Day 1 - Tuesday
ARRIVAL/NAUTA/EMBARKATION/MARAÑON RIVER
4:05 p.m. Flight from Lima LP 394 -
cruise map
5:50 p.m. Arrival
Your guides await you, as your flight from Lima glides in for
landing at Iquitos International Airport. After you’ve claimed your
luggage, you will board an air-conditioned bus for your journey to
the river.
6:00 p.m. Transfer to Nauta’ main wharf.
A scenic one-and-a-half hour drive through the Peruvian countryside
to the small village of Nauta.
7:30 p.m. Check-In
Take a few moments to settle into your over-sized suite before
dinner. Over the next four days, you will sail along several
tributaries of the Amazon, as well as on the mighty river itself.
You are embarking on a spectacular adventure, to a place visited by
only a few of even the most experienced world travelers.
8:00 p.m. Safety Drill and Briefing on the Top Deck
Before dinner we will perform a routine safety drill. Following
that, your Cruise Director and Guides will give a brief orientation
talk about life on board, where you will go and what you will see on
your Amazon journey.
8:30 p.m. Welcome Dinner
Meet your fellow travelers at your first onboard dinner. Peruvian
cuisine is considered one of the world’s best. Here it is presented
with a touch of European flair, and a vegetarian dish is always
available. Raise a glass of fine South American wine to toast the
beginning of a beautiful journey, then look out the window and watch
the river go by as you experience your first wonderful meal aboard
the M/V Aqua.
Perhaps enjoy a nightcap on the Upper Deck, under the stars, before
retiring.
UPDay 2 -
Wednesday
UCAYALI/YANALLPA/DORADO RIVERS/PACAYA SAMIRIA NATIONAL RESERVE
7:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Yanallpa River Expedition
This morning we will board the skiffs to explore this amazing black
water stream, part of the vast Amazon flooded forest. Your guides
will tell you about the rainforest and its dynamic life, as we
explore what scientists call a “gallery forest,” because of its
narrow vegetation, creating a tunnel of leaves. As we float through
this tunnel, it is easy to spot parrots, macaws, and fluffy monk
saki monkeys, very close to the skiff.
11:00 a.m. Return to the M/V Aqua
12:30 p.m. Lunch
4:00 p.m. Dorado River Exploration and Night Excursion
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,
and a great variety of primates and sloths enjoying nature
unperturbed by our presence. As we make our way back to our vessel,
you will also have the chance to see caimans and frogs and fishing
bats.
7:30 p.m. Return to the M/V Aqua
8:00 p.m. Dinner
UP
Day 3 - Thursday
PUINAHUA RIVER/HATUM POSA LAKE/PACAYA RIVER
6:30 a.m. Hatum Posa Lake Expedition
This morning we will rise early to cruise this beautiful and
intricate ox-bow lake. As we follow its shore, we will almost
certainly surprise several kinds of monkeys and many types of birds,
including terns, neo-tropic cormorants, egrets, herons, hawks, and
our favorite horned screamers. We will also take the skiff into
other black water lakes linked to this huge lake in the flooded
forest.
8:00 a.m. Breakfast
9:00 a.m. Jungle Walk Near Hatum Posa or Village Visit
On this walk, your guides will introduce you to native people doing
subsistence farming, and will tell you how they learned to cultivate
wild plants and trees to earn farm income. Deep in the primary
forest, your guides will also show you the wealth of fruit trees and
medicinal plants hidden in the jungle.
11:00 a.m. Return to the M/V Aqua
12:30 p.m. Lunch
4:00 p.m. Pacaya River Exploration, Plus Night Trip from Ranger
Station No. 1 to Yanayacu Lake
In the late afternoon, we will take our skiffs along the Pacaya
River, journeying from Ranger Station No. 1 toward Yanayacu Lake,
where you can see the abundant life that is hidden in the deep
rainforest. We have chosen this time of day to give you the chance
to see the late afternoon activity of the rainforest animals,
including fluffy monk saki monkeys, capuchin monkeys, and the
easy-to-spot howler monkeys. As the sun sets, listen for the loud,
ferocious-sounding warning signals made by howler monkeys marking
their territories.
