Aqua Nera: Cruise the Peruvian Amazon in Style – Amazon Cruises

Day 1     Tuesday     Arrive to Iquitos / Begin the Cruise

Upon arrival to Iquitos you will be met at the airport and then be taken to lunch at a local restaurant or will have a box lunch en route (depending on the flight arrival time). In the afternoon, we will set off on your first skiff excursion to visit the birthplace of the Amazon. At 6:00 p.m. you will board the Aria. Following a routine safety drill and introduction to the naturalist guides, you will 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.

Day 2     Wednesday     Yanallpa River / Dorado River

By skiff, you will explore the black waters of the Yanallpa River, disembarking to walk deep into the Amazonian rain forest. Later, you will board the skiffs again to cruise along the El Dorado River for a dusk excursion in search of exotic nocturnal wildlife and with extraordinary stargazing.

Day 3     Thursday     Pacaya River / Ucayali River / Tapiche River

The rewards of an early start are plentiful. Today you will start with a picnic breakfast accompanied by a jungle symphony and fishing along the black waters of the Pacaya River. After lunch, you will venture out by skiffs on the Ucayali River alongside the banana boats transporting their jungle products to the port of Requena Keep an eye out for pink river dolphins. At night you can focus the hi-tech telescope on the night sky to identify the planets and constellations.

Day 4     Friday     Clavero or Yarapa River / Amazon River

Today you can choose to go jungle walking, canoeing, kayaking or swimming on the black water of the Yarapa or Clavero Rivers. Later you will visit a remote Amazonia village in the afternoon. This evening before dinner, will be introduced to some of the crewmembers whom you may not have met, working “behind the scenes” to ensure your countless exceptional experiences aboard the Aria.

Day 5     Saturday     Manatee Rescue Center / Return to Lima

At the Bellavista Nanay you will visit a morning market along the Nanay River so that you can sample exotic snacks from the Peruvian Amazon like ‘Suri’ – Amazon caterpillars that are considered especially appetizing. After returning to the Aria for breakfast you can pack up. Before saying goodbye, you will make one last stop at the Manatee Rescue Center, a very special kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees. You will also visit San Juan craft market en 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 as well, according to the flight schedule.