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Pink dolphin in the Amazon

Amazon Journey via Marañón River- High Water Season

Example 5 Day Cruise aboard Zafiro
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Enjoy a 5-day luxury trip in the Amazon, Ucayali, and Maranon rivers aboard the Zafiro! The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve's buffer zone, the Sapote River, can be reached by skiffing through its tributaries. Witness some of the world's most incredible wildlife, including many kinds of primates, hundreds of unusual birds, and even groups of pink and gray dolphins.
A monkey clings to the treeTree frog spotted in the AmazonCattleya cruise adventuresPink dolphin in the Amazon
Highlights
  • Visit where the Maranon and Ucayali Rivers join together forming the Amazon
  • Kayak and swim with the famous Amazon pink dolphins
  • Meet and visit with locals and learn about life on the Amazon River
Places Visited
Activity Level: Relaxed
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Iquitos | Embark | Amazon River

  • Ship
  • 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
You'll be picked up at the airport and brought to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels Iquitos where you'll enjoy a delicious lunch before being transferred by private vehicle to the main dock of the city of Iquitos to board the cruise ship. The staff will show you to your suite, which will be equipped with comfortable beds, 100% Peruvian Pima cotton sheets, cotton bathrobes, air conditioning, and a private bathroom with a shower and amenities. Before setting sail, the bartender will serve you a cocktail prepared with local fruit and pisco, the most popular liquor in Peru. You can sip it while enjoying 360° views from the observation deck or a panoramic view from the indoor or outdoor lounge.

After setting sail, the naturalist guides will offer an overview of the travel itinerary, including activities, routes, information about wildlife and vegetation, geographical and historical context, as well as other useful info. If you have any doubts or concerns, the guides are always available to answer your questions. You’ll then enjoy the welcome dinner. Start your journey by dining in Peruvian cuisine with an Amazon flare. There are many options on the menu, including vegetarian alternatives. Please let them know in advance if you have any special dietary needs. After dinner, you’ll be able to take in stunning views of the starry night sky while you start your journey to the depth of the Amazon rainforest.

Day 2: Amazon River | Kukama Reserve | Source of the Amazon | Marañón River | Casual | Nauta Creek

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Before breakfast, you’ll go out for a boating expedition on the Amazon River to explore the local flora and fauna. When you get back, enjoy your breakfast buffet, which offers a daily selection of traditional dishes, Peruvian specialties, freshly baked goods, and a range of freshly squeezed juices. After breakfast, you'll head out to see the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón rivers, which give rise to the Amazon River. Here you'll observe pink and gray river dolphins.

You'll go back to the boat for lunch by midday and then have time to rest. Make sure you attend the talk about the source of the Amazon and the hydrography of the river so that you'll be up to speed for your walk to Puerto Prado, where you'll see the Victoria Amazonica, the largest water lily in the world. You'll then head back to the boat for dinner and live music. After dinner, you'll enjoy a nighttime outing in search of caimans, tarantulas, frogs, and other nocturnal species.

Day 3: Yanayacu of Pucate | Japanese Lagoon | Yanayaquillo | San Regis | Amazonian Natural Park

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Breakfast and an outing on a skiff to different lakes and lagoons, until you reach the Japanese Lagoon. There, you'll enjoy a picnic and one of the best conserved and protected areas of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. It's also a popular spot to view pink river dolphins from the skiff. Before heading back to the Zafiro, you'll take a trip to the Yanaquillo. Once you're back on the cruise ship, get ready to go kayaking and take a dip in the black waters.

Head back for lunch aboard the Zafiro. Before starting the afternoon activity, your guides will give a talk about the Amazon philosophy. Afterward, take a walk through the rainforest over hanging bridges, where you can admire the riches of the rainforest from the treetops. Once you're back on the Zafiro, the bartender will give a demonstration of how to make Peruvian cocktails, and you'll then enjoy live music while you await the gala dinner with the captain.

Day 4: Marañón River | San Regis | Shiriyacu Lake

  • Ship
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Breakfast and visit the community of San Regis, where you'll learn about the local people's way of life and traditions. You'll also learn about their ancestral traditions from the community's shaman. With your guides as interpreters, you'll be able to ask questions about spiritual connections and curing the soul. You'll then continue the ceremony by planting a tree as a positive contribution to the environment. There, you'll also see a market set up by women from the community to sell their handmade crafts. Head back for lunch aboard the Zafiro. 

After resting, the guides will tell you about the myths and legends of the Amazon. In the afternoon, you'll head out on a skiff to the Shiriyacu stream. There, you'll find a good spot to do some piranha fishing using local techniques and equipment. Back on the boat, you'll enjoy the stunning colors of the sunset. Return to the Zafiro, live music, and dinner.

Day 5: Marañón River | Nauta | Disembark | Iquitos Airport

  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Before breakfast, you'll visit Nauta, the second most important city in the region. Upon arriving, you'll take a motorcycle taxi to the local market where you'll see what business in the city is like firsthand. After, you'll head back to Zafiro cruise for breakfast. After breakfast, you will proceed to disembark. On the way to the airport, you will visit the Manatee Rescue Center (Amazon Forever Organization) where biologists and volunteers care for manatees, an endangered species that authorities have rescued. You will learn how manatees are treated and prepared for their return to their natural habitat. Likewise, you will be able to see other animals that have also been rescued. They will invite you to make a donation to this dedicated organization and study center.

Afterward, you’ll be transferred to the airport.

Ship/Hotel

Zafiro

Zafiro
Zafiro
Zafiro

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$3,900
Select a Date
First Deck Suite
21 m2 / 226.04 sq. ft. Panoramic floor to ceiling windows on the first deck.
Suite on board the Zafiro
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Second Deck Suite
21 m2 / 226.04 sq. ft. Panoramic view floor to ceiling windows with separate balcony overlooking the Amazon River on the second deck.
Suite on board the Zafiro
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Master Suites
23 m2 / 247.57 sq. ft. 90-degree front-facing windows, air conditioning with en-suite bathroom and living room.
Suite on board the Zafiro
Select a Date
Zafiro Suite
44.60m2 / 480.07 sq. ft. 180-degree front facing window with jacuzzi and amazon view located on the second deck.

Notes

Single Supplement: 50% in additional to the total adult rate.

Child Policy: Children must be a minimum of 7 years old on all departures. Children must be accompanied by one or two adults in the same cabin. 
Included
  • 4 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 4 Dinners
  • 4 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Pacaya Samiria National Reserve Entrance Fee 
  • All excursions and equipment including rubber boots and rain ponchos
  • Transfers to/from the vessel when arriving on recommended flights.
  • Sodas, natural juices, coffee, tea, water, and local alcoholic beverages (house wines, beer, and pisco cocktails) are included with lunch and dinner
  • Welcome drink: Pisco Sour
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Domestic Flights
  • Any additional bar consumptions
  • Cost of medical emergencies (including evacuation)
  • Any additional transportation services

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Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
Nancy Sin

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