Tour Overview
| Duration | 5 Days / 4 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | Upper Amazon River — Iquitos, Peru |
| Price From | $3,995 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Luxury River Cruise — Expedition Comfort |
| Data Source | Rainforest Cruises / Zafiro 2026 verified pricing |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Iquitos — Embarkation on the Amazon
Fly to Iquitos, the largest city in the world unreachable by road (accessible only by air or river). The city boomed during the rubber era and retains echoes of that opulent past — the Iron House (Casa de Fierro), designed by Gustave Eiffel and shipped in pieces from Belgium in 1889. Board the Zafiro, a 40-passenger luxury riverboat with floor-to-ceiling windows, gourmet dining, and an observation deck with jacuzzi. After a welcome briefing, set sail on the Amazon River — at Iquitos, the river is already 3km wide, 3,700km from the Atlantic. Sunset on the observation deck with pisco sour in hand as pink river dolphins surface in the golden light. Overnight aboard Zafiro.
Day 2: Pacaya Samiria Reserve — The Jungle of Mirrors
Enter the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, Peru’s largest protected area at 2.08 million hectares — nicknamed the “Jungle of Mirrors” because the flooded forest is perfectly reflected in the blackwater during high-water season. Morning skiff excursion: the narrow tributaries reveal astonishing wildlife — squirrel monkeys leaping through the canopy, sloths hanging motionless in cecropia trees, and the bizarre hoatzin (stinkbird) with its punk-rock crest. The guides communicate with local dolphin whisperers who can call botos to the boat with whistles. Afternoon: kayaking through the flooded forest — paddle silently through a submerged world where you can touch the leaves of 30m trees from your kayak. Evening: lecture by the onboard naturalist on Amazon ecology. Overnight aboard Zafiro.
Day 3: Village Visit & Piranha Fishing
Morning visit to a ribereno village — these communities live entirely from the river: fishing, subsistence farming during low-water season, and harvesting forest products. The houses float on balsa-wood rafts during high water and sit on stilts during low water. Participate in a traditional fishing demonstration and learn about the seasonal rhythms that govern Amazonian life — the river can rise 10m between dry and wet seasons, submerging and revealing forests annually. Afternoon: piranha fishing from the skiffs — the excitement when they strike is addictive. The onboard chef will prepare your catch for dinner if you’re successful. Sunset cruise: the sky turns brilliant orange and pink as thousands of parrots and macaws fly to their roosts. Overnight aboard Zafiro.
Day 4: Nauta Caño & Manatee Rescue Center
Dawn expedition in the skiffs along Nauta Caño, a blackwater channel of exceptional beauty and wildlife density. This is prime time for spotting howler monkeys (their dawn chorus carries for miles), capuchin monkeys, and the occasional sloth descending to the ground (which they do once a week to defecate). Return to the boat for a gourmet breakfast. Midday: visit the Amazon Manatee Rescue Center near Iquitos, where orphaned and injured Amazonian manatees are rehabilitated. These gentle herbivores (up to 3m, 450kg) were hunted to near-extinction for their meat and oil, and the center’s work is crucial for their survival. Feed the baby manatees milk from bottles — an unforgettable encounter. Farewell dinner aboard: a gala dinner featuring Amazonian fusion cuisine — paiche (the world’s largest freshwater scaled fish, up to 3m and 200kg) prepared three ways. Overnight aboard Zafiro.
Day 5: Disembark Iquitos & Depart
Final breakfast aboard while cruising back to Iquitos. Morning: visit the Belen Market, one of the most extraordinary markets in South America — a floating shantytown where everything from Amazonian fruits and fish to medicinal barks, love potions, and ayahuasca vines are sold. The market is an assault on every sense and a window into the urban Amazon’s reality. Transfer to Iquitos Airport for your flight to Lima.
Inclusions
- 4 nights aboard Zafiro in a suite with panoramic windows
- All meals + house wines and beer + open bar (premium spirits extra)
- Daily guided excursions by skiff + kayaks
- Pacaya Samiria National Reserve entrance fees
- Naturalist guide team (English-Spanish bilingual, max 10:1 ratio)
- Manatee Rescue Center visit
- Ribereno village visit + community support contribution
- All transfers in Iquitos + port fees
- Onboard lectures + nightly briefings + stargazing
