This may be a surprising statement, but here it is: the Amazon is a top destination for senior travelers. The jungle seems like an unlikely destination for older generations looking for easy and comfortable travel experiences, so why is this the case? 

From accessible authentic experiences to luxury accommodation, there are many factors adding to the Amazon’s status as a top destination for senior travelers. In this article, we go into more detail about why this is so and what you can expect of the experience. Think five-star riverboat cruises with an onboard spa, wildlife spotting and lectures with expert naturalist guides, and visits to remote Amazonian communities. Read on to find out more about why the Amazon is a top destination for senior travelers and how you can secure your own rainforest adventure.

Why Visit the Amazon as a Senior Traveler?

As the most vivid and biodiverse place on Earth, the Amazon Rainforest can’t help but evoke a sense of childlike wonder in all those who visit – even senior travelers. The jungle is bursting with miracles of nature and you’ll be lucky enough to witness them as you explore the rivers, jungle floor, and canopy on an Amazon adventure. Observe birds of paradise swoop overhead, tropical plants tangled on the forest floor,  and troops of monkeys cackling together in the treetops.

While the Amazon’s beauty is beyond compare, there’s so much more to exploring the jungle than observation. The Amazon vows to share new wisdom with senior travelers, capturing minds as well as hearts. 

Tours and lectures with a professional guide 

During your visit, specialized expert guides will share their fascinating insights on everything from the laws of nature and biology to naturalism and conservation through guided excursions and lectures. Between their knowledge of the Amazon and their understanding of harmonious jungle exploration, these expert guided tours and lectures will undoubtedly pique interest and spark curiosity in even the most well-traveled seniors.

Is the Amazon Comfortable for Senior Travelers?

The Amazon is often presumed to be a ‘back-to-basics’ destination but that’s far from the case! The Peruvian Amazon in particular has become a destination for luxury travel offering everything from remote upscale jungle lodges to five-star river cruises where luxury and comfort are valued as highly as authentic jungle experiences. This makes the Peruvian Amazon an excellent destination for senior travelers who want adventure without compromising on comfort.

Amenities on a luxury Amazon Riverboat Cruise

The Peruvian Amazon riverboats feature the most luxurious suites throughout the entire rainforest. Expect considerably spacious suites with king beds, sofas, an en suite, walk-in showers, and floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows.

Typically, the riverboats will cater to no more than 40 guests, ensuring the vessel feels extremely spacious and comfortable. Meanwhile the 1:1 guest-to-crew ratio gives the cruise an intimate and personal touch.

Featuring everything from a pool table to an infinity pool and even a spa, gym, and movie suite, an Amazon riverboat’s amenities go above and beyond for its guests. Of course, the riverboat also features spaces for relaxation, mingling, and dining including a sundeck, indoor and outdoor lounges and bars, restaurant, and saloon. 

Find out more about luxury Amazon Riverboat Cruises here.

Amenities in a luxury Amazon Jungle lodge

An upscale Amazon jungle eco-lodge stay allows you to live closer to nature and experience the jungle more vividly without compromising the comforts and luxuries you might desire as a senior traveler. The best eco-lodge in the Peruvian Amazon, situated beside the biodiverse Tambopata National Reserve, offers private cabanas complete with a plunge pool, outdoor shower, hammocks, and a king-sized bed.

While the cabanas are so comfortable and relaxing it’s tempting not to leave, the restaurant lounge and sitting area is also a beautiful setting to relax, mingle with other guests, and tuck into nutritious and delicious Amazon-inspired cuisine. 

Being located within the most biodiverse area of the Amazon, the luxury eco-lodge has inventoried over 500 different bird species within its grounds, making it an excellent place to effortlessly absorb the Amazon’s amazing beauty.

Find out more about a luxury Amazon eco-lodge stay here.

What are the Best Amazon Tours for Senior Travelers?

When it comes to activities, the Amazon is the perfect destination for senior travelers. Every excursion is engaging and adventurous without requiring much physical exertion. Most activities are between one and three hours, leaving plenty of time for rest and relaxation throughout the day too. Below is some of the typical excursions you can participate in when visiting an Amazon lodge or riverboat cruise:

Sunrise birdwatching session – for the best chance to see the Amazon’s diverse array of birds, wake up at the break of dawn to the Amazon’s serene birdsong and head out for a birdwatching session with your expert guide and a pair of binoculars. You’ll likely spot hummingbirds, hoatzins, toucans, harpy eagles, and a rainbow of macaws.

Visit a local community – there are dozens of tiny Amazonian communities hidden in the depths of the Peruvian Amazon waiting to welcome you to their community. You’ll be invited for a drink inside their humble homes built using natural Amazonian materials for a chance to talk with them and learn about their farming practices and how they live from and alongside nature.

Kayak/canoe along the Amazon River – shimmy into a kayak or canoe and follow your expert guide down the Amazon River to enjoy the mesmerizing sights and sounds around you. With a kayak or canoe, you are able to get close to the riverbanks and around the mangroves where a large concentration of the jungle’s wild residents like snakes, sloths, and caiman.

Informative guided rainforest walk – allow your expert guide to lead you through the Amazon rainforest forin search of rare animals. With a trained eagle eye, your guide will spot all kinds of wildlife around you from monkeys and sloths to snakes and spiders, ensuring you’re safety with every step. They will also help you identify the jungle’s fascinating flora and how they can be used for survival.

Sample delicacies at the market – Discover the local delicacies found in a remote Amazonian market with your expert guide who will introduce you to fruits, vegetables, plants, insects, spices, and dishes you’ll have never seen or heard of before. If you’re feeling peckish, you will have the chance to taste some of the exotic flavours found only in markets like these.

Go piranha fishing – using traditional Amazonian fishing tools and methods, your expert guide will show you how to catch the Amazon River’s most frightening fish, the toothy piranha. Not only will this give you the chance to see its infamous jaw for yourself, it will give you time to relax in nature.

Is The Peruvian Amazon Accessible for Senior Travelers?

The Peruvian Amazon may be a remote destination but it’s surprisingly accessible even for senior travelers. Whether you’re joining an Amazon river cruise or staying in a remote jungle lodge, you can expect to be taken care of start to finish.

Traveling to an Amazon riverboat cruise

Those joining a river cruise will fly from Lima to Iquitos, a city in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, which is a short and convenient two-hour flight. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by the cruise line’s private chauffeur who will drive you directly to the port for embarkation. From there, you can sit back and relax on your luxury cruise’s observation deck, spotting monkeys and macaws as it meanders down the Amazon River.

Traveling to a remote Amazon jungle lodge

The best luxury jungle lodges are found in the south of Peru near Puerto Maldonado which can be easily reached on a two-hour flight from Lima or Cusco. A representative from your chosen jungle lodge will meet you at the airport upon arrival and transfer you to the port where you will board a comfortable riverboat and spend the next couple of hours wildlife-spotting as you cruise along the Amazon River to your accommodation.

Discover our Amazing Amazon Itineraries for Senior Travelers

Now that you have all the knowledge you need about visiting the Amazon as a senior traveler, it’s time to find out more about the amazing Amazon itineraries for senior travelers at Totally Latin America. Our 3, 4, and 7-night luxury riverboat cruise itineraries will give you a wide array of Amazon experiences in a five-star setting while our luxury eco-lodge itineraries promise to connect you with the jungle on a deeper level without compromising on comfort. To book or find out more, talk to one of our Amazon travel experts today by calling us toll-free on +1 855 217 9045 (direct on +51 84 656 421) or by sending us an contact message here.