Luxury Amazon River Cruises

Exploring the Amazon rainforest by luxury riverboat is one of life’s inspiring travel experiences - you can see this vital ecosystem for yourself and see just how important it is for the protection of the planet. 

The small boats we recommend ensure your experience is very comfortable with air-conditioning, superb cuisine and expert guides helping you explore the wildlife, local villages, rivers and streams - on foot or by local canoe.  

The high water season in the rainforest is from November to May, when you are closer to the forest canopy enabling superb photo opportunities of the birds, wildlife and flooded forest. Most off shore excursions will be on a local canoe and not on shore. There are also more mosquitoes at this time.

The low water season is from June to October. This period is great if you like guided treks in the jungle. It is hotter, but you have the benefit of fewer mosquitoes. 

Cruises operate from Iquitos or the port of Nauta, about 2 hours drive south of Iquitos (a domestic flight away from Lima or Cusco). Once on board, you will explore Pacaya Samiri National Reserve, visiting local villages and meeting the local indigenous communities. You can also enjoy a spot of fishing.

The highlight of your experience is exploring the flora, fauna and incredible wildlife and birds. The Amazon region has over 500 species of birds, over 100 mammal species, over 60 species of reptiles and amphibians. Observe toucans, macaws, parrots, tamarin monkeys, black alligators, pink river dolphins, giant otters, sloths, and caiman..and more during your cruise.

Each day on your cruise you will enjoy a morning and afternoon guided excursion, either by local canoe or a walking tour of the jungle. Observe the forest canopy from an observation tower and a special highlight is returning to the jungle at night, when the sounds of the wildlife abound; you will feel you are in another world!

There is also ample time on a cruise to relax; each boat we feature has a sun deck with loungers. There is nothing more enjoyable than enjoying your favourite pre-dinner cocktail on the sun deck, with lively conversations with your fellow travellers on the day’s sightings and adventures.

The riverboats vary in size from Delfin 1 with only 8 passengers up to Aqua Nera and Delfin III with about 40 passengers per cruise. The smaller ships can be chartered for small groups.

Cruises offered are either 3 or 4 nights. For full details of the ships we recommend, please click here.