I know that some people have the idea that a trip to the Amazon is a life-threatening experience for anybody, so they definitely would not want to bring their kids there. Well it could be dangerous if you went on your own and didn't know what you were doing. But if you go with a company that has good guides and a good program, it can be a safe and very entertaining and educational experience for kids. And kids seem to leave with a sense of pride because they leave the natural jungle feeling more connected to nature than they ever did back home in their concrete jungle.
The Amazonia lodges are among those that offer a great program for kids of all ages because each family can have their own guide and have an itinerary personalized for them. They can choose from a big variety of options such as:
They also have rooms that can accommodate 4-5 people at the main lodge.
- ziplining through the forest
- paddling in native dugout canoes
- playing soccer with kids at a local village
- visiting with a local family to see how they live, learn about their customs and lore
- searching for any kind of animals species they're interested in
- fishing with a traditional native bow and arrow or spear
- helping with scientific projects
They also have rooms that can accommodate 4-5 people at the main lodge.
At Posada Amazonas and Refugio Amazonas the guides received specialized training for kids and their Comfort rooms can accommodate up to 4 people.
For kids 2-6 years old, both lodges have playgrounds located very close to the lodge with lots of activities. They also have children's trails with signs to indicate the various species they will see along the way.
Kids 6-12 (in general) can go on longer nature hikes, cruise on an oxbow lake and climb up to the top of a canopy tower. They can also sit around the "ring of fire" at night to listen to talks about the jungle and what they might see and do when they are out in it.
Families with teenagers who want to do more active explorations in the jungle might opt for an a la carte itinerary at Refugio Amazonas where they can choose from activities such as tree climbing, kayaking, mountain biking. Those with a more scientific inclination can help with ongoing Wired Amazon science projects.
Before kids even arrive to the jungle they can do things to get them excited and be prepared. There are a number of jungle-related books and films for kids at various age levels. And they can see real-time videos of animal sightings at zooniverse.org.
And on the way to the lodge or cruise, they can keep busy by trying to spot animals, especially if they bring binoculars. Lodges have lists of animals that have been seen in the area that will be visited and some even have photos of the most common animals, to make it easier to identify them
RSS Feed
