Peru Amazon River Cruise - Dec to May - LA PERLA - 6 Nights

Upon arrival at the airport, we will be waiting for you to take you to Hilton Iquitos DoubleTree hotel, where you will receive the first orientation talk on the adventure you are about to begin. Then, we will head in a private vehicle to the city of Nauta, the historical fluvial port where we will be boarding.

Before our arrival at Nauta, we will stop by in Iquitos, a colorful and dynamic city with a captivating history. Here, you will appreciate the most emblematic local attractions and for those who wish, enjoy a snack.

Once in Nauta (two hours from Iquitos), we will board La Perla cruise ship and our staff will accompany you to your cabin, equipped especially for you, with all the comfort you need for a pleasant trip.

The ship will initiate the trip and head towards the confluence of the rivers Marañon and Ucayali, the rainforest’s majestic location where the Amazon River is born. Next, our naturalist guides will present the travel plan, the pre-established routes (road map), the programmed activities, and best of all: they will begin to introduce you to the extraordinary world of the Amazon’s wildlife. Pay attention to their advice and recommendations, and keep in mind that if you have any doubts or questions, our guides are here to help you.

Following the presentation aboard, we will have a welcome lunch, your first experience with the delights of regional cuisine. The menu offers various options, including a vegetarian alternative. If you have any particular restrictions or requirements, please let our crew know in advance so we can take care of it as soon as possible.

In the afternoon, we will start a boat outing in direction to the Communal Reserve of Yanayacu of Yacapana to explore its amazing flora and fauna.

Towards the evening, we will go in search of animals that can only be seen when the night falls: caimans, bats, frogs, tarantulas and other species found in our rainforest’s lush mounts.

After this first immersion in the Peruvian Amazon’s universe, we will go back to the ship to enjoy dinner, get some rest and recuperate energies.

At dawn, we will take a boat to go back, silently, to the Communal Reserve of Yanayacu de Yacapana and observe the beautiful Amazon birds that fill the bushy treetops: parrots, macaws, among many others. We will also see sloths (lazy bears), iguanas, monkeys and, of course, the pink and red dolphins which have made this place so popular. A true natural scenery of color and life in the heart of the rainforest.

After this exciting outing and back in the ship, we will enjoy the delicious buffet breakfast which daily offers a selection of traditional dishes, Peruvian specialties, freshly baked home-made products and a variety of fresh fruit juices prepared with exotic rainforest fruits which you can only taste in this region.

Having finished breakfast, we are ready to initiate a new boat outing, this time in the Yarapa River, in search of new impressive sceneries and more emblematic Amazon species. Next, we will visit the Vista Alegre village and learn about its local native community and their traditions having our guides as interpreters and translators. We will also have the opportunity to visit a butterfly farm.

Back at La Perla, we will have lunch in the ship’s dining room and, after taking some rest, our guides will offer a talk on the origin and the peculiarities of the Amazon River, the largest river by discharge of water volume in the world.

In the afternoon, we will sail by boat along the Nauta Creek until we find the perfect place to fish piranhas, those famous river fish with razor-sharp teeth. To make the moment more special, we will use traditional equipment techniques, unique to the region.

Back in the ship, you will have time to relax with live music while we wait for dinner. After dinner, prepare yourself for our last outing of the day: a new walk to continue sightseeing nocturnal animals and delighting ourselves with the spectacular natural concert, only possible thanks to the amazing gift offered by our Amazon evenings.

The early morning hours have a special feeling to connect ourselves with the rainforest and are a unique opportunity to do some birdwatching. In this third morning, we have programmed for you a boat outing before breakfast. This time, our destination will be the Marayali river stream, a privileged area for birdwatching numerous endangered species. Back aboard, buffet breakfast will be served and will be followed by an exploration outing in the Pahuachiro area, another gem to appreciate Amazon biodiversity.

At noon, lunch is served, then you will have some time to rest and prepare for our next adventure: a walk by the rainforest’s winding trails. Previous to this activity, our guides will offer a practical talk on geographical orientation techniques and resources for this type of territory. The walk will be in the beautiful area of Casual, inhabited by poisonous frogs and countless exotic species. In this area, we can also observe a variety of gigantic trees, known by the locals as “Avatar”.

Before returning to La Perla, still in the mount, we will enjoy the wonderful light and the unique colors that unfold in the sky of these latitudes during sunset. Back in the ship, we will relax with live music and a comforting and delicious dinner aboard.

