Surviving The Amazon; What to bring

What you need to bring with you:

• Long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and a hat to wear while outside whenever possible, to prevent illnesses carried by insects (e.g., malaria, dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis, and onchocerciasis).

• Insect repellent containing DEET.

• Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicine to take if you have diarrhea.

• Iodine tablets and water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available.

• Sunblock, sunglasses, hat.

• Prescription medications: make sure you have enough to last during your trip, as well as a copy of the prescription(s).

• Voltage is 220 v so bring adapters if you need to.

• Backpack

• Flashlight

• Hammock or alternative

• Plastic bags for your gear- zip-lock bags are great

• Toilet paper

• Sleeping bag, Very light fleece is perfect

• First Aid kit

• Water bottles- In the cities have one with you at all times, in the jungle keep two full at all times.

• Power Bars-anything you like to stave off hunger. You can't always plan a meal. One -two per day.

• Anti-biotics- if you start to get sick one cipro will kill the bugs in your stomach.

Equipment

You will need a backpack that you can put everything you own in. Rolling a piece of standard luggage won’t work in the jungle. Have all your stuff in bags with handles or backpacks. When you get to the villages in the jungle you may have to pack your gear ½ mile or so at times and you will want to be able to throw on one pack and go. One pair of socks and underwear per day that are fresh, T-shirts or loose fitting shirts are a must. Nothing heavy, Dry-leet or similar fast drying materials are recommended. No tighty whities! In the jungle you'll not be able to get anything dry. Everything will be damp and sticky, tight underwear will chafe and glue to your rear end. Put socks and underwear in plastic zip lock bags. Anything that can’t get wet should be protected. You will need a towel and washcloth. You will be bathing in the river in the jungle. A super light poncho is good to have or you can go Indian style: Get wet and let the sun dry you off. If it rains while you are in canoes EVERYTHING will get wet. Everything in the backpacks that should be dry must be protected from water and rain

Sun precautions Again: You will be on the equator, burns happen instantly, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen are your friends.

 ALWAYS have toilet paper with you. I keep some of those small packs of tissues in my pocket. Only in nice, North American friendly restaurants or hotels will you find toilet paper. It’s just not around anywhere else. Public restrooms are available in the cities but you won’t find T.P. there. In the jungle, it will be a matter of hovering over two boards over a hole in the ground. There may or may not be any screen around that hole.

You will need a hammock with a built in bug screen. They can be found at Campmor http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?memberId=12500226&productId=39148948

Or

http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?memberId=12500226&productId=7568

Clark Hammock

http://www.junglehammock.com/features.php

If you're on the ferry or in huts you can always hang a hammock up. In the city you cam find real beds. Sleep in the hammock once before you take it to the jungle. In most villages you can rent a bed in someone's house, expect to pay 5-10 soles (about $3.00 usd)

Hammocks; There is a trick to how taut they need to be. its tighter than you think. Sleep a bit sideways. This is the key to being able to get through the night. The more you shift yourself diagonally in the hammock the more it will flatten out and the better you will sleep.

Bring a fleece type or ultra light sleeping bag. You need the protection from mosquitoes, they will get you through the hammock in your rear end unless you have that extra layer. In the mornings it will seem cool and the bag will feel good to curl up in.

A good alternative is a small tent that can free stand, you will want a pad as jungle huts have bamboo round poles as flooring and its hard on your back.

After You Return Home:
If you have visited an area where there is risk for malaria, continue taking your malaria medication weekly for 4 weeks after you leave the area. If you become ill with a fever--even as long as a year after your trip--tell your doctor that you traveled to a malaria-infected area

The primary thing is being careful. I never eat anything that’s not hot or been fully cooked.  Unless I just picked it off a tree or have just prepared it myself I won't eat it. Water must only be put in your mouth if it was bottled or purified. Ensure a good water supply for everyone at all times. You should have at least two Nalgean type water bottles; Always keep them full and with you. It will be very hot and extremely high humidity. If you get thirsty you are already dehydrated. You will drink a gallon of water a day or more in these conditions. Never open your mouth in the shower or brush your teeth from the tap water or river water.  Drink soda from the bottle; do not use ice or the glass unless you are in a North American ready restaurant. In larger cities you will be able to get safe reliable food and water but in the jungle it gets a little harder

When in the city be careful as to how you handle money and your gear. Your average camera is worth a years wages in many parts of the world. Put it in your pocket when not in use. Keep only the money you may spend for the day in your wallet or pocket, if you get robbed, you will only lose a little. I keep my wallet as a toss-wallet, nothing more than a few dollars and things that I can live without. My Passport and my money I keep in a waist pouch. I never take it off. Your US Passport is worth $10,000 on the open market, never lose it or let someone have it. Keep a copy of it in another place in case it gets lost. I take a copy of mine and E-mail it to myself. That way; I can get a copy anytime from anywhere in the world. Just be aware that many things we tend do flaunt our affluence, and invite being robbed.

You will NOT need a visa, but you will need a Passport.