Exploring Pacaya Samiria on a luxury Amazon cruise

Itinerary

DAY 1

Upon arriving in Iquitos, we'll take you to a 5-star hotel for a brief introduction to the fantastic week ahead aboard the La Perla Cruise. On the way to Nauta, we'll explore a bit of Iquitos.

Upon arriving in Nauta, we will board the cruise ship and settle into our suites. We will then sail up the Amazon River, while our guide introduces us to the beauty of the Peruvian rainforest. We will enjoy a delicious lunch.

** PEAK SEASON – DECEMBER TO MAY **

PM : We will begin an excursion to the Yanayacu de Yacapana Communal Reserve to admire the beautiful local flora and fauna. At dusk, we will search for nocturnal animals such as caimans, bats, tarantulas, etc. Upon returning to the cruise ship, we will enjoy dinner.

** OFF-SEASON – JUNE TO NOVEMBER **

PM : We'll set out to explore the San Jose de Omaguas area, discovering incredible flora and fauna. At dusk, we'll search for nocturnal animals such as frogs, tarantulas, bats, and more. We'll enjoy a delicious dinner on the cruise.

DAY 2

Very early in the morning, we'll leave the cruise ship to observe Amazonian birds such as parrots and macaws. We may also see sloths, iguanas, and monkeys. We'll return to the cruise ship for a buffet breakfast.

** PEAK SEASON – DECEMBER TO MAY **

AM : We will depart for the Yarapa River, arriving at the village of Vista Alegre. We will meet the local people and visit a butterfly farm. We will return to La Perla and have lunch.

PM : In the afternoon, we'll take a boat trip along the Nauta Caño River, a perfect spot for piranha fishing. Back on the boat, we'll relax with live music and have dinner. Then we'll leave the boat again for a nighttime wildlife excursion.

** OFF-SEASON – JUNE TO NOVEMBER **

AM : We will depart for the Yarapa River, with the opportunity to see pink and gray dolphins. We return to the boat for lunch and rest.

PM : We'll begin a hike through the Yucurichi area, where the wildlife will amaze us. We'll return to the cruise ship to enjoy live music and dinner. Afterward, we'll have the opportunity to go on a night safari to spot more animals.

DAY 3

** PEAK SEASON – DECEMBER TO MAY **

AM : We'll have an excursion before breakfast. We'll visit the Marayali stream, a prime area for observing various endemic species. Back on board, we'll have breakfast and then a trip to Pahuachiro to appreciate the Amazonian biodiversity. Afterward, we'll enjoy lunch.

PM : We'll hike along trails through the jungle in the Casual area, surrounded by giant trees and exotic species. We'll watch the magnificent sunset, and after returning to the cruise ship, we'll have dinner.

** OFF-SEASON – JUNE TO NOVEMBER **

AM : We'll depart at dawn to spot wildlife and fish for piranhas. After breakfast, we'll visit the village of Vista Alegre, meet the locals, and see their butterfly garden. We'll hike through the forest to see the largest aquatic plants on the planet, the Amazonian water lilies (Victoria amazonica). We'll have lunch and free time to relax.

PM : Our next adventure will be a hike along jungle trails in the Casual area, surrounded by exotic species and enormous trees. We'll visit a local native market, with the opportunity to purchase local crafts. We'll enjoy a stunning and colorful sunset, then return to the cruise ship for a delicious dinner with live music.

DAY 4

We'll have breakfast on board, and then start the day with a visit to the city of Nauta by tuk-tuk. We'll arrive at the local market, browsing stalls selling typical food, handicrafts, aphrodisiac drinks, and more. Next, we'll head to the Paiche fish farm in Sapi Sapi Lagoon, home to the second largest freshwater fish in the world.

We'll return to the cruise ship for lunch and a well-deserved rest. In the afternoon, we'll depart for Nauta Caño, heading to the "Jungle of Mirrors," a place that is home to birds, monkeys, iguanas, and sloths.

We'll have a night safari to look for more animals, as well as admire the spectacular starry sky above the jungle. We'll enjoy dinner on board La Perla.

DAY 5

We'll start the day with a picnic breakfast on the Yanayacu River in Pucate, a protected area within the reserve. You'll have the opportunity to kayak, swim in the river, and see pink river dolphins. We'll have lunch in La Perla, and then we'll set off again for another amazing adventure.

We will walk through the jungle until we reach the area of hanging bridges, where we can observe the beauty of the jungle from above.

Afterwards, we'll visit the shaman of San Regis who will share his ancestral rituals with us, tell us about medicinal plants, and explain the Amazonian worldview. We'll have the ultimate experience planting a tree.

On the cruise, we will relax listening to live music and having dinner.

DAY 6

We'll have breakfast, and then we'll begin an excursion to the Shiriyacu stream to fish for piranhas using traditional equipment. We'll return to the boat to rest.

After lunch, we'll depart for Puerto Prado, home to the Kukama Prado native community. They'll prepare traditional local dishes for us to sample, and we'll visit their artisan market. We'll then hike through the forest to see some of the world's largest aquatic plants.

We'll enjoy the sunset from La Perla, then take a well-deserved rest. In the evening, we'll have a farewell dinner.

DAY 7

We'll enjoy our last breakfast on board before arriving in Nauta to disembark. On the way to the city of Iquitos, we'll make a brief stop at the Amazon Rescue Center (CREA), where we'll see rescued animals such as manatees. We'll then arrive at the airport to conclude this incredible journey.