Iquitos North Peru Jungle luxury cruise boattrip on the amazon river with Aqua Expedition

Embark on the voyage of a lifetime, sailing the earth’s mightiest river — the Amazon. The first luxury vessel in the region, the M/V Aqua caters to the most discriminating and adventurous of world travelers, providing an unforgettable journey into areas penetrated by only a privileged few. As your ship docks along the river, knowledgeable and experienced naturalists will take you, via small launches, into remote estuaries in the Peruvian rain forest and the Pacaya Samiria Reserve. As you explore these pristine wilderness areas teeming with wildlife, you will also encounter local people living in villages as they have for centuries. And when the day’s sightseeing is over, the comforts of your luxurious floating hotel will await you.

Accommodation

M/V Aqua is Aqua Expedition's 130-foot flagship. Its 12 luxury guest suites, designed by an internationally renowned Peruvian interior designer, measure a generous 230 to 240 square feet, and feature large, outward facing panoramic windows and en suite sitting areas. All suites are air conditioned, and four are interconnected, to cater to families. Guests can socialize in the dining room, bar, on the observation deck and in the outdoor lounge. There is also a small boutique. You'll be served by a crew of 16, plus three skilled guides. Rates include all excursions, meals, and wine with meals.

Day 1:            Tuesday

ARRIVAL/NAUTA/EMBARKATION/MARAÑON RIVER

8:00 p.m.  Safety Drill and Briefing on the Top Deck

Before dinner we will perform a routine safety drill. Following that, your Cruise Director and Guides will give a brief orientation talk about life on board, where you will go and what you will see on your Amazon journey.

7:00 a.m.  Breakfast

8:00 a.m. Yanallpa River Expedition

This morning we will board the skiffs to explore this amazing black water stream, part of the vast Amazon flooded forest. Your guides will tell you about the rainforest and its dynamic life, as we explore what scientists call a “gallery forest,” because of its narrow vegetation, creating a tunnel of leaves. As we float through this tunnel, it is easy to spot parrots, macaws, and fluffy monk saki monkeys, very close to the skiff.

10:30 a.m.      Return to the M/V Aqua

12:30 p.m.      Lunch

4:00 p.m.        Dorado River Exploration and Night Excursion

This afternoon we will take a magical journey through the “Mirrored Forest,” seeing towering trees reflected in the black water river, while spotting dozens of enchanting parrots, blue-yellow macaws, and a great variety of primates and sloths enjoying nature unperturbed by our presence. As we make our way back to our vessel, you will also have the chance to see caimans and frogs and fishing bats.

7:30 p.m.        Return to the M/V Aqua

8:00 p.m.        Dinner

6:00 a.m.        Hatum Posa Lake Expedition

This morning we will rise early to cruise this beautiful and intricate ox-bow lake.  As we follow its shore, we will almost certainly surprise several kinds of monkeys and many types of birds, including terns, neo-tropic cormorants, egrets, herons, hawks, and our favorite horned screamers. We will also take the skiff into other black water lakes linked to this huge lake in the flooded forest.

8:00 a.m.        Breakfast

9:00 a.m.        Jungle Walk Near Hatum Posa Village

On this walk, your guides will introduce you to native people doing subsistence farming, and will tell you how they learned to cultivate wild plants and trees to earn farm income. Deep in the primary forest, your guides will also show you the wealth of fruit trees and medicinal plants hidden in the jungle.

11:00 a.m.      Return to the M/V Aqua

12:30 p.m.      Lunch

4:00 p.m.        Pacaya River Exploration, Plus Night Trip from Ranger Station N°1 to Yanayacu Lake

In the late afternoon, we will take our skiffs along the Pacaya River, journeying from Ranger Station No. 1 toward Yanayacu Lake, where you can see the abundant life that is hidden in the deep rainforest. We have chosen this time of day to give you the chance to see the late afternoon activity of the rainforest animals, including fluffy monk saki monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and the large, easy-to-spot howler monkeys. As the sun sets, listen for the loud, ferocious-sounding warning signals made by howler monkeys marking their territories. When night falls, you will hear the second movement of the Amazon rainforest symphony, as other nocturnal animals send their shrill calls across the tree tops. As we take the skiffs back to the M/V Aqua, we will use our special spotlight torches to locate night creatures, including, perhaps, huge caimans.

