Traveling to the Amazon is not like heading out for a Caribbean cruise or a European vacation. It requires a specific strategy to handle the heat, humidity and, of course, the bugs. After my recent adventure aboard the Delfin III, I learned exactly what is essential for an Amazon cruise packing list and what’s just dead weight in your suitcase.
When I was preparing for my Delfin Amazon cruise, I was unsure about what to bring. I read lists and forums, but nothing quite prepared me for the reality of the jungle, and I winged it a little more than I wanted to.
Partway through the cruise, I found there were things I desperately wished I had packed and some whimsical last-minute additions that turned out to be lifesavers. Here is my comprehensive guide to packing for an Amazon river cruise so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.
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Choose Function Over Fashion For Clothing
Travelers to the Amazon tend to be more focused on the trip and less on fashion, and we rarely changed for dinner. This is the time to pack functional clothing where layers are key.
Find light colors like khaki, tan, and light grey, or choose pastels. Black not only absorbs heat but also attracts mosquitoes. Less of a surprise is that bright colors also attract insects, so avoid them where possible.
Impermeable Pants And Long-Sleeve Shirts
I had one pair of impermeable pants, and I wish I had more, as mosquitoes in the Amazon are no joke. They can bite right through tight clothing like leggings or fitted tees.
Loose, woven fabrics that are treated or naturally impermeable are your best defense against bites while you’re hiking or sitting on the skiff. TEREN makes lightweight pants that are treated to repel bugs with a potency that lasts for 80 washes, though they’re currently only available for men.
I have a pair of these traveler pants that my son wears, and I can vouch for how comfortable they are and how well they work overall. They’re also easy to wash with stain blockers included, so no matter what he spills, they stay clean, and they dry super fast, handy in the Amazon.
Wide Brim Hat With A Neck Guard
The sun is intense on the river. I packed my usual sun hat that I love because it’s packable and water never damages it. However, this wasn’t the most effective hat, and I wish I had brought a wide brim hat with a neck guard like so many others on the cruise had.
It kept the sun off their faces and necks during the long skiff rides where shade is nonexistent, and better yet, it wasn’t at risk of blowing off into the water. It isn’t the most stylish look, but you’ll be grateful for the coverage when you are out on the water for three or four hours at a time.
Light Rain Jacket
While it is hot during the day, it can also be rainy, and no one is comfortable while wet, no matter how warm. The ship provides heavy-duty ponchos, but I wish I had brought a lightweight jacket for sudden showers or when the wind picked up on the skiff.
Ponchos don’t have sleeves, per se, and they’re a little awkward to wear. A friend of mine swears by this lightweight rain jacket, which is truly waterproof but also light enough to use as a windbreaker, so it serves double duty.
It’s a little bit longer, so you can wear it and sit down on a not fully dry seat and not get soaked. This is also perfect to have with you on the skiff when you’re wearing a t-shirt because it’s hot but need a layer for part of the excursion to keep the bugs away.
Hiking Boots
For footwear, hiking boots are a must. While the cruise provided rain boots for the jungle walk that was more muddy, I’m glad I had hiking boots for our visit to the village.
If you’re visiting in the dry season, you do more hiking than we did in late November. The terrain is uneven and root-filled, and you want sturdy ankle support.
When we got back to the ship, the crew cleaned our shoes for us, and we aren’t walking in deep mud, so I brought my comfy hiking boots that are lightweight but not waterproof. With the heat, I didn’t want heavier boots that would make me hotter than I already was.
Swimsuit
While this isn’t an ocean cruise with a huge pool and tons of time for sunbathing, I’m glad I brought my swimsuit. The Delfin III does have a pool and area to enjoy the sun, but that’s not how I used mine.
As part of the cruise, I had the chance to swim with the pink dolphins in the Amazon. There was no way I was going to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
We had a few people who didn’t pack suits and were sad they couldn’t join in and had to watch – in the hot sun – from the skiff. Don’t be them!
Shorts
I also packed shorts, which were great for the kayaking excursion and lounging on the ship. They are perfect for the hottest parts of the day when you aren’t in a place where bugs are likely to be an issue.
I almost didn’t pack any, but given the heat, I’m glad I did. Obviously, spray yourself well with bug spray just in case, but I was not the only one wearing shorts.
Gear And Gadgets You’ll Actually Use
This is where I really learned my lesson. Having the right gadgets can make or break your ability to capture the moment and stay comfortable.
Power Bank
I’m really glad I brought a power bank. The days are long, and you don’t want to know how many photos and videos I took on this trip.
