The best way to see the Amazon is to immerse yourself in it, basing yourself deep within the dense rainforest. But a remote location doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort; there are ample luxury lodges where you can explore the jungle by day and retreat to a jacuzzi just beneath the canopy by night. And what’s more, many of these properties work hard to play a role in preserving endangered Amazonian ecosystems.
Read on to find five of the best in the region.
Read on to find five of the best in the region.
La Selva Ecolodge, Ecuador
Enjoy a soundtrack of macaws, parakeets and toucans at La Selva Ecolodge
Mooring the boat and stepping onto the rickety wooden pontoon of La Selva Ecolodge, it’s hard to imagine that an extensive, luxurious lodge awaits you hidden within the jungle. The lodge is built right on the edge of Lake Garzacocha, with 19 cabanas constructed from straw and bamboo and furnished with four-poster beds. Each suite has a verandah that hangs amid the rainforest canopy, where sunken jacuzzis are strewn with tropical flower petals on arrival. And it’s located in the Yasuni National Park, so throughout your stay you’ll enjoy a soundtrack of macaws, parakeets and toucans, and be able to spot capuchin monkeys, tree frogs and several other Amazonian species. In-house excursions wake you up early to take you on tours of the jungle, most starting on a canoe paddling across the lagoon and ending up on a nature hike with native species pointed out by a naturalist guide. But the best bit about a stay here is the emphasis the lodge places on conservation – from investing in non-profit, The Rainforest Alliance, to employing Indigenous peoples.
Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, Peru
Walk through the rainforest canopy or take a relaxing canoeing trip at this eco-friendly lodge
Deep in the Peruvian Amazon, on the banks of the Madre de Dios River, Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica comprises of thirty-five thatched wooden cabanas with their own private plunge pools. By day, you can spot monkeys and birds of kaleidoscopic colour from the hammock on your balcony, or embark on a walk through the rainforest canopy via a walkway suspended from the treetops. Various excursions are also available, from relaxing canoeing trips exploring isolated parts of the Amazon, to a more daring tarantula-filled night walk through the jungle, or swimming with piranhas. The lodge’s eco credentials are top-notch, having consistently funded research into local biodiversity, respected local communities and used sustainable initiatives. At night, return to your thatched hut guided by lanterns laid down to light up the wooden pathways, or opt for a massage at the open-air ENA spa.
Posada Amazonas Lodge, Peru
Sleep in crisp white linen in the middle of the jungle at Posada Amazonas Lodge
Sleeping in crisp white linen in the middle of the jungle seems a little surreal, but it’s surprising how quickly you get used to it at this luxury riverside lodge. The polished wooden-floored suites are open-sided, so after nightfall you’ll fall asleep to a cacophony of singing frogs, cicadas, and monkeys. The property is owned by the indigenous Ese-Eja community and managed in partnership with Rainforest Expeditions, so you can expect bountiful local knowledge on one of the organised wildlife tours, as well as respect for the environment. Visit the community farm or a local shaman, or head off on a tour to spot local wildlife.
Belmond Hotel das Cataratas, Brazil
This 203-room, powder-pink, heritage mansion is the only hotel within the Brazilian side of Iguazú National Park
When it comes to jungle locations, the Belmond Hotel das Cataratas’ unrivalled position just a short walk from natural wonder, Iguazu Falls, is hard to beat. As the only hotel within the Brazilian side of Iguazú National Park, guests have exclusive access to the sublime surroundings when the park is closed to the public. A 203-room, powder-pink, heritage mansion, the hotel is characterised by old-fashioned grandeur, with dark wood furnishings, palm print curtains and potted orchids. The breadth of expeditions available reflects the luxury of the hotel itself, from helicopter trips over the Falls or rubber boat trips underneath them, to jungle treks through butterfly-filled rainforest. After an exhilarating day out, head to the hotel’s bar for a fresh caipirinha.
Pousada Araras Pantanal Eco Lodge, Brazil
Enjoy some pretty unbeatable stargazing at night at Pousada Araras Pantanal Eco Lodge
Set amid the world’s biggest tropical wetland, The Pantanal, this luxurious lodge makes guests feel immersed in nature; suites are built around a large courtyard, where you can pull up a rattan chair and enjoy some pretty unbeatable stargazing at night. Wake up to a buffet-style breakfast of tropical fruits and local delicacies (much of which is sourced from the lodge’s own garden), before heading off on one of the available horse-riding, hiking, canoeing and safari excursions, exploring the surrounding 3,000-hectare environmental reserve.