The river itself is the largest in the world and generates a staggering one fifth of the planet’s total river flow. It begins in Peru in the height of the Andes and descends, weaving its way across the continent before reaching the Atlantic Ocean some 6,437 kilometres later. At Manaus the river is an astonishing 10 kilometres wide, but at times this is just 1.5 kilometres. During the rainy season, the width can rise to a staggering 40 kilometres and the depth of the river can amount to 40 metres, making a river of true superlatives.

It is said that the jungle that spans 1.34 billion acres of the Amazon region, covering 9 South American countries in total, contains the largest collection of living plant and animal species and the most incredible biodiversity of anywhere on earth, with over 1,500 bird species including tropical rainforest macaws and toucans. One in ten known species lives in the Amazon region and wildlife found includes the largest rodent in the world, the capybara, sluggish sloths, golden lion tamarin, the elusive and endangered jaguar, anaconda, pink dolphins, giant river otters and manatee. Alternatively, take a river cruise up the Rio Negro and try your hand at piranha fishing, watched by the hungry eyes of caiman…

A haven for wildlife, the jungle is brimming with fauna, from sloths and monkeys, to the world's largest rodent, the capybara.