Running out of battery in the middle of a sloth sighting would have been tragic. I love my INIU power bank, and while they sell a newer model now, this one is a workhorse that can charge not just my phone, but your tablet and laptop, too, with 45W output for super fast charging.
This one is lightweight, so it’s easy to cart around. The new versions have a built in cable and a flashlight inside, so it’s really convenient for multiple purposes.
Telephoto Lens Attachment
I regret not having brought a telephoto lens attachment for my phone. My phone camera is a good one, but the animals are small, and we can’t get super close to them.
My photos of many of the animals leave a bit to be desired, and this would have solved a lot of those problems. While it doesn’t replace a professional DSLR, it would have helped me get much better shots of animals high in the canopy.
Binoculars
Binoculars are non-negotiable, and while the ship had some to borrow, it wasn’t like my Riverside cruise that had pairs of powerful binoculars in each cabin for guests to use. Bring your own binoculars to ensure you don’t miss any of the amazing wildlife.
The guides are amazing at spotting creatures I missed, but the animals are often far away or camouflaged. Being able to see the details of a toucan’s beak or a monkey’s face makes the experience so much richer.
These binoculars are waterproof – handy for the rainy season in the Amazon – and they’re relatively compact and lightweight for the power they provide. Remember to adjust the eye pieces, as well as the focus, and they’ll work even in lower light situations.
Handheld Battery Fan With A Flat Base
The Amazon is hot, which comes as no surprise, but the heat and humidity are a lot. In a few cases, the naturalists offered us a handheld woven fan, but those aren’t super effective.
I brought my favorite handheld battery fan that has a flat base. People were jealous of me, and I was so grateful to have it.
I’ve used this fan on more trips than I can count, and it is perfect for everything from a summer trip in Europe (especially in regions without much air conditioning) to volunteering in Jamaica. It’s ridiculously affordable, too.
It works far better than any manual fan can, and the charge lasts longer than overnight – and yes, I’ve used it for 10 plus hours before. The flat base means I can set it on a table if I want to give it even more utility than having to hold it the entire time.
Water-Resistant Daypack
Every day, we had multiple excursions, and while most of them had us stay on the skiff, I brought my water-resistant (do you sense a theme here) daypack each time. It was perfect to hold my water bottle, sunscreen, phone, fan, insect repellent, binoculars, and layers that I wanted on a given day.
I love that this one is super lightweight, and it’s also a foldable daypack, so it doesn’t take up much room in my luggage. Most importantly, it kept my hands free for boarding the skiffs and holding my binoculars.
Global Power Converter
Finally, bring a global power converter. The ship had both 110 and 220 volt outlets in the cabins, but the lounge where I sometimes worked only had 220 volt plugs.
Keep in mind that even though Peru uses 220 volt power like Europe does, but the actual plugs are not always the same. Peru uses two prong outlets, but they are sometimes flat rather than the round ones used in Europe, and they don’t use the third grounding clip that many devices from Europe do.
You will also need it for your hotel stays in Lima or Iquitos before or after the cruise. I know that most people who take an Amazon river cruise are doing this as part of a larger trip to South America, and you don’t want to be without a reliable way to power your devices.
Long story short, bring an adapter because it’s a small device that could save your bacon. I prefer the universal adapters because I can use it no matter where I travel rather than having to purchase and bring a different one for Australia versus Europe verus Peru, for example.
Health And Comfort Items
Staying healthy and rested allows you to enjoy the excursions. These small items can help you stay comfortable and ready to go.
Electrolyte Packets
The Amazon is hot and humid, so staying hydrated is key. I brought Liquid IV packets just in case I felt dehydrated, and I used them. In fact, I wished that I’d brought more than the small handful I grabbed.
Adding electrolytes to your water helps you recover faster from the heat than water alone. Make no mistake, there’s plenty of water available, both on the skiffs during excursions and on the ship itself, but the electrolytes definitely help.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen seems like a no-brainer, right? But you want to bring the right sunblock when you’re packing for an Amazon cruise.
The sun is intense, but the Amazon is also a fragile ecosystem. Think about bringing a mineral sunblock that provides protection while being safer for the environment, and definitely avoid the sprays if you can.
I’m a big fan of Thinkbaby, and I’ve yet to get a burn while using it. We won’t talk about the one day I forgot to apply sunscreen on this trip.
Pump Bug Spray
Bring pump bug spray because while no one had an issue, the website for LATAM states that they do not allow aerosol cans in either checked or carry-on luggage. And have I mentioned that the bugs in the Amazon are fierce?
