Peru Luxury Travel

The Pacaya Samiria National Reserve spans more than five million acres, making it twice the size of Yellowstone Park—and is rich with wildlife and aquatic life. In winter, when the river is high, visitors can explore the small inlets and various winding river systems that make up the Reserve’s flooded forest. In summer, the river recedes and beautiful sandy river beaches form. Only about 30,000 people live in this vast tract of land. You will have the chance to meet some of them. In addition, park rangers will show you some of the conservation and sustainability projects that are part of this vast reserve.

Over the next four days, you will also sail along the two largest tributaries of the Amazon: the Ucayali and the Marañon, as well as on the mighty Amazon itself. You are embarking on a spectacular adventure, to a place visited by only a few of even the most experienced world travelers.

The M/V Aqua luxury riverboat is a 24-passenger vessel offering comfortable over-sized suites with private bathrooms, an observation lounge and a scenic, air conditioned dining room in addition to an onboard bar, outside lounge, and boutique.

TRIP STYLE

PHYSICAL DIFFICULTY

Day 1: Arrival in Iquitos / Embarkation / Amazon River

• Upon arrival into Iquitos, you will board an air-conditioned bus and transfer to Iquitos’ main dock where the M/V Aqua awaits your arrival.
• As you settle into your over-sized suite, your vessel will start on its journey toward the Yanayacu River, deep in the heart of Amazonia.
• Following a routine safety drill and a brief orientation about life on board, you will have your first culinary experience aboard. Dinner will consist of Peruvian cuisine with a European flair accompanied by fine South American wines to toast the beginning of a beautiful journey.

Day 2: Amazon and Tahuayo Rivers / Charo Lake

• We recommend an early start in order to catch the sunrise on the river while you enjoy our sumptuous daily breakfast buffet featuring a broad choice of traditional breakfast egg dishes, plus Peruvian specialties and fresh-squeezed fruit juices.
• This morning you will board our comfortable excursion skiffs for your first adventure: exploring the Tahuayo black water river where you will spot a vast variety of wildlife: terns, orioles, blackbirds, black collared hawks, monkeys, and sloth. Upon arrival at Charo Lake, we will try to catch one of Amazonia’s fearsome piranhas.
• After enjoying a light mid-day fare in our air-conditioned dining room, you will be taken to the Yacapana Islands (‘Iguana Islands’) where you will encounter the huge population of these reptiles—like tiny dinosaurs—crawling over the ground and resting in tree tops. As the sun sets, you will have the chance to see and photograph both gray and pink freshwater dolphins.
• We will continue our journey upstream, toward where the Ucayali, and Amazon Rivers merge, while sipping our pre-dinner pisco sours.

Day 3: Marañon River / Pacaya-Samira National Reserve

Today you will choose between two options:

Option 1: Full-Day Excursion with a Picnic Lunch at Ranger Station No. 2

• Travel by skiff from Yanayacu Creek all the way to remote Chingana, a small creek where giant river otter usually nest. You will also see howler and capuchin monkeys, the squirrel-sized monkeys called tamarins, pink and gray river dolphins, and a vast variety of birds as well as the famous Kapok Trees.
• You will conclude your adventure with a generous picnic lunch at the park Ranger Station No. 2, before returning back to the vessel.

Option 2: Guided Jungle Walk / Siesta / Monkey and Dolphin Expedition

• This morning you will visit a village where locals are planting palms to obtain oil as you learn about sustainable resource management projects in Amazonia. The ranger may also show you the artificial nests created on the sand to protect turtle eggs.
• After a delicious lunch followed by a rejuvenating siesta, you will be taken on a late afternoon expedition where you are likely to see two different kinds of freshwater dolphins, several kinds of primates, alligators, and many of the 200 species of birds found within the National Park.

In the afternoon, you will return to the vessel where you will enjoy a fabulous dinner created by the talented M/V Aqua culinary staff.

• In the evening, you can take part in an optional night excursion as we take the skiffs out in search of caimans, tree boas, tarantulas and frogs.

Day 4: Birthplace of the Amazon River / Puerto Miguel Village / Marayali River

• This morning we will rise early and be on the skiffs at 5:30 a.m. to view one of the great spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere: the sun rising over the birthplace of the Amazon River. Your dawn excursion will be accompanied by abundant bird song from the river banks populated by large-billed terns, laughing falcons, gray tanagers, sandpipers, five kinds of parakeets, the exotic short-tailed parrot and dozens of other birds.
• After breakfast, we will travel by skiff to Puerto Miguel native village where you can meet and interact with local villagers to learn a bit more about the culture, traditions and folklore from this most remote part of the world.
• After lunch, we will travel by skiff along the Ucayali River to Yucuruche Lake, where we will walk a little ways into the jungle to see the world’s largest aquatic plant: giant water lilies or “Victoria Regias”.

Day 5: Ucayali River / Yanallpa Area

• This morning we will go in search of the bizarre-looking birds called “hoatzins”, which live in huge colonies in Jurassic Park-like lake.
• This afternoon we will cruise the majestic Ucayali River, giving you a chance to see and meet native balseros, or fishermen, who will demonstrate their skill and let you see their catch—including a type of “armored” catfish with a shell-like skin—which they take to the market in the small village of Requena.
• After a delightful dinner, you will be taken on a guided night tour where you will see several types of caiman, members of the alligator family, along the fish-rich Sapote River. Chances are good that we will surprise other night-dwelling creatures as well.

