Is the Amazon Safe for Toddlers? Our Honest Iquitos Experience

4 nights in the rainforest with a 2 and 5 year old, plus considerations for autistic children.

Our family under a massive 500 year old Lupuna (or Kapok) tree.

Everyone said we were crazy bringing toddlers to the Amazon... but here's what actually happened.

After months of research and prep, we took our little ones to the Peruvian rainforest near Iquitos. Yes, there were challenges (hello, mosquito prep!) but the magic was SO worth it. Watching our kids experience pink dolphins, sloths, and giant anteaters for the first time? Priceless.

Preparing for the Amazon: What We Worried About vs. How We Prepared

Before we dive into our adventure, let's address the elephant in the room: safety concerns when traveling to the Amazon with toddlers.

What We Worried About:

🦟 Mosquito-borne diseases - We were terrified of yellow fever, malaria, dengue, and Zika with our little ones

💉 All those vaccines - The travel clinic list felt overwhelming, and we weren't sure what our toddlers actually needed

☀️ That intense equatorial sun - We'd heard horror stories about sunburn so close to the equator

🐊 Swimming with the kids - Piranhas, caimans, electric eels... was river time off limits?

🏥 Being so remote - What if someone got sick hours from real medical help?

How We Prepared:

✅ Our vaccine game plan - We visited the travel clinic 6-8 weeks early for yellow fever, hepatitis A/B (the kids were already caught up on those ones), typhoid, plus malaria pills (totally manageable!)

✅ Bug protection that worked - DEET repellent for the kids (it was necessary!), long sleeves at dawn/dusk, and mosquito nets were our lifesavers

✅ Sun strategy - UPF clothing became our uniform, plus wide-brimmed hats and reef-safe sunscreen

✅ Water fun, safely - We did enjoy some river swimming where our guide said it was safe, plus watching arapaima and pink dolphins from our boat was magical

✅ We packed a robust first aid kit - We packed chewable antihistamines, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, antibiotic ointment, anti-itch cream, and a variety of bandages

✅ We picked the right lodge - Choosing family-friendly accommodations with medical protocols gave us peace of mind

Here's what my kids wore, what mom wore, and what dad wore on the journey. Here a couple of additional considerations you might make in terms of Amazon Rainforest gear.

(Note that these contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase through them.)

Getting There: The Journey to Iquitos

Our adventure began with a flight from Lima to Iquitos, where we spent our first night at the Hotel de Turistas. This turned out to be a perfect transition point - my kids still talk about those continental breakfast waffles to this day! We strategically left our two main suitcases at the front desk, packing just the essentials in a couple of bags for our jungle adventure.

The next morning, we met our tour guide right around the corner from the hotel. Welcome to Iquitos transportation: tuktuks everywhere! Our bags were loaded into these three-wheeled vehicles before we made our way to the boat launch.

Pro tip: Make sure you take out all the cash you'll need before heading into the Amazon - ATMs are nonexistent once you're on the water.

Our First Stop: Fundo Pedrito Wildlife Center

Before visiting the indigenous community, we made a thrilling stop at Fundo Pedrito, a wildlife center that gave us our first up-close Amazon encounters. The kids got to feed some incredible creatures, including caimans and the giant river monsters known as paiche - or more commonly, arapaima. These prehistoric-looking fish were absolutely massive; they looked like they could swallow my daughter whole! It was an exhilarating introduction to the Amazon's incredible biodiversity.

Indigenous Community Visit

Visiting an indigenous community for a performance and some beautiful handicrafts.

Our next stop was a visit to an indigenous tribe for a cultural performance and souvenir shopping. Be prepared to buy something from each vendor - often children - as this is an important source of income for the community. It's a meaningful way to support local families while learning about traditional crafts and customs.

Avatar Amazon Lodge & Canopy Park

The view out the door of our cabana at Avatar Amazon Lodge & Canopy Park

After about a 2-hour journey on the water from Iquitos, we arrived at our home base: Avatar Amazon Lodge & Canopy Park. This eco-lodge sits in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, offering an authentic jungle experience while maintaining comfortable accommodations for families.

The lodge is designed to immerse you in the Amazon's natural beauty while providing essential amenities. They recommend a minimum 2-night stay to truly experience the rainforest magic, and we quickly understood why. The remote location means limited WiFi access, so download any entertainment for downtime beforehand.

The food was absolutely delicious, featuring local Amazonian dishes that introduced our taste buds to new flavors. Fair warning: the salsa was pure hot fire in the best way possible.

Our Amazon Adventures

Jungle Trek: First Contact

Our first excursion was a trek through the jungle, and I'm always amazed by the astute observations of local guides. Our guide, Alizon, was able to detect a tiny pygmy marmoset by some small scratches on the tree bark. Sure enough, when we looked up, there he was staring us down with his beady little eyes - a moment that left our kids absolutely mesmerized.

Teeny tiny little pygmy marmoset watching our trek from up his treetop hideaway.

Reforestation: Planting Hope

My son planting a baby tree in the rainforest.

One of the most meaningful activities was participating in reforestation efforts. There's something profound about planting baby trees in the Amazon with your children - teaching them that we can give back to this incredible ecosystem while creating a tangible connection to conservation.

Piranha Fishing: Not as Scary as You Think

Piranha fishing turned out to be less frightening than you might imagine. These legendary fish are much smaller than expected, and fishing for them was surprisingly peaceful. The kids tired of it relatively quickly, and I did a great job of feeding the fish, not so much catching them, but it was a beautiful stop nonetheless.

