8-day Amazon River Luxury Cruise From Iquitos On The 'zafiro'

Itinerary

Day 1: Day 1 - Saturday: NAUTA - SAN JOAQUÍN DE OMAGUAS - AMAZON RIVER

Stop At: Iquitos, Iquitos, Loreto Region
You’ll be picked up at the airport and brought to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels Iquitos where you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch before being transferred by private vehicle to Nauta to board the cruise ship.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Nauta, Nauta, Loreto Region
Our staff will show you to your suite, which will be equipped with comfortable beds, 100% Peruvian Pima cotton sheets, cotton bathrobes, air conditioning and a private bathroom with a shower and amenities.

Before setting sail, our bartender will serve you a cocktail prepared with local fruit and pisco, the most popular liquor in Peru. You can sip it while enjoying 360° views from the observation deck or a panoramic view from the indoor or outdoor lounge.

After setting sail, our naturalist guides will offer an overview of the travel itinerary, including activities, routes, information about wildlife and vegetation, geographical and historical context, as well as other useful info. If you have any doubts or concerns, our guides are always available to answer your questions.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: San Joaquin de Omaguas, Las Begonias 154, Iquitos 16008, Peru
We’ll then enjoy the welcome dinner. Start your journey by sampling the house wines and dining Peruvian cuisine with an Amazon flare. There are many options on our menu, including vegetarian alternatives. Please let us know in advance if you have any special dietary needs.

After dinner, you’ll be able to take in stunning views of the starry night sky while we start our journey to San Joaquín de Omaguas.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Cruise Zafiro

Day 2: Sunday: PACAYA SAMIRIA NATIONAL RESERVE -AMAZON RIVER -UCAYALI AND MARAÑÓN RIVER CONFLUENCE -MARAÑÓN RIVER -NAUTA CREEK

Stop At: Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Saint Tomas # 410 San Juan Bautista Distrit, 00512 Peru
Before breakfast, you can go out for a boating expedition on the Amazon River to explore the local flora and fauna.

When you get back, you’ll enjoy our breakfast buffet, which offers a daily selection of traditional dishes, Peruvian specialties, freshly baked goods and freshly squeezed juices.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Ucayali River, Peru
After breakfast, we’ll hear a talk on the source of the Amazon River and later head out to see the confluence of the Ucayali y Marañón rivers. We’ll then take a walk to Puerto Prado to see the “Victoria Regias”, the largest water lily in the world. There, we’ll also see a market set up by women from the community to sell their handmade crafts.

By midday, we’ll be back at the boat for some lunch and rest before heading out to Nauta Caño, where you’ll see the “Forrest of Mirrors”. This is the perfect place to spot toucans, parrots, macaws, iguanas, sloths and monkeys in the treetops.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Marañón River, Peru
Before heading back on board, we’ll take a nighttime outing in search of caimans, tarantulas and other species that make an appearance only after the sun goes down.

Dinner will then be served aboard the Zafiro.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Cruise Zafiro

Day 3: Day 3 - Monday: MARAÑÓN RIVER - YANAYACU DE PUCATE - SAN REGIS

Stop At: Yanayacu, 16310, Peru
After having some breakfast, we’ll take a skiff out on the Yanayacu de Pucate River and do some piranha fishing using local techniques.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: San Regis, 16300, Peru
We’ll then head back for lunch aboard the Zafiro. Before starting the afternoon activity, there will be a talk about the philosophy of the Amazon.

Afterward, we’ll take a walk over hanging bridges, where you can admire the riches of the rainforest from the treetops.

Once we’re back on the Zafiro, there will be time for resting and enjoying live music while we await the gala dinner with the captain.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Cruise Zafiro

Day 4: Day 4 - Tuesday: MARAÑÓN RIVER - SAMIRIA RIVER - SAN REGIS

Stop At: Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Saint Tomas # 410 San Juan Bautista Distrit, 00512 Peru
In the morning, we’ll enjoy a nice picnic on the Samiria River, where you’ll be able to kayak and swim in the black waters. We’ll head back to the boat for lunch by midday.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: San Regis, 16300, Peru
After resting, our guides will offer some information about the myths and legends of the Amazon, which will help during our afternoon activity: a visit to the local San Regis community, where we’ll learn about the local way of life and traditions.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: San Regis, 16300, Peru
We’ll also learn about their ancestral traditions with a shaman. With our guides as interpreters, you’ll be able to ask questions about spiritual connections and healing the soul. We’ll then continue the ceremony by planting a tree as a positive contribution to the environment.

