Amazon River Cruise
The Amazon rainforest houses the world’s largest and most diverse collection of plant and animal life. It is home to more than one-third of all recorded animal species in the world, including 20 percent of all known bird species. Guests can choose from a range of three-night, four-night or seven-night river cruises aboard either the Aria Amazon or the Aqua Nera – both luxurious vessels custom built to explore the Peruvian Amazon with minimal impact to the delicate Amazon river and rainforest environment.
The guides on board are all experienced naturalists with a keen eye and decades of experience, capable of navigate challenging terrain, interpreting the environment and helping guests to spot wildlife in an environment which has evolved to conceal them. As well as benefitting from your guide’s immense knowledge as you spot all manner of flora and fauna, you can choose to go piranha fishing, trek into the dense jungle in search of monkeys and sloths, watch pink dolphins at play in the water, visit remote communities and hone your photography skills.
Aqua Expeditions are a superior and responsible operator who showcase the very best of the secretive Amazon Rainforest.
You will love
- Unusually low guest to guide ration
- Specialist Naturalist guides
- Small group numbers for closer wildlife encounters
- The remote & secretive Amazon
- Luxurious, custom-built vessels
5 UNFORGETTABLE DAYS
PLEASE NOTE
This is an example 4-night/5-day itinerary only. Aqua Expeditions offer a range of 3-night, 4-night and 7-night river cruise – please enquire.
DAY 1 | IQUITOS / NAUTA / EMBARKATION
On arrival receive a warm welcome at Iquitos International Airport by the Aqua Expeditions crew. Board a private transfer to downtown Iquitos for a city tour and welcome lunch. Next, we head to Nauta port to board Aqua Nera. Settle into your generously sized suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures. Following an introduction from our naturalist guides and a routine safety drill, gather at the restaurant for the first of many Amazonian cuisine experiences created by Aqua Nera’s renowned consulting chef, Pedro Miguel Schiaffino.
DAY 2 | MARAÑON RIVER / YANAYACU PUCATE RIVER
If you wish, get an early start and head out for a wildlife search along the Ucayali River. Later, head out on skiffs in search of pink river dolphins and witness the local farmers and fishermen go about their business. After the dinner, head out on skiffs along Dorado Lake in search of nocturnal wildlife amidst a sky full of stars.
DAY 3 | SAMIRIA RIVER
Start the day with a hearty breakfast, before heading out to explore the Zapote River on skiffs. This will be a full-day river safari with a picnic lunch under the Amazonian shade. Walk in the floodplain forest and learn about the medicinal trees, insects, and frogs which inhabit the region. Later, cruise along the Ucayali River and enjoy the stunning sunset.
DAY 4 | NAUTA CAÑO RIVER / JUNGLE WALK
Rise early to head out and search for wildlife along the Ucayali River. After breakfast, choose to go fishing for Amazonia’s notoriously ferocious piranhas, canoe, kayak, or swim in the black water Clavero Lake, or visit an Amazonian village. In the afternoon, explore the Yarapa River by skiff in search of different kinds of wildlife. This evening before dinner, meet the crewmembers who have been working behind the scenes to ensure your exceptional experiences aboard the Aria Amazon.
DAY 5 | ARRIVAL IN IQUITOS / MANATEE RESCUE CENTER / TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT
In the morning, take a guided visit to the local market and marvel at the regional produce of the Peruvian Amazon. Return to Aria Amazon for breakfast before disembarkation. En route to the airport, visit the Manatee Rescue Center, where orphaned Amazonian manatees rehabilitate before they are released back into the wild.
WHERE YOU’LL STAY
A selection of the finest safari camps
Aqua Nera – Amazon, Peru
Sailing the winding waterways of the Peruvian Amazon, Aqua Nera embodies sophisticated exploration. This sleek vessel combines bold contemporary design with immersive rainforest discovery, offering an intimate voyage through one of the planet’s most biodiverse regions.Read More.
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