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How to avoid Mosquito Bites in the Amazon Jungle

A trip to the Amazon Jungle and rainforest is a bucket list trip. But first you’ll need to know how to survive mosquitoes in the jungle. Fear not, I have answers and tips for how to survive mosqitoes in the jungle.

The Yarapa River, Peru
On the river in the Amazon Jungle

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How to avoid mosquito bites on my travels has always been an issue but never more so than on our trip to the Amazon Jungle. We’d booked our flights to Peru and our stay at Treehouse Lodge, deep in the jungle, was confirmed.

It was time to get very excited. I love adventure and staying in a treehouse in the Peruvian Jungle ticked a box high up on my travel wish list. Then the realisation kicked in that we’d be staying in a high-risk malaria zone and mosquitos see me as one big moveable feast.

Did I get ravaged by mosquitos in the jungle? No. Here’s what I did to avoid mosquito bites in the Amazon jungle from using mosquito repellent both natural and Deet, to wrist bands and anti mosquito clothing.

How to repel mosquitos in the jungle

anti-mosquito-gear
Wearing my mosquito repellent clothing in the Amazon rainforest

If I get a mozzie bite I also get a nasty allergic reaction with swelling and itching that goes on for days. I’d seen my practice nurse and had arranged a course of anti-malarials which, I’m glad to say, had no side-effects.

But that didn’t solve the allergy problem and also nowadays there’s Zika virus to worry about which is endemic in central and South America. Dengue Fever and other nasty mosquito-borne diseases are also a threat to travellers which can have far-reaching consequences. More than a few reasons to avoid mosquito bites.

How to Prevent Mosquito Bites

I wasn’t going to risk a single bite but I didn’t want to drench myself in nasty chemicals. Amazon tribes deal with mosquitoes by rubbing ants on their skin. That was never going to be an option. Would you?

So, how to avoid mosquito bites? Enter NosiLife outdoor clothing by Craghopper – perfect for fending off those pesky jungle mosquitoes.

(If you’re looking for bug/pest repellent sprays, bracelets and devices scroll further down)

1. Insect Repellent Clothing

I’d heard good things about Craghopper NosiLife mosquito repellent clothing. I also knew that independent, family owned, outdoor experts Ellis Brigham stocked it in their 26 stores around the country and on their website.

Insect-repellent treatment is woven into the fabric of the clothing to protect against biting insects and the diseases they spread.

The anti-insect treatment is permanent and provides protection for the lifetime of the garment wash after wash to prevent mosquito bites. The technology is non-toxic and protects against all insects including mosquitos, sand flies and those pesky little midges.

Here’s how I got on using Craghopper NosiLife clothing.

Craghopper Nosilife

After having a look through the extensive Nosilife by Craghopper range I chose a long-sleeved adventure shirt – well I was going on an adventure, a short-sleeved keisha polo shirt and a pair of convertible hiking pants. Perfect for my three-day stay in the Amazon Jungle.

Check out the full Craghopper Nosilife range

NosiLife Convertible Hiking Pant

Convertible Hiking Pant

These lightweight trousers are great for warmer climates and aren’t too tight in the leg which is great for walking and hiking as they don’t restrict movement.

They’ve also got the added bonus of Solarshield inbuilt UPF 40+ and, of course, anti-mosquito protection. The zip-on, zip-off legs mean you’ve got shorts or long trousers if the weather changes. Great for space-saving because it saves having to pack a pair of each.

Other useful features are five pockets including three zipped pockets. There’s a detachable, mini dry-bag in one of the pockets – handy for keeping my mobile dry during trips out on the boat.

Drying loops mean you can hang the trousers up to dry without pegs. Heel tape on the hem guards against wear and tear and there are handy ankle zips so you can easily slip the legs over your boots when converting the trousers to shorts.

I wore these trousers when we went out wildlife spotting on the skiff and for hikes into the jungle and nearby village. The fabric was strong enough to protect against prickly undergrowth and the tight weave and Nosilife protected against bugs.

They were comfortable for long walks and hiking through dense jungle.

Check out the full Craghopper Nosilife range

Nosilife Adventure Shirt

Womens NosiLife Adventure Shirt

I liked the flattering tailored fit of this shirt which looked good but also gave free range of movement.

Like the trousers, there are lots of handy features; lightweight fabric which is quick-drying and easy to wash; collar with cooling wicking mesh built-in; lots of pockets including a hidden, zipped security pocket, a stud-fastened sleeve pocket, vented back, roll-up sleeves and a handy drying loops.

The Solashield inbuilt UPF 40+ protection was welcome when we were out paddling up the waterways under the hot jungle sun and of course the Nosilife gave great bug protection.

Light-coloured, loose clothing is recommended to put off mosquitoes so I chose the shirt in a pale ‘dove grey’. I didn’t think the white would be very practical in the jungle.

Check out the full Craghopper Nosilife range

Nosilife Keisha Polo Shirt

Women’s Nosilife short-sleeved Shirt

My last choice was a simple short-sleeved polo shirt in soft moss. With sun protection and permanent insect repellency built-in it was perfect for relaxing in the Rainforest Lodge. The lightweight, moisture wicking fabric meant I didn’t get hot and sticky.

>>> Check out the full Craghopper Nosilife range

Verdict on NosiLife insect repellent clothing

The gear was incredibly lightweight which meant it took up hardly any space in my luggage. I just popped it all into a small packing cubewhich was easy to transport to the treehouse in my hand-luggage.

