Aria Amazon 4-Night Itinerary A

10:00 am: Flight from Lima to Iquitos, Peru – From the Peruvian capital city of Lima, Surtrek representatives will assist you in checking in for your two-hour flight to the country’s northeastern city of Iquitos, a rustic outpost that offers explorers the most direct and accessible path to the heart of the Amazon.

12:00 pm: Arrival in Iquitos – At the Iquitos airport, representatives of the Aria Amazon riverboat operation will be waiting to welcome you and assist you with your luggage.

1:00 pm: Transfer to the Nauta Lounge – From the airport, you will be driven in an air-conditioned vehicle through the scenic Peruvian countryside for your first glimpse at Amazonian wildlife, ecosystems, and local villages, as well as riverside and jungle landscapes. Enjoy the 1-1/2-hour drive to the small village of Nauta, and note that you’ll be traveling along the only road out of town, one that only goes as far as Nauta.

1:30 pm: Lunch – You will be served at least a box lunch en route to the Aria Amazon’s Nauta Lounge; however, if you arrive on an early morning flight, you’ll be able to have your lunch at the lounge itself, which is a designer facility possessing its own refreshment area, relaxing cushioned chairs and bathroom facilities. 

3:00 pm: Marañon River Excursion – After reaching the lounge, we will set off on your first skiff excursion along the Marañon River. During this ride, you can listen to the many species of Peruvian birds as they call their mates through the leafy canopy. You’ll also learn about the habitats essential to the livelihoods of the endangered Amazon river dolphins, taricaya turtles and manatee.

6:00 pm:  Boarding the Aria Amazon – We will then board the Aria Amazon, a river cruise ship that was custom-built to explore the Peruvian Amazon and the famed Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in absolute comfort and luxury. You will notice, however, that the riverboat makes a minimal impact on the delicate Amazon river and the rainforest environment.

Settle into your generously proportioned suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures.

6:30 pm: Routine safety drill and introduction to the ship’s naturalist guides – Before dinner, we will perform a routine safety drill. Then, it’s into the air-conditioned lounge, where you will learn about life on board, and will have the first nightly briefing about your next day’s Amazon adventure. You will meet the Aria’s naturalist guides and your cruise director, who will use video, photos, and maps to introduce the details of your journey deep into the Peruvian Amazon.

7:30 pm: Welcome Dinner – Sit down, relax, sip fine South American wine, toast the beginning of an intriguing journey and enjoy the innovative Amazonian cuisine created by the Aria’s Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, Malabar, is the one of Lima’s top-ranked dining experiences. Schiaffino’s imaginative use of local products – fruit, fish, spices – makes every meal a delightful adventure. (The menu always offers choices, including a vegetarian option.).

8:30 pm: Free time to enjoy the ship’s ample number of amenities, which include a Jacuzzi, an indoor lounge and bar, an outdoor observation deck and a massage room. Perhaps sip a nightcap on the Upper Deck, under the stars, before retiring. Alternatively, you can head directly to your cabin to relax and dream about the day ahead.

7:00 am: Picnic Breakfast – Disembarking the ship, enjoy an early morning picnic breakfast, accompanied by a symphony real-life jungle sounds.

8:00 am: Expedition Along the Pacaya River – After eating, we will head out on an excursion along the Pacaya River, observing and exploring the flooded forest of this vast region of the Peruvian Amazon. You will sail among a wide variety of wildlife, birds including large parrots, macaws, herons and storks and many species of primates like the capuchin, howler and squirrel monkeys, which can be quite funny.

You will have a chance to visit and fish in some of the most beautiful lakes in the protected reserve and to meet some of the friendly local people who take care of the reserve’s natural resources. Your nature guides will discuss the Aria’s involvement in the natural resource management of Amazonia.

12:00 pm: Picnic Lunch – We will have a picnic lunch en route back to the Aria, and as we return, you will be able to see the famous Ceiba tree, the tallest in the Amazon.

1:00 pm: Re-board the Aria / Free Time to relax

3:00 pm: Exploring the Ucayali & Tapiche Rivers – After your break, we will venture out by skiff on the Ucayali River alongside the banana boats transporting their jungle products to the port of Requena. Keep your eye out for two different kinds of freshwater dolphins, but especially the unusual Pink dolphins found in the Ucayali & Tapiche rivers. We’ll also spot arboreal lizards, iguanas and look up to catch a glimpse of some of the area’s 200 bird species.

6:00 pm: Return to the Aria Amazon

7:00 pm: Dinner

8:00 pm: Star-gazing Activity – This evening’s you’ll have another chance to use the Aria’s hi-tech telescope to peer into the clear Amazonian heavens.

9:00 pm: Free time and socializing before turning in for the night.

7:00 am: Breakfast – Enjoy a light buffet breakfast on board, consisting of homemade baked goods, hot coffee, and fresh juice.

8:00 am: Market Excursion – Depending on the weather, we will visit the traditional Bellavista Nanay market, bordering the Nanay River, to view and sample products of the Peruvian Amazon – including exotic snacks like the Amazon Caterpillar. Called “Suri,” these caterpillars live in palm trees and are considered an appetizing snack for Amazonia people, even for those in the city.

11:00 am: Return to the Aria Amazon / Packing Up – Sadly, the tour is winding down and it will be time to start packing.

12:00 pm: Light Lunch – A sit-down lunch or a box lunch will be served, depending on the exact departure flight time.

1:30 pm: Disembarkation / Manatee Rescue Center – After disembarking the Aria, this afternoon we will visit the Manatee Rescue Center in Iquitos. A kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees, this center rescues, rehabilitates and releases these enormous creatures back into the wild.

3:00 pm: Amazonian Crafts Market – Later, we stop at the indigenous San Juan Market, where you may wish to shop for local crafts before leaving.

4:30 pm: Departure – You will be driven to the Iquitos airport, where you will have plenty of time to check in and relax before your departing flight to Lima, home or onward. Guides will help with check in at the airport and stay with you until you board your flight back to Lima. At that time, Aria and Surtrek representatives will undoubtedly wish you a fond farewell …until the next time you visit South America.

NOTE: Other local activities may be included as well, depending on the Aria’s recommended flight schedule.