adventuresintheamazon posts
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (2 years ago)
May 29th, 2009 at 9:00AM: The Amazon River and the jungle that surrounds it, has always been one of those places that holds a certain sway over the imaginations of people the world over. It is a vast and unexplored wilderness that has yet to reveal all of its secrets and mysteries.We're fascinated with tales of lost jungle tribes that have yet to be contacted by the outside world. We're entranced by stories of giant ...
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (2 years ago)
May 28th, 2009 at 9:00AM: One of the biggest buzzwords in travel in recent years has been "ecotourism". The term is generally used to describe a type of travel that is designed to minimize the impact on the environments we are visiting and is often used in reference to fragile or seldom visited destinations. It was my experience during my journey through the Amazon that ecotourism wasn't a buzzword at all, but actually an ...
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (2 years ago)
May 27th, 2009 at 9:00AM: It was one of the darkest nights I had ever encountered. Well, at least it was when the lightning wasn't flashing across the sky, giving me an ever so brief glimpses of the forest that surrounded my tent. Despite the heavy rain, which had been falling for several hours, the night sounds of the jungle continued unabated. It was nearly as noisy as it was during the day, and when you added the ...
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (2 years ago)
May 26th, 2009 at 9:00AM: Exploring the Amazon by boat is an incredible experience. The river is so vast and powerful that it can boggle the mind. For instance, during the high water season, it can reach 25 miles in width and more than 100 feet in depth. But there are certain aspects of the Amazon that you can only see if you leave the boat behind, and strike out into the jungle, which is as unique as the river it ...
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (2 years ago)
May 25th, 2009 at 9:00AM: The Amazon is a river of epic proportions. It stretches 4345 miles in length, making it the second longest in the world behind the Nile, but it is by far the largest in terms of volume, pushing more water than the next ten rivers combined. During the high water season, the Amazon can reach 25 miles in width at certain points, and more than 100 feet in depth as well. The Amazon is formed by the ...
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (2 years ago)
May 22nd, 2009 at 9:00AM: As I've mentioned in earlier posts, the Amazon Rainforest has an incredible diversity of wildlife. There are literally hundreds of different species of birds, amphibians, and mammals, and that doesn't change when you go beneath the surface of the Amazon River, where more than 3000 species of fish dwell. Fish like the pirarucu, which can reach ten feet in length and weigh over 400 pounds, or the ...
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (2 years ago)
May 21st, 2009 at 9:00AM: Cruising the Amazon aboard a beautiful, 19th century styled, river boat is a fantastic experience. The passengers aboard La Turmalina, the ship that was my home while I explored the river, spent a lot of time up on deck, watching the world around us drift by. But there was a lot more to our journey than just sitting on deck drinking Pisco Sours and admiring the scenery. La Turmalina was outfitted ...
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (2 years ago)
May 20th, 2009 at 9:00AM: After spending the morning in the Belen Market, I was more than ready to truly get my Amazon Adventure underway. I'd been in Iquitos for a full day, and while I found the jungle city a fascinating place, I was eager to get out on the river itself.
I planned to cruise the river, along with a small group of other travelers, aboard a boat called La Turmalina for a week. The ship operates out of ...
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (2 years ago)
May 19th, 2009 at 9:00AM: Iquitos, Peru is, without a doubt, a unique city. Its colonial heritage can be seen at every turn, and its jungle roots can still be felt, despite the fact that modern conveniences have become a part of everyday life. No where is this contrasting lifestyle more evident then in the Belen district, home to a sprawling market that is loud, colorful, and hot.
The Belen Market is by far the largest ...
by Kraig Becker (RSS feed) (2 years ago)
May 18th, 2009 at 9:00AM: The Amazon River Basin is an amazing place. It is a vast ecosystem with the most diverse array of plant and animal life found anywhere on the planet. It is also one of those iconic destinations that sparks visions of adventure, with thoughts of Indiana Jones raiding lost temples for golden idols. It was all of these things, and more, that spurred my recent visit to the Peruvian Amazon, seeking a ...