Photo Credit: Dan Olsen\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIt’s the most massive tarantula globally and can reach up to five inches long in body length. The Goliath bird eaters are almost a foot long in leg span and weigh a whole six ounces. You’ll tend to find them near swamps and marshes, as they burrow underground during the day and hunt at night. They avoid humans, but that doesn’t make them any less creepy. If you do come into contact with one, be prepared for discomfort: they can shed the prickly hairs from their body, which get stuck in your skin, causing hours, if not days, of irritation.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nPhoto Credit: Tristan Tan\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWhat a Shocking Time<\/span><\/h2>\nAlthough it’s commonly called the electric eel, its actual name is the knife fish. It can produce electricity in its organs, up to 600 volts, that will keep anything away from it. The electric eel, or knife fish, can also use its electrical discharge to sense its environment. These fish cannot see very well, but with a weak discharge of energy, they can detect things almost like radar. The most surprising thing about the electric eel might be that they are not eels at all. Despite their appearance, “electric eels” are more related to catfish than true eels.<\/p>\nPhoto Credit: Language Of Dreams\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nWe thought the “electric eels” we knew a bit about aren’t eels, but everything you imagine about the electricity is right. Knife fish are not hostile to people, but they are another animal of the Amazon rainforest that should not be messed with. That can end up being a horrible day for you if you brush up against one of these, not knowing that it’s there. It’s about as painful as a stun gun and can leave you feeling numb for a long time. Travelers of all sorts should be aware that people have drowned while stunned by a knife fish’s shock.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nPhoto Credit: Pixabay<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBe Prepared to Travel Light<\/span><\/h2>\nDon’t expect that you’ll be able to travel with everything you have, plus the kitchen sink. Cruising around in the Amazon doesn’t afford you the luxury of having bags and bags of luggage. What exactly you will need and just how much extra fun stuff you can spare room for are things all travelers will want to think deeply about before setting off for the rainforest. You will not be so far from the cities, and you should be able to work a supply trip into an Amazon trip, so resist the urge to overpack. Having too much stuff could even make travel harder for you.<\/p>\nPhoto Credit: Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThat is because you’ll likely be traveling by boat, and they just don’t have the room to accommodate large suitcases. One travel company, Adventure Life, tells those considering an Amazon trip with them to do much travel by jeep, van, and even by kayak. You can easily imagine how little you would want to have with you on foot or in a small boat. Not all Amazon trips will require the same kind of packing strategy. Still, though, plan so that you can pack as lightly as possible but always have everything you need on-hand.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nPhoto Credit: Tenenbaum\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAlways Comfortable<\/span><\/h2>\nAre you expecting to sleep on the hard ground with just a sleeping bag? Accommodations near the rainforest are relatively well-equipped for visitors with beds, hot running water, and fully equipped bungalows to keep you comfortable. The Amazon Ecopark Lodge, for example, is located in a private reserve, giving guests easy access to the beautiful plant and animal life of the Amazon. It is also close to town and offers modern accommodations that traveling families will find to be like a regular hotel. Air conditioning specifically is a huge plus. Amazon lodges like this offer many comfort levels between a full city hotel experience and barren wilderness.<\/p>\nPhoto Credit: FeyginFoto\/Shutterstock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIt’s like a mini home away from home, with the benefits of the rainforest not too far away. The Amazon has brought much tourism to South America, so they’re aptly prepared to make you comfortable. Ariaú Amazon Towers is another example of a perfectly modern hotel situated perfectly as a base for rainforest trips. This hotel offers everything you would expect from a hotel, including swimming pools, a restaurant and bar, and even a convention center. Of course, the Amazon also offers more minimal, natural accommodations for the more adventurous. Just know that you can travel the Amazon in whatever way works for you.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nPhoto Credit: Pixabay<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n