What’s the Difference between the Peru and Brazil Amazon?

Taking a trip to “the Amazon” is something a lot of people want to do at some point in their lives. At the same time, “the Amazon” is a vast and diverse rainforest that is home to around one-in-ten of the known species on Earth.

It spans across eight countries, and the piece of the Amazon you choose to visit will drastically change your experience. Two of the most common countries that people visit the Amazon through are Peru and Brazil.

We’re going to cover the difference between Brazil and Peru Amazon so that you have a little more to base your next trip off of.

Traveling to the Amazon

Seeing as the Amazon covers about 2.1 million square miles of terrain, there’s really no chance that you’re going to traverse all of it. That said, Brazil holds around 60 percent of that land and Peru holds somewhere between 13 to 17 percent.

Any country you visit the Amazon through will provide more than enough for you to see, and no one piece of it could be called “better” or “worse.”

The differences that we’ll describe below will help you to understand how one country or the other might better fit your travel preferences.

Let’s get started:

Visiting the Peru Amazon

The first thing that stands out about taking a trip to the Peruvian Amazon is the accessibility. Both countries will require you to take a flight to get to the point of access, but Peru’s is significantly shorter.

The Peruvian Amazon is situated in the southern portion of the country. We’ll assume that you’re going to be vacationing primarily in either Lima or Cusco, seeing as those are the two most common tourist destinations.

The flight from Lima to the Amazon is roughly an hour and forty-five minutes, while the flight from Cusco is only an hour. This is a huge perk because it allows you to fit more into your travel schedule than you would be able to if you had to plan the flight from Brazillian destinations to the Amazon.

There are also a number of luxury lodges to choose from when you get there.

You may not be interested in a particularly luxurious lodge, but you have the option of a high-end stay if you’re traveling with that picky family member.

The Peruvian Amazon is host to thousands upon thousands of species, but you’re very likely to see things like river otters, colorful birds of paradise, macaws, parrots, and much more.

Notable Attractions

There are some attractions that really stand out in the Peruvian Amazon.

First, think about the reality of thousands of tropical birds flying around the world’s largest clay lick. A clay lick is an area where primarily parrots and macaws congregate every day to detoxify themselves by consuming clay.

It seems unusual, but it’s something you’ll have to see to believe. Further, you’ll have an unmatched set of attractions when you leave the Amazon. Peru is home to one of the new wonders of the world, Machu Picchu.

Peru is also home to the natural beauty of the Andes, in addition to many more wonderful travel destinations.

Visiting the Brazilian Amazon

As we mentioned a little bit earlier in the article, the flight to the Amazon from most Brazilian travel destinations will be a little longer than the one in Peru. In fact, the flight from Rio to Manaus is roughly 4 hours long.

Manaus is the most common point of entry to the Brazillian Amazon. If you’re looking to travel there, you should set aside ample time to fly there and back while having enough time to enjoy the area.

Brazil is host to a massive amount of wildlife and is the world’s most biodiverse country. This is largely due to the fact that Brazil holds so much of the Amazon. As a result, river trips and explorations are very accessible in Brazil.

If you’re looking for a quintessential, secluded experience in the Amazon, Brazil is probably going to hit the spot. As you roll down the river, you might want to plan ahead and try to see where the Amazon River and the Rio Negro meet.

This spot is the largest tributary in the Amazon and is known as the Meeting Waters.

Rainforest Cruises

Expedition cruises give you an opportunity to experience the Amazon with a high degree of comfort. Moving down the river and taking periodic stops to explore can lead to a lot of unique experiences.

When you stop to make explorations, you’re likely to see a plethora of birds, monkeys, lush plant life, and more. Many of the plants and animals you’ll see can only be found in the Amazon.

You’ll be guided by naturalists with a deep knowledge of the wildlife, giving you a greater understanding than you would otherwise have.

When you get out of the rainforest, you’ll have the chance to explore Brazil, South America’s largest country. Rio de Janeiro is home to the legendary Copacabana Beach, the massive Christ the Redeemer statue, and much, much more.

Seeing something like the Iguazu Falls is unforgettable. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is often referred to as a smaller Niagra Falls. The benefit here is that you can actually get in the water.

You can experience literally thousands more beautiful natural sites as well as a vibrant city life that will leave you feeling exhilarated.

There’s nothing quite like getting immersed in a culture, only to explore some of the most beautiful terrains in the world the next day.

Looking to Learn More?

If you’re looking to travel to the Brazillian or Peru Amazon, we recommend that you take a look at some more resources to really flesh out the activities you’d like to take part in.

When it comes to the Amazon, there are just so many options, and we want you to be prepared.

Visit our site to learn more about things you can do to have the best possible trip to the Amazon.