Amazon Cruise Voyage

Day-to-Day Itinerary

Day 1 - U.S. / Lima

Fly to Lima, Peru, the nation’s capital and largest city, and transfer to the Swissôtel for the night. (D Aloft)

Day 2 - Iquitos / Nauta / Embark Amazon Riverboat

Tour historic Lima, visiting Casa Aliaga, a private home dating back to the Conquistadors. See the Cathedral, where Francisco Pizarro is entombed, and Plaza de Armas. Before lunch, tour the monastery and vast catacombs of the Iglesia de San Francisco. Fly over the Andes Mountains to Iquitos. Drive to the small port town of Nauta on the Marañón River, where we board our riverboat, La Amatista, home for the next seven days of our Amazon cruise. Tonight, we journey slowly toward the confluence marking the beginning of the Amazon River, stargazing and storytelling with our local guides. (B,L,D)

Day 3 - Confluence of the Amazon River / Río Ucayali

We awake this morning on the Amazon, seeing some of the ever-changing panorama of jungle life as La Amatista continues upriver. Small villages dot the shoreline, and channels weaving through island mazes provide close-up views of a variety of birds. Our first excursion navigates the waterways aboard sturdy excursion boats to areas where we may find marsh birds such as oriole blackbirds, green ibis, yellow-headed caracaras, black-capped donacobis and white-headed marsh-tyrant. The confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón Rivers is famous as the beginning of the Amazon River. Amazingly, we are about 2,400 miles from where the river flows into the Atlantic. The river drops only about 350 feet the entire way! We turn into the Río Ucayali, where we’re apt to find gray river dolphins and Amazon pink dolphins cavorting near the boat and along the shoreline. Use hydrophones to listen to the pink river dolphins as our naturalists share local lore and explain dolphin interaction and how the dolphins use sounds to hunt. Later we take an excursion into the surrounding rainforest in search of giant water lilies and elusive wildlife such as monkeys and sloths. As dusk approaches, fishing bats begin their night’s foraging. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - Río Ucayali / Pacaya-Samiria Reserve

After a peaceful breakfast along the black-water Sapote Creek, we explore a small tributary of the Ucayali in search of piranha, which are very common in the slower-moving water. With luck, we may catch red-breasted, white or black piranha, and feast on our catch this evening. We look for animals including primates, sloths and an enormous variety of birds. La Amatista continues upriver to the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. Although scientific studies are far from exhausted, the Pacaya-Samiria is the known home to 450 bird species, 102 species of mammals, over 130 species of reptiles and amphibians, and countless plants. This afternoon, an excursion into this largest wetland reserve in the world provides the opportunity to see primates, including monk sakis, red howler, saddle-backed tamarin and squirrel monkeys. We explore Caro Lake, connected to the river by way of a very small stream, where we may find flocks of greater ani, often seen following monkeys in search of insects disturbed by the monkeys’ foraging. We enjoy a nighttime boat excursion for a chance to find caimans, capybaras, common potoos, frogs and other nocturnal wildlife. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - Pacaya-Samiria Reserve

Spend the day exploring this flooded realm, seeing wading birds such as herons, wattled jacanas and horned screamers. Venturing deep into the rainforest, tour an igapo (seasonally flooded forest), where plant life is very different from what we see along the main course of our Amazon cruise, and walk through the forest. Once we reach the reserve's second checkpoint, hike around the ranger station. Lucky guests may release turtle hatchlings. A delicious lunch energizes us for afternoon excursions with our expert naturalists, where we may find scarlet macaws, hoatzins, black-collared hawks and red howler monkeys.(B,L,D)

Day 6 - Pacaya-Samiria Reserve

After an early breakfast, we board our excursion boats for access even further into the heart of these vast wetlands. As our Amazon cruise tours the narrow waterways, we’ll find birds such as canary-winged parakeets and spectacular blue-and-gold and scarlet macaws. Primates also are fairly common, including noisy squirrel monkeys. We arrive at a ranger station, where we may take a short hike to explore the forest. After a picnic lunch, we gradually make our way back to our riverboat through the maze of waterways. Visit a village along the river, with the chance to learn about the lives of the “Ribereño” people who live there. Accompanied by guides who grew up along the river, this is a fantastic opportunity to stroll through gardens learning about medicinal plants and folklore, visit a school, or join in a game of soccer. The children are especially excited to see their faces on digital cameras and to show off their school and sing Peruvian songs. Learn about medicinal plants and enjoy a blessing ceremony by a respected village shaman. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - Río Ucayali / Marañón River

This morning we head back downriver, with a morning wildlife or other activity. Aboard the ship, take advantage of the open-air top deck, learning to make traditional Peruvian dishes or enjoying an enriching lecture. After dark we’ll go out in our excursion boats to listen to the sounds of the rainforest and look for nocturnal wildlife. (B,L,D)

Day 8 - Marañón River / Amazon Rainforest

Journey into the terra firma forest on a winding trail. Large trees festooned with epiphytes, palms, woody vines and a vaulted canopy add to the shadowed mystery of the tropical jungle. Once back aboard La Amatista, we enjoy a farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

Days 9 & 10 - Nauta / Iquitos / Lima / U.S.

In the morning we disembark La Amatista in Nauta and drive to Iquitos for flights to Lima. Enjoy lunch at a distinctive Peruvian restaurant. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, with dayrooms reserved at our hotel, before we transfer to the airport for our flight to the U.S. We arrive Sunday and connect with flights home. (Day 9: B,L; Day 10: Meals Aloft)

Dates & Rates

* Reverse itinerary
^P Photo Cruise
^F Family Cruise
• Double & Single Occupancy: Pricing is per person based on double occupancy, unless indicated as single occupancy. Limited single cabins available.
• Airfare: In-country airfare is subject to change and must be purchased through International Expeditions. International airfare is not included in prices above but available through International Expeditions.
• Kid’s Discount: Applies to ages 7-18.

Map

Ships

La Amatista

Experience comfort in the wilds of Peru as you board La Amatista and head into the Amazon River, boat excursions into narrow tributaries and village visits all part of our Amazon tour. All staterooms aboard the 28-guest La Amatista offer unpretentious comfort featuring air-conditioning; ample storage including closet and under-bed roll-a-way shelves; and writing desk with chair. Roomy bathrooms have hot water showers and designer fixtures. As you stroll down the corridors of La Amatista, your eye can't help but be drawn to the beautiful door and window trimmings, hand-carved by local artisans. View ship details...

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