Amazon Rainforest in Peru with Kids: Our Experience
A trip to the Amazon jungle is one of the most amazing trips of a lifetime for everyone. The opportunity to see wildlife in the best possible way, potentially meeting indigenous tribes and getting immersed in diverse flora.
I visited the Amazon for the first time when I did a 5-night stay in the Ecuadorian Amazon as a solo traveler years ago (you can read about it here), and recently I’ve brought my kids (ages 5 & 7) to the Peruvian Amazon jungle for a 2 nights / 3 days tour. Having done two different trips, I can definitely attest that this can be a perfect family-friendly trip and as luxurious or as budget as you want it to be.
We had an amazing time filled with adventures and we saw tons of incredible animals. From caimans and parrots, through giant river otters, spiders, snakes, and even fed some piranhas. It’s not an easy trip to book, as there are a million places and many lodges, and choosing the right one can make or break your trip – here are my best tips and our experience in the jungle 🙂
First things first, though…
Should you choose a single lodge stay or take an Amazon cruise When Traveling with Kids?
To be perfectly honest, after spending my first trip in a single lodge and doing an immense amount of research, I’ve been eager to take a cruise for my second.
Amazon riverboats, unlike cruise ships or even European river cruises, are designed with very shallow drafts, which means they can easily access shallow areas without issues, so you won’t be missing out on any land activities as you can still go canoeing and do the night walks, while in the evening you can enjoy a nice meal, air-conditioned rooms and other amenities.
Undeniably, a cruise is more of a luxurious experience with more opportunities to go deeper into the jungle. The best Amazon river cruise immediately distinguishes itself through the extraordinary wildlife that families encounter along the waterways. You can sleep peacefully while the boat is moving down the Amazon River, allowing you to explore new regions every day. A cruise is also the best bet for seeing pink dolphins.
You definitely need to pick a cruise that suits your interests, as the itinerary is set and unless you’re traveling with your own group chartering the whole boat it cannot be changed. Not every activity will be interesting to your kids (or possibly even to you), so don’t forget to read the fine print.
Why didn’t I take the cruise with my kids then this time? Honestly, for a simple reason: Amazon cruises require more time and this time we could allow a short stay.
How to Pick a Lodge in the Amazon
Picking the right place in the Amazon, starting from a country, then region, then lodge, can surely cause a headache. This time, due to flight availability, I was choosing between Peru and Brazil. Once I was set on the Peruvian Amazon, my choice came down to two options: Iquitos vs Puerto Maldonado vs Manu.
Manu seemed like the easiest option since we were already in Cusco, but to experience its beauty, it’s necessary to spend at least 5 days deep in the jungle.
Iquitos kept coming out as the best option, but after chatting with numerous friends and travel enthusiasts, I concluded that it seemed more geared towards cruises.
Eventually, I settled on Puerto Maldonado because of an easy direct flight from Cusco (you could also take an overnight bus) and then a quick flight to Lima.
Once we picked a place, I had to find a lodge. While at first I turned to Booking, I quickly realized that most lodges were full of complaints, which took me off guard. However, I quickly realized that it was due to the fact that some people didn’t realize that a lodge in the middle of the Amazon might not necessarily have hot water or electricity 24/7…
I ended up messaging two places on WhatsApp and enquiring about available itineraries and rooms, and ended up picking Hacienda Herrera as they were quick to reply and adjust our itinerary on short notice.
Amazon Lodge Stay with Kids in Tambopata Reserve in Puerto Maldonado in Peru (2 nights Stay)
Day 1
We landed at the airport and waited for our shuttle bus to pick us up. Another family was arriving on the same flight, so all of us were brought to the office located right on the river to board the boat to the lodge. It was truly easy and hassle-free. Once we got on the boat, my son started to get nervous because the boat is quite narrow, but we arrived without any issues, and our suitcases were handled with care, which isn’t given. When we visited Madagascar a year before, the staff was deliberately throwing suitcases in the water for no reason, which actually ruined a few items.
After a quick welcome drink and lunch, we were taken to our room. Kids were fascinated by the outdoor bathroom (the staff did mention it to me beforehand to make sure I was comfortable with it when traveling with kids). I was nicely surprised that our shower actually provided hot water.
It was time for our first activity. Usually the standard package includes an organic farm tour, but I thought the kids wouldn’t have been too amused, so I switched it to kayaking on the Tambopata River. It was just us and another couple, so the experience was very personalized and calm. Since it was just two kids and me, I took the younger one with me on a kayak, and the older one shared a kayak with the guide – we did the same thing with ATVs in Peru.
The part of the river by the lodge is normally quite calm, as big boats don’t tend to head that way, but about 30 minutes of paddling in a strange wave came and flipped my son and the guide’s kayak. I think I was panicking more than him, though, because when I approached, he said the water was warm and it’s actually quite nice. It definitely became one of his best stories to tell people…
We finished the day with a nice dinner and a nice cruise looking for capybaras, but unfortunately we only found some caymans and frogs.
Day 2
On the second day, we woke up early to take a big excursion to Lake Sandoval. It’s a go-to excursion in the Puerto Maldonado area and what many describe as the best for wildlife spotting. The day started with 4 am wake up call to board a longboat for about an hour or so. Then, we started a 2-mile hike, but it was more of a long walk with several stops to see spiders, birds, monkeys, and plants we could find. The kids didn’t complain at all.
Then, we boarded another long boat to start cruising on Sandoval Lake. We were lucky enough to spot the three giant river otters, lots of monkeys, different birds, and feed some piranhas.
The highlight was definitely meeting Chuck, as we named him, a giant cayman who came to visit us while my son was throwing pieces of pancake for piranhas.
After we returned to the lodge, ate lunch, and took some rest, we walked deeper into the forest to climb some trees. Our lodge didn’t offer ziplining, but tree climbing was also a big hit. It’s actually quite hard to do, so the guide made it a game, and we all pulled the kids up the tree.
Day 3
Right before heading to the airport, after breakfast, we boarded the boat, and we made a stop at the animal rescue center. It was a small, locally owned, yet very busy institution that saves animals and, whenever possible, tries to release them back into the wild. A nice lady showed us around, explained why the animals are there and whether they’re going on or not.
Unlike some other spots, these animals aren’t pets, so touching isn’t allowed… even though a few monkeys tried to touch us, actually.
I think a trip to the Amazon rainforest with kids can be an amazing adventure and definitely a bucket list trip for all ages. As it was my second time, but first on the Peruvian side, it was a very different experience, and I definitely see myself coming back and exploring more of the Amazon for the third time.
