“Walking the Amazon” is a book by British explorer Ed Stafford, detailing his extraordinary journey along the entire length of the Amazon River. The expedition was conceived and successfully completed by Stafford, marking the first time anyone had journeyed the entire length of the Amazon River from source to sea on foot.

The journey began on April 2, 2008, when Ed Stafford and Luke Collyer set out from Camana, Peru on the Pacific Coast in search of the furthest source of the Amazon, which is acknowledged to be on the north face of Nevado Mismi. From there, they followed the course of the river with the intent of reaching the Atlantic Ocean within one year. However, Collyer departed from the expedition after three months due to growing differences between the two men.

Stafford continued alone and recruited Gadiel “Cho” Sánchez Rivera in August 2008 in the Red Zone. The new pairing fared better and, although Sanchez Rivera only originally committed to walking for five days, he decided not to return home and the two men, Stafford and Sanchez Rivera, walked for a further two years before reaching the mouth of the Amazon River on August 9, 2010.

“Walking the Amazon” is acknowledged to be the longest jungle trek in history. Stafford’s accomplishment of walking the length of the Amazon river has been described by Sir Ranulph Fiennes as being “truly extraordinary in the top league of expeditions past and present”. In 2011 Guinness World Records formally recognised Stafford’s achievement and he appears in the 2012 Guinness Book of Records.

The book provides a riveting account of Stafford’s history-making journey through one of Earth’s most bio-diverse habitats. It details his encounters with dangerous animals, machete-wielding indigenous people, injuries, weather challenges, as well as his own fears and doubts. The book also highlights the devastating impact of deforestation that Stafford witnessed firsthand during his journey.