Join the Aqua Nera on this 8-day Amazon River Expedition Cruise and experience a luxurious and comprehensive journey among the Amazon River’s three powerful tributaries. Skiff the Yacapana Isles, meet gray and pink freshwater dolphins, visit Madgalena Village, and probe deep within the Nauta Caño within Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. These are just a few of the many highlights on this spectacular cruise!
Highlights
Witness sustainable development projects undertaken by local villages
Explore the fascinating flooded forest of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
Enjoy award-winning food by Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Meet at Iquitos International Airport then enjoy lunch together at a local restaurant or a box lunch en route, depending on the flight arrival time.
High Water (November - May): The afternoon continues with an introduction to this historic city and the opportunity to meet an indigenous Amazon community.
Low Water (June - October): In the afternoon, set off on your first skiff excursion along the Marañon River
Board the Aqua Nera. Settle into your generously proportioned suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures. Following a routine safety drill and introduction to our naturalist guides, gather for innovative Amazonian cuisine created by your Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, Malabar, is the one of Lima’s top-ranked dining experiences.
High Water (November - May): Board your comfortable skiffs then set sail from the Amazon River to the Yarapa River. Keep your binoculars ready to spot tropical songbirds, black-collared hawks, and sloths. Go fishing for Amazonia’s notoriously ferocious piranhas while naturalist guides share stories of Lake Moringo. As the sun sets, head off on an evening’s wildlife excursion with extraordinary stargazing on the black waters of Nauta Caño.
Low Water (June - October): Commence today’s adventures near the main entrance of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, cruising along Yanayacu Pucate in the comfort of state-of-the-art skiffs. Kayak, canoe, and swim in these unspoiled black waters, keeping eyes peeled for the Amazon’s legendary pink dolphins. In the afternoon, visit a remote village along the Marañon River to learn about traditional customs. Focus hi-tech telescope on the night sky to identify the planets and constellations.
High Water (November - May): Rise with the sun to explore a ‘lost river’ along the Marañon River. After breakfast, take a jungle walk across suspended bridges deep into the high Amazon rainforest. Later, swim, canoe, or kayak in Yanayacu-Pucate River as you look for legendary pink river dolphins. Focus a hi-tech telescope on the night sky to identify the planets and constellations.
Low Water (June - October): Set off by skiffs for an excursion along the Samiria River with optional fishing. Listen carefully to an after lunch flora and fauna lecture, then venture out for a singularly thrilling jungle walk across suspended bridges deep into the high Amazon rainforest. On your return in the evening, enjoy the jungle symphony and extraordinary stargazing on local boats along the “Enchanted Lake”.
Day 4: Birthplace of the Amazon | Village Visit | Nauta City
This morning, visit the local fresh market with your guides who can identify the day’s catch by the fishermen of Amazonia and the region’s exotic fruits. In the afternoon, together witness one of the great spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere, the birthplace of the Amazon River. Tonight meet the new passengers who have signed on for the four-night trip, as you start your journey together along the Marañon River.
High Water (November - May): By skiff, explore the black waters of the Yanallpa River, disembarking to walk deep into the Amazonian rain forest. Later, board the skiffs again to cruise along the El Dorado River for a dusk excursion in search of exotic nocturnal wildlife.
Low Water (June - October): Boarding your skiffs, start the day like Amazon River dwellers, cruising along the Ucayali River. As these farmers and fishermen go about their business, search for pink river dolphins in these pristine waters. Later in the day, return to the skiffs to ride along the black waters of the Pacaya River at dusk, searching for the mysterious wildlife that come out after dark.
Day 6: Pacaya River | Ucayali River | Tapiche River
The rewards of an early start today are plentiful, including a full day excursion by skiff along the Pacaya River, going deeper into pristine landscape shared with great egret, capuchin monkeys and taricaya turtles. After lunch, enjoy a paiche fishing demonstration, the second largest river fish in the world. Later, venture out by skiffs on the Ucayali River alongside the banana boats transporting their jungle products to the port of Requena, keeping an eye out for pink river dolphins
High Water (November - May): Choose to go jungle walking, canoeing, kayaking, or swimming on the black water Yarapa or Clavero River in the morning. Visit a remote Amazonia village in the afternoon. This evening before dinner, gather to be introduced to some of the crewmembers whom you may not have met, working "behind the scenes" to ensure your countless exceptional experiences aboard the Aqua Nera.
Low Water (June - October): Choose to go jungle walking, canoeing, kayaking, or swimming on the black water Yarapa or Clavero River in the morning. Come afternoon, take a short jungle walk in the San Jose flooded forest and see the unforgettable giant water lilies. This evening before dinner, gather to be introduced to some of the crewmembers whom you may not have met, working "behind the scenes" to ensure your countless exceptional experiences aboard the ship.
Day 8: Disembark | Manatee Rescue Center & Transfer to the Airport
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
High Water (November - May): At the Bellavista Nanay morning market along the Nanay River, sample exotic snacks from the Peruvian Amazon like ‘Suri’, Amazon caterpillars that are considered especially appetizing. Return to the Aqua Nera for breakfast and to pack up. Before saying goodbye, make one last truly memorable stop at the Manatee Rescue Center, a very special kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees. Also visit San Juan craft market en route to the airport. Lunch or box lunch is provided, depending on the exact departure flight time, which may vary. Other local activities may be included as well, according to the flight schedule.
Low Water (June - October): Visit the town of Nauta, founded in 1930. Today, villagers from around Amazonia gather here to sell the products they harvest in their rural communities. Together walk around Nauta to gain insights into the daily life of these remote people. Return to the ship for breakfast and to pack up. Before saying goodbye, visit the Manatee Rescue Center, a kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees to rescue, rehabilitate, and release them back into the wild. Also visit San Juan craft market en route to the airport. Lunch or box lunch is provided, depending on the exact departure flight time, which may vary. Other local activities may be included as well, according to the flight schedule.
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.
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First Deck Design Suite
Measuring 322 square feet (30 sqm). Each suite has floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, California King beds that can convert into two twin beds, a interior sofa, large double closets, professional hairdryer, music docking station, air conditioning, and sleek en-suite bathrooms.
Select a Date
Second Deck Design Suite
Measuring 322 square feet (30 sqm). Each suite has floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows, California King beds that can convert into two twin beds, a interior sofa, large double closets, professional hairdryer, music docking station, air conditioning, and sleek en-suite bathrooms.
Notes
Single Supplement: 25% in addition to the double rate as posted.
Third Person Rates: 20% discount for a third passenger sleeping on the sofa bed.
Children Discounts: Children under age 12 will receive a 20% discount. A child sleeping on the sofa bed as a third passenger in the room will pay $500 per night.
Initial deposit is $1000, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 100 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
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
1 day 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
2 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
