Aria Amazon Cruise
Amazon Cruises
Embark on the classic Peruvian Amazon expedition aboard the award-winning Aria Amazon – sister ship to our state-of-the-art Aqua Nera.
Cruise Highlights:
Designed by innovative architect Jordi Puig, Aria Amazon is a river cruise ship that is custom-built to explore the Peruvian Amazon and the famed Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in absolute comfort and luxury — with minimal impact to the delicate Amazon river and rain forest environment.
On board, 16 suites with floor-to-ceiling windows give guests a full view of the Amazon’s majestic river and rain forests. The top deck features amenities including a jacuzzi, indoor lounge and bar, and an outdoor observation deck. In the dining room, guests also savor the best of Peruvian cuisine with a comprehensive dining menu created by Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, one of Peru’s most accomplished chefs known for using produce and ingredients from the Peruvian Amazon.
With small-group excursions of no larger than 12 conducted by highly-experienced naturalist guides, guests can be assured of the most fulfilling, life-enriching wildlife encounters they can get from an Amazon discovery cruise deep in the Amazon rain forest. Our custom-designed ergonomic fleet of private launch boats, manned skillfully by our captain and crew, adds to the comfort of every wild exploration.
Setting a green example for every other Amazon river cruise vessel in the region, Aria Amazon features a water treatment plant and virtually smoke-free, fuel-efficient engines that comply with strict US and international environmental standards.
- Year Built: 2010
- Port of Embarkation: Iquitos, Peru
- Vessel’s Registry: Peru
- Type of Vessel: River Expedition Vessel
- Length: 147 feet / 45 meters
- Beam: 29.5 feet / 9 meters
- Draft: 5 feet / 1.5 meters
- Gross Tonnage: 500 tons
- Cruising Speed: 12 knots
- Electricity: 220 volts
- Engines: 2 Cummins 400 HP Marine Engines
- Generators: 2 x 135 KVA Cummins (encapsulated for noise reduction)
- Water: 9,000-liter water treatment plant
- Internet: Two hours of complimentary access per day to high-speed Starlink WiFi. Charges of US$100 apply for unlimited use.
- Dining room
- Indoor bar and lounge
- Outdoor lounge
- Outdoor jacuzzi
- Massage Room
- Exercise Room
- Observation Deck
- Boutique
- Infirmary with onboard medical staff
Spread across three decks, the interior of the Aria Amazon offers a pleasing sense of space and home in the rainforest
Observation Deck
The place to unwind and socialize with Aria Amazon’s key amenities designed to take full advantage of 360-degree views of the river and rainforest.
Second Deck
8 Design Suites measuring 250 square feet (23.2 sqm). The second deck also houses the boutique, galley and dining room.
First Deck
8 Design Suites measuring 250 square feet (23.2 sqm). Option of two interconnecting suites. The first deck is also the launchpad for shore excursions.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Iquitos / Amazon River
After arriving on a noon flight*, receive a warm welcome at Iquitos International Airport by our crew and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before boarding Aqua Nera.
Settle into your generously sized suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures. Following an introduction from our naturalist guides and a routine safety drill, gather at the restaurant for the first of many Amazonian cuisine experiences created by Aqua Nera's renowned consulting chef, Pedro Miguel Schiaffino.
Recommended Flights
LATAM*
Group transfer between airport and port if booked on our recommended flights
*Separate arrangements can be made for morning arrivals.
Day 2 - Yanayacu Yacapana / Yarapa River / Ucayali River
Aboard our comfortable skiffs, we set sail from the Amazon River to the Yanayacu Yacapana River. Ready your binoculars to spot tropical songbirds, black collared hawks and sloths. Line-fish for Amazon’s notoriously ferocious piranhas while our naturalist guides share their knowledge of the Amazonia.
In the afternoon, we sail to Yarapa River, a black water tributary of the Ucayali River. Here we’ll embark on a stargazing session and an excursion in search of nocturnal wildlife.
Day 3 - Clavero Lake / Marañon River
We get an early start to the day to explore Clavero Lake aboard our comfortable skiffs. Here, villagers rely on traditional dugout canoes to get around. You’ll have the opportunity to swim in the lake’s calm waters or visit native residents of Amazonia who will welcome you to their community with open arms.
In the afternoon, we will explore the majestic Marañon River in search of different kinds of wildlife.
Day 4 - Nauta Town / Village Visit / Birthplace Of The Amazon
In the morning, take a guided visit to the local market and marvel at the regional produce of the Peruvian Amazon, and sample exotic snacks if you wish. For those interested, there’ll also be the opportunity to visit an experienced beekeeper in the community of San Francisco.
In the afternoon, witness one of the great spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere, the birthplace of the Amazon River. By nightfall, you will meet the new passengers who signed on for the four-night trip, as we start our journey together along the Marañon River.
Day 5 - Marañon River / Yanayacu Pucate River
Rise with the sun for an early morning birdwatching session along the Marañon River and enjoy breakfast in the middle of the jungle. Next, visit an Amazonian village where you’ll be able to interact with native riberenos and witness an Aguaje palm harvesting demonstration.
Later, go swimming, kayaking, or canoeing in the Yanayacu-Pucate River and keep an eye out for the legendary pink river dolphins. Finally, board the skiffs again to cruise along Yanaquillo River for a dusk excursion in search of nocturnal animals.
Day 6 - Samiria River
The rewards for our early start today are plentiful: a full day excursion including a picnic lunch orchestrated to the tune of the jungle symphony, fishing along the black waters of the Samiria River, and an option to go canoeing, kayaking, swimming, or on a jungle walk inside the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. On the way back to the Marañon River after lunch, we venture out by skiff keeping an eye out for pink river dolphins.
Day 7 - Nauta Caño River / Jungle Walk
As the day begins, embark on a morning wildlife excursion on the extraordinary black water Nauta Caño River. If you wish, embark on a bike ride from Puerto Prado Village to Santa Cruz Village along the riverbank.
In the afternoon, take a jungle walk while looking for flora and fauna which may include medicinal trees, insects, and poison dart frogs. Learn more about the different rainforest strata and ecosystems. Before dinner, meet the incredible crew who’ve been working behind the scenes to ensure your exceptional experience aboard Aqua Nera.
Day 8 - Arrival In Iquitos / Manatee Rescue Center / Transfer To The Airport
In the morning, take a guided visit to the local market and marvel at the regional produce of the Peruvian Amazon, and sample exotic snacks if you wish.
Return to the Aqua Nera for breakfast before disembarkation. En route to the airport, visit the Manatee Rescue Center, where orphaned Amazonian manatees rehabilitate before they are released back into the wild.
Group transfer between airport and port if booked on our recommended flights
Recommended Flights
LATAM*