Explore Peru on this 14-day Amazon and Peru cruise and land tour! Begin in Lima and fly to Iquitos to meet your ship, La Estrella Amazonica, and set sail on this mightly and legendary river. Visit remote villages and interact with the locals who live along its shores before disembarking and flying to Arequipa and exploring the Colca Canyon. Drive along the shores of Lake Titicaca and get a glimpse into the lives on those who live on the lake's islands: Suasi Island, Uros, and Taquile. Colorful traditions await you on this adventure by cruise and land.
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive in Lima in the late evening and transfer to the Hotel Costa del Sol Ramada, located within Jorge Chavez International Airport.
Day 2: Lima / Iquitos / Embark La Estrella Amazonica
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
In the morning, take a tour of Lima's top destinations. Visit Casa Aliaga, a private home dating back to the Conquistadors; the Cathedral where Francisco Pizarro is entombed; Plaza de Armas, the historic heart of the city; and tour the monastery and vast catacombs of the Iglesia de San Francisco. After lunch, board your flight to Iquitos and embark on La Estrella Amazonica, your home for the next seven days. In the evening, join guides on deck for stargazing and storytelling as you cruise toward the confluence of the Amazon River.
Day 3: Amazon River / Rio Ucayali
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Flexibility in the ever-changing Amazon is a must, and specific landings cannot be guaranteed. The following is a list of places which might be visited.
Awake on the Amazon river and witness the ever-changing panorama of jungle life as you continue upriver. Arrive at the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón Rivers, the headwaters of the Amazon River in Peru, almost 2,400 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. Board sturdy excursion boats to search for marsh birds such as oriole blackbirds, green ibis, yellow-headed caracaras, black-capped donacobis, and white-headed marsh-tyrants. In Río Ucayali, there is a good chance to spot gray river and Amazon pink dolphins. A nature hike in the surrounding rain forest may reveal elusive wildlife such as monkeys and sloths. As dusk approaches, bulldog bats, one of only a handful of bats that can fish, begin to forage along the river.
Day 4: Rio Ucayali / Pacaya-Samiria Reserve
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After a peaceful breakfast along the blackwater Sapote Creek, explore a small tributary of the Ucayali. Species found in the area include primates, sloths, and an enormous variety of birds. Continue upriver to the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. Though more species are frequently discovered, the Pacaya-Samiria is home to 450 bird species, 102 species of mammals, over 130 species of reptiles and amphibians, and countless plants. In the afternoon, take an excursion into the world's largest wetland reserve to search for monk sakis, saddle-backed tamarins, and red howler monkeys. On Caro Lake, you may find flocks of greater ani. Enjoy a nighttime boat excursion for a chance to see caimans, capybaras, common potoos, frogs, and other nocturnal wildlife.
Day 5: Rio Pacaya / Pacaya-Samiria Reserve
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Spend the day exploring this flooded realm, inhabited by wading birds such as herons, wattled jacanas, and horned screamers. Then venture deep into the rain forest to an igapo (seasonally flooded forest), where plant life is very different from what you have seen along the river. Visit the ranger station and continue to search for scarlet macaws, hoatzins, black-collared hawks, and red howler monkeys with your expert naturalists.
Day 6: Pacaya-Samiria Reserve
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
After an early breakfast, board excursion boats to venture even further into the heart of these vast wetlands. Birds frequently found here include canary-winged parakeets and spectacular blue-and-gold and scarlet macaws. Primates also are fairly common, including gregarious squirrel monkeys. Arrive at a ranger station for a short hike to explore the forest. After a picnic lunch, cruise along a maze of waterways en route to the ship. During a village visit, learn about the lives of the "Ribereño" people who live along the river. Accompanied by local guides, stroll through gardens of medicinal plants, learn of ancient folklore, visit a school, or perhaps join in a game of soccer. The children are especially excited to show off their school and sing traditional songs.
Day 7: Pacaya-Samiria Reserve / Rio Ucayali
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
As you cruise back downriver, learn how to prepare traditional Peruvian dishes or attend an educational lecture. As the sun sets, board the excursion boats to search for nocturnal wildlife.
Day 8: Yarapa River
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Early this morning, depart for a bird-watching excursion along the Yarapa River. After breakfast, try your hand at piranha fishing in Ubos Lake. With luck, you may catch red-breasted, white, or black piranha, with the option to feast on your catch at dinner.
Day 9: Iquitos / Disembark / La Estrella Amazonica / Arequipa
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Disembark in Iquitos and enjoy a walking tour of this frontier city. Transfer to the airport for a flight to Arequipa via Lima. “The White City,” Arequipa is a glittering colonial gem surrounded by stunning snowcapped volcanoes. Transfer to the Libertador Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Enjoy a half-day tour of Arequipa with a visit to the beautiful main square, lovely colonial churches, a scenic view point, and the exceptionally well-preserved mummy of “Juanita” at the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries. Set out for a breathtaking drive through the majestic Andes, making stops en route to observe wild vicunas, the national symbol of Peru. Check in to the Colca Lodge Hotel for dinner and overnight.
One of the deepest canyons in the world, Colca is also one of the best places to observe Andean condors. Other notable bird species include giant colibri, Andean geese, Chilean flamingos, and mountain caracaras. In the afternoon, a village visit reveals how the local people maintain their ancestral traditions and continue to cultivate pre-Inca stepped terraces. Take a leisurely hike to the ruins of Uyo Uyo, a pre-Incan citadel, enjoying fabulous views along the way. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
In the morning, depart early for your scenic drive to Lake Titicaca. Make stops en route to view herds of wild vicunas, alpacas, llamas, and guanacos, as well as a variety of birdlife. Arrive in Puno this afternoon, situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Board boats for a supremely photogenic cruise to Suasi, a privately-owned island with no inhabitants other than the staff and guests of the beautiful ecolodge Casa Andina, our base for two nights.
Join a local guide for a full day of exploration on peaceful Suasi Island and Lake Titicaca. Find a variety of birds and wildlife, as well as several gardens where local crops are cultivated.
Day 14: Suasi Island / Uros / Taquile / Puno / Julica / Lima
1 Breakfast
After a leisurely breakfast on the terrace, board boats for a visit to the floating island of Uros. Built from the local totora reed, these floating islands are home to the Uros tribe, who predate the Inca. Continue to Taquile Island to learn about the local culture, known for their fine hand-woven textiles and clothing. Disembark in Puno and transfer to Julica for your flight to Lima, where you can connect with your independent flights home.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Everything was amazing! The planning with Adventure Life went smoothly. The actual trip was fantastic! One of the best trips I have experienced. The cruise staff members were knowledgeable and attentive. I will be writing more about this on the blog!