M/V Aria Amazon | Trip Itinerary

Experience the world as it was at the very beginning of time.  Sail the waters of the mighty Amazon. Every week of the year, the award-winning Aqua Expeditions’ luxurious Aria Amazon takes 32 passengers deep into Peru’s Amazon wilderness to places only ever visited by only a fortunate few. Daily water-based excursions on comfortable launch boats allow guests to experience such wonders as pink dolphins and six-foot-wide water lilies, to fish for sharp-toothed piranha, and to interact with the people who live out their days along the river.  

Aria Amazon’s expert guides, all under long-term contract to Aqua Expeditions, provide rich narrative detail about life along the Amazon. They enrich guest’s journeys to such little-visited areas as the remote Pacaya Samiria Reserve and the headwaters of the river, with stories about the life and folklore of the area. In fact, many of the guides grew up in Amazonia.

The 32 guests aboard the 147-foot-long Aria Amazon enjoy fine wine and haute cuisine, in all-inclusive comfort equivalent to a five-star boutique hotel. The 16 over-sized staterooms all feature en-suite seating areas, generous beds, and wall-to-wall panoramic windows. The observation deck with outdoor jacuzzi and the lounge are also glorious places to sip a pisco sour and watch the world go by. Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, one of Peru’s star chefs, created the Aria Amazon’s gourmet menu. Fine South American wines are included at every meal. Travelers can book three-, four-, or seven-night journeys, every Monday and Friday. All departures are guaranteed.  

Itinerary for November to May /High Water
7 night itinerary/Friday to Friday   |   3 night itinerary/Friday to Monday
4 night itinerary/Monday to Friday

Itinerary for June-October/Low Water
7 night itinerary/Friday to Friday  |   3 night itinerary/Friday to Monday
4 night itinerary/Monday to Friday

November to May /High Water

Day 1:  Friday-Begin 7 and  3 night itinerary
IQUITOS/AMAZON RIVER
Embarkation and Check-In

We will meet at Iquitos International Airport then enjoy lunch together at a local restaurant or we will serve a box lunch en route, depending on the flight arrival time. The afternoon continues with an introduction to this historic city and the opportunity to meet an indigenous Amazon community. At 4:30pm we will board the ARIA AMAZON.  Settle into your generously proportioned suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures. Following a routine safety drill and introduction to our naturalist guides, we gather for innovative Amazonian cuisine created by our Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, Malabar, is the one of Lima’s top ranked dining experiences (L, D)

Day 2:  Saturday
AMAZON RIVER - YARAPA RIVER - NAUTA CAÑO
Aboard our comfortable skiffs, we set sail from the Amazon River to the Yarapa River. Keep your binoculars ready to spot tropical songbirds, black collared hawks and sloths. We’ll go fishing for Amazonia’s notoriously ferocious piranhas while our naturalist guides share stories of Lake Moringo. As the sun sets, we head off on an evening’s wildlife excursion with extraordinary stargazing on the black waters of Nauta Caño. (B, L, D)

Day 3:  Sunday
MARAÑON CREEK - CASUAL JUNGLE WALK - YANAYACU-PUCATE RIVER
Rise with the sun for an early morning birdwatching along the Marañon River. After breakfast, we will take a jungle walk on the firm soil forest “Casual,” while looking for flora and fauna which include medicinal trees, insects, and poison dart frogs, and learning more about the different rainforest stratas. Later, swim, canoe or kayak in Yanayacu-Pucate River as we look for legendary pink river dolphins. Focus our hi-tech telescope on the night sky to identify the planets and constellations. This evening before dinner, we will gather to introduce you to some of the crewmembers whom you may not have met, working "behind the scenes" to ensure your countless exceptional experiences aboard the ARIA AMAZON (B, L, D)

Day 4:  Monday
BIRTHPLACE OF THE AMAZON / VILLAGE VISIT / NAUTA CITY
This morning, we will visit the local fresh market with your guides who can identify the day’s catch by the fishermen of Amazonia and the region’s exotic fruits. In the afternoon, we witness one of the great spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere, the birthplace of the Amazon River. Tonight you will meet the new passengers who have signed on for the four-night trip, as we start our journey together along the Marañon River. (B, L, D)

