Amazon Expedition Cruise

We will meet at Iquitos International Airport then journey together by air-conditioned vehicle through the Peruvian countryside to arrive at our Nauta Lounge in time for lunch, or we will serve a box lunch en-route depending on the flight arrival time.

In the afternoon, we will set off on your first skiff excursion along the Marañon River. At 18:00 hrs, we will board the Aria Amazon. 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, we gather for innovative Amazonian cuisine created by our Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, Malabar, is the one of Lima’s top ranked dining experiences.

We commence today’s adventures near the main entrance of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, cruising along Yanayacu Pucate in the comfort of our 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, we will visit a remote village along the Marañon River to learn about traditional customs. Focus our hi-tech telescope on the night sky to identify the planets and constellations.

We set off by skiffs for an excursion along the Samiria River with optional fishing. Listen carefully to our 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 our return in the evening, enjoy the jungle symphony and extraordinary stargazing on local boats along the Enchanted Lake.

This morning, we will 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 we will witness one of the great spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere, the birthplace of the Amazon River.

Tonight, you will meet the new passengers who have signed on for the four-night trip, as we start our journey together along the Marañon River.

Boarding our skiffs, we start the day like Amazon River dwellers, cruising along the Ucayali River. As these farmers and fishermen go about their business, we search for pink river dolphins in these pristine waters. Later in the day, we 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.

The rewards of our early start today are plentiful, including a breakfast picnic accompanied by jungle symphony and fishing along the black waters of the Pacaya River. After lunch, we venture out by skiffs on the Ucayali River alongside the banana boats transporting jungle products to the port of Requena, keeping an eye out for pink river dolphins.

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, we will gather to introduce you to some of the crew members whom you may not have met, working "behind the scenes" to ensure your countless exceptional experiences aboard the Aria Amazon.

We will 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 we will walk around Nauta to gain insights into the daily life of these remote people. Return to the ARIA for breakfast and to pack up. Before saying goodbye, we will visit the Manatee Rescue Centre, a kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees to rescue, rehabilitate and release them back into the wild. We will also visit San Juan craft market on route to the airport. Lunch or box lunch will be provided, depending on the exact departure flight time, which may vary. Other local activities may be included aswell, according to the flight schedule.