Hello,
I already booked a backpacking tour 4d/3n tour. But I heard and read they have tons of bad reviews about this company. That they won't even show up picking you from the airport or hotel. I'm planning to cancel before I go there this weekend.
Is the any legit backpacking tour? I want to experience walking in the rainforest spend a night in there etc.... Something like a budget tour not anything fancy. Anyone been to any tours?
Thanks
If you've already paid for it, then your losing money.
This shows why you should look for reviews/feedback before booking.
There will be legit businesses that offer backpacking tours. I haven't been to the Amazon in Brasil so others can chime in.
Which company is it? It's unusual for them not to ask for cash beforehand. No Amazon tours are particularly "budget", but most of them are not fancy. With, always, the caveat that several of these people are my friends, I really have taken tours with them (in some cases, several tours, and always with people who were not friends of the guides as well) and can vouch for them as guides/companies: Amazon Eco Adventures, Amazon Gero, and Amazon Eco Discovery. Everything's a little crazy with the World Cup and you may find that groups are bigger and everything takes longer to do, but not much you can do about that.
Any of these companies will take you for a walk in the jungle and, with three nights, you should be able to spend one of them sleeping in the forest. But understand that it won't be "backpacking"--it'll be lodge-based otherwise, with boat trips.
its a website amazonbackpacking.com. I booked it thought email. they only take cash and they told me to pay cash once they come pick me up from the airport. I understand since its the world cup everything will be chaos. I will be going at this july 6th, I picked the time when the world cup is over. Im not asking too much, just come pick me up and drop me back, take me a walk in the forest and learn something in the forest. But I read the reviews saying, they wont show up picking up, or after pick up jam you into a group of 60 people and you do your own thing, not taking you out for a walk, out of foods, out of waters etc....
Well, Amazon Backpackers (I think that's who you mean) has been a reliable agency for many years, but if those tripadvisor reviews are truthful, it sounds like there have been some problems. And I expect there's still going to be some residual World Cup craziness through the weekend as other attendees take their jungle tours when the matches are over.
Now that I understand how you booked, there's nothing unusual about booking through email and paying cash when they pick you up at the airport--that's how most of them work--but as you say, you aren't under any obligation yet. Do check out the three agencies I mention (and there are several other reliable ones, too, that I haven't toured with personally)--you can wait until you get to Manaus to make a decision if you prefer, but I like getting that airport pickup included. If you decide to wait, only buy a tour at an office (or their rep at a special desk in your hotel/hostel; sometimes they'll even send a rep to your hotel), not from someone who approaches you in the airport. On the other hand, legit guides may see you at the airport while they're there picking up other tourists and suggest you go to their office in central Manaus--that's OK, too.