Embark on this 8-day experience showcasing the mighty Amazon River’s treasures. Navigate deep into the Pacaya Samiria Reserve for a real and safe adventure, in the hands of your expert naturalist guides, to spot the wonderful creatures of the Amazon. Your journey includes jungle walks, fishing, birdwatching, exploring the Yacapana Islands, dolphin sightings, visits to local villages, the “Mirrored Forest”, wildlife safaris by night, and a visit to the Manatee Rescue Center.
Highlights
See the birthplace of the Amazon River, where nature is especially dramatic
Take a nocturnal boat ride and enjoy a symphony from the night
Meet and interact with Amazonian locals from a riverside village
Swim in the mighty Amazon River alongside the famous pink dolphins
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
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 (Yanayacu of Yucapana) | Source of the Amazon | Marañon River | Casa | Nauta Creek
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 National Park
Outing on a skiff to different lakes and lagoons, until you reach the Japanese Lagoon. There, you'll enjoy a picnic in one of the best conserved and protected areas of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. It's also a popular spot to watch pink river dolphins. Before heading back to Zafiro cruise, you'll take a trip to the Yanaquillo gorge. Once you're back on the cruise ship, you'll get ready to go kayaking and take a dip in the black waters.
Head back for lunch aboard Zafiro. Before starting the afternoon activity, the guides will give a talk about the Amazon philosophy. Afterward, you'll 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 cruise, the bartender will give a demonstration of how to prepare Peruvian cocktails, and you'll then enjoy live music while you await the gala dinner with the captain.
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: Marañon River | Nauta | Reserve of Comunal Florida | Pahuashiro
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. Then be ready to start a new outing, this one consists of a walk on “Comunal Florida” Reserve, in search of wildlife including frogs, birds, and other exotic animal species. In this area, you will find the popular selected trees known as Caoba or Mahogany.
You'll have lunch at midday and then rest up for the afternoon activity: another outing on the skiff to explore the area of Pahuachiro and its wildlife. You'll then head back to the boat for some free time until dinner.
Day 6: Ucayali River | Yanallpa del Ucayali | Tapiche River | Dorado River
Before breakfast, you'll head out on a skiff to the Yanallpa area of the Ucayali River in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, where you'll see many native animal species. After breakfast, you'll head out on a skiff to the Tapiche River in search of wildlife. Before midday, you'll head back to the boat for a cooking demonstration by the executive chef.
After lunch, whoever is interested may attend a talk about the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, and in the afternoon you'll take a skiff to the Dorado river, where you'll fish using local techniques. Before heading back on board, you'll enjoy a nighttime outing in search of caimans, tarantulas, and other species that make an
appearance after the sun goes down. Dinner will then be served aboard the Zafiro.
Day 7: Ucayali River | Yarapa of Ucayali (Black Waters) | Amazon River | Tahuayo River
After breakfast, you'll set out to explore the Yarapa River, where the famous pink and gray river dolphins swim in its black waters. Back on the Zafiro, you'll see the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón rivers, which give birth to the Amazon River. After enjoying lunch and resting, you will set out on skiffs on a nice sail on the Amazon river. You will explore and observe the daily activities that local communities do on the river banks. Before heading back to the boat, enjoy a colorful Amazon sunset. Back on board Zafiro, you'll have some time to relax and enjoy live music before the presentation by the crew and farewell dinner.
Day 8: Disembark in Iquitos | Transfer to the airport
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
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. 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.
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.
$7,500
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First Deck Suite
21 m2 / 226.04 sq. ft. Panoramic floor to ceiling windows on the first deck.
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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.
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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.
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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.
We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
KC Chan
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.