Date of publication 22/07/2025
7 facts you didn’t know about the Brazilian Amazon (and one might surprise you)
The world’s largest rainforest breathes and embraces. Its vibrant greenery branches out to give life, becoming home to an almost infinite range of living beings. In this article, the adventure of your vacation runs parallel to its wild and free soul—aboard one of the best hotels in the Amazon. But this is no ordinary hotel. It’s a journey in motion, an experience unlike anything you’ve lived before. Departing from Manaus, Brazil, you’ll uncover the secrets of an ancient land whose name carries the strength of the warrior women of its original tribes.
But before you set off, we’d like to share a few curious facts about the Brazilian Amazon that may surprise you. We’ll also tell you everything about one of the most exclusive and original hotels in Brazil where you’ll have the chance to stay. Visit this destination—listed among the most recommended LGBTQ+ places in the world—during Pride Month, and get ready to fall in love with its colors, nature, and energy.
7 facts about the Brazilian Amazon
1. The myth of the 20% of the planet’s oxygen (and its unparalleled climate value)
You’ve probably heard the saying that “the Amazon is the lungs of the Earth.” However, contrary to popular belief, nearly all the oxygen it produces—around 20% of the planet’s total—is consumed within the ecosystem itself. That’s because plants not only release oxygen through their leaves, but they also absorb it as part of their natural process of cellular respiration.
That said, its climate importance for global ecological balance is immeasurable. In addition to its biodiversity (we’ll come back to that later) and the human communities that live there, the Amazon holds intrinsic value for many other reasons: its role in regulating rainfall cycles across South America, soil regeneration, and the absorption of harmful greenhouse gases. So before setting off on your expedition through Amazon hotels, take a moment to consider how you can reduce your carbon footprint during your stay.
2. It holds more water than the next seven largest rivers combined
Brazilian beaches are a paradise, but they have nothing on the breathtaking river landscapes that await along the Amazon. With an average flow of 210,000 cubic meters per second and a total length of approximately 6,992 kilometers (including all its tributaries), the Amazon holds more water than the next seven largest rivers combined: the Nile in Egypt, the Yangtze (or Blue River) in China, the Mississippi in the United States, the Yenisei in the Arctic, the Yellow River (also in China), the Ob in Russia, and the Mekong, which originates in Tibet and flows through China, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. The river’s longest and most voluminous stretch lies in the Brazilian Amazon, including its mouth at the Atlantic Ocean.
Save this fun fact to share with your loved ones next time you’re staying at a family-friendly hotel in Brazil—kids will love imagining the sheer scale of the nature they’re about to explore!
3. More than 300 Indigenous tribes currently live in the Brazilian Amazon
Did you know that over 300 Indigenous tribes (yes, you read that right) currently live in the Brazilian Amazon? These communities and their ways of life reflect an extraordinary multicultural richness and are deeply connected to their surroundings. Since ancient times, they’ve understood that humans are not separate from nature—we are part of it, just like the trees, the seasons, and the animals we share this home with. The Ticuna, Bora, Yagua, Huitoto, Korubo, and Nahua are just a few of these peoples.
In fact, many of the ancestral ingredients found in Brazilian cuisine—and which you’ll likely sample on your trip—originate from their territories and traditional farming practices. For this and many other reasons, visiting the Amazon can completely change the way you see the world. Open yourself to unlimited understanding and get closer to its true essence, shaped by countless customs, ideas, and people.
4. The jungle is so dense that it sometimes creates “false nights”
The sheer lushness of this ecosystem will leave you speechless, inspiring a deep respect for the wonders of nature. Among the experiences that await you in the Amazon are its so-called “false nights”—a phenomenon that occurs in areas where the vegetation is so dense that, even during the day, it feels like night. The sunlight simply can’t break through the many layers of foliage created by the tree canopy. This happens mostly in the Brazilian Amazon, particularly in the state of Acre. In fact, the tallest tree in the Amazon identified by scientists is found in this region, in the Iratapuru River Nature Reserve. It’s a magnificent specimen of Dinizia excelsa (known as Angelim vermelho), standing 88.5 meters tall with a trunk diameter of 9.9 meters.
5. There’s an underground river that runs parallel to the Amazon
Hidden from plain sight but just as vibrant as its mighty surface counterpart, there’s an underground river flowing beneath the Amazon Basin of Brazil and Peru—about four kilometers underground. Known as the Hamza River, it was discovered by Brazilian researchers in 2011 and is considered one of the longest buried rivers on the planet. It’s estimated to be about 6,000 kilometers long, nearly the same length as the Amazon itself. Its waters move slowly through porous rock, which has sparked debate over whether it should be classified as a river or a massive aquifer.
