Amazon River Cruise

Arrive in Iquitos and transfer to Nauta, the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. Settle into your suite and enjoy the views as you embark on your Amazon adventure. Enjoy fine South American wine and world-class cuisine on your first evening surrounded by the sounds of the Amazon.

Set out early to explore Ucayali River, Amazon’s largest tributary. Sightings may include slow-moving three-toed sloths, iguanas, orioles, horned screamers, and many other birds. Walk through the jungle and visit Magdalena village, a small community of ten families. Discover the world’s largest aquatic plants, Victoria Regias giant water lilies.

In the afternoon, cruise the majestic Ucayali River and meet native fishermen who will demonstrate their skill and let you see their catch—including a type of “armored” catfish with a shell-like skin. Watch for rafts drifting down the river to market loaded with hundreds of banana clusters.

Visit native communities practicing subsistence farming and learn how they cultivate wild plants and trees. Explore with knowledgeable guides and discover the wealth of fruit trees and medicinal plants hidden in the jungle.

In the afternoon, head to Yanayacu Lake. You may see saki monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and heavy howler monkeys leaping long distances from tree to tree. As the sun sets, hear ferocious warning signals made by howler monkeys marking their territories. When night falls, listen to the second movement of the symphonic Amazon rainforest, as nocturnal animals send calls across the tree tops. Use special spotlight torches to locate night creatures, including, perhaps, huge caimans.

In the bright morning light, observe parrots, macaws, toucans, and many different types of monkeys. Visit dolphin feeding spots along the Pacaya River. Bait your hook and catch some of the 3,000 species of tropical fish that live in the Amazon Basin. Enjoy a visit to a riverside village followed by a gourmet farewell feast to celebrate your journey.

Weather and time permitting, enjoy a morning excursion to the Amazon community of Belen where the houses and shops actually float on the river during some months. Observe the bustling food market of the entire Peruvian Amazon. Local people throughout entire the region sell and purchase goods here. In the afternoon, visit Iquitos' Manatee Rescue Center, where biologists and volunteers care for endangered Amazon manatees. Learn how the manatees are rehabilitated before re-introduction back into their natural habitat. Transfer to airport for flight to Lima.