5 ways to experience the Amazon for gay travelers

Seby took one look at the dark green color of the Amazon River, turned to Stefan, and declared:

“I am NOT swimming in there Stefan. I will NOT become piranha fish food!”

Stefan got his way in the end and managed to persuade Seb to jump in, to the joy of the staff on board the Anakonda cruise who found our bickering (and Seb's irrational fears) highly amusing.

Irrational fears? Contrary to popular belief, swimming in the Amazon River can be quite safe. Our guides knew the spots where tourists like us could swim safely and conquer their Piranha-phobia. Piranhas are not aggressive or territorial, but more like scavengers. They will not go anywhere near you.

“Swimming in the Amazon River can be quite safe. Our guides knew the spots where tourists like us could swim safely and conquer their Piranha-phobia…”

Despite this, Sebastien lasted a whole 7 seconds in the Amazon River before he jumped straight back into our boat…

Piranha-phobias aside, there are many options for gay travellers to explore the Amazon jungle in South America, whether as part of a gay group tour, on a luxurious cruise along the Amazon river or staying in a jungle lodge. This is our guide summarising each of these based on our first-hand experience travelling in Ecuador and Peru as a gay couple.

A word about the Amazon basin

The Amazon is the world's largest tropical rainforest covering 2.5 million square miles. It is spread over 9 countries in South America, in particular, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. The Amazon Rainforest and River were both voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature by a global poll in 2012.

The Amazon is also home to a large diversity of wildlife. There are 427 mammals, 1,300 species of birds, 378 reptiles, more than 400 amphibians and around 3,000 freshwater fish, including Sebastien's best friends: the piranhas.

The Amazon river runs through the Northern part of this giant rainforest, connecting many jungle villages and communities. At 6,400km long, it is the second-longest river in the world after the River Nile (6,650km).

01

Amazon Garden EcoLodge Boutique

in Peru

All guests who stay at the lodge get their own private guide, who will tell you all about the local myths, legends and customs of the local towns. There are also lots of excursions you can organise, to experience jungle walks, fishing, canoeing and bird-watching. You can even go on eco-cultural programs to visit Indigenous tribes and animal rescue centres.

The lodge accommodations are nicely decorated, with a big swimming pool that's lovely for cooling off and relaxing after a busy day of exploring. You'll be staying in rustic but cosy bungalows, nestled within the tropical gardens. Do be aware that there's only limited electricity here, but it's perfect if you want to really disconnect and relax in nature.

02

Brand G Amazon Cruise

in Peru

You’ll then make your way to Nauta where you’ll get on the ship, where one of the first stops will be the vibrant jungle along the Marañón River. You’ll spend a full day by the Amazon rainforest, taking in the sights and sounds of the busy, jungle life. From hooting birds to mischievous monkeys, there is no telling what you’ll find.

A visit to Machu Picchu is one of the most popular aspects of the trip, where you’ll enjoy a tour around the historical citadel. Discover crumbling temples, royal homes, and impressive plazas, all the while learning about the lives and cultures that turned the area into what it is today – all that ancient gossip is perfectly apt for a gay cruise!

The bedrooms on the ship are magnificently spacious, with massive beds, artistic design, and gorgeous views of the water, so you'll feel amply pampered at the end of a long day exploring.

BrandG is offering our readers an exclusive 5% discount valid for this tour. Click the button below to find out more.

03

The Amazon and Machu Picchu

in Peru

Their Amazon and Machu Picchu is perfect If you want to experience the wildlife of the Amazon Jungle whilst staying in a gorgeous eco-lodge.

On this tour you'll get to walk through the jungle, cruise along murky waterways, spot exotic wildlife, stay in an eco-lodge and learn about conservation at the Tambopata Research Center. You'll need a reasonable degree of fitness for all the hiking, canoeing and canopy tower climbing you'll be doing, but it'll be all worth it!

