Amazon Cruises
Cruising Through The Amazon Rainforest
The Amazon, and its many major tributaries, flows through Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. Despite the majority of the mighty Amazon’s 6,400 km being found within Brazil, some of the best options for Amazon river cruising are found in Peru and Ecuador.
Notwithstanding their remote Amazon locations there are several luxury Amazon River cruise ships. They offer a excellent guides, gourmet cuisine and very comfortable accommodation. Ships like the Delfin I, II & III, MV Aria & MV Anakonda. Or the new to market in 2020 the Aqua Nera a beautiful new-build 20 cabin luxury boat.
These small expedition ships really are floating wilderness lodges from which you explore the Amazon and several of its major tributaries. Smaller ‘skiffs’ (dinghies) are often used either to go ashore or to explore smaller channels in search of the rich and varied wildlife of the Amazon.
Depending on water levels, most operators offer a high water and low water itinerary, you ‘ll not only make excursion by boat you’ll also take walks in the rainforest and visit canopy towers: offering access into the canopy of the rainforest where you’ll often observe monkeys and some of the amazon’s most spectacular birdlife.
PERUVIAN AMAZON CRUISES
In Peru the Pacaya Samira National Reserve is discovered via cruises on the Samira, Maranon, Pacaya, Dorado and Ucayali Rivers (and smaller tributaries), all of which eventually flow into the Amazon River near Iquitos. Spanning more than 5 million acres, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is the largest protected flooded forest in the world. Known also as the “mirror forest”, is one of the prime intact swaths of jungle in the Peruvian Amazon and the second largest national reserve in the country. The national reserve is directly linked to the economic wellbeing of its resident populations.
Cruises operate all-year round They will usually offer high water and low water itineraries. The following is a an overview of the Amazon ships in Peru that we know and recommend.
Delfin I
Luxury Ship – 8 Guests
Delfin I takes you one step beyond in terms of service, intimacy and personal attention. This classic river cruise features 4 oversized suites, all with private panoramic terraces, 2 of which offer a private whirlpool for the ultimate treat. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow nature to be part of the natural suite décor.
Delfin II
Luxury Ship – 20 Guests
The 14 cabins of Delfin II include 4 Master Suites with 180° panoramic windows and 10 Suites, including 2 sets of Suites that can be interconnected to accomodate families. With movie screen sized windows and first-rate design, they offer both elegance and comfort while sailing through the Amazon region.
Delfin III
Luxury Ship – 43 Guests
The Delfin III offers 22 suites with the highest levels of comfort for up to 43 passengers. During the evening, after a day of exploration, enjoy musical entertainment from the crew as well as activities such as pisco sour making.
Delfin I
Luxury Ship – 8 Guests
Delfin I takes you one step beyond in terms of service, intimacy and personal attention. This classic river cruise features 4 oversized suites, all with private panoramic terraces, 2 of which offer a private whirlpool for the ultimate treat. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow nature to be part of the natural suite décor.
Delfin II
Luxury Ship – 20 Guests
The 14 cabins of Delfin II include 4 Master Suites with 180° panoramic windows and 10 Suites, including 2 sets of Suites that can be interconnected to accomodate families. With movie screen sized windows and first-rate design, they offer both elegance and comfort while sailing through the Amazon region.
Delfin III
Luxury Ship – 43 Guests
The Delfin III offers 22 suites with the highest levels of comfort for up to 43 passengers. During the evening, after a day of exploration, enjoy musical entertainment from the crew as well as activities such as pisco sour making.
Aria Amazon
Luxury Ship – 32 Guests
The Aria Amazon is a luxurious 16 suite vessel taking guests into the depths of the Peruvian Amazon in the comfort of luxury and featuring cuisine by Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, one of Peru’s finest chefs, known for creating refined cuisine from native Amazonian produce. Expert naturalist guides conduct small group excursions that reward guests with up-close wildlife encounters in the world’s most biodiverse rainforest.
Aqua Nera Luxury Ship
Luxury Ship – 44 Guests
Setting a new standard for luxury river cruising on the Amazon, the 20 suite Aqua Nera (launching in 2020) draws design inspiration from the Peruvian Amazon’s mystical black water lagoons and bears the hallmarks of contemporary style and generous interiors that Aqua Expeditions cruise ships are known for.
