Want to Take my Daughter to the Amazon and Need Input
I am thinking of taking my daughter, age 11, to the Amazon, but I don't know what would be the best way to see the rainforest. Would we be better off with a cruise or a lodge? Where would
0
Cat:Central and South AmericaForum:0EE6B350
Cat:Central and South AmericaForum:0EE6B350Discussion:062f0983-e77e-4d6f-a9b8-31487a4bb32c
I am thinking of taking my daughter, age 11, to the Amazon, but I don't know what would be the best way to see the rainforest. Would we be better off with a cruise or a lodge? Where would we best see animals?
I am thinking of taking my daughter, age 11, to the Amazon, but I don't know what would be the best way to see the rainforest. Would we be better off with a cruise or a lodge? Where would we best see animals?Any suggestions or experience out there?Thanks. Posted by Megdesc
Have visited the area during 2 weeks and speak portuguese fluently. Don't adventure yourself in the Amazon region, if you don't speak portuguese, as almost nobody speaks your language. Take a boat trip starting in Belem, which is at the entry to the Amazon river and get off in SANTAREM, stay there in a hotel, take a small boat trip of 1 day, going to the "encounter of the waters" where the sea water encounters the river water, during the high tide, you' ll see the "Victoria Regis" flowers etc and you'll see + visit the activity of people who live from the river. Visit there also a work shop of hang mats and if you wish you can rent a car to visit an almost deserted town by the name of FORDLANDIA, where FORD started, but not completed his rubber tree farm in the early 1900, where he was supposed to get the rubber for making tires, partially there and in Michigan. You' ll see the remains of hugh steel structures, which were brought in from the US, but the americans who had to manage the plant fell sick of tropical illnesses and the place was abandoned few years later. You'll see descendants of americans, who don't speak english.
You can also spend some days in these hotel/lodges in the forest, but I think these too expesive and you're stuck in the middle of nowhere. Avoid the city of MANAUS (dangerous)
I am thinking of taking my daughter, age 11, to the Amazon, but I don't know what would be the best way to see the rainforest. Would we be better off with a cruise or a lodge? Where would we best see animals?Any suggestions or experience out there?Thanks. Posted by Megdesc
I suggest you try one of the cruises on the Peruvian Amazon out of Iquitos. In January, my wife and I did a seven day cruise on el Delfin (dolphin), with only seven staterooms. The adventure is in going off on skiffs with twin 60 HP engines, into tributaries and visiting villages. The cews' attention to your comfort and safety are outstanding, and the guides are very knowledgeable. Fellow passengers included a parent and daughter, and other parents and their children.
I am thinking of taking my daughter, age 11, to the Amazon, but I don't know what would be the best way to see the rainforest. Would we be better off with a cruise or a lodge? Where would we best see animals?Any suggestions or experience out there?Thanks. Posted by Megdesc
I highly recommend the Ceiba Tops Lodge run by Explorama. The lodge is right on the Amazon River -- you are picked up by boat from Iquitos, Peru. They have all-inclusive programs that are varied and fun. You are assigned a guide and he will take you to visit Monkey Island, fish for pirhana, hike to giant lily pads, hike in the jungle (including at night to see the tarantulas), visit the Yagua Indian village (learn how to use a blow gun), visit the shaman and hike on the treetop canopy walkway, among other fabulous activities. Food is varied and quite good and rooms are clean with AC and private baths. The lodge also has a nice pool with a slide -- a great plus for kids and a hammock room, which often gets monkey and tropical bird visitors. We took two teenaged girls there last December and they had an absolute blast. Lots of animals (capabara, river dophins, anteater, anaconda, monkeys galore, tropical birds, sloths) -- it was a fantastic adventure for a kid in a comfortable environment. I would go back again -- great experience.
I have never done a cruise in the Amazon (though I imagine I would enjoy it) but I have stayed in a lodge in Peru and it was wonderful. Our trip was arranged by a local company in Peru called Chaska Tours. They are very customer-friendly and basically asked what we wanted to do when in Peru and a trip to the jungle was on my list. We only stayed there a couple of days, but it gave us a great taste of things. Wish I would have stayed longer, but it was memorable at any rate. I think it would be an excellent trip for an 11-year old. No electricity.... lanterns left on your porch at night. Beds covered by mosquito netting. All very eco-friendly. The guides were all knowlegable, helpful and fun. Animals and incredible birds all around. Sitting and eating lunch and seeing monkeys climb in the trees outside. Wish I could remember at the moment what the name of the lodge was, but it has been a couple of years. I think she would not only enjoy herself, but learn a lot in the process.
Hi there, I have not done an Amazon cruise before but can highly recommend staying at an Amazon lodge after having just spent 4 lovely days at the Juma Lodge last month. I booked the lodge through Viverde (http://www.amazonastravel.com.br), which offers an array of lodges or cruises to choose from. They also offered the best prices of all the other lodges and tour companies I researched. Their travel agents will help you find the method of exploring the Amazon that best suits you. The Juma Lodge turned out to be a wonderful choice; there were activities throughout the day to enjoy (jungle hikes, piranha fishing, caiman spotting, etc. and I believe all the lodges on the Amazon offer similar experiences) but also enough downtime to relax and really enjoy the lodge, which had hammocks to lounge in and a number of tame animals to pet (3 monkeys, 2 macaws and a tapir, the most wildlife we saw during our whole stay. Amazon is better for rainforest viewing, Pantanal for animals). They pick you up at your hotel in Manaus and bring you to the lodge and the guides are always around the property to ask questions at any time. It was a really informative and interesting experience. (One note about Manaus, the guidebooks say it is dangerous but one of the guides who lives there told us that is a huge misconception and that Manaus is one of the safest cities in Brazil for tourists because since tourists are the city's livelihood, residents go out of their way to protect them and keep the economy flowing.) The lodge seemed expensive at first but the price included not only our room and transportation but all tours and food too so it ended up being the best deal of our trip. Experiencing the Amazon was just amazing overall so whether you choose a cruise or a lodge, you will no doubt have a wonderful time. Have a great trip!
I am thinking of taking my daughter, age 11, to the Amazon, but I don't know what would be the best way to see the rainforest. Would we be better off with a cruise or a lodge? Where would we best see animals?Any suggestions or experience out there?Thanks. Posted by Megdesc
Well you didn't say where in the Amazon you want to go. It is very large and in several countries. Peru is nice. Go out of Puerto Maldonado. There are lots of lodges. They are all inclusive. Most book up early though. You would need to book about 6 months ahead. Winter is best (dry and cooler) in S. America. Aug. is the perfect time. I like Estancia Bello Horizonte. All there profit go to an orphanage in Peru. They are also very reasonable in price. Be prepared to hike though. Have fun.
My spouse & I just returned from a wonderful & fascinating time at an Amazon Explorama Lodge that I'm sure you'd each really enjoy. Everything was a plus, especially their guides amazing knowledge. Check out their websites: www.explorama.comAmazon@explorama.com
Thanks, this is helpful. I checked the Explorama website. I was interested in the opportunity to go to the research station and spend the night. Did anyone try that?
