Plan Your Trip
Cruising on board the Aria Amazon riverboat, you will experience a great introduction to the Peruvian rainforest on this 8-day/7-night rainforest expedition. As it takes place during the low-water season, the rivers recede and beautiful sandy river beaches form, opening up fabulous sites and amazing opportunities for viewing exotic plant and animal life. For more than a week, you will be able to experience this on guided wildlife safaris through the megadiverse Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, visit a local indigenous Amazonian village and the Manatee Rescue Center, as well as sail the Marañon River, search for Pink river dolphins, and go kayaking, canoeing and swimming. Discover the Amazon for yourself on this unforgettable getaway designed for true adventures.
“I enjoyed the scenery and the exotic wildlife on the islands very much. The airport transfers in both directions went smoothly and the service on board was very good.”
10:00 am: Flight from Lima to Iquitos, Peru – From the Peruvian capital city of Lima, Surtrek representatives will assist you with 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. You will be traveling along the only road out of town, which only goes as far as Nauta.
1:30 pm: Lunch – You will most likely be served 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, 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 note, 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 a beautiful 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 ships ample number of amenities, which include a Jacuzzi, an indoor lounge and bar, and an outdoor observation deck. Perhaps sip a nightcap on the Upper Deck, under the stars, before retiring. Alternatively, you head to your cabin to relax and dream about the day ahead.
7:00 am: Breakfast – Enjoy a light breakfast on board, consisting of homemade baked goods, hot coffee, and fresh juice. We stop near a quiet place where you will see and hear quite a show put on by Mother Nature while you enjoy your meal.
8:00 am: Skiff Riding Excursion – We commence today’s adventures near the main entrance of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, cruising along Yanayacu-Pucate River in the comfort of the Aria’s state-of-the-art skiffs. On the black water river, you can observe vibrant flora and fauna while looking for macaws and several species of primates like the capuchin and squirrel monkeys as well as the famous Amazon River dolphins, either pink or gray. Amazonian people hold the belief that these dolphins possess the magical power to turn into beautiful women and men.
10:00 am: Water Excursions – Kayak, canoe and swim in the unspoiled black waters of the Yanayacu-Pucate River, keeping eyes peeled for the Amazon’s legendary Pink dolphins.
12:00 pm: Return to the ship for lunch
2:00 pm: Village Visit – In the afternoon, we will visit a remote village along the Marañon River to learn about local traditions, customs and folklore. You will meet and interact with local villagers in this remote part of the world and find out about their day-to-day way of life. Walk with the Aria’s naturalist guides to see how Aria expeditions work with these communities to improve their natural resources management. We will learn about traditional uses of medicinal plants from a shaman whose knowledge of spiritual healing has been handed down from generation to generation since time immemorial. You will also have the opportunity to buy local handicrafts directly from the artisans.
5:00 pm: Return to the Aria / Free time to relax, freshen up and enjoy the ship’s Jacuzzi, the indoor lounge and bar, and the outdoor observation deck.
7:00 pm: Dinner – We will gather for innovative Amazonian and international cuisine.
8:00 pm: Star-gazing Activity – This evening’s focus is on the Aria’s hi-tech telescope, which you can use to peer into the night sky to identify planets and constellations.
9:30 pm: Free time to socialize and enjoy the ship’s facilities before turning in for the night.
7:00 am: Breakfast – Enjoy a light breakfast on board, consisting of homemade baked goods, hot coffee, and fresh juice.
8:00 am: Samiria River Skiff Excursion with optional fishing – After breakfast, we will set off by skiff for an excursion along the Samiria River with optional fishing. On the black water river, you can observe the vibrant flora and fauna while looking for macaws and several species of primates like the capuchin and squirrel monkeys.
12:00 pm: Lunch
1:30 pm: Rainforest Presentation – Listen carefully to the after-lunch flora and fauna lecture presented by the Aria’s naturalist guides.
3:00 pm: Jungle Hiking – Later this afternoon, we will venture out for a singularly thrilling jungle walk through the high Amazon rainforest. In this area, we will observe toucans, macaws, and iguanas, among many other species. As we make our way back to the Aria Amazon, you may also see alligators, frogs and fishing bats.
5:30 pm – Return to the ship / Free Time
6:30 pm: Staff Introductions – You will be introduced to the crew members who you may not have already met. These are the people who work “behind the scenes” to ensure you countless exceptional experiences aboard the Aria Amazon.
7:00 pm: Dinner – We will gather for more innovative Amazonian cuisine created by the Aria’s executive chef.
While you dine, we will continue our journey upriver toward the headwaters of the Amazon River, where the Ucayali and Marañon rivers merge.
8:00 pm: Free time and socializing until turning in for the night.
7:00 am: Breakfast – Enjoy a light breakfast on board, consisting of homemade baked goods, hot coffee, and fresh juice.
8:00 am: Amazonian Village Visit – This morning, we will visit the town of Nauta, which was founded in 1930. The village is the main point where villagers from around Amazonia come to sell the products they harvest in their rural communities. We’ll walk around Nauta to gain insights into the life of these coastal peoples.
We will also visit the local fresh market, with your guides on hand to point out the different fish caught by the fishermen of Amazonia, and all types of indigenous fruits.
10:00 am – Free time to relax and enjoy the Aria’s social facilities
12:00 pm: Lunch – Enjoy a light lunch in the Aria’s air-conditioned dining room.