Zafiro Luxury Ship
Luxury Ship – 38 Guests
The Zafiro is a luxury vessel made for cruising the Peruvian Amazon jungle. The panoramic windows and open social areas allow guests to enjoy the amazon rain forest whilst on the boat as well as when exploring by canoe or by foot with the expert guides. Onboard enjoy excellent cuisine with Amazonian influence.
Aria Amazon
Luxury Ship – 32 Guests
The Aria Amazon is a luxurious 16 suite vessel taking guests into the depths of the Peruvian Amazon in the comfort of luxury and featuring cuisine by Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, one of Peru’s finest chefs, known for creating refined cuisine from native Amazonian produce. Expert naturalist guides conduct small group excursions that reward guests with up-close wildlife encounters in the world’s most biodiverse rainforest.
Aqua Nera
Luxury Ship – 44 Guests
Setting a new standard for luxury river cruising on the Amazon, the 20 suite Aqua Nera (launching in 2020) draws design inspiration from the Peruvian Amazon’s mystical black water lagoons and bears the hallmarks of contemporary style and generous interiors that Aqua Expeditions cruise ships are known for.
Zafiro Luxury Ship
Luxury Ship – 38 Guests
The Zafiro is a luxury vessel made for cruising the Peruvian Amazon jungle. The panoramic windows and open social areas allow guests to enjoy the amazon rain forest whilst on the boat as well as when exploring by canoe or by foot with the expert guides. Onboard enjoy excellent cuisine with Amazonian influence.
ECUADORIAN AMAZON CRUISES
Ecuador contains only 2% of the entire Amazon, but that relatively small area is one of the most diverse and pristine areas in South America, and possibly in the world. It is home to Yasuní National Park, one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, designated by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve in 1989 due to the vast range of animal and plant species that inhabit it. The park contains over 200 species of butterflies, 596 species of birds, 150 species of amphibians, 121 species of reptiles, and 200 species of mammals, numbers which are always on the rise. In fact, some naturalists claim that the level of biodiversity in the park is so high that every journey into the rainforest can result in the discovery of a new species. Cruises start with a short flight from Quito to Coca in the East of Ecuador, where you will be met and transferred to the port for embarkation.
Anakonda
Luxury Ship – 40 Guests
The Anakonda is a luxury, boutique riverboat that takes guests to explore the Yasuni National Park, in supreme comfort. Winner of the 2016 World Travel Award as South America’s Leading Boutique Cruise, the 40-passenger Anakonda riverboat winds its way through Ecuador’s Amazon, operating in the upper basins of the Napo and Aguarico Rivers, around Limoncocha Wildlife Reserve and Yasuni National Park – Ecuador’s largest protected animal reserve.
Manatee Amazon Explorer
First Class Ship – 28 Guests
The Manatee Amazon Explorer is a first-class three-deck vessel built in the style of a traditional Amazon riverboat. It features 14 comfortable twin/double suites, each well-equipped and with individual air-conditioning, private bathrooms with hot water showers and large windows and a private balcony that allow you to enjoy the beautiful and constantly-changing scenery. Explore the forest with experienced, knowledgeable guides on motorised canoes, kayaks and by foot.
BRAZILIAN AMAZON
The Brazilian Amazon is massive (7 million square kilometres) and it’s quite a journey to reach Manaus (over 4 hours from Rio) – the gateway to Brazil’s famous Amazon River and rainforest. Despite the enormity of the rainforest found in Brazil the opportunities for Amazon River cruising are in many ways more limited than the opportunities and options in Peru and Ecuador. Our experienced consultants can guide you through choosing the best option to suit you itinerary. One reason to go to Manaus, unrelated to the rainforest, would be to see the Amazon Theatre, an opera house which opened in 1896, another would be to see Amazon , or pink, river dolphins.
MV CLIPPER PREMIUM
First Class – 32 Guests
The MV Clipper Premium is a vessel ship offering comfort in 16 spacious all-outside cabins with two lower beds or one queen size bed, private bathroom facilities with hot shower, individual air-conditioning and safety box. An air-conditioned restaurant with meals served in buffet stile. A complete leisure deck with a large covered area for outdoor sightseeing and plenty of comfortable seating, as well as a large air-conditioned room for meetings and lectures.
