Arriving on a morning flight*, receive a warm welcome at Iquitos International Airport by our crew. Board our private transfer to our exclusive Nauta Lounge for a welcome lunch before embarkation.
Settle into your generously sized suite as you begin one of life’s greatest adventures. Following an introduction to our naturalist guides and a routine safety drill, gather at the restaurant for the first of many Amazonian cuisine experiences created by Aqua Nera’s renowned consulting chef, Pedro Miguel Schiaffino.
Rise with the sun for an early morning bird watching along the Marañon River. Later, canoe or kayak in Yanayacu-Pucate Riverand look out for Amazon’s legendary pink river dolphins. In the afternoon, visit an Amazonian village, where you can interact with native riberenos (people of the river) and visit local schoolchildren.
Awake to a lush jungle sunrise and birdwatching along the Samiria River, enjoying breakfast in the middle of the lush jungle. Swimming and kayaking are some of the recommended activities at this part of the Reserve. In the evening, embark on a wildlife excursion on the black waters of Nauta Caño, and end the night with extraordinary stargazing.
In the morning, take a guided visit to the local market and marvel at the regional produce of the Peruvian Amazon, and sample exotic snacks if you wish.
In the afternoon, witness one of the great spectacles of the Southern Hemisphere, the birthplace of the Amazon River. By nightfall, you will meet the new passengers who signed on for the four-night trip, as we start our journey together along the Marañon River.
Boarding our skiffs, we start the day like Amazon River dwellers, cruising along the Ucayali and Yanallpa River. As farmers and fishermen go about their business, we search for pink river dolphins in these pristine waters.
In the afternoon, explore a fascinating black water stream aboard skiffs, part of the vast Amazon flooded forest with in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Your guides will regale you with tales and insights about the jungle as we explore what scientists call a “gallery forest” because of dense vegetation that creates a tunnel of leaves. As we explore this type of riparian vegetation, keep your eyes peeled for parrots, macaws, and fluffy monk saki monkeys.
This morning we will embark ona full-day excursion along the Pacaya tributary with in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, observing and exploring the flooded forest of this vast region of the Peruvian Amazon. Sail among a wide variety of wildlife, birds including large parrots, macaws, herons and storks, and many species of primates like the capuchin, howler and squirrel monkeys.
After a picnic lunch, visit some of the most beautiful lakes in Pacaya Samiria and meet local guardians of the Reserve’s natural resources. On our return, behold the famous Ceiba tree, the tallest of its kindin the Amazon.
Choose among jungle walking, canoeing, kayaking or swimming excursions on the black waters Yarapa or Clavero River. In the evening, before dinner, we will gather to introduce you to some ofthe crew members whom you may not have met, working behind the scenes to ensure a memorable experience aboard the Aqua Nera.
Visit the quaint riverside town of San Jose de Paranapura enroute to Nauta. Before saying goodbye, we will visit the Manatee Rescue Center, a sanctuary for orphaned Amazonian manatees to rehabilitate before their release back into the wild.
