Amazon High Water and Low Water
The river’s yearly rise and fall, and what it means on board.
Get Free South America River Cruise QuotesThe Amazon rises and falls by many feet over a year. That seasonal pulse changes everything about a river cruise — where the boat can go, what you do and what you see.
High Water: Into the Flooded Forest
At high water the river spills into the forest. Skiffs glide between tree trunks through flooded woodland (igapo on black-water rivers, varzea on white-water rivers), close to birds and monkeys in the canopy. Walking trails are underwater, so most exploring is by boat. Temperatures are similar year-round, but this is the wetter part of the year.
Low Water: Beaches and Trails
As the water drops, white-sand beaches appear along the Rio Negro and the Tapajos, forest trails open up for guided walks, and wildlife concentrates along the shrinking channels. Fishing is good, and birds gather on the sandbanks. In very dry years, some shallow channels become hard to navigate.
Season at a Glance
| High water | Low water | |
|---|---|---|
| How you explore | Skiffs through flooded forest | Forest walks plus skiffs |
| Scenery | Water among the trees | Beaches and sandbanks |
| Wildlife | Canopy birds and monkeys up close | Animals concentrated along channels |
| Pantanal at the same time | Wet season, wide flooding | Dry season, best for jaguars |
Both seasons are good; they are simply different. Read the CDC Travelers’ Health pages for your route, and the U.S. State Department travel advisories for each country you will visit.
Water-Level Questions
When is high water on the Amazon?
On the central Amazon around Manaus, the river usually peaks around the middle of the year and is lowest around October and November. In the Peruvian Amazon, high water generally runs from about December to May. Timing varies from year to year.
Has low water affected Amazon cruises?
In recent dry years, very low water has affected river traffic on parts of the Amazon basin, including around Manaus. Lines adjust routes when needed; ask your advisor how a ship handles low-water months.
Black Water, White Water, Clear Water
Season is only half the story; the color of the river matters too. Black-water rivers such as the Rio Negro are tea-colored and acidic, with fewer insects and dramatic reflections. White-water rivers such as the main Amazon (the Solimoes above Manaus) are milky with silt from the Andes and rich in fish, birds and river dolphins. Clear-water rivers such as the Tapajos are green-blue and lined with beaches in the dry months. A good itinerary often samples more than one, and the season shapes how each looks when you are there.
Pick the Right Season for Your River
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