Luxury Amazon Discovery

Arrive in Iquitos this afternoon and board your luxury vessel, MV Aqua Amazon. Stand on the Upper Deck to take in the view as the ship leaves Iquitos behind. Over the next four days, sail along the two largest tributaries of the Amazon, the Ucayali and the Marañon, as well as the mighty Amazon itself.

Meet the naturalist guides and cruise director, who use video, photos,and maps to introduce the details of your journey deep into the Peruvian Amazon. Enjoy the innovative Amazonian cuisine, created by your Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, Malabar, is one of Lima’s top-ranked dining experiences. Schiaffino’s imaginative use of local products – fruit, fish, spices – makes every meal a delightful adventure.

Watch the sunrise for the first time on the Amazon River, a first, dramatic glimpse of your upcoming adventures. This morning board your comfortable skiff to sail from the Amazon River to the Yarapa River. Life jackets, ponchos, rubber boots, and fresh water are always available. Float down the Yarapa, past the occasional fishermen paddling in their canoes - keep your binoculars ready to spot wildlife: terns, tropical songbirds, black-collared hawks, and sloth share this wonderful world with you. At Lake Moringo, use your hooks to try to catch some of the ferocious piranhas and other fish species.

Nauta Caño is part of the Pacaya Samiria Reserve, also known as the Forest of Mirrors due to its dark lagoons which reflect the scenery. In this area observe toucans, macaws, and iguanas, among many other species. Head back to the Aqua Amazon and enjoy one of the most incredible sunsets reflected in the black water of the flooded forest.

This morning, visit the Yanayacu - Pucate River in Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. On the black water river observe the vibrant flora and fauna while looking for macaws and several species of primates like the capuchins and squirrel monkeys as well as the famous Amazon River dolphins, either pink or gray. Amazonian people hold the belief that these dolphins possess the magical power to turn into men and women of great beauty. Enjoy a light breakfast on board, consisting of homemade baked goods, hot coffee, and fresh juice. Stop near a quiet place to see and hear quite a show put on by Mother Nature while you enjoy your meal.

Sail along the Marañon River and watch the different species of flora and fauna as you approach the Casual community where you hike on land. Keep your binoculars ready to observe tanagers and orioles as well as various reptiles and amphibians. Keep an eye out for the beautiful and eye-catching but poisonous frogs along this fascinating trail, as well as trees and medicinal plants.

This evening while you dine, continue your journey upstream, toward the headwaters of the Amazon River, where the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers merge.

This morning, the Aqua Amazon skirts the edge of the vast Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, a flooded forest covering five million acres at the headwaters of the Amazon basin. See one of the great spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere: the sun rising over the origin of the Amazon River. Here, the junction of two major tributaries, the Ucayali and the Marañon, form one of the greatest waterfalls in the world – certainly this is nature at its most captivating. Your morning excursion is accompanied by abundant bird song, as you glide in small boats.

Travel by boat to a community located along the Marañon River, where you meet and interact with local villagers in this remote part of the world and learn about their traditions and folklore. Walk around with naturalist guides to see how the ship operators work with these communities to improve their natural resource management. Shop for local handicrafts directly from the artisans.

This afternoon, visit the Manatee Rescue Center, a kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees to be rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild. Stop at the Amazonian Indian Market San Juan and shop for local crafts before leaving.

Guides help with check-in at the airport and stay with you until you have boarded your flight back to Lima.