Cruise the Amazon

Enjoy the best of the Amazon’s upper river, including beautiful sights along the way. Before departing from Lima, be sure to take time to go for a swim. Stroll the amazing Botanical Gardens, teeming with exotic flora and centuries-old, cool-temperature trees. And feel the cosmopolitan, artsy vibe mixed with magnificent historic architecture.

10-Day Cruise the Amazon on unforgettable days in a seldom-seen, cathedral of green.

Before you set sail, enjoy Lima!

Let us help you arrange a pre- or post-voyage stay in Lima at the luxurious Belmond Miraflores Park Hotel, set along a stunning seaside promenade in the city’s chicest district.

• Explore with veteran expedition leaders and local guides indigenous to the region
• Get out daily to explore by skiff or walk through the glorious rainforest
• Make personal kayak explorations.

Preview the Amazon expedition experience

Discover a profusion of wildlife:  Three-toed sloths, piranhas, squirrel monkeys, tamarins, and white-throated toucans. The tell-tale snort of a pink river dolphin makes all eyes turn to see it glide through mysterious tannin-rich waters.  You may see hundreds of birds roosting and feeding along the riverbanks. The wildlife of Amazon is remarkable in its abundance and staggering diversity. Each day you will set out in search of new creatures in this unique habitat.

Every day is active and engaging:  We want to bring you the best of the Amazon in the most thoughtful, engaging ways possible. Every day you can join a motorized skiff outing for either a landing to walk in the rainforest (water levels permitting) among towering tropical trees or to cruise into remote tributaries, much like the early explorers. If kayaking appeals to you, the boat is equipped with a fleet of easy-to-use kayaks for personal, water-level encounters with this magical habitat. Visit the local people who reside along the river—one of the most enriching parts of the voyage. Or spend time on board to enjoy the open decks and panoramic views from the boat.

Travel in excellent company:  We staff your voyage with a seasoned expedition leader and a team of local naturalists. Born in towns along the river and educated in Iquitos, all are fluent in English and have deep knowledge of the river environment and interesting stories about life here to share. They are adept at spotting and identifying wildlife—and their enthusiasm for the jungle’s creatures is infectious.

Day-By-Day

Making the most of your time & interest in the wild. Our expedition seeks to reveal as many wonders as possible during your week with us. Our hallmark is flexibility—allowing us to take advantage of events, like wildlife sightings, as they occur to give you the richest, most dimensional experience. At times, the daily activities are guided by river water levels, which rise and abate. Here is a representation of the activities you’ll engage in:

DAY 1: U.S. / Lima, Peru:  Arrive in Lima in the late evening and transfer to our conveniently located hotel, Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport Hotel.

DAY 2: Lima / Iquitos / Nauta / Embark:  Enjoy a morning tour of Lima, then fly to Iquitos and continue overland to the riverside village of Nauta, where the ship awaits. Settle into your cabin and gather for a welcome dinner of fine Peruvian cuisine on board. Tonight, step out on deck to gaze at the magnificent Amazon night sky.

DAY 3-8: Exploring the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve:  Spend this week exploring the Pacaya- Samiria National Reserve, a pristine swath of jungle—stretching more than five million acres, and harboring some of the Amazon’s most fascinating flora and fauna. Bordered by the Marañón and the Ucayali, these two powerful rivers converge to create the famed Amazon, which floods annually with nutrient-rich waters and is known locally as the Mirrored Forest for the reflections created by its glassy water.

Set out into this remarkable wilderness on daily excursions by skiff, kayak, and, when the water level permits, hikes on dry land. Skim past giant lily pads afloat on black-water lakes, and venture deep into the rain forest on narrow tributaries. Spot sloths and monkeys, including variably colored saddleback tamarins, noisy howlers, and shaggy-tailed monk saki monkeys. Watch for an astounding variety of birds, from tanagers and hummingbirds to parrots and endangered scarlet macaws. In the river, look for massive paiche fish, the Amazon’s largest; rare pink dolphins; and the infamous piranhas.

Enjoy an opportunity to swim in a lake in the reserve’s interior. Seek out victoria amazonica, a giant water lily that grows in small lagoons. Go on a bird-watching hike, listening for the vocal oropendola and then looking for its telltale yellow tail. Watch the sun set and listen to a cacophonous symphony of nocturnal animals calling out across the treetops. Then slip through the forest in a skiff as night falls, using a spotlight to find caimans, frogs, fishing bats and other creatures of the night.

Pay a visit to one of the communities on the reserve’s edge and get to know the ribereños, those who live on the riverbanks, and their age-old traditions. Enjoy watching them make jewelry and other local handicrafts. Learn how local subsistence farmers cultivate wild plants and trees to earn income. Hear about how the locals find edible fruits and indigenous plants with medicinal properties hidden in the jungle.

DAY 9: Nauta / Disembark / Iquitos / Lima:  Enjoy one last morning excursion by skiff to view wildlife. After lunch, disembark in Nauta, and return to Iquitos overland for a late afternoon flight to Lima. Overnight at the Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport Hotel.

DAY 10: Lima / U.S.:  After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Lima for your flight home.

Please note: All day-by-day breakdowns are a sampling of the places we intend to visit. Call TravelKatz at 352-277-7300 to get on board this expedition adventure on the Amazon River.