What to wear in the Amazon Rainforest

What to wear in the amazon rainforest will depend largely on your own personal preference. As a general guide for the majority of people on Amazon jungle tours, we recommend to take loose-fitting, cotton clothing. This not only keeps you cool but will make it harder for mosquitoes to bite.

As mentioned in what is the Amazon Rainforest like, you should also take some warm clothes as the nights are about 15 degrees colder than day.

In terms of what’s appropriate for daytime, there’s a photo at the Tahuayo Lodge office highlighting what to wear in the Amazon Rainforest: One person in the photo is wearing flip-flops, shorts and a tank top. And the person next to him has jungle boots, socks, long camouflaged pants that tie around the ankles, long sleeved shirt, gloves, and a hat with a mosquito net draped over the brim. Both of these people are prepared for the rainforest, but the differences reflect their personalities.

My outfit consisted of loose, long-sleeved shirts and trousers made of quick dry material. I didn’t enjoy wet clothing and sacrificed the breathability offered by cotton for drying out a bit quicker.
In terms of footwear, it depends on where you are going. I was comfortable in a pair of rubber boots (most tours distribute these to guests on arrival). Rubber boots dry quicker when they get wet and are more waterproof.

If you’re going on hikes, boots are preferable to shoes, as around 60% of all snake bites could have been prevented by wearing boots that cover the ankle. Snake bites are very unlikely if you are walking with a professional guide, however; but you can never be too careful.

Sandals still have their place, as you will be in your boots most of the time. Sandals let your feet breathe when at the lodge or back at camp. They also mean you can comfortably walk into shallow water to wash without hurting yourself on jagged rocks or sticks.

For rain gear, again there is a lot of diversity on the market. My own preference is a simple and durable poncho. In the middle of a hike, I find a poncho is easily stored in a backpack and quickly put on during a sudden downpour.

If you’re like me and get distracted easily by all the wildlife, a brimmed hat helps protect your head when you walk into a vine or fallen tree (speaking from personal experience). The best one I found was made of kangaroo leather as it folded over your face offering additional protection. If you’re in the open (as opposed to the forest) it will also protect against the harsh mid-day sun.