Amazon River Expedition Cruise

Luxury Amazon cruise:

Amazon River Expedition Cruise

Year round

From £8,380pp

Cruise & Stay

10 Nights

Amazon River in Iquitos

Marañón River, Amazon

Dracaena or caiman lizard, Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Peru

anaconda, Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Peru

Town on the shore of the Yanayacu River in the Amazon

Marañón River, Amazon

Traditional stilt houses at riversides in Amazon, Peru

kingfisher, Amazon, Peru

giant water lilies, Amazon, Peru

caiman in the Tahuayo River, Peru

Iquitos, Peru

Aqua Nera

Aqua Nera suite

Aqua Nera pool deck

Aqua Nera lounge

Pullman Lima Miraflores

Pullman Lima Miraflores room

Aerial view of Miraflores Malecon park, Lima, Peru

Venture deep into the Peruvian Amazon aboard the luxury Aqua Nera, exploring remote tributaries teeming with extraordinary wildlife

Few places on Earth rival the sheer biological richness of the Peruvian Amazon, where every bend in the river reveals something astonishing. This 11-day expedition combines the cosmopolitan charm of Lima with a seven-night voyage aboard the Aqua Nera, one of the most sophisticated vessels ever to navigate Amazonian waters. Begin with an overnight stay in Peru’s capital before flying north to Iquitos, the gateway to a vast wilderness accessible only by river and air.

Once aboard, days unfold with purpose and wonder — expert naturalist guides lead twice-daily excursions by skiff into flooded forests, mirror-still oxbow lakes, and winding tributaries where pink river dolphins surface alongside your boat. Glide past troops of squirrel monkeys leaping through the canopy, watch caimans basking on muddy banks, and listen for the resonant call of howler monkeys at dawn. The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, one of the largest protected wetlands in South America, serves as your playground for nearly a week.

Back on board, the Aqua Nera pampers with spacious suites, panoramic lounges, and Amazonian-inspired cuisine prepared by an onboard chef. Whether kayaking through flooded igapó forest, visiting a remote ribereño village, or simply watching the sunset paint the river gold from your private balcony, this is the Amazon at its most refined and revelatory.

Itinerary highlights

Cruise seven nights aboard the Aqua Nera, Aqua Expeditions' flagship Amazon vessel, featuring expansive suites with floor-to-ceiling windows

Explore the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, a vast protected wetland home to pink river dolphins, giant otters, and hundreds of bird species

Embark on twice-daily skiff excursions led by expert naturalist guides through flooded forests, oxbow lakes, and remote tributaries

Encounter remarkable wildlife including caimans, three-toed sloths, macaws, and troops of monkeys in their natural habitat

Visit a traditional ribereño community in Nauta to learn about indigenous customs and daily life along the river

Navigate the confluence of the Marañón and Ucayali rivers, where these mighty waterways merge to form the Amazon

Savour locally inspired Amazonian cuisine prepared onboard, complemented by premium beverages and sunset cocktails on deck

Spend an overnight in Lima, Peru's vibrant capital, and discover the culinary and cultural highlights of this coastal metropolis

Itinerary image

Venture deep into the Peruvian Amazon aboard the luxury Aqua Nera, exploring remote tributaries teeming with extraordinary wildlife

Few places on Earth rival the sheer biological richness of the Peruvian Amazon, where every bend in the river reveals something astonishing. This 11-day expedition combines the cosmopolitan charm of Lima with a seven-night voyage aboard the Aqua Nera, one of the most sophisticated vessels ever to navigate Amazonian waters. Begin with an overnight stay in Peru’s capital before flying north to Iquitos, the gateway to a vast wilderness accessible only by river and air.

Once aboard, days unfold with purpose and wonder — expert naturalist guides lead twice-daily excursions by skiff into flooded forests, mirror-still oxbow lakes, and winding tributaries where pink river dolphins surface alongside your boat. Glide past troops of squirrel monkeys leaping through the canopy, watch caimans basking on muddy banks, and listen for the resonant call of howler monkeys at dawn. The Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, one of the largest protected wetlands in South America, serves as your playground for nearly a week.

Back on board, the Aqua Nera pampers with spacious suites, panoramic lounges, and Amazonian-inspired cuisine prepared by an onboard chef. Whether kayaking through flooded igapó forest, visiting a remote ribereño village, or simply watching the sunset paint the river gold from your private balcony, this is the Amazon at its most refined and revelatory.

Itinerary image

Itinerary highlights

Cruise seven nights aboard the Aqua Nera, Aqua Expeditions' flagship Amazon vessel, featuring expansive suites with floor-to-ceiling windows

Explore the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, a vast protected wetland home to pink river dolphins, giant otters, and hundreds of bird species

Embark on twice-daily skiff excursions led by expert naturalist guides through flooded forests, oxbow lakes, and remote tributaries

Encounter remarkable wildlife including caimans, three-toed sloths, macaws, and troops of monkeys in their natural habitat

Visit a traditional ribereño community in Nauta to learn about indigenous customs and daily life along the river

Navigate the confluence of the Marañón and Ucayali rivers, where these mighty waterways merge to form the Amazon

Savour locally inspired Amazonian cuisine prepared onboard, complemented by premium beverages and sunset cocktails on deck

Spend an overnight in Lima, Peru's vibrant capital, and discover the culinary and cultural highlights of this coastal metropolis

Day 1

Your journey begins

Depart London on your overnight flight to Lima, soaring across the Atlantic towards South America. Settle into the journey with anticipation as one of the planet's most extraordinary wilderness experiences awaits — the vast, untamed waterways of the Peruvian Amazon.

