New 7 Wonders of Nature
The Amazon is both a river and a forest, and it belongs to no single country. Its basin spreads across Brazil, which holds the largest share, and Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. The river carries more water than any other on Earth, fed by thousands of tributaries that rise in the Andes and in the lowland forest, and the surrounding rainforest stores vast amounts of carbon and shapes weather far beyond South America. Biologists regard it as one of the richest places for life on the planet, home to enormous numbers of plants, insects, birds, fish and mammals, from river dolphins and giant otters to macaws and jaguars. People have lived here for thousands of years, and Indigenous communities, riverside settlements and cities all depend on the forest and river. Deforestation, fire, mining and climate change put pressure on it, which makes responsible travel more important. Experiences differ sharply by country. Near Manaus in Brazil, the dark Rio Negro meets the pale Solimões and the two flow side by side for kilometres, and the Anavilhanas archipelago offers channel cruising. Peru’s Iquitos and Madre de Dios regions, Colombia’s Leticia area and Ecuador’s Napo region offer lodge and community-based stays. Travel is mainly by boat or small plane, so plan patiently, respect local guides and choose operators that support communities and conservation.
How to visit
Living ecosystem across nine countries. Many protected areas, Indigenous territories and threatened zones.
- Gateway
- Suggested gateway used here: Manaus, Brazil (MAO). Other gateways include Iquitos (Peru), Leticia (Colombia) and Puerto Maldonado (Peru); each lies in a different country with different rules.
- Getting there
- For this profile’s suggested trip, fly to Manaus, Brazil, then take boats to the Meeting of Waters, Anavilhanas and lodges. Other trips start from Iquitos (Peru, no road access), Leticia (Colombia) or Puerto Maldonado (Peru).
- Access and booking
- Most visits are arranged through licensed lodges, cruise operators or community tourism initiatives. Protected areas and Indigenous territories may require permits or local guides.
- Season and conditions
- Water levels shape travel: the high-water season floods forests for canoe travel, and the lower-water season exposes beaches and trails. Rain is possible year-round.
- Guides, permits and reservations
- Yellow fever vaccination and malaria precautions may be recommended or required depending on region and nationality; confirm with official health authorities. Travel only with licensed operators.
- Accessibility and physical demands
- Boat transfers and jungle paths are uneven and humid; accessibility varies by operator and is pending verification.
- What you can realistically visit today
- You can take river cruises, canoe trips, guided forest walks, community visits and wildlife observation with local guides, depending on country and operator.
Checked against official sources
- Brazil’s tourism pages describe Manaus as the gateway to the rainforest, with boats the main transport to jungle lodges, the Meeting of the Waters of the Rio Negro and Solimões, and Anavilhanas. — Visit Brasil
- The New7Wonders of Nature site lists the Amazon with the country given as “South America”, not a single nation. — New7Wonders of Nature
Reviewed 2026-10-23. Official details change; confirm on the official page before you travel.
Pending verification
SATRAM has not verified the following; please check an official source:
- Current health entry requirements (yellow fever, malaria) for each country.
- Gateway-specific transport, permits and seasonal water levels.
Official and useful links
Sources
Description and visit notes were written by SATRAM from these references. “Opened” means a page was read during the review; “cited” means it is listed as a standard reference and its address has not been machine-checked. Last reviewed .
- New7Wonders of Nature — official wonders page — New7Wonders Foundation · opened
- New7Wonders of Nature — Wikipedia · opened
- Meeting of the Waters — Visit Brasil — Embratur / Visit Brasil · opened