What to Pack for an Amazon River Cruise

A Folding Fan

I never would have thought to bring a portable fan with me on the cruise, but on our first jungle walk, my expedition guide from Delfin passed out handheld fans that helped not only with the jungle heat but also with keeping mosquitoes away. We used a paddle fan similar to this one, but I saw others using a more-travel friendly folding fan like this, and they seemed to work just as well.

First Aid Kit

Pack yourself a mini first-aid kit with these essentials:

Antihistamines: These can help offer relief from itchy mosquito bites. Also, pack these if you're planning on stopping over in Lima, where the humidity and pollution can bring on allergies in people who don't usually suffer.

After Bite:Apply directly to insect bites to help stop pain and itching.

Pain reliever/Anti-inflammatory: I got stung by some kind of insect, and the site swelled up and was painful. Aleve or something similar can reduce inflammation and pain from stings.

Waterproof Bandages: If you get a cut or scrape on your trip, you really don't want to get any of the Amazon river water in your wound. Keep it dry and protected with waterproof bandages.

DEET Bug Spray and Lotion

I totally underestimated the mosquitoes in the Amazon--they are vicious. Despite layering on bug spray, bug-repellent clothing, and long clothing, I still got bitten pretty much every time I went outside. Give yourself a fighting chance by starting with a high-concentration DEET bug-repellent lotion all over your skin before getting dressed, and then spraying another high-DEET bug-repellent all over your clothes. Mosquitoes in the Amazon carry all kinds of diseases (including Zika) so you really want to prevent bites as much as possible.

Bug-Repellent Clothing

Some of my worst bites from the trip occurred through clothing–-for example, through a plain cotton long-sleeve shirt. Don't rely on regular clothing (even if it's long sleeves/long pants) to protect you from mosquitoes. Bug-repellent clothing that's been specially treated worked the best for me at preventing bites. Here's what I brought (and had success with):

Socks: Mosquitoes LOVE to feast on feet and ankles. ExOfficio's Bugsaway Socks were tall enough that I could wear them with boots (or with sneakers). And they lived up to their name.

Pants: I ended up wearing the Craghoppers' NosiLife Fleurie Pants over and over again on this trip, as they worked so well at preventing bites. And, they protected against sun, so that was one less layer of sunscreen to  slather on. I loved the fit of these pants—they were slim and flattering, plus they are lightweight, so they didn't get too hot.

Bandana: You really want to have every inch covered in the war against bugs. ExOfficio's Bugsaway Bandana is good for the neck area.

Dress: This Aurora Long Dress was great for relaxing on the deck of the riverboat in the evenings, when I didn't need "full jungle attire,” but simply light protection from bugs. This dress is treated to protect against bugs, and could be worn as either a dress or a long skirt, giving me double the outfit options.

Shirt: Long-sleeves are essential for jungle expeditions. Craghoppers' Shona was cool and light, but still offered bug and sun protection, plus had moisture-wicking technology to help with sweat.

Waterproof Boots

If you're planning on any jungle walks or hikes, you'll want waterproof boots if you're going in the wet season, as the soil will be pretty muddy. The higher the boots the better, as they keep out not only moisture but also bugs and other critters. Again, check with your cruise company before packing–Delfin provided these for free to cruisers, and returned them cleaned after every journey.

Hat

A good hat keeps both the sun and bugs off of your face. I recommend packing a simple baseball hat – the stiff brim kept the rain out of my face during thunderstorms, it stayed on during fast skiff rides, it prevented sunburn, and I sprayed it with bug spray, which worked to keep bugs away from my face.

Cooling Clothing

You want to be covered up against bugs and sun, but it gets hot in the Amazon during the day. The Sol Cool Jacket and Sol Cool Hoodie gave me sun and bug protection, but also had ventilation and cooling properties built in so that I didn't overheat in the 90 degree weather.

Rain Jacket

Especially if you're visiting the Amazon in the wet season, you can expect to have at least one rainstorm on your trip. Be prepared with a packable rain jacket to keep in your pocket and take out as needed. Check with your cruise company—some, like Delfin, may provide rain ponchos for your use so you don't need to bring one. Bonus: I kept my poncho on after a rainstorm, when mosquitoes were out in full force, and it was a thick enough barrier that I didn't get bitten.

Quick-Drying Clothing

An Amazon river cruise typically involves multiple excursions per day, and you'll definitely want to change out of your dirty, sweaty clothing during your downtime. (Some days, I changed outfits three times: between a jungle walk, dinner, and swim.) Rather than packing triple the amount of clothing, bring stuff that's odor-resistant and quick-drying so you can wash it out in your sink and have it ready to go for the next day's adventure. ExOfficio's Sport Mesh line washed well and dried fast (even in the humid Amazon), plus is super breathable.

You don't need to worry about the sun too much while you're under the canopy in the jungle, but if you're out on a boat, the Amazonian sun can be really strong. Pack a travel-sized container of sport sunscreen that's at least 30 SPF and is sweat-resistant (trust me on this).

Waterproof Camera Case

Rainstorms in the Amazon can be sudden and fierce, and you don't want to be caught out with your camera in one. Bring a touchscreen-compatible waterproof case for your camera or smartphone so you can keep shooting without ruining your equipment.