The Craghopper NosiLife range is well-made with good attention to detail and plenty of useful little features. Most importantly this clothing really helped to avoid mosquito bites. I didn’t get bitten once in the jungle, except maybe by the adventure bug! I wish I’d worn it at Machu Picchu because the sand flies attacked my ankles big time and I hadn’t thought to use insect repellent.

If you’re looking for good quality hiking or adventure gear with plenty of pockets, insect and sun protection at a decent price then Craghopper NosiLife should suit you perfectly. Those amazon jungle mosquitoes will keep well away and the range is often on sale.

>>> Check out the full Craghopper Nosilife range

2. Best Insect Repellent for the Amazon Jungle

As a backup, I sprayed around the bottom of my trousers and shoes with Jungle Formula Maximum Aerosol Insect Repellent. I also wore a mosquito repellent bracelet but I didn’t spray any Deet on my skin at all.

3. Pestects – Natural eco-friendly insect repellent

If you’re looking for a natural bug spray for the Amazon jungle then you might be interested in Pestsects products. Pestects produce safe, effective and sustainable insect repellent for outdoor adventures without Deet.

Their affordable products do not contain harsh chemicals but contain natural essential oils which are better for you and the environment. They’re long-lasting (300 hours) and they ship worldwide.

The Pestects range includes:

Avon Skin so Soft

Avon Skin so Soft is also an effective anti-bug spray which doesn’t contain Deet and actually smells good. It works well in the UK, US and Europe but I’m not sure if this is the best bug spray for the rainforest.

Avon Skin so Soft also make a bug repellent cream with added SPF 30.

Mosquito repellent
Various mosquito repellents that we used during our time in the Amazon jungle

4. Ultrasonic Pest Repeller

An ultrasonic pest repeller is an excellent way to repel mosquitos. I have a solar powered bug repeller which emits an ultrasonic noise, which is only just audible to the human ear but not intrusive.

It repels mosquitoes as well as ants, spiders, cockroach and mice and lasts for hours. We switched this on under our mosquito net at night for added protection.

But what if you do get bitten….

5. Bite Away – for if you do get bitten

Odds are, after taking all the above precautions, you might still be unlucky enough to get bitten. This is where ‘Bite Away‘ comes to the rescue. This little device uses heat technology to relieve itching, pain and swelling caused by insect bites and stings in just two minutes.

Bite Away works by contentrating heat at 51c on the affected area for three seconds. Place the device tip on the affected area and press the button. Don’t worry it’s not painful – just a warm feeling.

The result is a decrease in itching and inflamation within a couple of minutes. Since I’ve started using Bite Away I’ve not had a single allergic reaction to a bite. Bite Away halts the pain and inflamation in its tracks.

Check prices and availability for the Bite Away pen on Amazon

I prefer Bite Away over creams and lotions for a few reasons. Firstly, it doesn’t have a use buy date so I know I’m safe to use it at any time. Creams don’t actually work to stop my bites becoming large and infected as it’s allergy related so this is a perfect alternative.

Also, there are no nasty chemicals absorbed into my skin. Finally, if you’ve got Amazon Prime you can get next day delivery and stop those bites in their tracks right away. Bite Away

We also packed Hc45 Hydrocortison cream which is a hydrocortisone for after-bite treatment.

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Disclaimer: Many thanks to Ellis Brigham for providing my Craghopper NosiLife gear and saving me from the mosquitoes in the Amazon Rainforest.

Agness of eTramping

Saturday 6th of May 2017

The Amazon jungle is my dream destination, Suzanne! I hope I get to cross it off my bucket list soon!

Suzanne Jones

Monday 8th of May 2017

I hope you do too Agness, it was an unforgettable experience

Tonkin Voyage Travel Vietnam

Thursday 19th of January 2017

Nice tips. I always use anti-mosquito spray made from lemongrass extract. it is totally natural and absolute effective. I don't have to use perfume :)

Suzanne Jones

Saturday 21st of January 2017

I haven't heard about that one before, I'll have to try it out. Better than chemicals...

Planes & Champagne (@planeschampagne)

Monday 16th of January 2017

This is such a revelation as I get terrible mosquito bites and also have a funny reaction to them. I'm heading over to Asia soon so I'll definitely be purchasing some NosiLife clothing soon!

Suzanne Jones

Tuesday 17th of January 2017

It stopped me getting any bites and it was so nice not having to worry about bugs the whole time so go for it!

Kathryn Burrington

Sunday 15th of January 2017

I love NosiLife Products, especially my NosiLife sarong. It's a great range that makes a hell of a difference to your experience, especially if you are prone to getting bitten. Apparently some of us simply taste better!

Suzanne Jones

Sunday 15th of January 2017

I would mind getting some NosiLife gear for the beach as well. I wonder why it is some of us are so much tastier?

Sara Dobak

Saturday 14th of January 2017

Thanks for this Suzanne- I haven't bought any 'outdoorsy' clothes for ages and it looks like they've come a long way since I did. Especially useful to know about this range as I still have scars from when the little beggars took several sips out of me during the #ExploreCanada trip last year!

Suzanne Jones

Sunday 15th of January 2017

It's amazing how much technology is in this gear like the anti-mosquito as well as UV protection and yet the fabric doesn't look or smell any different. Good to know you can keep the nasties at bay with it.

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