You will get to see a lot of animals up close, including Capuchin monkeys, Spider monkeys, parakeets and peccaries. You'll also get to visit a clay lick that attracts the most beautiful birds in the world: the Macaws. And while visiting the Tambopata Research Center you'll get to see the work being done to increase survival rates of the numerous beautiful species of macaws in the jungle, many of which are endangered or vulnerable.

04

Sacha Lodge

in Ecuador

There are so many exciting activities to do while you're staying here from kayaking to hiking or just visiting one of the largest butterfly farms in Ecuador.

Our stay included all meals along with the services of a private naturalist guide, Jose, who planned a very exciting itinerary for us. Jose was the friendliest guide we've ever had. He took us on some incredible pagoda excursions into the jungle to watch caimans, snakes, monkeys and the beautiful macaws. He even took us on an evening discovery where we could get up close to tarantulas!

After our jungle excursions, we loved spending time relaxing at the alfresco lounge area and the restaurant. Both of these open out to the jungle which made us feel like we were in a giant tropical treehouse. The food is delicious, with lots of variety since the menu changes daily. There's also a cosy safari-lodge style bar above the restaurant, perfect for a romantic sunset cocktail.

05

Anakonda Luxury Cruise

in Ecuador

Once onboard, you feel like you're on a little floating paradise, with stunning views from all the windows and open deck area.

Our cabin was stylish and comfortable, with floor to ceiling windows to look out over the river, and cool air-con offering a respite from the hot and humid jungle air. If you splurge on a deluxe suite you'll even have your own private balcony and whirlpool bathtub.

Onboard the Anakonda, there are plenty of areas to relax or socialise with other guests too, like the lounge with plush couches, dining room and sundeck. There's also a rooftop Jacuzzi, a lovely spot to enjoy a romantic sunset with your other half. The staff on board were very friendly and made us feel welcome.

The advantage of experiencing the Amazon on a cruise is that when you're on the boat there are no bugs, which is a relief if you're squeamish or suffer from arachnophobia. You may come into contact with them during the excursions, but that's it.

This doesn't mean you won't get to experience everything the jungle has to offer, as there are a variety of land excursions organised including nature walks, kayaking, swimming, visiting local villages and an observation tower. A great thing about the Anakonda Cruises is that they work directly with local communities to conserve and restore the environment.

Which is best for you?

If you're a person who's scared of bugs and cannot travel without luxury, then a luxury Amazon cruise or the Brand G tour might be the best choice for you. You will definitely see wildlife and bugs (it's the Amazon jungle, you can't avoid them completely), but only during the excursions, with the confidence of knowing that you will return to the comfort of a luxurious boat or hotel to sleep bug-free!

If, on the other hand, you can live without air con and don't mind the bugs, then we recommend staying in a jungle lodge or joining an adventure tour as you will get a much deeper experience of the jungle. The Out Adventures tour is very adventurous and exciting, but if you're looking for more relaxation combined with optional excursions, then you might prefer to stay at the Amazon Garden EcoLodge in Peru or Sacha Lodge in Ecuador.

Final tip: the former President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, produced this excellent 57-minute video called The Royal Tour with the Ecuadorian Ministry of Tourism, which we strongly advise you to watch. You will note that Sacha Lodge was featured as part of his jungle visit.

Read more travel adventures like this in our book!

We've published our very own gay travel book called, ‘Out in the World'. It has all our practical safety tips, first-hand advice, and travel stories from some of our favorite destinations.

We hope it inspires you to have a fun and safe trip!

Click on the book to order:

For more inspiration:

• Learn more about what it's like growing up gay in Ecuador with our interview with Mario from Quito
• Discover more with our 10 interesting facts about Ecuador
• Try out our recipe for locro de papa
• Learn more about the best Ecuadorian foods
• Check out our 6 awesome things to do in Ecuador
• Read our gay city guide to Lima
• Check out these really cool and unique gay friendly hotels in Peru
• Find out what it's like to trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu as a gay couple
• As well as these interesting facts about Peru
• Read our interview with local boy Aaron to find out what it's like to grow up gay in Peru as well

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