Monkey Island: Feeding Frenzy

The monkeys on Monkey Island are NOT shy and they KNOW you're packing food for them.

Our trip to Monkey Island was pure chaos in the best way possible. Feeding the monkeys was an interactive experience that had our kids squealing with delight. As a note of caution, I would not recommend having kids feed the monkeys, but let them watch from a safe distance (the monkeys can be a bit aggressive, particularly with little ones). The real surprise was spotting an anteater - these elusive creatures are incredible to see in their natural habitat, and our guide's keen eyes made it possible.

Dawn Dolphin Watching: The 4 AM Wake-Up Call

Sunrise on the Amazon River during our pink dolphin safari.

Waking up at 4 AM with toddlers is never easy, but the pink river dolphins made it worthwhile. These creatures are FAST! The locals call them "bufeos" - first you hear the "bu" sound they make coming out of the water, then "feo" because, let's be honest, they're not the most attractive dolphins. But watching them surface and dive around our boat in the early morning light was absolutely magical.

Wildlife Rehabilitation Center: A Dream Fulfilled

The visit to the wildlife rehabilitation center was a personal highlight for me - holding sloths has been a longtime dream, and it was finally complete! These gentle creatures are even more endearing up close, and learning about the conservation efforts to protect them added depth to the experience.

Butterfly Sanctuary: A Magical Release

The butterfly sanctuary provided one of the most enchanting experiences for the kids. Watching them carefully release butterflies into the air, their faces filled with wonder as these delicate creatures took flight, was absolutely magical. It was a gentle, beautiful activity that perfectly complemented our more adventurous excursions.

Canopy Park Adventures: Adult Thrills

While the kids enjoyed age-appropriate activities, my husband and I took turns experiencing the canopy park's zip lining and high ropes adventures. It was incredible to soar through the treetops and see the rainforest from a completely different perspective - definitely a highlight for the adults in our group!

The 500-Year-Old Tree: The Ultimate Highlight

River cruise to visit the 500 year old tree. Also a great nap opportunity, apparently.

But perhaps the most awe-inspiring moment of our entire trip was visiting a 500-year-old tree. Standing in the presence of something that has witnessed five centuries of Amazon history was humbling beyond words. Our kids couldn't fully grasp the concept of time, but they understood that this tree was ancient and special - a living monument to the rainforest's enduring power.

A Special Note for Families with Autistic Children

All-inclusive, guided experiences in remote locations like Avatar Amazon Lodge can present unique challenges for autistic children, and I want to be honest about what we encountered.

The Food Situation

One of the biggest hurdles was the meal structure. Everyone is served the same meal - no buffet options despite what the website initially suggested. The policy seemed to have changed, and while our hosts were gracious enough to offer cereal and yogurt drinks (which both kids liked), I was incredibly thankful for the stash of granola bars we brought from home. They both did enjoy the variety of fresh-squeezed juices made of local Amazon fruits like maracuya (passion fruit) and camu camu.

There was one magical afternoon when the kids devoured what we called "jungle chicken tenders" - actually fried catfish - but since we were in such a remote location dependent on the catch of the day, it wasn't something they could cook to order every day. The rigid meal schedule was another challenge, particularly dinner being hours later than our usual eating time.

My advice: Pack those snacks! Knowing what I know now, I would have been much more specific about my kids' dietary needs when booking.

One unexpected challenge was getting the kids to swallow the malaria pills - they needed to take about 12 days worth, and the taste is incredibly bitter. What ended up helping was taking them with vanilla yogurt drinks; the thickness and sweetness helped mask the bitter taste effectively. That being said, we were thrilled once those 12 days were up.

Guided Group Experiences

Going on guided experiences with a group can be taxing for any children, but particularly challenging for demand-avoidant children. There's the waiting - like when one guest stayed on the dock fishing for a good 15 minutes after everyone else got on the boat despite the guide's urging. There's having to stop their own activities to be somewhere on time, or waking up at 4 AM to see something (albeit something pretty cool).

Preparation is key: Have these conversations with your child before you arrive so they know what to expect. Show them pictures when possible or consider making a social story. Ask the tour operator for as much detail as they can share without being so hyper-specific that panic will ensue if the course changes.

Sensory Considerations

The heat and humidity can be particularly hard for someone with sensory processing differences. Lightweight clothing is essential, especially since you'll want long sleeves and pants at dawn/dusk or when deep in the jungle. Sunscreen can also be a tough demand for those with SPD - my kids prefer the mist kind as it's less heavy feeling.

Punctuating the day with cooling off and playing in the pool was a must and became a clear highlight for the kids every day.

The Bottom Line

I'm not going to lie - it's a lot for an autistic child, and really toddlers in general. But in my opinion, the pros outweighed the cons. The wonder in their eyes seeing those pink dolphins, the pride in planting baby trees, the joy of feeding monkeys - these moments created lasting positive memories that made the challenges worthwhile.

Final Thoughts

Getting a mud treatment from my daughter while we wade in the Amazon River.

The Amazon with toddlers isn't about conquering fears - it's about preparing thoughtfully and embracing the wonder. Yes, there are legitimate safety considerations, but with proper planning and the right mindset, it becomes an unforgettable family adventure.

Would we do it again? In a heartbeat. The memories we made and the spark it ignited in our children's curiosity about the natural world made every moment of preparation worthwhile.

Have you traveled somewhere "adventurous" with toddlers? I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!

For more autism-friendly family travel advice, check out the rest of my blog, follow @primipassi.familytravel on Instagram, or set up your free 15 minute discovery call to discuss how you can plan your own family adventure!