When night falls, you will hear the second
movement of the Amazon rainforest symphony, as other nocturnal
animals send their shrill calls across the tree tops. As we take the
skiffs back to the M/V Aqua, we will use our special spotlight
torches to locate night creatures, including, perhaps, huge caimans.
7:30 p.m. Return to the M/V Aqua
8:00 p.m. Dinner
UP
Day 4 - Friday
PUINAHUA/PACAYA RIVERS AND CAROCURAHUAYTE LAKE
6:30 a.m. Pacaya Exploration and Breakfast Aboard the Skiffs
Back on the river as the sun rises, you will see a treasure trove of
wildlife, including parrots, macaws, toucans, and many kinds of
monkeys—as well as some “surprise” species that you have never seen
before. Enjoy a “bag breakfast” of light sandwiches and fresh juice.
Since we will stop near a popular dolphin feeding spot, you will see
quite a show as you enjoy your meal.
11:00 a.m. Return to the M/V Aqua
From this point, we will start sailing down river, toward Iquitos.
12:30 p.m. Lunch
3:30 p.m. Carocurahuayte Lake/Fishing Trip
This afternoon, we will travel to this splendid “hot spot” lake,
where you will be certain to catch some of the more than 3,000
species of tropical fish that live in the Amazon basin. Our key
focus will be on piranhas, those small, carnivorous fish with a big
reputation for being scary.
6:30 p.m. Return to the M/V Aqua
Once we are back onboard, the ship will continue its journey down
stream, sailing toward Iquitos through the night.
7:00 p.m. Briefing in the Top Lounge- Recap of Itinerary and
Sightings.
8:00 p.m. Farewell Dinner
Leaving the peace and beauty of the jungle behind, we will enjoy our
final dinner together, swapping stories about the wonderful
experiences shared on the river.
9:00 p.m. Crew Presentation
After dinner, your guides will introduce some of the crew members
that you have not yet met, but who have been busy with the “behind
the scenes” work that has helped to create a seamless experience.
UP
Day 5 - Saturday
ARRIVAL IN IQUITOS/CHECK OUT AND DISEMBARK AT THE MAIN WHARF/CITY
TOUR/TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT
7:30 a.m. Breakfast
9:30 a.m. Morning Excursion – The excursions today depend on the
level of the river.
Weather and time permitting, this will be the last opportunity to
see how people live along the Amazon—by visiting the lively
riverside community of Belen, in Iquitos, by skiff. Here, where the
houses and shops actually float on the river during some months, you
will see the bustling food market for the entire Peruvian Amazon.
All local inhabitants throughout the region sell and purchase goods
here.
10:00 a.m. Return to the M/V Aqua
Sadly, it’s time to finish packing. Please leave your packed
suitcases in your suite for pickup before going to lunch.
12.00 p.m. Light Lunch
1:15 p.m. Disembarkation/City Tour/Manatee Rescue Center/Transfer to
the Airport
Your afternoon in the remote city of Iquitos, accessible only by
river or air, will not disappoint. This bustling town, complete with
a house built by Gustave Eiffel, was once a rich center of the
rubber industry. En route, we will visit the Manatee Rescue Center,
where biologists and volunteers care for endangered Amazon manatees
that conservation authorities have seized from local people and
fishermen.
Biologists will give a presentation about the
project and its efforts to help these helpless mammals. You will
also see how the manatees are cared for and are prepared for
re-introduction into their natural habitat. Finally, we will stop at
the San Juan Amazonian Indian Market, for a last chance to shop for
local crafts.
5:00 p.m. Check-in at Iquitos International Airport
Your guides will help you with check-in, and will stay with you
until you have boarded your flight back to Lima.
6:20 p.m. Your Flight Departs for Lima LP 371
Note: All itineraries are subject to change, due to weather and
other conditions. All times indicated are approximate, and are also
subject to change.
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