You’ll be picked up at the airport and brought to the DoubleTree by Hilton Iquitos hotel where you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch before being transferred by private vehicle to Nauta to board the cruise ship. Our staff will show you to your suite, which will be equipped with comfortable beds, 100% Peruvian Pima cotton sheets, cotton bathrobes, air conditioning and a private bathroom with a shower and amenities. Before setting sail, our bartender will serve you a cocktail prepared with local fruit and pisco, the most popular liquor in Peru.
You can sip it while enjoying 360° views from the observation deck or a panoramic view from the indoor or outdoor lounge. After setting sail, our naturalist guides will offer an overview of the travel itinerary, including activities, routes, information about wildlife and vegetation, geographical and historical context, as well as other useful info. If you have any doubts or concerns, our guides are always available to answer your questions. We’ll then enjoy the welcome dinner. Start your journey by sampling the selected wines and dining Peruvian cuisine with an Amazon flare. There are many options on our menu, including vegetarian alternatives. Please let us know in advance if you have any special dietary needs. After dinner, you’ll be able to take in stunning views of the starry night sky while we start our journey to the depths the Amazon rainforest.
After breakfast, we’ll take a walk through Yucuruchi, around the Ucayali River in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, where we’ll see many native animal species. Before midday, we’ll head back to the boat for a cooking demonstration by the executive chef.
After lunch, there will be a talk for anyone interested on the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve and in the afternoon you can join the kayaking and swimming on the river or the expedition on the skiff to Bagazan Lake. Before dinner, there will be time to enjoy live music from the boat’s band, which will play a varied repertoire of Amazonian, national and international music. Later, we’ll take a nighttime outing on the Ucayali River in search of caimans, lizards and other nighttime species.
Before breakfast, we’ll set out to explore the Yarapa River, where the famous pink and gray river dolphins swim in the black waters. We’ll then head back to the boat for breakfast on board before visiting the community of Vista Alegre. We’ll see how the locals live and learn more about their customs with our guides, who will act as interpreters.
Here, we’ll get to see their butterfly park. After lunch, we’ll take the skiff out on the Amazon River to enjoy the stunning colors of the sunset. Back on the Zafiro, you’ll have some time to relax and enjoy live music before a presentation by the crew and the farewell dinner.
After breakfast, we’ll begin disembarking. On the way to the airport, we’ll stop by the Amazon Rescue Center (CREA), where biologists and volunteers take care of manatees – an endangered species – rescued by the authorities. We’ll see how the manatees are cared for and prepped for reinsertion into their natural habitat. We’ll also get to see other animals that have been rescued from attempts to turn them into pets and other dangerous situations. Afterward, you’ll be transferred to the airport.
