Amazon Highlights

Amazon Highlights helps travelers decide where to see the best of the Amazon's wildlife and culture.

Introduction ix INTRODUCING THE AMAZON 1 1. History and People 3 History 4 People 10 2. The Natural World 17 The Origins of the Amazon 19 Geography 21 Climate and weather 25 Flora 27 3. Wildlife Highlights 49 Biodiversity in the Amazon 50 Mammals 51 Birds 66 Reptiles 84 Amphibians 91 Insects and other invertebrates 97 Aquatic life 111 4. Planning a tour 123 When to visit 124 Organising your trip 125 Your tour: 10 top Amazon experiences 138 Red tape 141 Getting there 141 Health and safety 142 What to take 144 Organising your finances 146 5 On the Ground 149 Health and safety in the Amazon 150 Banking and foreign exchange 157 Viewing wildlife 158 Photography 158 Eating and drinking 161 Shopping 165 Media and communications 166 Business and time 166 Cultural etiquette 168 Amazon Highlights 169 6 The Peruvian Amazon 171 Iquitos 172 Manu National Park and environs 186 Peruvian cloudforests 191 Peruvian canopy experiences 193 7 The Brazilian Amazon 201 Manaus 203 Further afield 217 8 The Colombian Amazon 229 Leticia 230 Tres Fronteras 236 Amacayacu National Park 238 Palmari Nature Reserve 241 9 The Ecuadorian Amazon 243 National parks and wildlife reserves 244 Major cloudforest areas 256 Language 262 Selected reading 269 Websites 274 Index 277