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3 night itinerary  activity + disembarkation & transfer to Iquitos Airport
This morning, we will visit the local fresh market with your guides who can identify the day’s catch by the fishermen of Amazonia and the region’s exotic fruits. Return to the ARIA for breakfast and to pack up. Before saying goodbye, we visit the Manatee Rescue Center, a kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees to rescue, rehabilitate and release them back into the wild. We will also visit San Juan craft market on route to the airport. (B, L)

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Begin 4 night itinerary

Monday/Day 1
IQUITOS - NAUTA - EMBARKATION - AMAZON RIVERR
We will meet at Iquitos International Airport then journey together by air-conditioned vehicle through the Peruvian countryside to arrive at our Nauta Lounge in time for lunch, or we will serve a box lunch en route depending on the flight arrival time. In the afternoon, we will set off on your first skiff excursion to visit the birthplace of the Amazon. At 5:00pm, we will board the ARIA AMAZON.  Settle into your generously proportioned suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures. Following a routine safety drill and introduction to our naturalist guides, we gather for innovative Amazonian cuisine created by our Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, Malabar, is the one of Lima’s top ranked dining experiences.  (L, D)

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Day 5/2:  Tuesday
YANALLPA RIVER - DORADO RIVER
By skiff, we explore the black waters of the Yanallpa River, disembarking to walk deep into the Amazonian rain forest. Later, we board the skiffs again to cruise along the El Dorado River for a dusk excursion in search of exotic nocturnal wildlife. (B, L, D)

Day 6/3: Wednesday
PACAYA RIVER - UCAYALI RIVER - TAPICHE RIVER
The rewards of our early start today are plentiful, including a breakfast picnic accompanied by jungle symphony and fishing along the black waters of the Pacaya River. After lunch, we venture out by skiffs on the Ucayali River alongside the banana boats transporting their jungle products to the port of Requena, keeping an eye out for pink river dolphins. (B, L, D)

Day 7/4:   Thursday
CLAVERO OR YARAPA RIVER - AMAZON RIVER 
Choose to go jungle walking, canoeing, kayaking or swimming on the black water Yarapa or Clavero River in the morning. Visit a remote Amazonia village in the afternoon. This evening before dinner, we will gather to introduce you to some of the crewmembers whom you may not have met, working "behind the scenes" to ensure your countless exceptional experiences aboard the ARIA AMAZON. (B, L, D)

Day 8/5:  Friday
ARRIVAL IN IQUITOS - MANATEE RESCUE CENTER - TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT
At the Bellavista Nanay morning market along the Nanay River, sample exotic snacks from the Peruvian Amazon like ‘Suri’, Amazon caterpillars that are considered especially appetizing. Return to the ARIA for breakfast and to pack up. Before saying goodbye, we will make one last truly memorable stop at the Manatee Rescue Center, a very special kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees. We will also visit San Juan craft market on route to the airport. Lunch or box lunch will be provided, depending on the exact departure flight time, which may vary. Other local activities may be included as well, according to the recommended flight schedule. (B, L)

June-October/Low Water

Day 1:  Friday-Begin 7 and 3 night itinerary
IQUITOS - NAUTA - EMBARKATION - MARAÑON RIVER
Embarkation and Check-In
We will meet at Iquitos International Airport then journey together by air-conditioned vehicle through the Peruvian countryside to arrive at our Nauta Lounge in time for lunch, or we will serve a box lunch en route depending on the flight arrival time. In the afternoon, we will set off on your first skiff excursion to visit the birthplace of the Amazon. At 5:00pm, we will board the ARIA AMAZON.  Settle into your generously proportioned suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures. Following a routine safety drill and introduction to our naturalist guides, we gather for innovative Amazonian cuisine created by our Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, Malabar, is the one of Lima’s top ranked dining experiences. (L, D)

Day 2:  Saturday
YANAYACU PUCATE RIVER - MARAÑON RIVER
We commence today’s adventures near the main entrance of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, cruising along Yanayacu Pucate in the comfort of our state-of-the-art skiffs. Kayak, canoe and swim in these unspoiled black waters, keeping eyes peeled for the Amazon’s legendary pink dolphins. In the afternoon, we will visit a remote village along the Marañon River to learn about traditional customs. Focus our hi-tech telescope on the night sky to identify the planets and constellations.  (B, L, D)

