The headwaters of the Amazon River rise in Peru & this mighty lifeblood winds its way out of the Andes mountains into the rainforest basin. It passes through Iquitos in western Peru where your Amazon cruise commences.

Iquitos was at one time, a thriving rubber town & although it still retains many of the colonial manor houses & architecture from those heydays, it has changed markedly in the last 25 years being so much more dependant upon tourism & the environment of the surrounding rainforest. Located on the banks of the Amazon, it is the start point for the cruises & the many lodges downriver. There are precious few roads here & equally, in the wet season, those become mainly impassable, so the river & its many tributaries are the main arterial highways westward.

The M/V Amazonas was built in Scotland in the late 1800's. After a career as a cargo & passenger vessel on the Amazon River it was completely rebuilt in 1981 to allow International guests to experience the Amazon in relative comfort. Again refurbished in 1994 she carries a maximum of 44 passengers in 21 air conditioned cabins on a set itinerary to explore the river & its peoples.

M/V Amazonas is an informal boutique cruise vessel with air conditioned dining room & library. It has ample covered & uncovered deck area, deck chairs, hammocks, a Jacuzzi & the necessities to make your experience memorable & relaxing. All upper deck cabins have private bath / showers & windows for river viewing. Two lower beds with lamps for night reading, a small writing table & chair complete the furnishings. Sun deck cabins are slightly larger with two twin beds & a third bed, small closet & chair. All meals, excursions & non-alcoholic beverages are provided for the duration of your cruise.

There is a choice of two different itineraries. The 3 night one way cruise commences from Iquitos, Peru to Tabatinga in Brasil. When terminating at Tabatinga it requires you either taking a float plane back to Iquitos, continuing onward from Tabatinga to Manaus or disembarking in Leticia, Colombia & from there onward to Bogota.

The 6 nights / 7 days itinerary is roundtrip from Iquitos returning to Iquitos.


Day 1 Sunday Depart Iquitos
The M/V Amazonas departs Sunday at noon. If you have arrived by air this morning, you will be met & transferred to the vessel. Otherwise, make your way to the dock & board the ship please, between 1000 & 1130. After a short briefing by the cruise director, check into your cabin. Lunch will be served aboard as we set off downriver passing Iquitos' industrial center. After sunset, dinner will be served & there is ample time to relax & meet your fellow traveling companions.


Day 2 Monday Cruising
As the sun rises above the eastern horizon it is ideal for early morning bird watching. As the many species of aquatic birds & parrots take flight from their overnight roosts in search of their breakfast. Your breakfast is served , followed by a visit to 'Bora'& 'Huitoto' Indian villages for a cultural visit & blow gun demonstration by these expert hunters. Late morning, stop at the town of Pevas which is the oldest Peruvian town on the Amazon.

This afternoon, a jungle hike through dense rainforest of the Shishita river area. After dinner, take a canoe spotlight adventure, trying to find those elusive nocturnal creatures that sleep during the day & hunt or forage in darkness.


Day 3 Tuesday Cruising
After breakfast a morning jungle walk to view Victoria Regina water lilies, followed by a Piranah fishing expedition. Then, it is off to the missionary village at Lake Caballococha. This evening after the sun has set, head out in canoes again with spotlights to find the elusive caiman crocodiles by way of their red eyes shining in the light as they hide in the marshy shallows.


Day 4 Wednesday
Either : Disembark opposite Leticia & transfer back to Iquitos by float plane at 1300hrs arriving Iquitos 1430hrs & if traveling onward this day, transfer to Iquitos airport. Or : On arrival opposite Leticia, a short excursion in the Cayaru river followed by dinner & overnight.


Day 5 Thursday Cruising
A morning launch up the Tarapoto lakes to fish in a backwater area. This afternoon following lunch, visit a remote leper hospital at San Pablo with time to browse in the primitive 'gift shop' which sells patients' handicrafts. Continue on a night cruise up the Mayaruna River where the engines will be shut down so you can hear the sounds of the jungle at night. In the spotlight, Amazon Caiman are readily spotted in the area.


Day 6 Friday Cruising
After clearing Peruvian customs formalities at Pijuayal, continue up the Ampiyacu River to visit the Indian village & an exhibition of local culture - dance & music - followed by a trading session. Often Pink Dolphins are seen at the junction of the Ampiyacu & Amazon Rivers.


Day 7 Saturday Iquitos
The vessel will dock at Iquitos 0800 after breakfast aboard. Disembark & transfers will be provided to the airport for those departing onward from here today.