How dangerous was it to explore the Amazon?

The upper Amazon has long been a battleground for rival drug-trafficking gangs Credit: AP/FOTOLIA. Needless to say, with so many options across such a huge area of South America, the risk of a dangerous encounter with criminals is both highly unlikely and impossible to eradicate completely. read more

Consider exploring the Amazon by water, with a guided cruise along the Amazon River. Many riverboat cruises, such as those offered by Green Tracks, incorporate time on land, so you can still hike around the Amazon River Basin and explore the rain forest. Green Tracks' river cruises depart from Nauta, Peru. read more

"Explore: The Most Dangerous Journeys of All Time" is a book that shows the famous explorers and incorporates history with adventure. It's about many different people who discovered things and became famous for their journeys. read more

T he Amazon is a 4,400-mile river with thousands of tributaries. It is a 2,600,000-square mile basin, draining rivers and streams in eight countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname), as well as French Guiana. read more