Now that summer is here this teacher is gearing up for her summer travels! Do I always speak of myself in the third person? No. But am I going back to the Amazon? Yes! I am returning to the Amazon Rainforest in Colombia, the same area that I have also visited the last two years. There are many reasons why I am returning to the Amazon. The biodiversity of life, the ability to touch the very Amazon River that I was obsessed with as a child, the challenge of jungle photography and capturing the most beautiful plants and animals. The one thing I am not terribly fond of is the heat and humidity. In order to feel my best there I need to pack the right variety of things. So here is my summer packing list for my Colombia Amazon trip.
Colombia Amazon Trip Best Clothing
During my trip to Colombia I am spending all of the time possible in the Amazon. I will not be staying much time in Bogotá. Bogotá is always chilly so if you will be staying there you will need to bring clothing for cooler temperatures. The clothing that you will need in the Amazon Rainforest needs to meet this criteria. I will be staying in Colombia for a full month so I may pack more clothing during this trip than I otherwise would. So let’s start with what type of suitcase to bring.
Backpack
Seriously, bring a backpack. If you are thinking about going to the Amazon Rainforest I assume that you would be wont to use a backpack anyway, but I want to say this just in case. Even in the cities here it is best to not bring a big suitcase or a suitcase with wheels. Backpack is going to be the best option not only for the type of terrain, but also because you will probably have to walk through the mud to get somewhere. You will also probably have to ride boats and water taxis and a backpack is the easiest option for accessing those types of vehicles.
1. Clothing is Light Weight
If your clothing is too heavy or thick you will be too hot. You need to pack things that are light weight and preferably breathable. I have had good results in the Amazon before with athletic-type clothing made of synthetic fibers. I also packed several sports bras with good coverage to use as shirts.
2. Clothing that Dries Quickly
Along with light weight, the items you bring must be able to dry quickly. The climate of the Amazon rainforest is humid and there are lots of sudden downpours. You will get wet. It is important that your clothes dry relatively quickly so that you are not stuck waiting for many days while your clothes dry. If you are of European descent like myself, you will also probably sweat. Like, a lot. A lot a lot. So you will have to rinse/wash your clothes often and it is best if your clothes do not need much drying time.
3. Long Sleeves/Pants
If you will be spending much time in the jungle rather than bopping around cities like Leticia or Puerto Nariño you will need items with long sleeves and full legs for protection against bugs and mosquitoes. You should ALSO bring shorts/tanks for the heat. You need both. I have had good luck with mens’ fishing shirts to layer over my clothing. This protects against mosquitoes AND sun.
4. Swimwear
This may go without saying, but perhaps not. Bring swim wear. The perception that people have when I tell them that I swim in the Amazon River and the quebradas that feed into it is that it is very dangerous. There are piranhas and anacondas and caimans. Which, there ARE. But it also is safe to swim in. Here I look to my guides and to those who have lived their whole life on the edge of the river to know when it is safe to swim. Bring swimwear because nothing beats slipping in to the cool water at the end of a long, sweaty day.
5. Coat/Jacket
This may be surprising, but the Amazon Rainforest in Colombia does receive cold fronts in June and July when the rest of South America is experiencing winter. Please pack a coat or jacket so that you are prepared when/if there is cold weather.
Last summer when I was in Colombia a cold front came through which produced several days of cold weather. I was very glad to have a jacket that I only packed because of Bogotá. It especially came in handy because the lodges that I stayed at did not have blankets available at night, but only sheets. I slept in many layers of clothing including using my travel towel as a blanket. I was also very glad for my wool socks and adjustable Birkenstocks that could be worn with socks!
Colombia Amazon Trip Footwear
So, here’s the deal. You will need to bring whatever footwear you are comfortable wearing. I am a sandal girlie, so last summer I packed three different pairs of sandals and, for me, the combination was golden. Most places that you go in the Amazon Rainforest have mud boots for tourists to borrow while they are there. Most walking around in the rainforest will be done in these mud boots. You will mainly need your other shoes for walking around in cities/communities.
I will be primarily visiting Puerto Nariño and am planning my own journeys into the jungle. During this trip I will probably purchase my own mud boots. I am guessing that since these boots are SO UBIQUITOUS in the Amazon it might be a good idea to purchase them in Leticia rather than purchasing them in the United States and bringing them there.
Other Necessities
There are also non-clothing related necessities which will come in very handy when you travel to the Amazon Rainforest in Colombia.
- Fan. The first that I would recommend is a travel, rechargeable fan. I truly doubted the utility of this device on my first trip but found that I used it constantly. I fell asleep with it blowing in my face every night. It was very nice to have.
- Headlamp. Many places that you stay might have headlamps available for you to borrow. One of the common tours that will be offered in the Amazon are “caminatas nocturno”, night walks. You will need a headlamp when doing one of these, as well as just plain existing in the Amazon. Many places have power due to generators and have limited electricity. This brings me to my next recommendation.
- Portable Power Brick. For the reasons mentioned above, bring a power brick. I stayed at a place last summer which felt like the most peaceful place on earth partially because it had no electricity whatsoever. The power brick helped me charge my batteries and Kindle until I arrived back in a place with electricity.
- Mosquito Repellent. This is a given, honestly, and perhaps it is best to buy this in Colombia. One brand that a Colombian recommended to me and which has worked very well is called Nopikex. This mosquito repellent goes on like soap and protects for 8 hours. You can buy it at almost any pharmacy.
- Hat. You will need a hat when you visit the Amazon for sun protection. I prefer using a hat with a brim all the way around to protect your neck as well.
- Handkerchief. This one might be classified as optional depending on whether you are someone who sweats a lot or a little. I like to bring several bandanas to wrap around my head to use as a sweat band, or to keep in my pocket to wipe the sweat from my face.
Optional Items for Your Colombia Amazon Trip
There are two optional items I would recommend when traveling to the Amazon Rainforest.
- Hammock. Hammocks are a thing in the Amazon. Very often the locals sleep on them at night although in hostels the usually offer beds to guests. Sometimes having your own hammock could come in handy. You might want to do a jungle-camping tour in which you need a hammock to stay the night. You might also need it for taking the boat out from Leticia, Colombia to Iquitos, Peru.
- Moleskine Journal. It does not have to be specifically Moleskine, but perhaps I am partial. It comes in handy to have a pocket-size journal in the Amazon. Last summer when I was there my phone died and I did not have access to all of my reservations and my calendar. Luckily I had written everything in my Moleskine and in that way maintained access. It also allowed me to chronicle the things that I saw and experienced in the jungle. It gave me something to do when I did not have access to my phone as well. Don’t forget your pen!
Conclusion
When traveling to the Amazon Rainforest you will need to bring the right combination of things so that you can feel as comfortable as possible. The things I listed are the things that I recommend after being in the Amazon 4 different times. If you have any questions please leave them below. Also, if you have traveled to the Amazon and you think I forgot something please let me know!
Contact Information
Here is the contact information of a local guide in Puerto Nariño (my boyfriend actually), who last year had taken me on a tour of Lago Tarapoto. He is very knowledgeable of the area and also offers a trek to San Martin de Amacayacu, night walks through the jungle, jungle camping, piranha fishing, and a tour to see the sloths in San Antonio, Peru. His name is Juan Gabriel.