Set off on the Grand Amazon Expedition to explore this and other fascinating natural marvels. Iberostar’s Amazon cruise is a five-star floating hotel that navigates the Brazilian Amazon on three distinct itineraries. Departing from Manaus, this all-inclusive journey offers a unique way to discover the landscapes and traditions of the region. Both day and night excursions are designed to immerse you in the experience and offer meaningful encounters with local Indigenous cultures—all with a sustainable approach and close connection to the surroundings.
Now, close your eyes for a moment. Can you imagine waking up for a jungle hike at dawn, sharing stories with local communities as a family welcomes you into their home? Or watching the sunset from a boat, weaving through the 400 islands of the Anavilhanas Archipelago? Or joining a nighttime excursion to spot species like the caiman, which remain hidden during the day? All this—and so much more—awaits you on the other side of the journey, in one of Amazon's most exceptional hotel experiences.
6. It’s home to the most feared—and the pinkest—fish
Speaking of wildlife: the Amazonian caiman shares its waters and riverbanks with another fearsome yet fascinating creature—the piranha. To be precise, several species of piranhas inhabit the river. Some are carnivorous, others omnivorous… and even vegetarian! You might be surprised to learn that, despite their reputation as predators, they only attack when in groups—and only to feed or defend themselves. On their own, they tend to be rather timid and skittish. So how can you visit the Amazon without disturbing its inhabitants? As a general rule, always follow your guide’s instructions and avoid interfering with natural routines.
Among the Amazon’s most surprising aquatic species is also the pink river dolphin—a friendly mammal found not only in the Amazon but also in habitats like the Rio Negro. In Brazilian Amazonian folklore, this dolphin, known as the Bufeo Colorado, is tied to a beautiful yet tragic myth. Legend has it that the dolphin can transform into an attractive man at will to seduce young women from nearby tribes. He showers them with gifts and affection until they fall in love and dive into the river to stay with him forever.
7. The Amazon has its own rainfall system
As mentioned earlier, the Amazon—especially in Brazil and other parts of South America—plays a crucial role in regulating rainfall. That’s because the rainforest generates its own rain. Through a process called evapotranspiration, trees release water vapor into the atmosphere, which eventually forms clouds. Thanks to wind patterns, this moisture produces rain not only within the ecosystem itself but also in agricultural areas located hundreds of kilometers away. Not sure when to visit the Amazon? Keep in mind that the rainy season typically runs from December to May, although this can vary slightly depending on the specific region and country.
Other curious facts about the Amazon
1. Some trees can “walk”
In the Amazon, some trees appear to “walk”—at least, in a way. Scientifically speaking, certain plants in this region, like the walking palm (Socratea exorrhiza), develop stilt-like roots that allow them to shift position over time, almost as if they were moving along tracks. Thanks to this unique adaptation, these living beings are capable of slowly relocating—up to 20 centimeters per year—in search of sunlight.
You’ll find them in the Amazon reserves of western Brazil, as well as in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, alongside other endangered species that populate the rainforest, giving it its unique blend of botanical intelligence and enchantment.
2. Its biodiversity is so vast, it’s still not fully known
To this day, and despite over 3,000 recorded species, the exact number of animal and plant species living in the Amazon remains unknown. It’s estimated that one in every ten known species on the planet lives here—especially in Brazil, the most biodiverse country on Earth, home to thousands of endemic plants and animals. Every year, new fish, amphibians, reptiles, trees, flowers, and even primates are documented that have never before been seen by humans.
It’s no wonder that, after one of his legendary expeditions, oceanographer Jacques Cousteau famously said, “There are more fish in the Amazon than in the entire Atlantic Ocean.” Get ready—your Amazon experiences will include ethical wildlife watching, a once-in-a-lifetime journey that will reveal a habitat as vast as its ecological power. Practice regenerative tourism to help protect it—leaving places better than you found them.
3. In the Amazon, nutrients rain down from Africa
Just as rain clouds formed in the Amazon travel to other South American countries, the rainforest also receives nutrients from the African continent—fertilizing its soil and sustaining its plant life. Nutrient-rich dust from Africa’s desert, packed with phosphorus and other vital minerals for vegetation, crosses the Atlantic Ocean carried by powerful air currents, and reaches the entire Amazon Basin—especially the Brazilian regions nourished by the river.
In this way, ecosystems quite literally feed one another, showing how nature functions as an indivisible whole. This harmonious body exists in perfect symbiosis and follows its own cycles. Soon, your vacation will bring you closer to the mysteries of life and its intricate connections—while staying in Amazon hotels unlike any other.
Wrap up your Amazon cruise by booking stays at other hotels in Brazil where you’ll feel just as connected to the universal balance.
