naturegirl510

My husband and I are trying to plan a trip to the Amazon for '07 that isn't too touristy. There are sooooo many options that it is kinda hard to sort through it all. We don't need luxury and are hoping for a genuine nature experience. We are currently thinking Brazil, but the more I read I am worried that that might be a little on the touisty side- any suggestions?

atravelynn

NatureGirl,

Just saw your Galapagos post and we agree on that.

I am going to Brazil for the first time in Aug 2007. I did a lot of searching for companies because I have the same concerns and goals as you. I decided on Focus Tours for a 3-week itinerary, mostly the Pantanal.

Here is a link to the basics of that trip.

Good luck.

atravelynn

The link:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34876230

naturegirl510

Thanks, unfortunatly we don't have that much time. I had seen your link and had checked it out thinking "wow, this sounds great!"

Percy

I am going in a few more weeks and I am staying at the Tropical Hotel and also in Eco Park Lodge near the meeting of the waters.

I have private tour guides booked.

Better get your Yellow Fever Vaccine , perhaps Typhoid and a good insect repellant .

I will be back the first week in April as I am doing Soputh America.

Percy

atravelynn

Naturegirl510,

Please post when you get back. I saw your tracks on an Alaska bear thread too. Do your nature travels or interests ever send you to the Africa forum?

naturegirl510

Alaska is in the future plan!!! I kinda get distracted and hop all over the place here!! Amazon is this year, then maybe a North West US trip (gotta give the U.S. some time it is pretty amazing) then maybe Costa Rica the next year. Who knows!!!

naturegirl510

PERCY- thanks... let me know how the eco lodge is. We are looking now in to the lodge side of things, seems very in touch with nature, there are sloths on the lodge- that's neat!!!

Percy

naturegirl510

I will let you know in early April.

Take care
Percy

msteacher

If you are looking for a rustic Amazon lodge that offers great natural experiences, I'd highly reccommend Acajatuba lodge. I had an amazing experience there this summer.

Suzie2

We are looking into the Tambopata Reserve area of Peru to tie into a trip up to Machu Picchu.

We are particularly interested in birds and the macaws in particular. That sounded like a great place.

The Macaw Landing Foundation also does trips.

ozlock

Being a tourist and not being touristy is a rather difficult distinction to accomplish.
Nevertheless, I have a suggestion. In December we were on an Earthwatch expediiton on Amazonas on a restored rubber boom boat. We went into the Pacaya-Samiria reserve where tourists are not allowed-only researchers. It was an unique experience. The remarkable thing is that the trip is tax deductible. You will "work" each day on the trip taking conservation cenuses.
Go here:
http://www.earthwatch.org/site/pp2.a...&b=1192205

to read all about it, or anyone may contact me at [email protected].
You will not see big cities and cathedrals and museums, although we did go to Cuzco, Machupicchu and Lima after the expedition. We started from the unique city of Iquitos. To learn more about the area, watch "Burden of Dreams," "Fitzcarraldo," and "Aguirre: Wrath of God."--all concerning Werner Herzog and Klaus Kinsky.

naturegirl510

wow, earthwatch seems great. unfortunately, we don't have much time. i think we are going to go with a rustic jungle lodge and base our trips out of there... this is all very new to me. I don't have much trip planning experience just yet! Thanks so much for the comments.

atravelynn

Earthwatch is a great program. Ozlock, are you doing it?