Everything I read said to bring DEET bug spray, but I also saw that you want to spray your clothes, and I’ve ruined clothes with DEET before. I jumped on Consumer Reports, and it turns out that the third-highest rated bug spray is a pump spray that doesn’t use DEET, and it happened to be the one I keep in my house all the time.
Third-highest rating meaning the first two were 95 and 96, I think, and Repel was rated a 93. I took a chance and brought my non-DEET spray (and used it liberally throughout the trip), and I did not get a single bug bite. Not. One.
You definitely need strong protection here and don’t want to skimp on the quality of your repellent. That said, if you don’t want to use DEET, I can provide a personal testimonial that the Repel Insect Repellent really does work.
Bonus? The four ounce size means that I can stay packed in just a carry-on and not need to check any bags.
Over-The-Counter Meds
Anytime I travel, I pack a small kit of over-the-counter medications like pain relievers, antacids, and anti-itch cream. While the ship has an infirmary and a paramedic, it is always easier to have your own preferred brands on hand so you don’t have to seek out help for a minor headache or bug bite.
Dramamine
I’m lucky that I don’t suffer from motion sickness, but so many people (including my husband) do. The river itself was very smooth, but on the bus ride from the airport to the port, the road winds a bit, so Dramamine makes sense for the transit days.
Comfortable Sleep Mask
I loved the floor-to-ceiling windows in my cabin. I didn’t love that the two layers of curtains didn’t include one that was a blackout shade.
While our days generally began relatively early, I didn’t wish to be up before the sun (generally). Thankfully, I brought my “fancy” sleep mask.
If you are sensitive to light or the flashing green light of the smoke detector like I am, a good sleep mask is essential for a restful night. My Manta Pro is comfortable in part due to its eye cups that keep the mask off my eye, which means this is the only sleep mask I’ve ever tried that I can actually use and on overnight.
Bar Shampoo and Conditioner
I started using bar shampoo and conditioner for my trips a couple years ago. I got tired of the low-quality shampoo and conditioner so many hotels have – and the lack of conditioner at all in many destinations.
I didn’t know if I would like them or not, but I am absolutely a convert, and I often use them at home, too. I found a shampoo bar made with manuka honey and a conditioner bar with lime and grapefruit that work for my hair.
That’s one less set of liquids I need to carry in my luggage. In addition to the shampoo and conditioner bar, I purchased a set of containers that fit the bars perfectly to easily store them and keep them from melting in the shower.
I will say that I was impressed with the shampoo and conditioner I had on the Delfin III, but all those other places and stays you’ll have in South America? You want to bring your own options for most of them.
The Just In Case Items That Saved The Day
These are the random items I threw in my bag that ended up being incredibly useful.
Marker Or Stickers
Technically, I used nail polish, but a marker or stickers would have worked even better to mark my water bottle. The ship gives everyone identical reusable water bottles, so having a way to distinguish yours is helpful.
You don’t want to accidentally drink from someone else’s bottle in the heat of the moment (yes, pun intended). We also had someone misplace their water bottle, and I would hate to be that person.
Dry Bag And Baggies
Pack a dry bag for wet clothing on the trip home. You will likely have a swimsuit or sweaty clothes that aren’t fully dry when you pack up because it’s hard to dry when the humidity is so high. I also brought zip-top baggies just in case to keep my electronics dry and organized inside my backpack.
What To Leave At Home
There were definitely a few things I packed that I never touched or that others told me they wished they hadn’t brought. Save the space in your luggage for souvenirs instead.
Fancy Shoes And Clothing
You do not need fancy shoes or multiple nice dresses. The vibe on board is very casual.
Even for dinner, we often didn’t change from our day clothes on the excursions, and clean pants and a nice top are perfectly acceptable. You’re in the jungle where comfort is the priority for everyone on board.
Jeans
I saw someone wearing jeans, and that just looked miserable. They are heavy and hot and take forever to dry in the humidity.
If they get wet or sweaty, they become uncomfortable instantly. Stick to quick-drying fabrics instead.
Beach Towels And Water Bottles
Don’t pack beach towels, as the ship provides them for the pool and for swimming excursions. You can also save space by leaving your reusable water bottle at home since they provide a high-quality one for you to keep.
Final Packing Tips
Packing for the Amazon is about being prepared for the elements so you can focus on the incredible wildlife and culture around you. With the right gear, you will be comfortable, safe, and ready for the adventure of a lifetime.
You want some items specific to this trip, but for the most part, it’s a casual and laid-back adventure. Depending on how long you stay in South America, you may be able to pack in just a carry-on (I did!).
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