If you are a nature freak, an expedition to the Amazon Rainforest would be a great birthday gift for you. The Amazon is no average rainforest- it is the largest rainforest in the world. The Amazon rainforest, or referred to the basin encompass the size of 48 contiguous states in America and it covers at least 40% of the South American region including parts of eight South American countries from Brazil to Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname. A mostly moist broadleaf forest, the Amazon rainforest is home to several large ecosystems, vegetation, the worlds’ largest river as well as the second longest.

Apart from being home to several unique species of plants, animals and insects, the Amazon rainforest is made of several seasonal forests, deciduous forests, flooded forests and savannas. In the recent years, tourism activity in the Amazon rainforest has increased but it is still not a major contributor to the economy of the region. Regular tourists are kept away due to the problems of planning a trip to the Amazon, tropical diseases such as the yellow fever or malaria as well as attacks by the species living in the forests such as poisonous frogs, giant snakes (think anaconda) and other predators such as the jaguar.

The best way to visit the region is by hiring a local as a guide and travel in small groups. The ‘tour’ of the Amazon is through boats as you can go deep into the forests with these boats. This is the only way, apart from walking, that you can get closer to the wildlife living in there. Of course, before venturing into the Amazon, a good thing to do is make sure you are properly vaccinated.