Hello,
As part of a 10-month trip to explore and discover South America, we’d like to start our journey in northern Brazil since the timing is perfect for traveling up the Amazon. We’re traveling as a family of five with three kids aged 6, 9, and 18.
Our plan is to leave from Manaus and reach Yurimaguas in Peru via the Amazon, mostly by boat. Since we have plenty of time, we can take breaks to explore the different stops along the way that are worth it.
The idea is to eventually head to Colombia via Ecuador later on.
So far, we’ve identified the following stops:
- Manaus
- Tabatinga
- Iquitos
- Sumiria Reserve (we’d like to stay there for a week)
- Yurimaguas.
We’re thinking of traveling in a cabin/hammock for the longest leg (Manaus to Tabatinga) and just in hammocks for the shorter trips (max 3 days).
I have a few questions:
1. From a safety perspective, is the area we’re planning to cross safe, considering we’ll be with our three kids, the youngest being 6?
2. Isn’t this route a bit too ambitious for our kids?
3. We’re considering adding the Santarém/Manaus leg. Is Santarém a city worth adding to the itinerary?
4. Among the planned stops, which ones deserve a special visit?
5. Do the boat trips always include meals on board, or should we be careful when booking?
6. What would be a reasonable estimate for the duration of this trip to fully enjoy it?
I’ve read quite a bit—like trying to board early to get the best hammock spots, and that travel times can vary depending on currents, stops, and potential technical issues. But that’s not a problem since we have all the time in the world! :)
We’d love to hear from anyone who’s traveled in this area before!
Thanks so much in advance for your help in planning our trip.
Rémy, Céline, Antoine, Sacha, and Paul
