Amazon Cruises

Amazon Cruises

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 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, Delfin II & Delfin 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.

An Amazon cruise is not only about the flora and fauna.  Most operators have developed strong ties with the indigenous communities and you’ll have the opportunity to meet some of these wonderful people on your journey.

We have a dedicated and specialist South America web site which contains detailed information about Amazon river boats and itineraries they offer.  We also have a team of specialist travel consultants to help you create your perfect tailor-made South America holiday; including an Amazon River cruise.  Please click on the logo to be taken to this specialist site.

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.

Two luxury Amazon cruise boats by Aqua Expeditions.

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.

Aqua Nera operates alongside the 16 suite Aria Amazon, taking guests into the depths of the Peruvian Amazon in the comfort of luxury. Expert naturalist guides conduct small group excursions that reward guests with up-close wildlife encounters in the world’s most bio-diverse rain-forest.

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.

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 accommodate families. With movie screen sized windows and first-rate design, they offer both elegance and comfort while sailing through the Amazon region.

The Delfin III offers 22 suites with the highest levels of comfort for up to 43 passengers, making it the largest cruise

The boat itself has some remarkable standout features, almost too many to name, but include a fully-accessible suite for those with mobility issues, both exercise and massage rooms, and an outdoor Jacuzzi on her rangy Observation Deck, itself equipped with sun-loungers and bar lounge. The cruise is ideal for families as her First Deck Suites can fit a roll-away bed suitable for children younger than 12, four of them also interconnect, and the remarkable Zafiro Suite also has a sofa bed big enough for an adult.

The Zafiro operates fixed 4, 5 and 8-day departures to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve – an area unrivaled for wildlife – allowing you to explore deep into the heart of the rainforest. The 8-day departures are a combination of the 5-day and 4-day itineraries in that order.

Yasuní National Park and the diverse Limoncocha Biological Reserve. Napo, Pañayacu River and Indillama River.

Ecuador’s only luxury, boutique riverboat exploring 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 is the only luxury boutique Amazon cruise winding 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.

The Anakonda offers itineraries of 4, 5 and 8 days (a combination of the 4 and 5 day). With such devoted and highly-knowledgeable guides, and so much to see in the Ecuadorean Amazon on board a vessel whose suites are so comfortable and facilities so excellent, even an 8 day journey will seem too short.