7:30 p.m.        Return to the M/V Aqua

8:00 p.m.        Dinner

6:30 a.m.        Pacaya Exploration and Breakfast Aboard the Skiffs

Back on the river as the sun rises, you will see a treasure trove of wildlife, including parrots, macaws, toucans, and many kinds of monkeys—as well as some “surprise” species that you have never seen before. Enjoy a “bag breakfast” of light sandwiches and fresh juice. Since we will stop near a popular dolphin feeding spot, you will see quite a show as you enjoy your meal. 

11:00 a.m.      Return to the M/V Aqua

From this point, we will start sailing down river, toward Iquitos. 

12:30 p.m.      Lunch

3:30 p.m.        Carocurahuayte Lake/Fishing Trip

This afternoon, we will travel to this splendid “hot spot” lake, where you will be certain to catch some of the more than 3,000 species of tropical fish that live in the Amazon basin. Our key focus will be on piranhas, those small, carnivorous fish with a big reputation for being scary.

6:30 p.m.        Return to the M/V Aqua

Once we are back onboard, the ship will continue its journey down stream, sailing toward Iquitos through the night.

8:00 p.m.        Farewell Dinner

Leaving the peace and beauty of the jungle behind, we will enjoy our final dinner together, swapping stories about the wonderful experiences shared on the river.

9:00 p.m.        Crew Presentation

After dinner, your Guides will introduce some of the crew members that you have not yet met, but who have been busy with the “behind the scenes” work that has helped to create a seamless experience.

7:30 a.m.        Breakfast

8:30 a.m.        Last Skiff Trip (optional)

For those who want some last moments on the Amazon, your guides will take you out on the skiffs to grab some special, last-minute photos of the wildlife that you have seen along the river.

10:00 a.m.      Return to the M/V Aqua

Sadly, it’s time to finish packing. Please leave your packed suitcases in your suite for pickup before going to lunch.

11:40 p.m.      Light Lunch

12:30 p.m.      Disembarkation/City Tour/Transfer to the Airport

Your afternoon in the remote city of Iquitos, accessible only by river or air, will not disappoint. This bustling town, complete with a house built by Gustave Eiffel, was once a rich center of the rubber industry. After that, we will visit the Manatee Rescue Center where biologists and volunteers take care of endangered Amazon manatees and dolphins who have been seized by conservation authorities from locals or fishermen. Biologists will give you a presentation on the project and it efforts to help these helpless mammals and you will have the opportunity to observe how these animals are taken care of and prepared for future re-introduction into their natural habitat. Finally, we will stop at the San Juan Amazonian Indian Market, for a last chance to shop for local crafts.

4:00 p.m.        Check-in at Iquitos International Airport

Your guides will help you with check-in, and will stay with you until you have boarded your flight back to Lima.

5:00 p.m.        Your Flight Departs for Lima 

Note: All itineraries are subject to change, due to weather and other conditions.  All times indicated are approximate, and are also subject to change.

Day 1:            Tuesday

ARRIVAL/NAUTA/EMBARKATION/MARAÑON RIVER

5:00 p.m.        Arrival

Your guides await you, as your flight from Lima glides in for landing at Iquitos International Airport. After you’ve claimed your luggage, you will board an air-conditioned bus for a scenic one-and-a-half hour drive through the Peruvian countryside to the small village of Nauta, where the M/V Aqua lies at anchor, awaiting your arrival.

7:30 p.m.        Check-In

Take a few moments to settle into your over-sized suite before dinner. Over the next four days, you will sail along several tributaries of the Amazon, as well as on the mighty river itself. You are embarking on a spectacular adventure, to a place visited by only a few of even the most experienced world travelers.