Day 6: Puinahua River / Hatum Posa Lake / Pacaya River

• Today you will take a jungle walk near the Hatum Posa Village where you will learn how native subsistence farmers cultivate wild plants and trees to earn farm income as well as discover the wealth of fruit trees and medicinal plants hidden deep within the jungle.
• After a tasty lunch, we will take our skiffs along the Pacaya River where you can view the abundant life that is hidden in the deep rainforest: saki monkeys, capuchin monkeys and the easy-to-spot heavy howler monkeys. When night falls, we will use our special spotlight torches to locate night creatures.

Day 7: Puinahua and Pacaya Rivers / Carocurahuayte Lake

• This morning you will enjoy breakfast on the skiffs while being entertained by parrots, macaws, toucans, and many different types of monkeys. We will also go to the dolphin feeding spots along Yanayacu Lake.
• On our homeward journey toward Iquitos, we will visit a special place on this fish-rich river, where you will catch some of the more than 3,000 species of tropical fish that live in the Amazon Basin.
• The night will conclude with a farewell dinner, a final gourmet feast in the ship’s dining room.

Day 8: Arrive in Iquitos / Disembarkation / Iquitos City Tour/ Transfer to Airport

• In the early morning, you will be given the option of one last brief skiff trip along the majestic Amazon.
• After a light lunch, we will disembark in the remote city of Iquitos for a city tour and stop at San Juan Market for some last-minute shopping.
• You will be transferred to the Iquitos International Airport, where your guides will help you check-in and wait with you until your flight departs.

Note: All itineraries are subject to change, due to weather and other conditions.
*The above itinerary is for travel from June to November. If traveling December through May please see the variation below.

(DEC-MAY)

Day 2: Amazon and Yanayacu Rivers / Corrientes Lakes / Yarapa River

• We recommend an early start in order to catch the sunrise on the river while you enjoy our sumptuous daily breakfast buffet featuring a broad choice of traditional breakfast egg dishes, plus Peruvian specialties and fresh-squeezed fruit juices.
• This morning you will board our comfortable excursion skiffs for your first adventure, exploring the Yanayacu (“black water”) River where you will spot a vast variety of wildlife: terns, orioles, blackbirds, black collared hawks, monkeys, and sloth. Upon arrival at Corrientes Lake, we will try to catch one of Amazonia’s fearsome piranhas.
• After enjoying a light mid-day fare in our air-conditioned dining room, you will be taken to the Yarapa River where you are likely to spot squirrel monkeys, herons, egrets, and the unusual horned screamer. As soon as it is dark enough, we will turn the spotlight on to search for night wildlife—nighthawks, frogs, opossums, tarantulas, and caimans are easily spotted along this part of the river.
• We will continue our journey upstream, toward the headwaters of the Amazon River, where the Ucayali, Marañon, and the Amazon Rivers merge, while sipping our pre-dinner pisco sours.

Day 5: Ucayali / Yanallpa Area / Dorado Rivers / Pacaya-Samira National Reserve

• This morning we will board the skiffs to explore this amazing black water stream known as a “gallery forest” because of its narrow vegetation. There we will spot parrots, macaws and fluffy monk saki monkeys.
• This afternoon we will take a magical journey through the “Mirrored Forest”, seeing towering trees reflected in the black water river while spotting dozens of enchanting parrots, blue-yellow macaws, a great variety of primates and sloth, caimans, frogs and fishing bats.

Day 6: Puinahua River / Hatum Posa Lake / Pacaya River

• This morning we will rise early to cruise this beautiful and intricate ox-bow lake and surrounding black waters where we will encounter several kinds of monkeys and many types of birds, including terns, neo-tropic cormorants, egrets, herons, hawks, and our favorite: horned screamers.
• You will experience a jungle walk near the Hatum Posa Village where you will learn how native subsistence farmers cultivate wild plants and trees to earn farm income as well as discover the wealth of fruit trees and medicinal plants hidden deep within the jungle.
• After a tasty lunch, we will take our skiffs along the Pacaya River where you can view the abundant life that is hidden in the deep rainforest: saki and capuchin monkeys and the easy-to-spot heavy howler monkeys. When night falls, we will use our special spotlight torches to locate night creatures.

• All tours started in the itinerary
• All transfers and entrance fees
• All meals
• English speaking tour guides

M/V Aqua is 130-foot luxury river expedition vessel. Its 12 luxury guest suites, designed by an internationally renowned Peruvian interior designer, measure a generous 230 to 240 square feet, and feature large, outward facing panoramic windows and en suite sitting areas. All suites are air conditioned, and four are interconnected to cater to families. Guests can socialize in the dining room, bar, on the observation deck and in the outdoor lounge. There is also a small boutique. You'll be served by a crew of 16, plus three skilled English-speaking guides. Rates include all excursions, meals, and wine with meals.

Facilities and Services:
Restaurant, bar, observation deck, outdoor lounge, boutique and English-speaking guides.