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The Amazon River

Luxury Amazon Expeditions Cruise - High Water

Roundtrip Iquitos - Example 8 Day Cruise aboard Aqua Nera
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Experience an 8-day Amazon River cruise aboard the Aqua Nera. Begin in Iquitos with a warm welcome and a taste of Amazonian cuisine by Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. Journey through the Yanayacu Yacapana and Yarapa Rivers, spotting tropical birds, sloths, and pink river dolphins. Visit Nauta Town’s market, meet artisans and beekeepers, and witness the Amazon River’s birthplace. Enjoy birdwatching, kayaking, and biking in the Pacaya Samiria Reserve. Conclude with a jungle walk at Nauta Caño and a visit to Iquitos’ floating markets or the Chullachaqui Ecomuseum. End your journey at the Manatee Rescue Center, where orphaned Amazonian manatees are cared for before release—an immersive adventure blending nature, culture, and conservation.
A lovely reflection off the Amazon RiverDock Lounge in NautaDock Lounge in NautaSunrise over the AmazonThe Skiff AwaitsNauta TownDock Lounge in NautaThe Amazon River
Highlights
  • Discover Iquitos and savor authentic Amazonian cuisine by local chefs
  • Explore Yanayacu Yacapana and spot hawks, sloths, and tropical birds
  • Line-fish the Amazon and learn about fierce piranhas from naturalists
  • Visit Clavero Lake and meet villagers using traditional dugout canoes
Activities
Places Visited
Activity Level: Variable
Activity options vary depending on destination and operator. Activity level is determined by the range and intensity of activities you choose to participate in. Discuss with your Trip Planner which options are best for you.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Iquitos | Amazon River | Embark

Upon arrival on a noon flight*, be greeted at Iquitos International Airport by the crew and escorted to a local restaurant for lunch before boarding the Aqua Nera. Settle into your spacious suite and prepare for an unforgettable journey into the heart of the Amazon. After a warm welcome and orientation from your expert naturalist guides, followed by a brief safety drill, gather in the onboard restaurant to enjoy the first of many exceptional Amazon-inspired meals crafted by Aqua Nera’s consulting chef, Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. 

*The reservations team will be in touch with the recommended flight and airport transfer details once you have made your booking.

Day 2: Yanayacu Yacapana | Yarapa River | Ucayali River

Aboard your comfortable skiffs, travel from the Amazon River to the Yanayacu Yacapana River. Keep binoculars at hand to spot tropical songbirds, black-collared hawks, and sloths. Try your hand at line-fishing for the Amazon’s famously fierce piranhas as your naturalist guides share fascinating insights into the region. In the afternoon, continue to the Yarapa River, a blackwater tributary of the Ucayali River, for an evening of stargazing and a nighttime excursion in search of nocturnal wildlife.

Day 3: Clavero Lake | Marañon River

You get an early start to the day to explore Clavero Lake aboard your comfortable skiffs. Here, villagers rely on traditional dugout canoes to get around. You can have the opportunity to swim in the lake’s calm waters or visit native residents of Amazonia who will welcome you to their community with open arms. In the afternoon, explore the majestic Marañon River in search of different kinds of wildlife.

Day 4: Nauta Town | Village Visit | Birthplace Of The Amazon

In the morning, take a guided visit to the local market and marvel at the regional produce of the Peruvian Amazon, and sample exotic snacks if you wish. After breakfast, visit a group of Amazonian artisans and learn the art of weaving palm fibers, as traditionally done in the Peruvian Amazon.

In the afternoon, visit a beekeeper in the community of San Francisco before heading out on skiffs to witness one of the great spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere, the birthplace of the Amazon River. By nightfall, meet the new passengers who signed on for the four-night trip, as you start your journey together along the Marañon River.

Day 5: Marañon River | Yanayacu Pucate River

Rise with the sun for an early morning birdwatching session along the Marañon River and enjoy breakfast in the middle of the jungle. Next, visit an Amazonian village where you can interact with native riberenos and witness an Aguaje palm harvesting demonstration. Later, go swimming, kayaking, or canoeing in the Yanayacu-Pucate River and keep an eye out for the legendary pink river dolphins. Next, enjoy biking through the natural landscapes along the riverbanks in the Pacaya Samiria Reserve. After lunch, tap into your spirituality if you like, under guidance from a Kukama Kukamiria healer with expertise in connecting with nature. Finally, head out on skiffs again after dinner to cruise along the Yanayaquillo River for stargazing and searching for nocturnal wildlife.

Day 6: Samiria River

The rewards for your early start today are plentiful: a full day excursion including a picnic lunch orchestrated to the tune of the jungle symphony, fishing along the black waters of the Samiria River, and an option to go canoeing, kayaking, swimming, or on a jungle walk inside the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. On the way back to the Marañon River after lunch, venture out by skiff keeping an eye out for pink river dolphins.

Day 7: Nauta Caño River | Jungle Walk

As the day begins, embark on a morning wildlife excursion on the extraordinary black water Nauta Caño River. If you wish, go on a bike ride from Puerto Prado Village to Santa Cruz Village along the riverbank.

In the afternoon, take a jungle walk while looking for flora and fauna which may include medicinal trees, insects, and poison dart frogs. Learn more about the different rainforest strata and ecosystems. Before dinner, meet the incredible crew who’ve been working behind the scenes to ensure your exceptional experience aboard Aqua Nera.

Day 8: Arrival In Iquitos | Manatee Rescue Center | Disembark

  • 1 Breakfast
In the morning, take a guided visit to the local market and marvel at the regional produce of the Peruvian Amazon, and sample exotic snacks if you wish. You can also have the option of either cruising along the Itaya River to see the floating houses of the Belen neighborhood or visiting the Chullachaqui Ecomuseum to learn about the ancestral hunting practices of the Yagua ethnic group.

Return to the Aqua Nera for breakfast before disembarkation. En route to the airport, visit the Manatee Rescue Center, where orphaned Amazonian manatees rehabilitate before they are released back into the wild.

Ship/Hotel

Aqua Nera

Aqua Nera exterior

Aqua Nera

The luxurious ship Aqua Nera draws design inspiration from the Peruvian Amazon?s mystical blackwater lagoons and bears the hallmarks of contemporary style and generous interiors. Highlighting a cuisine by Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, one of Peru?s finest chefs, known for creating refined cuisine from native Amazonian produce.
Aqua Nera Suite
Aqua Nera pool deck
Aqua Nera

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Deals

Early Bird Bonus 31561
Book by June 30, 2026, and enjoy savings of up to 30% on select 2026-2028 departure dates. This offer is valid for new bookings and cannot be combined with any other promotions, offers, or discounts. Additional restrictions may apply. Please contact us for details.
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Per person starting at
$11,680 2-3 travelers
First Deck Cabin
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.
Second Deck Cabin
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.
Included
  • 7 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches, 7 Dinners
  • 7 Nights Accommodations
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Pacaya Samiria National Reserve Entrance Fee 
  • Laundry Service
  • Non-alcoholic beverages.
  • Group transfers between vessel on recommended flights
  • All available non-motorized water sports
  • All meals while on board
  • Small-group excursions with expert guides.
  • Internet connection (intermittent depends on locations)
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Internal Flights: Lima - Iquitos - Lima
  • Visa
  • Private Transfers
  • Boutique purchases
  • Cocktails
  • Massage services

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