Departure on Saturdays
ITINERARY
(SATURDAY) DAY 01: AMAZON RIVER
Airport pickup and transfer to the Doubletree by Hilton hotel, where you'll enjoy a delicious lunch. During the transfer by private vehicle to the main port of Iquitos for your ferry, we'll take a panoramic city tour.
Our staff will escort you to your specially equipped suite, furnished with all the comforts: comfortable beds, pure Peruvian Pima cotton sheets, bathrobes, air conditioning, a private bathroom with shower, and toiletries. Before setting sail, our bartender will serve you a cocktail made with local fruits and pisco, Peru's most popular national spirit. Don't miss the opportunity to savor it while enjoying a 360-degree view from the observation deck.
Once we set sail and before the welcome dinner, the naturalist guides will give us an overview of the trip program, including activities, routes, information about wildlife and vegetation, geographical and historical background, and other useful details. If you have any questions, our guides will always be available to assist you.
Welcome dinner. Start your trip with a Peruvian gastronomic experience with Amazonian influences.
The menu offers several options, including a vegetarian alternative. Please let us know of any special dietary requirements in advance. After dinner, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the starry sky as we begin our journey deep into the Amazon rainforest.
(SUNDAY) DAY 02: AMAZON RIVER - KUKAMA NATIVE RESERVE - SOURCE OF THE AMAZON - MARAÑON RIVER - CASUAL - NAUTA CAÑO
Before breakfast, embark on a boat excursion along the Amazon River to explore the flora and fauna of the area.
Back on the ship you can enjoy our breakfast buffet, which offers a daily selection of traditional dishes, Peruvian specialties, freshly baked homemade products and a variety of freshly prepared juices.
After breakfast, we'll be ready to begin a new excursion to the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón rivers, where these two rivers meet to form the Amazon River. At this point, we may observe gray and pink river dolphins.
Before noon, we'll return to the boat for lunch on board, followed by some free time. It's important that you attend the talk about the origin of the Amazon and the hydrography of its rivers. Afterward, we'll begin a hike in the tropical zone, where we'll look for species such as snakes and reptiles, anacondas, poison dart frogs, anoles, giant ants, and much more.
Return to the ship, live music and dinner on board.
After dinner, we will take a night excursion within the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve on the Nauta River, searching for caimans, tarantulas, tree frogs, transparent-bellied frogs, and other nocturnal species.
(MONDAY) DAY 03: YANAYACU DE PUCATE - LAGUNA JAPÓN - YANAYAQUILLO - SAN REGIS - AMAZONIAN NATURAL PARK
At dawn, we'll depart by boat to reach Laguna de Japón (Japan Lagoon). There, we'll enjoy a picnic breakfast and appreciate one of the best-preserved and protected areas of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. This area is popular for observing the curious pink river dolphins. Before returning to the Zafiro, we'll explore the Yanaquillo ravine.
Once on the boat, we'll get ready for our kayaking trip. We'll experience the thrill of being in the river's dark waters firsthand and even have the chance to take a dip.
Return to the boat for lunch. Before the afternoon activity, the guides will give a talk on Amazonian philosophy.
In the afternoon, we will begin a hike through the jungle and across the hanging bridges, allowing us to admire the richness of the jungle from the treetops.
Back on the ship, our bartender awaits us with a Peruvian cocktail demonstration, followed by live music, while we kill time before the gala dinner with the ship's captain.
(TUESDAY) DAY 04: MARAÑON RIVER - SAN REGIS - LAKE SHIRIYACU
After breakfast, we will visit the indigenous community of San Regis, where we will learn about their lifestyle and traditions.
We will also learn some ancestral traditions from the community shaman. Our guides will act as interpreters during this experience, giving us the opportunity to ask questions about spiritual connections and his ability to heal the soul. After this experience, we will continue with a tree-planting ceremony, as a positive contribution to the environment. There, we will also see the women of the community displaying their handmade crafts and objects in a small artisan market.
Return and lunch at the Zafiro. After some rest, the guides will tell us about the myths and legends of the Amazon.
In the afternoon, we'll begin our boat trip to the Shiriyacu stream. There, we'll search for a spot to fish for the famous piranhas, using local equipment and techniques. Back on the boat, we can enjoy the light and colors of the sunset.
Return to the Zafiro, live music and dinner.
(WEDNESDAY) DAY 05: MARAÑON RIVER - NAUTA - DISEMBARKATION IN NAUTA - IQUITOS AIRPORT
Before breakfast, we'll visit Nauta, the second most important city in the region. Upon arrival, we'll take a mototaxi ride to the local market, where we'll experience firsthand the city's commercial life.
I return to the Zafiro for breakfast.
After breakfast, we will disembark. On the way to the airport, we will visit the River Mammal Rescue and Rehabilitation Center (Amazon Forever Organization), where biologists and volunteers care for manatees, an endangered species rescued by the authorities. We will learn how the manatees are treated and prepared for their reintroduction to their natural habitat. We will also see other animals that have been rescued from captors who intended to keep them as pets or who had been in dangerous conditions. We will invite you to make a donation to this dedicated organization and research center.
Transfer to the airport.
