When to Go To The Amazon

The most popular question among visitors to the Amazon is: When is the best time to go? -- In truth, though it may sound cliché, there really is no bad time to go to the Amazon River; however, your personal preferences and activities will play a big part in choosing which time of the year you should take a voyage on the Amazon.
Seasonal flooding is characteristic of many tropical rivers, although few compare to the Amazon River Basin where large tracts of rainforest are inundated to depths of up to 30 feet during seasonal flooding. Rain and snow that fall in the Andes and other highland areas reach the Amazon through its tributaries and produce the high-water season.

HIGH WATER (December to May)

During high water the Amazon forest becomes a massive body of water. Thus, you are able to explore deeper into the forest on excursions boats and get into smaller tributaries.  The flooded waterways put visitor closer to the forest canopy, where monkeys play and birds flutter in the foliage. This allows you to see some of the wildlife that may shun the main course of the river.  Enhanced navigation by water has a flip side, areas to walk and hike are sometimes limited at this time. Fishing in general is more limited during the high water season.  

 

The high-water season is a difficult time for fish predators. The increased water area gives potential prey a larger range and predators must rely on their fat stores from their heavy feeding during the dry season. High water also means difficulty for ground-dwelling plant and animal species. Many ground dwellers migrate to more elevated areas, while some species move up into the trees.

LOW WATER (June-November)

The contrasts between the low and high water season in some areas of the Amazon Basin are extreme. Low water leaves vast islands and sand bars exposed and river banks high above water level. A key difference is that trails and jungle paths that are flooded from December to May are now easily accessible, allowing groups to explore the jungle by foot and go deeper into the rainforest. The flip side is that low water levels on the Amazon River and its tributaries mean that many of the creeks and lakes that we visit during the rainy season are inaccessible.

 

Low water is a time of troubles for most Amazonian fish and a time of plenty for predators. With the dramatic decrease in water area, fish become trapped in small lakes and river shallows and are easy targets for predators. Large flocks of wading birds feast on the trapped fish. As water recedes from the forest, animals that have been widely dispersed in tributaries and streams — like gray and pink dolphins — are more greatly concentrated. Therefore, seen in greater numbers. Fishing is much better during the low water season.

Something to remember, as you choose between visiting the Amazon River in the high or low water season: there will be some rain whichever season you choose, and you will see wildlife and expectacular plant life.

 

When or best time to go to the Amazon

The pre-historic looking Hoatzin favors lake and creek edges. They are readily seen in both high and low water seasons.