The Amazon rainforest is a tropical paradise not for the fainthearted, with a 'new' species of plant or animal being discovered every three days. Diversity and beauty can be seen throughout the weaving trees and the dense forest floor; hosting life in all shapes, sizes and forms.

Situated at the heart of South America, the Amazon is the perfect place for a courageous adventurer. Often referred to as the "Lungs of the Planet", we thought we'd share some insight into the worlds largest tropical rainforest, Fazendeiros.

Berend Leupen

The rainforest itself spans an incredible 5.5 million square kilometres, 60% of which lays in Brazil. The remainder of the rich, vast greenery spills out into another six countries including Peru, Colombia and Bolivia.

Home to the most intricate of ecosystems, one could spend months and years discovering something new about this bio-diverse environment. Similarly, we could curate a years worth of blogs about the Amazonia, however, we decided to feature some key areas of the Amazon that fascinate us!

The Amazon River

The Source of the Amazon lies in Mantaro, Brazil. It is still a debate today whether these Amazonian waters make the longest river in the entire world (some argue the Egyptian Nile takes the title). Just under 7 kilometres in length, this spectacle of water reaches the deep oceans of the Atlantic.

Rich with underwater species, the river plays host to high volumes of Piranhas, amongst other dangerous creatures and animals. Whilst not the friendliest fresh-water fish in the Amazon, their sheer mass in meat is the reason why they're often eaten by locals. Their blood-thirsty tendencies make them an easy catch for fishermen. If you're trying this dish, prepare for the unpleasant odour when cutting into it, as the intense stench is said to be unbearable! The actual meat however, is a tasty favourite when fried with salt.

Meeting of the Waters

Notorious for it's aesthetic and scientific characteristics, the converging of Rio Negro and Rio Solimões (Amazon River) occurs near the city of Manaus, Brazil. The waters from the rivers never mix, due to a number of factors such as temperature, speed and water density.

The contrast of waters depicts the natural wonder of the Amazon, proving to be a popular destination for tourists.

Anavilhanas National Park

Located around 100km upstream from Manaus, this archipelago is made up of around 400 islands. It's obvious why this natural landscape is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Fazendeiros.

One of the key attractions here is Flutuante dos Botos (Dolphin Float), where one can swim with pink river dolphins, as well as the many beaches and walks to really explore the Amazonian waters and islands of Anavilhanas.

A place to remember

Bursting with life, this precious corner of our planet is a source of life within itself. The forest produces a fascinating 20% of the worlds oxygen. We've not travelled the rivers or discovered what lies underneath the canopies of the forest yet, but it's a definite one for our bucket list, Fazendeiros.