Day 2

Lima

Arrive in Lima and transfer to the Pullman Lima Miraflores, ideally situated in the upscale Miraflores district overlooking the Pacific. The remainder of the day is yours to explore this captivating coastal city at your own pace, perhaps wandering the clifftop Malecón, browsing the artisan markets of Larcomar, or sampling the capital's celebrated ceviche at a local restaurant.

Day 3

Lima to Iquitos, embark Aqua Nera

Rise early for your flight north to Iquitos, the world's largest city inaccessible by road, surrounded on all sides by dense rainforest. On arrival, transfer overland to the river port of Nauta, where the sleek Aqua Nera awaits at her mooring. Step aboard this remarkable vessel and settle into your spacious suite before the ship slips quietly onto the water, beginning your seven-night voyage into the heart of the Amazon basin.

Day 4

Amazonas River and Tahuayo River

Wake to the chorus of the rainforest as the Aqua Nera navigates the broad Amazonas River. Board expedition skiffs to explore the Tahuayo River, one of the most wildlife-rich tributaries in the region, scanning overhanging branches for sloths and the water's edge for caimans. Your naturalist guide points out iridescent kingfishers darting above the surface, while pink river dolphins may appear alongside your boat in the tea-coloured waters.

Day 5

Clavero Lake and Ucayali River

Today's explorations centre on Clavero Lake, a tranquil oxbow lake reached via the mighty Ucayali River. Paddle quietly through the still waters, where giant water lilies spread across the surface and hoatzins peer down from tangled branches. Piranha fishing offers an exhilarating diversion, while the patient observer may be rewarded with sightings of giant river otters hunting in the shallows — one of the Amazon's most charismatic and endangered species.

Day 6

Nauta Town, village visit

Disembark this morning for a visit to a traditional ribereño community near Nauta, gaining genuine insight into daily life along the Amazon. Meet local families, learn about traditional fishing techniques and medicinal plant use, and see how these resilient communities thrive in harmony with the river's seasonal rhythms. The afternoon brings further skiff excursions into the surrounding waterways, where the biodiversity continues to astound.

Day 7

Marañón River and Yanayacu Pucate River

Navigate the Marañón River, one of the Amazon's principal tributaries, before turning into the quieter channels of the Yanayacu Pucate River. The flooded forest here teems with life — look for monk saki monkeys high in the canopy, vibrant poison dart frogs on fallen logs, and the prehistoric-looking anhinga drying its wings on a riverside branch. A twilight excursion offers the chance to spot caimans and nocturnal creatures by torchlight.

Day 8

Samiria River, Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

Venture deep into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, often called the mirror of the jungle for its breathtaking reflections on the water's surface. Explore the Samiria River by skiff, navigating channels fringed by towering ceiba trees and alive with birdcall. This vast reserve protects over 450 bird species and 100 mammal species, making every excursion here a masterclass in tropical biodiversity. Return to the Aqua Nera for an evening lecture on Amazonian conservation.

Day 9

Puerto Prado and Amazon River

Spend your final full day on the water at Puerto Prado, a remote outpost where the Samiria River meets the Marañón. Morning excursions may include kayaking through flooded forest, casting a fishing line for peacock bass, or a guided nature walk along forest trails rich with medicinal plants and towering hardwoods. Savour a farewell dinner on board as the Aqua Nera glides along the Amazon River beneath a canopy of equatorial stars.

Day 10

Nauta, disembark and depart

Disembark the Aqua Nera at Nauta and transfer overland to Iquitos airport, carrying with you the sounds and images of a truly unforgettable week on the river. Fly south to Lima, where you connect with your overnight flight back to London, the dense green wilderness of the Amazon already beginning to feel like a vivid and remarkable dream.

Day 11

Arrive home

Arrive in London, bringing to a close an extraordinary Amazon expedition that has taken you from the Pacific shores of Lima to the wild heart of South America's greatest river system.

What's Included

International return flights from the UK (upgrade options available)
Domestic flights
Seamless ground transfers
Meals as indicated
Twice-daily excursions with expert local guides in the Amazon, including Pacaya-Samiria entrance fee
Onboard snacks and selected beverages
Onboard laundry

Dates & Pricing

This itinerary is available year round. Prices are per person based on two sharing. Please contact us for exact departure dates and availability.

Year round from £8,380 pp

What's Included

International return flights from the UK (upgrade options available)
Domestic flights
Seamless ground transfers
Meals as indicated
Twice-daily excursions with expert local guides in the Amazon, including Pacaya-Samiria entrance fee
Onboard snacks and selected beverages
Onboard laundry

Dates & Pricing

This itinerary is available year round. Prices are per person based on two sharing. Please contact us for exact departure dates and availability.

Year round from £8,380 pp

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Every journey I plan starts with a conversation. Tell me what excites you, what you've always dreamed of experiencing, and I'll craft something extraordinary. The best expeditions begin with a single question: What would make this unforgettable for you?

Ashley | Expedition Planner