Jungle Experiences, Amazon Cruise, Peru

The Amazon is a 4,400-mile river with thousands of tributaries. A 2,600,000-square mile basin, it drains rivers and streams in eight countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname) as well as French Guiana. Its broadleaved forest is the largest on the planet and its biome—the forest combined with the savannah, floodplains and rivers—is a region of immense diversity, sheltering more than 30,000 plant species, 1,800 fish, 1,300 bird species, 311 mammals and 165 types of amphibian.

The archetypal Amazon trip is not now in Brazil, but in Peru and Ecuador, both of which are notable for their wildlife. Where deforestation and industrialisation have devastated great expanses of the low-lying Brazilian Amazon, the headwaters in Peru are in much better shape. For birders and lepidopterists, the banks of the tributaries and the forested slopes of the Andes provide plenty of interest.

The cruise boats in Peru are the oat luxurious on the Amazon—including the MV Zafiro, a state-of-the-art luxury Amazon River vessel which began sailing the Peruvian Amazon in October 2015. Passengers can expect highly-trained expert guides, hospitality and attention to detail on board, along with stylish design and modern facilities.

Her 19 spacious suites feature all mod-cons, with air-conditioning, ensuite bathrooms and magnificent views from floor-to-ceiling windows and for those on the Upper Deck, their private balconies too. The Zafiro has some standout features, including luxurious suites, exercise and massage rooms, and an outdoor Jacuzzi on her panoramic Observation Deck, itself equipped with sunloungers and bar lounge.

The Zafiro operates fixed cruises to the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve—an area unrivaled for wildlife—allowing you to explore deep into the heart of the rainforest.

Because wherever you go, you will want to get away from the widest sections of the river—and these smaller cruise boats are the way to do this. It is in the slower watercourses that wonders await. Small, quiet groups can be paddled or punted into channels to see capybara on the banks and capuchin monkeys in the canopy and, come nightfall, caiman, snakes and tree frogs. In the rainy season, when the floodplains fill, the submerged forests feel enchanted, and with just the plop of an oar, the call of a hoatzin bird and the green magnificence of the jungle for company, so will you.

In the widest sense, the rainy season in the Amazon is November or December to June. The river rises and floods the low-lying forests that lie along the banks, after which many channels become passable. The dry—or drier—season runs from July to December.

Jungle Expeditions’ MV Zafiro makes three-, four-, and seven-night trips down the river—starting in Iquitos, in northeastern Peru. Cruise rates include food, drinks, transfers, and excursions—from piranha fishing to monkey watching to spotting pink dolphins. The accommodation and the food are all-inclusive, and exceptional: Menus based on fresh grilled fish and fruits are conceived by an expert chef and are carefully cooked and served by the friendly and professional staff.

The MV Zafiro sails year-round, and you can also add visits to Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands.

Our Members receive special rates on selected Jungle Experiences cruises. Flights and transfers can be arranged to suit.

To check availability and best rates, please call Member Services on 020 7399 2960 or use the form below.