Into the Amazon tells the remarkable story of the journey undertaken by President Theodore Roosevelt and the legendary Brazilian explorer Cândido Rondon to the heart of the South American rainforest to map an unexplored tributary of the Amazon.
The two most celebrated men from their respective nations, 
Roosevelt and Rondon set out with twenty other adventurers in 1914. During eight eventful weeks in one of the most remote places on Earth, the poorly equipped expedition navigated deadly rapids in rudimentary canoes carved from logs.
Hunger and exhaustion were exacerbated by the relentless topography of the rainforest, forcing the men to carry heavy canoes over long distances. What was expected to be a relatively smooth journey turned into a brutal test of courage and character. Before it was all over, one member of the expedition drowned and another committed murder. Roosevelt would severely injure his leg and plead to be left behind to die.
More than just a story of dramatic adventure, Into the Amazon sheds light on two of the most formidable men in the Western Hemisphere, and the culture and politics of their two formidable nations.
PBS sent a crew to the Brazilian Amazon to recreate the remarkable and still relatively unknown expedition of the former U.S. president and Brazilian explorer Marshal Rondon. The documentary, punctuated by commentary and analysis, premiered on PBS in January but can be watched via streaming.