Plan Your Trip
This acclaimed 8-day/7-night Aria Amazon Expedition Cruise lets guests experience the most luxurious and complete of Amazon journeys among the two tributaries that give the Amazon River its life. During this high-water season tour, discover the best that the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve has to offer, including its hidden lakes and lagoons, amazing jungle trails, kayaking, canoeing, swimming in pristine Amazon upriver waters, and chances to spot the Amazon’s famous Pink river dolphin. Learn about life in an Amazon village and then fish for piranhas like a local. Enjoying five-star accommodations and gourmet dining, you won’t want this unforgettable Amazon experience to ever end.
“Everything was wonderful but the highlight by far was the 5 days trekking in the Angamarca region with Marcial. The scenery and culture was astonishing, and Marcial was the perfect guide.”
10:00 am: Flight from Lima to Iquitos, Peru – In 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 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. 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 have your first nightly briefing about the 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 can head directly to your cabin to relax and dream about the day ahead.
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: Sailing and Birdwatching – Aboard the Aria’s comfortable skiffs, we will ride from the Amazon River to the Yarapa River. To reap the most rewards of this river journey, experienced naturalist guides will be on board to help guests spot wildlife in an environment designed by Mother Nature to conceal them. As these small-group excursions result in less of a human presence, they typically lead to more up-close wildlife sightings. So, keep your binoculars ready to spot tropical songbirds, black collared hawks and listless sloths.
12:00 pm: Lunch
1:00 pm: Piranha Fishing Excursion – To start the afternoon, we’ll go fishing for Amazonia’s notoriously ferocious piranhas. While casting your line out to hook one of these predators, the Aria’s naturalist guides will share stories with you about Lake Moringo and its legends.
3:00 pm: Free time – Returning to the boat, you will have time to relax on board the Aria and enjoy its Jacuzzi, the indoor lounge and bar, and the outdoor observation deck.
5:00 pm: Wildlife-Watching Excursion – As the sun sets, we will head off on an evening wildlife excursion with extraordinary stargazing on the black waters of Nauta Caño.
7:30 pm: Dinner – We will gather to dine on innovative Amazonian and international cuisine.
8:30 pm: Free time until turning in for the night.
5:30 am: Birdwatching Excursion – Wake up early to watch the sunrise on the Amazon River, a first, dramatic glimpse of your upcoming adventures. Once you’re up, head out for some optional early morning birdwatching along the Marañon River.
7:00 am: Breakfast – Your sumptuous daily breakfast buffet will feature a wide variety of dishes, plus Peruvian specialties and fresh fruit juices.
8:00 am: Jungle Walk Excursion – After breakfast, we will take a jungle walk on the firm-soil forest to the Casual community. As we hike, you can observe the local fauna and flora, including medicinal trees, insects and poison-dart frogs, while learning more about the different rainforest canopies.
11:00 am: Return to Aria Amazon – Cold towels await you back aboard the Aria Amazon. As the ship continues down the Amazon River, you have free time to rest or take a nap before lunch.
12:00 pm: Lunch – Enjoy a light lunch in the Aria’s air-conditioned dining room.
1:00 pm: Free Time to relax and enjoy the ship’s facilities.
2:30 pm: Water Sports Excursion & Pink Dolphin Search – Later, swim, canoe or kayak in Yanayacu-Pucate River as we look for legendary pink river dolphins.
5:00 pm: Free Time to freshen up, relax and take in the sights as we sail downriver
6:30 pm: Staff Introductions – This evening before dinner, we will gather to introduce you to some of the crew members whom you may not have met. These are the people who work “behind the scenes” to ensure you countless exceptional experiences on board the Aria Amazon. Before dinner, join them on the upper deck for a sip of Pisco sour.
7:00 pm: Dinner – We will gather for more innovative Amazonian cuisine created by the Aria’s executive chef.
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.
9:00 pm: Free time and socializing until turning in for the night.
7:00 am: Breakfast – Return to the Aria for breakfast. Enjoy a light breakfast on board, consisting of homemade baked goods, hot coffee, and fresh juice.
8:00 am: Fish Market Excursion – This morning, we will visit the local fresh market with your guides who can identify the day’s catch by the fishermen of Amazonia and the region’s exotic 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 the Aria’s voyage along the Marañon River.