This morning begins with breakfast aboard and gets more exciting with a visit to the city of Nauta, the second most important in the region. Upon arrival, we will take a fun tour on a “mototaxi” (the most popular mean of transportation in the Peruvian rainforests cities) all the way to the city’s market where you will be able to interact with picturesque characters and discover the region’s specific commercial route. Once there, we will visit the typical food stalls, the handicrafts stalls, the aphrodisiac drink stalls and many more. A true immersion in the life of the Amazon inhabitants.

Then we will go to the Sapi Sapi lagoon, one of the most recognized paiche hatcheries where you will find those gigantic river fish, an essential ingredient for regional cuisine, which holds the title of being the second-largest freshwater fish in the world. Here you will also appreciate a
particular habitat, surrounded by aguaje palms and fruit trees and, you will observe the eye-catching charapita turtles, as well as butterflies and a wide variety of birds.

Before noon, we will return to the ship for lunch aboard followed by some rest time before our departure to Nauta Creek. Once there, we will go to the “Forrest of Mirrors”, a breathtaking landscape where the sky and the calm waters converge as the afternoon progresses, drawing lush landscapes of rays, clouds and infinite reflections. This place is also ideal for spotting toucans, parrots, macaws, iguanas, sloths (lazy bears) and monkeys in the treetops.

Before returning to La Perla we will go on a night safari in search of the species that appear when darkness emerges. This will be an ideal moment to appreciate the wonderful starry sky of the jungle and once again enjoy the sound festival of the Amazon plain. Upon return, you will enjoy dinner aboard.

In the morning, we will organize a fun picnic breakfast on the Yanayacu of Pucate River, one of the most protected and preserved areas of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. This area is usually visited by pink dolphins and is ideal for small boats, so we will put kayaks at your disposal so you can live the experience of rowing in one of the most beautiful aquatic ecosystems in the world. Also, if you want, you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the river.

After lunch at La Perla, we will start a walk through the rainforest towards the area of the suspension bridges, a set of structures outstretched high in the trees that will allow you to walk among the leafy tops and admire the richness of the jungle from a unique and elevated perspective.

Later, we will go to meet the shaman of San Regis, a sage from the native community who will share with us his knowledge about the rituals of his ancestors, some medicinal plants and the Amazonian worldview. Our guides will be the interpreters in case you have some questions or comments for the shaman. After this authentic experience of spiritual reflection and exploration, we will continue with the ceremony of planting a tree, as a contribution to protect our environment.

Back on the ship, we will enjoy a peaceful evening with music and a comforting dinner.

We will start off this morning with breakfast and then head on a boat expedition with destination to the Shiriyacu river stream. Once there we will look for the perfect spot for piranha fishing. We will use local equipment and local techniques.

Back in the ship, we will have a lecture on techniques and tools for geographic orientation in the rainforest. If you prefer, you can take a rest until lunchtime.

Following snacks, we will head to Puerto Prado where we will visit the native community Kukama Prado and learn about their traditions and ancestral practices. We will participate in a culinary demonstration and taste typical regional dishes. We will also go to the small market where the women from the community offer their hand made creations. If you wish, you can buy crafts and other products and, in that way contribute to the local economy. Next, we will go on a walk by the mount to observe the “Victoria Regias”, the largest water lily in the world.

Upon returning to La Perla, we will reserve a spot to contemplate the sunset. We especially recommend that you relax and enjoy this moment, as few experiences compare to watching the sunset on the deck, sailing on a mighty Amazonian river, and observing endless colors on the horizon. We will then wait for the night to come and allow us to hear the prodigious symphony of the millions of animals that populate the forests and waters of this jungle.

Late into the night, we will enjoy some live music before the crew’s final presentation and the farewell dinner.

After the buffet breakfast aboard, we will proceed to disembark in Nauta and head to Iquitos. Along the way, we will visit the Amazon Rescue Center (CREA), where biologists and volunteers take care of the animals that have been saved from illegal trafficking including the beloved manatees and the aquatic mammals, dangerously threatened by hunters. Here, you will find the species that have been rescued by the authorities and which are in the process of reintegration into their natural environment. Here you can also learn more about their traits, the risks they face (deterioration of their habitats and wildlife trafficking) and best of all, you can play around with them since they are very friendly.

After this emotional and unforgettable experience, we will continue our way to Iquitos where, once we get to the airport, our journey will have concluded.