MV ARIA AMAZON LUXURY CRUISE: : November - May

The 147-foot-long, Aria Amazon is a masterpiece of boat engineering, custom-built by renowned Peruvian architect Jordi Puig to cruise the Amazon. This is a truly luxurious cruise ship operating on the Amazon River in Northern Peru, offering an extraordinary level of comfort for its lucky guests. The Aria Amazon cruise is known as the best of the best in all categories.
3 night cruise on the Amazon River aboard the Aria Amazon begins in the remote colonial city of Iquitos(IQT), Peru and transports guests in exceptional comfort deep into the Amazon rainforest, along the Marañon River, the Amazon’s largest tributary, as well as other neighboring rivers (the Yarapa and Yanayacu-Pucate), each one rich in vibrant wildlife and thriving rainforests.
Go fishing for the many species of Amazon fish, explore into the dense jungle on foot in search of three-toed sloths, toucans, macaws then come back to the comfort of our skiffs to meet taricaya turtles in their natural habitat and hunt for endangered pink dolphins, unique to the Amazon, at play. As the Aria Amazon journeys towards the union of the Ucayali and the Marañon Rivers, considered the birthplace of the Amazon, learn from our experienced, English speaking naturalist guides about the diverse Amazon wildlife and birds of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. The path the river cruise takes changes depending on the water level as shown below.

Day 01 FRIDAY: LIMA -IQUITOS – AMAZON RIVER

We will meet at Iquitos International Airport then enjoy lunch together at a local restaurant or we will serve a box lunch en route, depending on the flight arrival time. The afternoon continues with an introduction to this historic city and the opportunity to meet an indigenous Amazon community. At 6:00pm we will board the ARIA AMAZON. Settle into your generously proportioned suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures. Following a routine safety drill and introduction to our naturalist guides, we gather for innovative Amazonian cuisine created by our Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, Malabar, is the one of Lima’s top ranked dining experiences.
(Lunch, dinner included)

Day 02 SATURDAY: AMAZON RIVER – YARAPA RIVER – NAUTA CAÑO

Aboard our comfortable skiffs, we set sail from the Amazon River to the Yarapa River. Keep your binoculars ready to spot tropical songbirds, black collared hawks and sloths. We’ll go fishing for Amazonia’s notoriously ferocious piranhas while our naturalist guides share stories of Lake Moringo. As the sun sets, we head off on an evening’s wildlife excursion with extraordinary stargazing on the black waters of Nauta Caño. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included)

Day 03 SUNDAY: MARAÑON CREEK – CASUAL JUNGLE WALK – YANAYACU-PUCATE

Rise with the sun for an early morning birdwatching along the Marañon River. After breakfast, we will take a jungle walk on the firm soil forest “Casual,” while looking for flora and fauna which include medicinal trees, insects, and poison dart frogs, and learning more about the different rainforest stratas. Later, swim, canoe or kayak in Yanayacu-Pucate River as we look for legendary pink river dolphins. Focus our hi-tech telescope on the night sky to identify the planets and constellations. This evening before dinner, we will gather to introduce you to some of the crewmembers whom you may not have met, working “behind the scenes” to ensure your countless exceptional experiences aboard the ARIA AMAZON. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included)

Day 04 MONDAY: NAUTA TOWN – MANATEE RESCUE CENTER – IQUITOS – LIMA

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. Return to the ARIA for breakfast and to pack up. 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. We will also visit San Juan craft market on route to the airport. (Breakfast)

NOTES: This itinerary is for reference only. It is subject to change, due to weather and other conditions.
Also on request itineraries of 4 and 7 nights