Zafiro Amazon River Cruise

Upon arrival in Iquitos from Lima (a 1-hour, 25-minute flight), your guides will welcome you at the airport and transfer you by private vehicle to the main wharf. Here, you will board the Zafiro, your home for the next seven nights. After checking into your elegant suite, equipped with modern amenities such as air conditioning, hot water showers, and a private balcony, the Zafiro begins its journey along the Amazon, Ucayali, and Marañon Rivers. Enjoy panoramic views from the interior lounge as the bartender serves cocktails made with local ingredients. In the evening, savor a welcome dinner paired with fine South American wine, followed by stargazing or live music on the third deck.

Begin the day with an excursion to Yanayacu of Yacapana, a reserve rich in wildlife. Enjoy early birdwatching and observe monkeys, parrots, and macaws. After breakfast, explore the Amazon’s headwaters, where the Marañon and Ucayali Rivers converge. Glide through Piranha Creek, a parrot and parakeet paradise, while spotting diverse bird species and other wildlife. In the late afternoon, venture into Nauta Creek, known as the “Mirrored Forest,” to admire the sunset and spot toucans, sloths, and monkeys. Conclude the day with a Peruvian-inspired dinner and an optional nocturnal boat ride to encounter caimans, tarantulas, and nocturnal birds.

Cruise through the pristine Yanayacu and Pucate Rivers, where your guide will help you spot local biodiversity. Enjoy breakfast on board, followed by an opportunity to swim in the river alongside pink dolphins. After lunch and a siesta, join a lecture on Amazon geography and embark on an afternoon excursion to Perdida Creek, known for its colorful birds. In the evening, explore the Tiger River and its tributary, Nahuapa, to search for nocturnal wildlife like caimans, snakes, and owls.

Skiff excursions along the Samiria River provide opportunities to spot macaws, toucans, monkeys, and capybaras. After lunch, visit the San Martín de Tipishca community, where you’ll interact with locals and purchase artisanal handicrafts. Explore Tipishca Lake, rich in birdlife such as kingfishers, macaws, and hoatzins. End the day with live music and a delicious dinner aboard the Zafiro.

Start the day with early birdwatching at Pampa Creek, spotting monkeys, herons, and horned screamers. Later, fish for piranhas in Shiriyacu Stream and meet a local healer to learn about Amazonian medicinal traditions. In the afternoon, navigate a canal between the Ucayali and Marañon Rivers to see giant water lilies. As night falls, enjoy the rainforest’s symphony and spot nocturnal wildlife like caimans and owls.

Cruise along the Yanallpa River, a narrow blackwater stream, where you’ll spot parrots and monkeys. Explore the Tapiche River and embark on a guided jungle walk to discover medicinal plants and local wildlife. In the evening, visit the Dorado River’s “Mirrored Forest,” searching for macaws, sloths, and caimans under the guidance of your naturalist team.

Explore the Yarapa River, home to pink and gray freshwater dolphins, monkeys, and colorful birds. After lunch, participate in a cooking class in a local home to learn about Amazonian cuisine. As the Zafiro sails toward Iquitos, enjoy a farewell dinner and a crew presentation.

After an early lunch, disembark and visit the Manatee Rescue Center, where rescued Amazonian manatees are rehabilitated. Your guides will assist with check-in at Iquitos International Airport for your flight back to Lima, marking the end of your journey.