NEW ADVENTURE!
Luxury cruise exploration of the mighty Amazon River

Join us in Iquitos, Peru for a 4-day Amazon River luxury cruise exploring the Tahuayo River and the Yacapana “Iguana” Islands. You'll enjoy watching the Amazon's renowned pink dolphins at play, optional fishing on Charo Lake, and jungle excursions to view the amazing wildlife of the Amazon, including monkeys, sloths, caimans, and a bevy of spectacular bird life. You'll journey to the headwaters of the Amazon, learn from our naturalist guides about its diverse wildlife and ecology in Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, and encounter  the remote Amazonian villagers of Puerto Miguel.
 

More time to explore? We also offer 5- and 8-day Amazon cruises aboard the Aqua. Email or call us for more details! 1-888-831-7526

Activities

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

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy great comfort aboard the luxury river cruise ship M/V Aqua
• Spot the Amazon's spectacular wildlife, including pink dolphins!
• Meet remote Amazonian villagers andd learn about their way of life

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