La Jangada Ship
First Class – 30 Guests
La Jangada launches in 2019 and will have 14 luxurious and spacious cabins on board plus 2 single cabins for solo travellers, each with a private bathroom and large windows that look out on to the water. Here, guests will be able to drift off into a peaceful slumber aboard their floating home. Outside of their cabin, guests will be able to enjoy the rich delicacies served up in the ship’s restaurant and take advantage of the comfortable lounge and bar areas. On deck, you can gaze out at the world class surroundings that pass by leisurely as you drift along the river.
Planning Your Trip
The Booking Process
South America Travel Centre can look after all aspects of your holiday, including flights and travel insurance.
We start by asking you what your interests are and where you are interested in, when, for how long, what standard and style of accommodation. Once we have a good understanding of just what you’re looking for, we can begin to create a holiday to meet your time and budget requirements and, most importantly, that will deliver interest and enjoyment in an experience to exceed your expectations.
Please book early. Many of the hotels and cruise vessels we recommend are relatively small. For example, the M/V Aria (Peruvian Amazon cruise) accommodates just 32 guests. This exclusivity combined with high demand means they can be booked out up to 6-8 months in advance.
If you’re thinking of travelling during any major holidays like Christmas, New Year and Easter, or during any festivals, our advice is simply to book as early as you can, even 12 months or more, and we can add flights as soon as they become available.
Visa and Health Information
Australian citizens do not require a visa to enter Brazil, Peru or Ecuador. You will need to hold a valid passport and have a return ticket when you arrive.
It is strongly recommended that all travellers to the Amazon (Peru, Ecuador, Guyana or Brazil) be vaccinated for yellow fever before commencing their trip.
Malaria is prevalent in some areas of the Amazon. Your Travel Doctor will be able to advise you whether prophylaxis is required. Vaccinations are advised for common diseases like Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid as well as Influenza. There are no compulsory vaccinations.
We advise you to consult a Travel Doctor specialist prior to departure to assess any health risks in relation to your medical history and travel plans.
Flight Information
We have access to a wide range of airfares and have excellent relationships with our key airline partners. Our two main airline partners in Latin America are LATAM Airlines, QANTAS Airlines and Air New Zealand. We can also arrange internal flights for you within Latin America.
Irrespective of whether you book directly with us or with your preferred travel agent, we’ll request the details of all of your fights to ensure if there are any changes your transfers and other arrangements are adjusted accordingly.
The Best Time to Go
Peru- October to April the Peruvian Amazon has a sub-tropical climate with a lot of rain. Humidity stays high and temperatures can reach up to 32C or higher but nights can be cool. Being rainforest, expect rain year round and humid temperatures.
Ecuador- Weather in the Amazon is considerably hotter and more humid that the rest of Ecuador, and you can expect rain for most of the year. Temperatures stay around high 20’s and 30’s. Between April and September you can expect more rain than normal, which can even offer respite from the hot weather.
Client Reviews
Now back in Sydney after a wonderful holiday. The EcoCamp was also fantastic! The whole holiday was co-ordinated beautifully – everything just flowed from one adventure to the next without a single problem. We now have 100’s and 100’s of absolutely spectacular photos to sort through. Interestedly we had 8 different flights whilst we were away and each one of them was either full or nearly full – people are obviously travelling again. Thank you so much for all your assistance in co-ordinating our Patagonia experience. With Kindest regards Joe & Judy
Now back in Sydney after a wonderful holiday. The EcoCamp was also fantastic! The whole holiday was co-ordinated beautifully – everything just flowed from one adventure to the next without a single problem. We now have 100’s and 100’s of absolutely spectacular photos to sort through. Interestedly we had 8 different flights whilst we were away and each one of them was either full or nearly full – people are obviously travelling again. Thank you so much for all your assistance in co-ordinating our Patagonia experience. With Kindest regards, Joe & Judy
We cannot recommend Hayley from South America Travel Centre (SATC) more highly. Our entire trip was planned perfectly from the second we left Sydney. Not only did she incorporate all of our preferred destinations, Hayley also made suggestions on additional places based on our preferences and some of these turned out to be the highlights of our trip! We tend to be more independent travellers and Hayley was able to create the perfect mix of seamless travel with the flexibility for us throughout the journey to take advantage of any unexpected opportunities that arose. The guides at every location were extremely knowledgeable and offered excellent suggestions on everything from safety through to restaurants and laundry locations. I absolutely cannot fault the services provided both locally and in Australia from the SATC team.