NEW ADVENTURE!
A luxury cruise along the world’s mightiest river—the perfect immersion in the wonders of the Amazon!

On our exciting voyage through the Peruvian Amazon, you’ll explore exotic rivers and jungles teeming with wildlife, while enjoying all the amenities of the M/V Aqua orM/V Aria, two unique luxury vessels offering the highest levels of accommodation. Each day, venture deep into the forest aboard a comfortable excursion skiff, accompanied by guides steeped in local knowledge—in the evenings, return to the ship for a gourmet meal and a blissful sleep in your air-conditioned suite. Cruise along “black water” rivers, visit islands thick with iguanas, and spot monkeys, pink dolphins and a bevy of tropical birds in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Gaze at the breathtaking spectacle of sunrise over the birthplace of the Amazon, and meet the natives of a remote Amazonian village to learn about their way of life. This MTS expedition is a perfect mix of adventure, culture, expert guidance, and immersion into nature, along with a daily infusion of creature comforts. So climb aboard—your extraordinary journey down the Amazon awaits! Inspiring countless legends and epic adventures, the Amazon Basin features a level of biodiversity beyond compare—one-tenth of the planet’s species call this rainforest home.

Activities

Easy river cruising, wildlife viewing, cultural encounters, and optional fishing

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy top standards of comfort and service aboard the luxury river cruise ships M/V Aqua or M/V Aria
• Spot the Amazon's spectacular wildlife, including 13 species of monkey, hundreds of species of birds, and unique freshwater pink dolphins!
• Gaze at the breathtaking spectacle of sunrise over the birthplace of the Amazon
• Meet remote Amazonian villagers and learn about their folklore and ways of life
• Visit a manatee rescue center to see what’s being done to protect these gentle, vulnerable creatures

Duration: 5 days Start Location: Iquitos End Location: Iquitos

BRIEF Itinerary

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  Day 1 : Arrive in Iquitos and transfer to M/V Aqua

  Arrive in iquitos via Lima, Peru's capital, and transfer to the luxurious M/V Aqua, your home away from home for your Amazon River adventure.

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  Day 2 : Exploring the Tahuayo River and Yacapana Islands

  You'll want to wake early to catch the sunrise over the glorious Amazon, heralding the beginning of your exploration of this new, verdant world. In the morning we'll board comfortable excursion skiffs to explore the Tahuayo, a classic "black water" river, so-called because of the high tannin content of the water, which makes it very dark. As we float down the Tahuayo, occasional fishermen paddling in their dug-out canoes will give us a cheerful greeting. You'll want to keep your binoculars ready to spot a vast variety of wildlife: terns, orioles, blackbirds, black collared hawks, monkeys, and sloth share this wonderful environment with us. Upon arrival at Charo Lake, you can bait your hooks to try to catch one of Amazonia’s fearsome piranhas (and other fish as well). As you fish, trained guides will also tell you the story of the lake and its inhabitants.

   

  After lunch aboard the Aqua, we'll once again board the skiffs to visit the Yacapana Islands, known as the “Iguana Islands” to the locals because of the huge population of these reptiles—like tiny dinosaurs—crawling over the ground and resting in the tree tops. As the sun sets, you will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and photograph both gray and pink freshwater dolphins. The people of the Amazon believe that these dolphins turn into humans to steal handsome men or pretty women from their villages during celebrations. Once the sun sets and the jungle is dark, we begin our search for caiman, frogs, bats, and other nocturnal jungle denizens before returning to our ship for dinner and a nightcap.

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  Day 3 : Two Options in Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

  Option of an all-day visit to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve to spot wildlife and learn about traditional and contemporary medical uses of native jungle plants, or start the day learning about sustainable resource management projects in Amazonia from a park ranger—including a visit to a local village project—followed by a shorter late afternoon excursion to spot the area's varied wildlife, including many varieties of monkeys and the rare pink dolphin.

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  Day 4 : Visit the birthplace of the Amazon River, and meet villagers in remote Puerto Miguel

  After a short early morning excursion to witness the sublime spectacle of an Amazon sunrise—accompanied by a symphony of innumerable birds, insects, and monkeys—you'll visit the remote village of Puerto Miguel. We'll also make a stop at a Manatee Rescue Center to learn about threats to this gentle aquatic mamal, as well as efforts to rehabilitate and reintroduce captive manatees to the wild. The Aqua then wends its way up river to Iquitos and your waiting return flight to Lima.

• Day 5 : Return to Iquitos

  Morning excursion and return to Aqua.  Afternoon disembarkation with a City Tour/Manatee Rescue Center and transfer to the Airport.

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  M/V Aqua

  Amazon, Peru

  
  The 130-foot-long, M/V Aqua is the first true luxury cruise ship on the northern Amazon River in Peru and was custom built by Peruvian architect Jordi Puig in 2007 to offer an extraordinary level of comfort for her guests.

  The M/V Aqua can accommodate a maximum of 24 guests plus crew, and is the perfect size to sail along the Amazon River, providing extremely comfortable lounge, dining and sleeping accommodations as well as modern navigation systems and standards for cruise ship travel and safety on the water.

  The M/V Aqua’s twelve oversized cruise ship suites—including 4 Master suites—feature en suite sitting areas and generous outward-facing picture-windows with panoramic Amazon river views. Each of the handsomely decorated, air-conditioned suites measure between 230 to 240 square feet. Four of these suites can be interconnected, to cater to families.

Properties shown are representative of the accommodations we use on this trip, may not be inclusive of all accommodations we use, and are subject to change.

Expert leadership is the key to an exciting, unforgettable experience. Our trips feature gifted leaders for whom leading trips is a true vocation. Besides showing you wonders you’d never find on your own, they make sure everything runs smoothly and safely without a hitch. They are knowledgeable about all aspects of your trip, and take great pleasure in sharing their insights with you. More than just guides, they positively elevate your experience by being teachers, companions, and the best of friends. You’ll be in good hands with them every step of the way.

photo credits: ©Aqua Expeditions