It’s only right to start off the list with the mother of all forests, aka the ‘Lungs of the Earth.’ The Amazon covers about 40% of South America and is home to some of the most diverse wildlife in the world. This immense rainforest, the world’s largest, has unfortunately been partially destroyed by forest fires and is constantly being impacted by climate change. So, visit while you can! Do keep in mind that although South America is known as a budget destination, visiting the Amazon isn’t necessarily cheap. There’s also some things to keep in mind before setting out on this bucket list adventure:

The Amazon isn’t really a place you can take on alone… going with a tour is the best solution
The tours can be many weeks, so the best way to have a great experience is to round up like-minded TravelMates that you can share the tours with!
Make sure you’ve checked what vaccinations you need to have (yellow fever at least)
Bring lots of loose fitting clothing (it’s hot and humid and you’ll protect yourself from the sun and mosquitoes)