when the safari’s floating aspect shines. It’s a time for lectures on the ecosystem, cooking classes featuring jungle ingredients or simply watching the river traffic of barges and fishing canoes go by.
The afternoons bring another excursion as the wildlife becomes active again. This might involve fishing for piranhas, kayaking in a calm portion of a tributary or a night safari to spot the glowing red eyes of caimans with a spotlight. Each day is different, and the variety of experiences delights travelers.
Connection with local communities
Your floating safari isn’t just about animals. You also get a chance to meet some of the people who call the river home. They live in small villages scattered along the banks, and many cruises, including Delfin, incorporate visits to these communities, which provide a crucial cultural context to the environmental experience.
These interactions are often the highlight of the trip. Travelers learn how indigenous communities have adapted to the seasonal flooding that can raise the water level by as much as 40 feet. They see how cassava is processed, how medicinal plants are used to treat ailments and how local artisans weave intricate baskets and carvings.
This cultural exchange is a pillar of sustainable tourism in the region. By placing economic value on the rainforest through tourism, these communities receive the incentives they need to protect the wildlife and the trees rather than turning to logging or poaching. It creates a symbiotic relationship where the visitor’s presence helps preserve the very thing they came to see.
Why now is the time to go
The Amazon is changing. Climate change and deforestation are altering the landscape and the water cycles. While the region remains vast and wild, the window to see it in its most pristine state feels increasingly precious. Cruising offers a low-impact way to witness this majesty. The ships treat their waste and often partner with conservation groups to repopulate species and native flora.
For the traveler who has already done the African savannah, European river cruises or the Galapagos, the Amazon offers a new layer of complexity. It is louder, greener and more mysterious. An Amazon river cruise effectively bridges the gap between the wild and the civilized. It allows you to immerse yourself in one of the most hostile environments on earth without ever feeling unsafe or uncomfortable.
Michelle Price loves sharing her expertise and experiences at Honest and Truly Travels. She focuses on providing the inspiration and the confidence you need to hit the road with new flavors and experiences, whether that’s across town or across the world.
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