Connect with your body and with nature in the immensity of the Amazon. Every voyage aboard Zafiro offers a unique experience, a customized journey into the incredibly diverse Amazon rainforest — home to more than a thousand animal species and an equal number of plants, with new species being discovered all the time. Life never takes a break in Pacaya Samiria. It is so fertile and diverse, that even today, they still discover unique and unknown species. To immerse yourself in its immensity, is to discover much more than you can see in a lifetime. Pacaya Samiria Reserve is an authentic nest of life. It is a land that hosts dozens of species of reptiles and amphibians, hundreds of species of birds, mammals and fish, thousands of wild and cultivated plant species.
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 the main dock of the city of Iquitos to board the cruise ship.
The 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, the 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, the 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, the guides are always available to answer your questions.
You'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 the menu, including vegetarian alternatives. Please let them 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 you start your journey to the depth of the Amazon rainforest.
Before breakfast, you’ll go out for a boating expedition on the Amazon River to explore the local flora and fauna. When you get back, enjoy the breakfast buffet, which offers a daily selection of traditional dishes, Peruvian specialties, freshly baked goods, and a range of freshly squeezed juices.
After breakfast, you'll head out to see the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón rivers, which give rise to the Amazon River. Here you'll observe pink and gray river dolphins.
You'll go back to the boat for lunch by midday and then have time to rest. Make sure you attend the talk about the source of the Amazon and the hydrography of the river so that you'll be up to speed for the walk to Puerto Prado, where you'll see the "Victoria Regias", the largest water lily in the world.
You'll then head back to the boat for dinner and live music. After dinner, you'll enjoy a nighttime outing in search of caimans, tarantulas, frogs, and other nocturnal species.
Breakfast and outing on a skiff to different lakes and lagoons, until you reach the Japanese Lagoon. There, you'll enjoy a picnic and one of the best conserved and protected areas of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. It's also a popular spot to view pink river dolphins from the skiff.
Before heading back to the Zafiro, you'll take a trip to the Yanaquillo. Once you're back on the cruise ship, you'll get ready to go kayaking and take a dip in the black waters.
Head back for lunch aboard the Zafiro. Before starting the afternoon activity, the guides will give a talk about the Amazon philosophy.
Afterward, you'll take a walk through the rainforest overhanging bridges, where you can admire the riches of the rainforest from the treetops.
Once you're back on the Zafiro, the bartender will give a demonstration of how to make Peruvian cocktails, and you'll then enjoy live music while you await the gala dinner with the captain.
Breakfast and a visit the community of San Regis, where you'll learn about the local people's way of life and traditions. You'll also learn about their ancestral traditions from the community's shaman. With the guides as interpreters, you'll be able to ask questions about spiritual connections and curing the soul.
You'll then continue the ceremony by planting a tree as a positive contribution to the environment. There, you'll also see a market set up by women from the community to sell their handmade crafts.
Head back for lunch aboard the Zafiro. After resting, the guides will tell you about the myths and legends of the Amazon.
In the afternoon, you'll head out on a skiff to the Shiriyacu stream. Then, you'll enjoy the stunning colors of the sunset. Back on the Zafiro, you'll have some time to relax and enjoy live music before the presentation by the crew and farewell dinner.
Before breakfast, you'll visit Nauta, the second most important city in the region. Upon arriving, you'll take a motorcycle taxi to the local market where you'll see what business in the city is like firsthand.
Visit to the Sapi Sapi Lagoon, an arapaima hatchery. This is the second-largest freshwater fish in the world. Discover a new habitat, surrounded by fruit trees. You'll also see Arrau turtles, butterflies, and different species of birds and fish that call this lagoon home. After, you'll head back to the Zafiro for breakfast.
After breakfast, you'll begin disembarking. On the way to the airport, you'll stop by the Amazon Rescue Center (CREA), where biologists and volunteers take care of manatees – an endangered species – rescued by the authorities. You'll see how the manatees are cared for and prepped for reinsertion into their natural habitat. You'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.
Love and respect for the Amazon Rainforest.
All of us who are part of Jungle Experiences, care about the territory and its people. We are strongly committed to helping enhance our passengers' experience as well as the lives of the inhabitants in the region.
Knowledgeable in every sense of the word.
Our staff, local Amazon people, know all about the best ways to reach the most memorable experiences in this place.
Discover why shamans are recognized world-wide. Be dazzled by the skills these characters have, bearers of magical abilities.
Each day you may experience up to two of these sessions.
Ornella Puccio, professional instructor of Yoga and meditation, will be in charge of guiding all our visitors through this immersive experience navigating the waters of the mighty Amazon River. Ornella is certified by the Abhijna yoga school in Kerala, India, where she acquired important knowledge to develop different yoga and mindfulness techniques. She has dedicated herself to the delivery of workshops for adolescents, adults, and companies, but in recent years, she has joined her efforts in the personal and spiritual empowerment of women. She is the founder of Personal Yoga, a center where various workshops are held for the growth of your inner self, Trekking & Yoga retreats on the coast, highlands, and jungle
Gastronomy is an essential part of Amazonian culture. And the culinary experience aboard Zafiro includes familiar dishes from back home and exciting new recipes that reflect the flavors and foods of both the Amazon and Peru. Admire the rainforest from your table while you sample exquisite new dishes. The executive chef will delight your palate with an Amazon fusion cuisine. They are happy to accommodate any special diets and restrictions with timely prior notice.
The following meals are included:
