Zafiro – 8 Day Cruise

Note: This itinerary starts at Iquitos airport, please speak to your consultant for further arrival information.

The itineraries are subject to change according to climatic conditions at certain times of the year. 

Overview: 

Enjoy a Zafiro experience, a luxury Amazon Cruise. The Amazonian journeys, with the help of our expert guides, form part of the most genuine way to get close up to the fauna and flora of the Amazon, discovering and feeling in our own skin the cultures built around the waters of the river.

Eight days and seven nights in the heart of the Amazon to explore the immense diversity of the Peruvian rainforest and discover breathtaking flora and fauna. Share new experiences with native cultures and savor the fruits of the Amazon. The Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, also known as the Forrest of Mirrors, is the setting for a trip through the most exotic nature you can imagine. Walks through the rainforest, fishing, birdwatching, observing pink and gray river dolphins from up close, and nighttime outings are just some of the activities you’ll participate in to get to know and fall in love with the Amazon.

Ships that operate this itinerary:
- M/V Zafiro

Inclusions: 

• Accommodation on board Zafiro
• Welcome lunch is included before boarding at our DoubleTree by Hilton Iquitos hotel.
• All meals while onboard the Zafiro
• Sodas, natural juices, coffee, tea, water, local alcoholic beverages (house wines, beer, and pisco cocktails) are included at lunch and dinner
• All excursions with an expert naturalist guide including: skiff excursions, kayaking, native walks, fishing, Canopy walking & community visits
• All equipment (including rubber boots & rain ponchos)
• Entrance fee to Pacaya Samiria National Reserve
• Airport transfers to/from vessel to Iquitos

Exclusions:

• Airfares
• Travel Insurance
• Any additional transportation services or personal services
• Tips and gratuities

High Water Season | November - May: Day 1 Arrival to Iquitos and embarkation

You’ll be picked up at the airport and brought to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Iquitos 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.

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 to the depth of the Amazon rainforest.

Low-water Season | June- November: Day 1 Arrival to Iquitos and embarkation

You’ll be picked up at the airport and brought to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels Iquitos 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 San Joaquín de Omaguas.

High Water Season | December - May

Before breakfast, we’ll go out for a boating expedition on the Amazon River to explore the local flora and fauna. When you get back, enjoy our breakfast buffet, which offers a daily selection of traditional dishes, Peruvian specialties, freshly baked goods and a range of freshly squeezed juices.

After breakfast, we’ll head out to see the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón rivers, which give rise to the Amazon River. Here we’ll observe pink and gray river dolphins.

We’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 our walk to Puerto Prado, where we’ll see the “Victoria Regias”, the largest water lily in the world.

We’ll then head back to the boat for dinner and live music. After dinner, we’ll enjoy a nighttime.

Low Water Season | June – November

Before breakfast, you can go out for a boating expedition on the Amazon River to explore the local flora and fauna. When you get back, you’ll enjoy our breakfast buffet, which offers a daily selection of traditional dishes, Peruvian specialties, freshly baked goods and freshly squeezed juices.

After breakfast, we’ll hear a talk on the source of the Amazon River and later head out to see the confluence of the Ucayali y Marañón rivers. We’ll then take a walk to Puerto Prado to see the “Victoria Regias”, the largest water lily in the world. There, we’ll also see a market set up by women from the community to sell their handmade crafts.

By midday, we’ll be back at the boat for some lunch and rest before heading out to Nauta Caño, where you’ll see the “Forrest of Mirrors”. This is the perfect place to spot toucans, parrots, macaws, iguanas, sloths and monkeys in the treetops.

Before heading back on board, we’ll take a nighttime outing in search of caimans, tarantulas and other species that make an appearance only after the sun goes down. Dinner will then be served aboard the Zafiro.

High Water Season | December - May

Breakfast and outing on skiff to different lakes and lagoons, until we reach the Japanese Lagoon. There, we’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.

Before heading back to the Zafiro, we’ll take a trip to the Yanaquillo gorge. Once we’re back on the cruise ship, we’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, our guides will give a talk about the Amazon philosophy.

Afterward, we’ll take a walk through the rainforest over hanging bridges, where you can admire the riches of the rainforest from the treetops. Once we’re back on the Zafiro, our bartender will give a demonstration of how to make Peruvian cocktails, and we’ll then enjoy live music while we await the gala dinner with the captain.

Low Water Season | June – November

After having some breakfast, we’ll take a skiff out on the Yanayacu de Pucate River and do some piranha fishing using local techniques.

We’ll then head back for lunch aboard the Zafiro. Before starting the afternoon activity, there will be a talk about the philosophy of the Amazon. Afterward, we’ll take a walk over hanging bridges, where you can admire the riches of the rainforest from the treetops.

Once we’re back on the Zafiro, there will be time for resting and enjoying live music while we await the gala dinner with the captain.

High Water Season | December - May

Breakfast and visit to the community of San Regis, where we’ll learn about the local people’s way of life and traditions.

We’ll also learn about their ancestral traditions from the community’s shaman. With our guides as interpreters, we’ll be able to ask questions about spiritual connections and curing the soul. We’ll then continue the ceremony by planting a tree as a positive contribution to the environment. There, we’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 us about the myths and legends of the Amazon. In the afternoon, we’ll head out on a skiff to the Shiriyacu stream. There, we’ll find a good spot to do some piranha fishing using local techniques and equipment. Back on the boat, we’ll enjoy the stunning colors of the sunset. Return to the Zafiro for live music and dinner.

Low Water Season | June – November

In the morning, we’ll enjoy a nice picnic on the Samiria River, where you’ll be able to kayak and swim in the black waters. We’ll head back to the boat for lunch by midday.

After resting, our guides will offer some information about the myths and legends of the Amazon, which will help during our afternoon activity: a visit to the local San Regis community, where we’ll learn about the local way of life and traditions.

We’ll also learn about their ancestral traditions with a shaman. With our guides as interpreters, you’ll be able to ask questions about spiritual connections and healing the soul. We’ll then continue the ceremony by planting a tree as a positive contribution to the environment. After returning to the Zafiro, there will be live music and dinner.

 High Water Season | December - May

Before breakfast, we’ll visit Nauta, the second most important city in the region. Upon arriving, we’ll take a motorcycle taxi to the local market where we’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. We’ll also see Arrau turtles, butterflies and different species of birds and fish that call this lagoon home.

After, we’ll head back to the Zafiro for breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll head out on a skiff to Casual. We’ll have lunch at midday and then rest up for the afternoon activity: an outing on the skiff to explore the area of Pahuachiro and its wildlife. We’ll then head back to boat for some free time until dinner.

Low Water Season | June – November

Before breakfast, we’ll visit Nauta, the second-largest city in the region. Upon arriving, we’ll take a motorcycle taxi to the local market where you’ll see what business in the city is like firsthand.

Later, we’ll visit the Sapi Sapi lagoon, where arapaima, the secondlargest freshwater fish in the world, are raised. Discover a new habitat surrounded by fruit trees. We’ll also see Arrau turtles, butterflies and different species of birds and fish that call this lagoon home.

After, we’ll head back to the Zafiro for breakfast. We’ll then walk to Casual in search of wildlife, such as poison dart frogs and other exotic species. In this area, we’ll see giant trees known as avatar trees.

We’ll have lunch at midday and then rest up for the afternoon activity: an outing on the skiff to explore the area of Pahuachiro and its wildlife. We’ll then head back to the boat for some free time until dinner.

High Water Season | December - May

Before breakfast, we’ll head out on a skiff to the Yanallpa area of the Ucayali River in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, where we’ll see many native animal species. After breakfast, we’ll head out on a skiff to the Tapiche River in search of wildlife. Before midday, we’ll head back to the boat for a cooking demonstration by the executive chef.

After lunch, whoever is interested may attend a talk about the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, and in the afternoon we’ll take a skiff to the Dorado river, where we’ll fish using local techniques. Before heading back on board, we’ll enjoy a nighttime outing in search of caimans, tarantulas and other species that make an appearance after the sun goes down. Dinner will then be served aboard the Zafiro.

Low Water Season | June – November

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 Bagazán 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 caymans, lizards and other nighttime species.

High Water Season | December - May

After breakfast, we’ll set out to explore the Yarapa River, where the infamous pink and gray river dolphins swim in its black waters. Back on the Zafiro, we’ll see the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón rivers, which give rise to the Amazon River.

After lunch, we’ll take the skiff out on the Amazon River to visit the Huaysi community. There, we’ll see how the locals live and learn more about their customs with our guides, who will act as interpreters.

We’ll also take a dip in the Tahuayo River and, before heading back to the boat, enjoy a colorful Amazon 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.

Low Water Season | June – November

Before breakfast, we’ll set out to explore the Yarapa River, where the infamous 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 goodbye dinner.

High Water Season | December - May

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.

Low Water Season | June – November

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.