Day 3:   Sunday
SAMIRIA RIVER - NAUTA CAÑO OR PNA (AMAZONIAN NATURAL PARK)
We set off by skiffs for an excursion along the Samiria River with optional fishing. Listen carefully to our after lunch flora and fauna lecture, then venture out for a singularly thrilling jungle walk across the high Amazon rainforest. On our return in the evening, enjoy the jungle symphony and extraordinary stargazing on local boats along the “Enchanted Lake”.  This evening before dinner, we will gather to introduce you to some of the crewmembers whom you may not have met, working "behind the scenes" to ensure your countless exceptional experiences aboard the ARIA AMAZON  (B, L, D)

Day 4:  Monday
NAUTA TOWN - VILLAGE VISIT - BIRTHPLACE OF THE AMAZON
This morning, we will visit the local fresh market with your guides who can identify the day’s catch by the fishermen of Amazonia and the region’s exotic fruits. In the afternoon, together we will witness one of the great spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere, the birthplace of the Amazon River. Tonight you will meet the new passengers who have signed on for the four-night trip, as we start our journey together along the Marañon River.  (B, L, D)

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3 night itinerary 
NAUTA TOWN - MANATEE RESCUE CENTER - TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT
This morning, we will visit the local fresh market with your guides who can identify the day’s catch by the fishermen of Amazonia and the region’s exotic fruits.

Return to the ARIA for breakfast and to pack up. Before saying goodbye, we visit the Manatee Rescue Center, a kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees to rescue, rehabilitate and release them back into the wild. We will also visit San Juan craft market on route to the airport. (B)

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Begin 4 night sailing/Day 1

 IQUITOS - NAUTA - EMBARKATION - MARAÑON RIVER
We will meet at Iquitos International Airport then journey together by air-conditioned vehicle through the Peruvian countryside to arrive at our Nauta Lounge in time for lunch, or we will serve a box lunch en route depending on the flight arrival time. In the afternoon, we will set off on your first skiff excursion to visit the birthplace of the Amazon.  At 5:00pm, we will board the ARIA AMAZON. 

Settle into your generously proportioned suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures. Following a routine safety drill and introduction to our naturalist guides, we gather for innovative Amazonian cuisine created by our Executive Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, whose restaurant, Malabar, is the one of Lima’s top ranked dining experiences. (L, D)

Day 5/2:  Tuesday
UCAYALI  RIVER - PACAYA RIVER
Boarding our skiffs, we start the day like Amazon River dwellers, cruising along the Ucayali River. As these farmers and fishermen go about their business, we search for pink river dolphins in these pristine waters. Later in the day, we return to the skiffs, to ride along the black waters of the Pacaya River at dusk, searching for the mysterious wildlife that come out after dark. (B, L, D)

Day 6/3:  Wednesday
PACAYA RIVER - UCAYALI RIVER - TAPICHE RIVER
The rewards of our early start today are plentiful, including a full day excursion by skiff along the Pacaya River, going deeper into pristine landscape shared with great egret, capuchin monkeys and taricaya turtles. After lunch, we will have a paiche fishing demonstration, the second largest river fish in the world. Later, we venture out by skiffs on the Ucayali River alongside the banana boats transporting their jungle products to the port of Requena, keeping an eye out for pink river dolphins.  (B, L, D)

Day 7/4:  Thursday
CLAVERO LAKE - SAN JOSE DE SARAPANGA FOREST
Choose to go jungle walking, canoeing, kayaking or swimming on the black water Yarapa or Clavero River in the morning. Come afternoon, take a short jungle walk in the San Jose de Sarapanga forest and see the unforgettable giant water lilies. This evening before dinner, we will gather to introduce you to some of the crewmembers whom you may not have met, working "behind the scenes" to ensure your countless exceptional experiences aboard the ARIA AMAZON. (B, L, D)

Day 8/5:  Friday
ARRIVAL IN NAUTA - MANATEE RESCUE CENTER - TRANSFER TO THE AIRPORT
We will visit the town of Nauta, founded in 1930. Today, villagers from around Amazonia gather here to sell the products they harvest in their rural communities. Together we will walk around Nauta to gain insights into the daily life of these remotes people. Return to the ARIA for breakfast and to pack up. Before saying goodbye, we will visit the Manatee Rescue Center, a kind of animal orphanage for Amazonian manatees to rescue, rehabilitate and release them back into the wild. We will also visit San Juan craft market on route to the airport. Other local activities may be included as well, according to the recommended flight schedule.  (B)

Note: All itineraries are subject to change, due to weather and other conditions.  All times indicated are approximate, and are also subject to change.