Iquitos is the jewel of the Amazon Jungle in the north of Peru. Linked to the outside world by air and by the river; Iquitos is the world’s largest city that cannot be entered by road. It’s a busy, vibrant jungle metropolis and the northern Amazon Basin’s main port city. Mud huts merge with magnificent tiled mansions; tiny dugout canoes ply the water alongside colossal cruise ships. A lovely colonial plaza is at the heart of the city and the further out your travel, the closer you arrive in the jungle and understand life here.
Get to know the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve by selecting either a four- or five-day itinerary, or complete your Amazon experience by opting for the eight-day version, which combines the two shorter cruises. During all three schedules, a range of activities is aimed at providing hands-on, authentic, yet comfortable ways to discover the rainforest’s waters and land. A highly-trained naturalist guide leads each excursion.
The Zafiro travels with three auxiliary boats, two of which hold up to 25 passengers and the other of which has a capacity of 15. These support crafts take small groups on river explorations and ashore for land-based activities. During the four-day cruise, learn to catch piranha using local techniques on the Dorado River and visit the Huaysi community to learn about local traditions. During the five-day route, take a walk through the rainforest overhanging bridges, visit a local Shaman and help plant a tree in the rainforest.
Then, visit the Amazon Rescue Center, where endangered manatees are prepared to return to their natural environment.
An Amazon Cruise for the Whole Family
Mom, Dad, children, and grandparents can all fall in love with the rainforest on a Zafiro Amazon River Cruise. While parents will treasure the luxury retreat that the Zafiro provides, the wildlife-focused activities and dedicated kids program will delight the younger crowd, and everyone is sure to have plenty of space. The lower deck cabins in particular are great for families as you have the option of two sets of interconnecting rooms. There is also a fully-accessible suite, a rarity on riverboats, which opens up the Amazon’s beauty to those with mobility concerns.
From exotic cocktail-making lessons and revitalizing spa treatments, to relaxing in the Jacuzzi, there is something for everyone aboard the Zafiro. What stories will you tell after your Zafiro Amazon River cruise?
Included
Breakfast x 4
Lunch x 4
Dinner x 4
Private Transport – collection & drop-off
Professional bilingual guide
River boats for location transfers along river
Cruise liner accommodation for x4 nights
Wildlife excursions as outlined in itinerary
Domestic flights from Lima to Iquitos (return)
Not Included
International Airfare
Hotels before & after (can be organised as part of trip)
Tips for crew
Any additional extras
Travel & Adventure Insurance (we highly recommend some form of medical evacuation insurance)
Suggested Packing List
Personal medications
Toiletries
Sneakers
Sandals
Flashlight and batteries
Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
Insect repellent (40% DEET or more is recommended)
Raincoat
Long sleeve shirts
Cotton pants
Swimwear
Warm clothes (mornings and nights on the river can be cold)
Binoculars
Camera
Backpack and day pack
Joining Arrangements
There will be a pre-trek briefing held usually the evening before departure, at your hotel, to go over the details of the trek and any specific requirements not already captured.
Food & Water
Prior to setting off we recommend you steer clear of street food and only eat in good restaurants, to avoid any stomach complaints. Likewise with tap water, it is largely untreated, please only consume bottled water only or sterilised water if you have the right equipment.
Special Diets
We’ll ensure that we cater for all of your dietary needs, at the point of booking we’ll collect this information from you. We can secure special menu requests also for your trek party.
Trekking Crew
We are able to customise our treks to suit you, but usually our treks are guided by a professional bilingual guide, mountain cook, arriero (horseman) and mules to carry all equipment (passenger horses also available on request). They become a large part of your trekking expedition and it’s a great experience working together.
Acclimatisation
This is a really important part of your trip planning process, please find a link below which explains a little more about preparing for altitude. Altitude Preparation
Preparation
Attached below are a couple of links which will explain how to prepare for your trip & trek in advance of your arrival. We recommend being prepared in advance to save time & stress whilst you’re in Peru. Trip Planning|Trek Planning
Machu Picchu
An excursion to Machu Picchu can be included as part of your trip, including professional bilingual guide, entrance tickets, return trip bus tickets, Huayna Picchu & Machu Picchu Mountains (mountain climbs to be confirmed on reservation) & your return train ticket to Cusco.
Reservation
Please contact us to reserve your trek and we will send you our deposit & payment options.
Customer Service
Please feel free to contact us at any point before your trip for any queries or problems.
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Gear Recommendation
¡Oferta!
Lightweight Journey Pack
$ 410.00El precio original era: $ 410.00.$ 369.00El precio actual es: $ 369.00.
A pack with lightweight gear, helping you to outperform all your hikes. Four essential items in one bundle.
Fabric: 100% Alpaca Wool. Sourced, Sheared, & Sewn in Perú *All packs can be mixed with women’s & men’s items
$ 315.00El precio original era: $ 315.00.$ 283.50El precio actual es: $ 283.50.
Travel Insurance
Medical and security emergencies happen, when they do, we rely on Global Rescue, the world’s leading membership organization providing integrated medical, security, travel risk and crisis response services to our travelers worldwide. Memberships start at $139.
Global Rescue has created the industry’s most complete travel insurance that was built with the outdoorsman in mind. With minimal exclusions, the IMG Signature Travel Insurance is the perfect add-on to your Global Rescue membership.
To find out more information please visit our landing page at: https://partner.globalrescue.com/unuraymiexpeditions/index.html or reach out to outdoor@globalrescue.com for any specific questions or concerns
AM: You’ll be picked up at the airport and brought to the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel Iquitos, where you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch. Afterward, you will be transferred by private vehicle to Nauta to board the cruise ship.
PM: Our staff will show you to your suite, 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 depth of the Amazon rainforest.
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
02
Amazon River
AM: Before breakfast, 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. We offer a daily selection of traditional dishes including Peruvian specialties, freshly baked goods, and a range of freshly squeezed juices. After breakfast, head out to see the confluence of the Ucayali and Marañón rivers, which give rise to the Amazon River. Here we can observe the pink and gray river dolphins.
PM: 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! Here we will 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, enjoy a nighttime outing in search of caimans, tarantulas, frogs, and other nocturnal species.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
03
Yanayacu of Pucate
AM: Breakfast and outing on the 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 the skiff. Before heading back to the Zafiro, we'll take a trip to the Yanaquillo. Once we're back on the cruise ship, we'll get ready to go kayaking and take a dip in the black waters.
PM: 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 overhanging 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.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
04
Marañon River
AM: 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.
PM: 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 the perfect spot to do some piranha fishing using local techniques and equipment. Back on the boat, we'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.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
05
Disembarkation
AM: Before breakfast, visit Nauta, the second most important city in the region. Upon arriving, we take a motorcycle taxi to the local market where you can see what business in the town is like firsthand. We also take a visit to the Sapi Sapi lagoon, an arapaima hatchery. This is the second-largest freshwater fish in the world. Here you can see Arrau turtles, butterflies, and different species of birds and fish that call this lagoon home.
After, we head back to the Zafiro for breakfast. After breakfast, we begin to disembark. On the way to the airport, 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 also get to see other animals that have been rescued from attempts to turn them into pets and other dangerous situations.
Afterward, you will be transferred to Iquitos airport for your departure flight back to Lima.
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