8:00 p.m.        Safety Drill and Briefing on the Top Deck

Before dinner we will perform a routine safety drill. Following that, your Cruise Director and Guides will give a brief orientation talk about life on board, where you will go and what you will see on your Amazon journey.

8:30 p.m.        Welcome Dinner

Peruvian cuisine is considered one of the world’s best. Here it is presented with a touch of European flair, and a vegetarian dish is always available. Raise a glass of fine South American wine to toast the beginning of a beautiful journey, then look out the window and watch the river go by as you experience your first wonderful meal aboard the M/V Aqua. 

Perhaps enjoy a nightcap on the Upper Deck, under the stars, before retiring.

6:30 a.m.        Ucayali River Exploration

We will set out early this morning to explore the Ucayali River, the Amazon’s largest tributary. Sightings will include the slow-moving three-toed sloths, iguanas, orioles, and horned screamers, as well as many other birds.     

8:00 a.m.        Breakfast

9:30 a.m.        Jungle Walk to Magdalena

After breakfast we will walk through the village of Madgalena, a small community of ten families. After meeting the people, including lots of lively and curious children, your naturalist guides will lead you through the jungle to a beautiful lake that is home to the world famous Victoria Regia giant water lily.

12:00 a.m.      Return to the M/V Aqua

12:30 p.m.      Lunch

4:00 p.m.        Ucayali Exploration and Puinahua and Discovery Tour

This afternoon we will cruise the majestic Ucayali River, giving you a chance to see and meet native balseros, or fishermen, who will demonstrate their skill and let you see their catch—including a type of “armored” catfish with a shell-like skin. You will have at least one chance to sample this delicious local fish at dinner aboard the M/V Aqua.  We are also likely to spot, and have an opportunity to photograph, the “banana balsero” rafts, loaded with hundreds of clusters of bananas, drifting down the river to market. Other highlights include the viewing of woodpeckers, parrots, macaws, and toucans.

6:30 p.m.        Return to the M/V Aqua

7:30 a.m.        Breakfast

8:30 a.m.        Jungle Walk Near Hatum Posa Village

On this walk, your guides will introduce you to native people doing subsistence farming, and will tell you how they learned to cultivate wild plants and trees to earn farm income. Deep in the primary forest, your guides will also show you the wealth of fruit trees and medicinal plants hidden in the jungle—the source of many of the world’s pharmaceutical products.

11:30 a.m.      Return to the M/V Aqua

12:30 p.m.      Lunch

3:30 p.m.        Pacaya River Exploration, Plus Night Trip from Ranger Station No. 1 to Yanayacu Lake

In the late afternoon, we will take our skiffs along the Pacaya River, journeying from Ranger Station No. 1 toward Yanayacu Lake, where you can view the abundant life that is hidden in the deep rainforest. You may see saki monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and the easy-to-spot heavy howler monkeys, leaping long distances from tree to tree. As the sun sets, you will hear the loud, ferocious sounding warning signals made by the howler monkeys as they mark their territories. When night falls, you will hear the second movement of the Amazon rainforest symphony, as other nocturnal animals send their shrill calls across the tree tops. We will use our special spotlight torches to locate night creatures, including, perhaps, huge caimans.

7:30 p.m.        Return to the M/V Aqua

Tonight the vessel will be docked by the No. 1 Ranger Station in Pacaya Samiria National Park.

8:30 p.m.        Dinner

6:30 a.m.        Pacaya Exploration; Breakfast on the Skiffs

In the bright morning light, your Guides will show you parrots, macaws, toucans, and many different types of monkeys. We will also go to the dolphin feeding spots along Pacaya River, where you will be delightfully surrounded by these creatures while enjoying a light breakfast and fresh juice.

After breakfast, armed with poles and bait, we will take you to a special place on this fish-rich river, where you will catch some of the more than 3,000 species of tropical fish that live in the Amazon Basin. The key target will be piranhas, the small carnivorous fish with a fearsome reputation—considered a good food source by the locals.

