Despite man’s best (or worst) efforts, the Amazon rainforest still covers huge swathes of Brazil and is one of the world’s great last wildernesses. Home to countless varieties of animals and plants, not to mention tribes who have no contact with the outside world, it’s quite simply an amazing experience and one that you’ll always remember.
Best Amazon Rainforest Volunteering Programs
Reasons to Volunteer in the Amazon
The Amazon jungle offers you the last great rainforest adventure and Brazil is lucky enough to contain over 60% of it. This vast rainforest has been called the “lungs of the planet” as it is the primary generator of oxygen for the whole world, and it is home to a massive array of people, plants and animals.
Unfortunately, the Amazon jungle also hides other natural resources such as oil, gas and gold; this has led to a large degree of exploitation and damage but thankfully, the Brazilian Amazon and its denizens are now better protected by law than most other sections of the Amazon jungle.
Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the jungle that won’t damage it, so you can enjoy some top-notch lodges and some amazing wildlife on your sustainable and environmentally-sensitive holidays and volunteer programs in Brazil’s Amazon jungle!
Wildlife in the Amazon
We offer a variety of adventures in the Amazon rainforest which we hope will meet all your expectations of this amazing jungle, both in terms of the animals and other wildlife, and for appreciating the unique culture of the Amazon rainforest. Most are based in one of our superb jungle lodges, but you won’t be spending much time just sitting around in the lodge!
In the Amazon rainforest animals outnumber humans by thousands to one, and we’ll give you the best possible chance of seeing them. We’ll take you to see the pink dolphins and the albino monkeys, of course (and yes, this is before you’ve had any jungle liquers!), but there are also trips to visit local villages and meet members of the tribes, night excursions by canoe out onto the Amazon river, guided tours out into the forest… and then there are the piranhas!
Now, depending on how you feel about this most razor-toothed of Amazon rainforest animals, you can either fish for them or… go swimming with them! Forget swimming with sharks – this is the one that will really impress people when you get home!
A volunteering holiday visiting the Amazon is an unbelievable experience – it’s really something to know that you are surrounded by an environment which hasn’t changed in 10,000 years and it is humbling to know that your time there is just the blink of an eye to this vast rainforest. The Amazon rainforest animals and culture will stay with you forever.
Manaus: Gateway to the Amazon
Your starting-off point for any Amazon adventure is likely to be the strangely wonderful city of Manaus.
A creation of the 1850s rubber boom, this jungle metropolis has only recently been connected to the rest of the country by road, and for decades its life has revolved around the Amazon river that flows past the city. Ocean-going ships can sail right up to Manaus and the first sight that greets you here is the floating petrol stations which serve all the ships. All the petrol stations you might stop at in the UK are there so it’s bizarrely familiar: it’s filling up, Jim, but not as we know it!
You might even like to consider spending a day or so in Manaus itself, before heading off down the Amazon to a jungle lodge – quite apart from the city’s unique atmosphere, there are some fantastic sights to see, such as the stunning Manaus Opera House, built in the 19th century when Manaus was one of the wealthiest cities in the world and styled itself as the “Paris of the Amazon”.
Spending a night in Manaus can often be a good idea because of the long flight time from cities like Rio and Sao Paulo, as you can often arrive a little late to head straight on into the jungle. Alternatively, many flights allow you to stop off in Brasilia, so you could spend a night there, and then catch an early flight on up to Manaus.