After returning to the Zafiro, there will be live music and dinner.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Cruise Zafiro

Day 5: Day 5 - Wednesday: MARAÑÓN RIVER - NAUTA - CASUAL - PAHUACHIRO

Stop At: Nauta, Nauta, Loreto Region
Before breakfast, we’ll visit Nauta, the second-largest city in the region. Upon arriving, we’ll take a motorcycle taxi to the local market where you’ll see what business in the city is like firsthand.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Laguna Sapi sapi, Nauta 16300, Peru
Later, we’ll visit the Sapi Sapi lagoon, where arapaima, the secondlargest freshwater fish in the world, are raised. Discover a new habitat surrounded by fruit trees. We’ll also see Arrau turtles, butterflies and different species of birds and fish that call this lagoon home.

After, we’ll head back to the Zafiro for breakfast.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Nauta, Nauta, Loreto Region
We’ll then walk to Casual in search of wildlife, such as poison dart frogs and other exotic species. In this area, we’ll see giant trees known as avatar trees.

We’ll have lunch at midday and then rest up for the afternoon activity: an outing on the skiff to explore the area of Pahuachiro and its wildlife. We’ll then head back to the boat for some free time until dinner.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Cruise Zafiro

Day 6: Day 6 - Thursday: UCAYALI RIVER - BAGAZÁN LAKE - YUCURICHI

Stop At: Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Saint Tomas # 410 San Juan Bautista Distrit, 00512 Peru
After breakfast, we’ll take a walk through Yucuruchi, around the Ucayali River in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, where we’ll see many native animal species. Before midday, we’ll head back to the boat for a cooking demonstration by the executive chef.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Saint Tomas # 410 San Juan Bautista Distrit, 00512 Peru
After lunch, there will be a talk for anyone interested on the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve and in the afternoon you can join the kayaking and swimming on the river or the expedition on the skiff to Bagazán Lake.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Ucayali River, Peru
Before dinner, there will be time to enjoy live music from the boat’s band, which will play a varied repertoire of Amazonian, national and international music.

Later, we’ll take a nighttime outing on the Ucayali river in search of caymans, lizards and other nighttime species.
Duration: 3 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Cruise Zafiro

Day 7: Day 7 - Friday: UCAYALI RIVER - YARAPA RIVER - AMAZON RIVER - MARAÑÓN RIVER

Stop At: Ucayali River, Peru
Before breakfast, we’ll set out to explore the Yarapa River, where the infamous pink and gray river dolphins swim in the black waters.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Ucayali River, Peru
We’ll then head back to the boat for breakfast on board before visiting the community of Vista Alegre. We’ll see how the locals live and learn more about their customs with our guides, who will act as interpreters. Here, we’ll get to see their butterfly park. After lunch, we’ll take the skiff out on the Amazon River to enjoy the stunning colors of the sunset.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Marañón River, Peru
Back on the Zafiro, you’ll have some time to relax and enjoy live music before a presentation by the crew and the goodbye dinner.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Cruise Zafiro

Day 8: Day 8 - Saturday: DISEMBARK IN NAUTA

Stop At: Amazon Rescue Center, Carr. Iquitos-Nauta Km 4, 5,, Iquitos 16000 Peru
After breakfast, we’ll begin disembarking. On the way to the airport, we’ll stop by the Amazon Rescue Center (CREA), where biologists and volunteers take care of manatees – an endangered species – rescued by the authorities. We’ll see how the manatees are cared for and prepped for reinsertion into their natural habitat. We’ll also get to see other animals that have been rescued from attempts to turn them into pets and other dangerous situations.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Iquitos, Iquitos, Loreto Region
Afterward, you’ll be transferred to the airport.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.