11:00 a.m.      Return to the M/V Aqua

We will begin our homeward journey, sailing downstream toward Iquitos.

12:30 p.m.      Lunch

4:00 p.m.        Native Village Visit

This optional afternoon excursion is a short informational walk into a riverside village. Your guide will show you way of life in these communities of fishermen and farmers.

5:30 p.m.        Return to the M/V Aqua

We will sail downstream all night, as we make our way to Iquitos, and your onward flight.

8:00 p.m.        Farewell Dinner

Just minutes after being in the wilderness, surrounded by monkeys and birds and the other wildlife of the rainforest, you will find yourself sitting down to a final gourmet feast in the ship’s dining room

9:00 p.m.        Crew Presentation

Tonight, the Cruise Director will introduce some of the crew members you haven’t yet met on the trip, but who have worked behind the scenes to give you an unforgettable experience. There may even be a bit of musical entertainment!

7:30 a.m.        Breakfast

9:30 a.m.        Morning Excursion – The excursions today depend on the level of the river.

Weather and time permitting, this will be the last opportunity to see how people live along the Amazon—by visiting the lively riverside community of Belen by skiff, in Iquitos. Here, where the houses and shops actually float on the river during some months, you will see the bustling food market of the entire Peruvian Amazon. All local inhabitants throughout the region sell and purchase goods here.

Some groups may instead take a short skiff ride to visit the Boras indigenous community, on the Momon River. The Bora tribe has made every effort to maintain its traditional culture since arriving from deep inside the rainforest more than 30 years ago. Today they will perform some of their most colorful dances for you.

11:00 a.m.      Return to the M/V Aqua

You have time to pack and prepare for the next stage of your journey.

11:30 p.m.      Lunch

Please leave your packed luggage in your cabins, to be transferred to the bus, before coming to the dining room for lunch.

12:30 p.m.        Disembarkation/City Tour and Transfer to the Airport

Your afternoon in the remote city of Iquitos, accessible only by river or air, will not disappoint. This bustling town, complete with a house built by Gustave Eiffel, was once a rich center of the rubber industry. After that, we will visit the Manatee Rescue Center where biologists and volunteers take care of endangered Amazon manatees and dolphins who have been seized by conservation authorities from locals or fishermen. Biologists will give you a presentation on the project and it efforts to help these helpless mammals and you will have the opportunity to observe how these animals are taken care of and prepared for future re-introduction into their natural habitat. Finally, we will stop at the San Juan Amazonian Indian Market, for a last chance to shop for local crafts.

4:00 p.m.        Arrive at Iquitos International Airport

Your Guides will help you check in and will wait with you until your flight takes off.

5:00 p.m.        Flight Departs for Lima

Aqua Expeditions operates every week of the year and all of our Amazon River cruise departure dates are guaranteed. 

Whatever date you choose, we welcome you on your luxury cruise  down Peru’s Amazon River . Come whenever you can . . . you will have an incredible experience.

Pacaya Samiria Reserve Restrictions
The Pacaya Samiria Reserve is a protected area and visitors are required to comply with certain rules and regulations. The naturalist guide will inform passengers of these rules. The Pacaya Samiria Reserve and Aqua Expeditions, through the guide onboard, reserve the right to deny any passenger disembarkation for visits if any of these regulations are ignored or violated.
 

Special Guest Dietary Requirements
Aqua Expeditions should be contacted at least 30 days prior to embarkation regarding travelers’ specific dietary needs. Every effort will be made to cater to special dietary needs, and to accommodate special requests, subject to a given products’ availability in Peru.
 

M/V Aqua Guest Responsibilities
Our guests have responsibilities toward both their fellow passengers and the Aqua Expeditions’ crew. Every guest is expected to review the conditions contained in the trip itinerary, follow norms for appropriate social behavior towards other fellow passengers, observe all safety requirements on board and on shore excursions, and act in an appropriate and respectful manner toward the Aqua’s crew members and their fellow travelers.