1:00 pm: Free time
3:00 pm: Reaching the Amazon Headwater – In the afternoon, as the Aria Amazon skirts the edge of the vast Pacaya Samiria National Reserve (a flooded forest covering five million acres at the headwaters of the Amazon basin), we will witness one of the great spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere: the birthplace of the Amazon River. Here, the junction of two major tributaries, the Ucayali and the Marañon, form one of the greatest waterfalls in the world. You will witness one of the true spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere …certainly nature at its most captivating.
6:00 pm: Meet the New Passengers – Tonight you will meet the new passengers who have signed on for the four-night trip, as we start our journey together along the Marañon River.
7:00 pm: Dinner
8:00 pm: Free time and socializing until turning in for the night.
7:00 am: Breakfast – Fill up on the Aria’s sumptuous daily breakfast buffet, which features a wide variety of dishes, including Peruvian specialties and fresh fruit juices.
8:00 am: Ucayali River Exploration – This morning, board the skiff to explore a fascinating Ucayali River, part of the vast Amazon flooded forest within the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. As the local farmers and fishermen go about their business, we will search for Pink river dolphins in these pristine waters. Your guides will tell you about the jungle as we explore what scientists call a “gallery forest” because of its dense vegetation that creates a tunnel of leaves. As we explore this type of riparian vegetation, watch above for parrots, macaws, and fluffy monk saki monkeys. We will also have the opportunity to hike the Yanallpa Gorge, watching the forest and the animals that can be spotted along the way.
11:00 am: Return to Aria Amazon to relax
12:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm: Presentation – Lecture on the Amazon given by the naturalist guides.
2:00 pm: Pacaya River Exploration and Piranha Fishing – This afternoon, you will board a small but comfortable motorboat to explore the blackwater Pacaya river. Life jackets, ponchos, rubber boots, and fresh water are always available in these boats. As we troll along, the occasional fisherman will paddle past in their homemade canoes. Keep your binoculars ready to spot terns, tropical songbirds, black hawks, monkeys and sloths necks that share this enchanted place with us. After our arrival at a particular point, you may use your hooks to try to catch some of the ferocious piranhas of the Amazon. As you fish, trained naturalist guides will tell you the story of the lake and its inhabitants.
4:30 pm: Return to Aria Amazon – Cold towels will be awaiting you back on board the Aria Amazon. As the ship continues down the Amazon River, before dinner you will have free time to rest, take a nap or marvel at the landscape passing by.
7:00 pm: Dinner: We will gather for innovative Amazonian cuisine in the ship’s air-conditioned dining room.
8:00 pm: Star-gazing Activity – This evening’s focus is on the Aria’s hi-tech telescope, which you can use to peer into the night sky to identify planets and constellations in the clear Amazonian heavens.
9:00 pm: Free time and socializing until turning in for the night.
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 lunch, we will venture out by skiff on the Ucayali River alongside the banana boats transporting their jungle products to the port of Requena, keeping our eyes 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 focus is on the Aria’s hi-tech telescope, which you can use to peer into the night sky to identify planets and constellations in the clear Amazonian heavens.
9:00 pm: Free time and socializing before turning in for the night.
7:00 am: Breakfast – Enjoy the Aria’s sumptuous daily breakfast buffet featuring a wide variety of dishes, including Peruvian specialties and fresh fruit juices.
8:00 am: Clavero Lake Exploration – This morning, you can go canoeing or kayaking in Yarapa or Clavero Lake. As we navigate these waters, you’ll see local villagers paddling in their traditional dugout canoes. You may wish to swim in one of these lake’s calm waters and visit the community to interact with Amazonia neighbors who will be pleased to welcome you.
11:00 am: Return to Aria Amazon. From this point, start sailing downstream toward Iquitos.
12:00 pm: Lunch
2:00 pm: San Jose Flooded Forest Hiking: This afternoon, we will disembark for a short jungle walk in the San Jose flooded forest and observe unforgettable giant water lilies.
4:30 pm: Return to Aria Amazon / Free time
6:30 pm: Meet in the lounge with the Aria’s naturalist guides for the Crew Presentation: This evening, the guides will introduce some of the crew members who you may not have already met. These are the people who work “behind the scenes” to ensure that your memorable trip is filled with countless exceptional experiences.
7:00 pm: Farewell Dinner
8:00 pm: Free time to socialize and enjoy the ship’s facilities before turning in for the night.
7:00 am: Breakfast & Packing Up – Return to the Aria for breakfast and to pack up.
8:00 am: Visiting Nauta Village – This morning, we will visit the town of Nauta, founded in 1930. Today, villagers from around Amazonia gather here to sell the products they harvest in their rural communities. Together we will walk around Nauta to gain insights into the daily life of these remotes people.
9:00 am – Manatee Rescue Center Excursion – Before saying goodbye, we visit the Manatee Rescue Center, a kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees to rescue, rehabilitate and release them back into the wild.
10:30 am: Handicraft Market Excursion – We will also visit San Juan craft market on route to the airport.
12:00 pm: Lunch or box lunch – Lunch or a box lunch will be provided, depending on the exact departure flight time, which may vary.
1:30 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 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 this 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.
| Room | First Deck | Second Deck |
| 8 Days | US$ 9,450 PP | US$ 9,800 PP |
Included in these all-inclusive cruise rates are:
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