7:00 pm: Dinner
8:00 pm: Free time and socializing before turning in for the night.
7:00 pm: Breakfast – Your sumptuous daily breakfast buffet will feature a wide variety of dishes, plus Peruvian specialties and fresh fruit juices.
8:00 pm: River Expedition on the Yanallpa River – This morning, board the skiff to explore the fascinating Yanallpa River, part of the vast Amazon flooded forest within the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. 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. By skiff, we will explore the black waters of the Yanallpa River, disembarking to walk deep into the Amazonian rain forest. As we explore this type of riparian forest, look above for parrots, macaws, and fluffy saki monkeys.
12:00 pm: Lunch – Return to Aria Amazon for lunch and a presentation on the Amazon given by the naturalist guides.
2:30 pm: Dorado River Exploration and Sunset Excursion – This afternoon we will take a magical journey through the “Jungle of the Mirrors,” where towering trees are reflected in the dark river. We move on to the Dorado River where you may observe enchanting parrots, macaws and a variety of primates, unperturbed by our presence. As we make our way back to the Aria Amazon, you may see alligators, frogs and fishing bats.
5:30 pm: Return to the Aria Amazon / Free time
7:00 Dinner: Dinner
8:00 pm: Free time and socializing until turning in for the night.
7:00 am: Picnic Breakfast – The rewards of our early start today are plentiful, including a breakfast picnic accompanied by a symphony of real-life jungle sounds.
8:30 am: Expedition Along the Pacaya River: after eating, we will continue our 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 and birds, including large parrots, macaws, herons and storks and many species of primates like the capuchin, howler monkeys and squirrel monkeys, which can be quite funny.
You will have the opportunity to visit and fish in some of the most beautiful lakes in the protected reserve and meet some of the friendly local people who take care of the reserve’s natural resources. Your nature guides will also 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 ship, and as we return to the Aria, you will be able to see the famous Ceiba tree, the tallest in the Amazon.
1:30 pm: Return to Aria Amazon / Free time
2:30 pm: Exploring the Ucayali & Tapiche Rivers: During this skiff expedition, keep your 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 – not to mention banana boats transporting their jungle products to the port of Requena.
5:30 pm: Return to Aria Amazon / Free time
7:00 pm: Dinner: We will gather for innovative Amazonian cuisine created by the Aria’s executive chef.
8:00 pm: Free time to socialize and enjoy the ship’s facilities before turning in for the night.
7:00 am: Breakfast – On board the Aria, enjoy a light breakfast consisting of homemade baked goods, Peruvian specialties, hot coffee, and fresh juice.
8:00 am: Expedition Along the Clavero or Yarapa Rivers – This morning, you can choose to go jungle walking, canoeing or kayaking or swimming on the black waters of the Yarapa or Clavero rivers. We will sail on these waters where villagers paddle in their traditional dugout canoes. You may wish to swim in one of the lake’s calm waters and visit the community to interact with these Amazonian neighbors, who will be pleased to welcome you.
11:00 am: Return to the Aria Amazon – From this point, we start sailing downriver toward Iquitos.
12:00 pm: Lunch – Lunch and presentation in the lounge by the Aria’s naturalist guides.
1:30 pm: Village Visit: We sail along the great Amazon River, observing the flora and fauna, then stop at a riverside community that actively conserves the forest’s natural resources and their own ancestral customs.
4:30 pm: Return to the Aria Amazon / Free Time – Once back on board, the ship will continue its journey downriver, sailing toward Iquitos on the Amazon River through the night.
8:00 pm: Crew Introductions – Before dinner, you can meet in the lounge with the naturalist guides for the Crew Presentation. The guides will introduce you to crew members who you may not have already met. These are the people who work “behind the scenes” to ensure that your trip is filled with countless exceptional experiences.
7:00 pm: Dinner
8:00 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: Market Excursion – Depending on the weather, we will visit the traditional Bellavista Nanay market, on the bank of the Nanay River, to view and sample products of the Peruvian Amazon, including exotic snacks like the Amazon Caterpillar. Called “Suri,” these thick insects live in palm trees and are considered an appetizing snack for people in the Amazon …even 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 – 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 with the assistance of the crew, this afternoon you 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 will 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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