Amazon River Expedition

ALL TOURS
diamond-gold

DETAILS

Wake up in the heart of the Amazon River Basin, where the dense jungle teems with the greatest diversity of plant and animal life on Earth and the perfect serenity of the river is broken only by the occasional fisherman paddling by in a traditional dugout canoe.

Pricing from
$5,575

Reserve early & SAVE up to $1,640 per cabin!

Trip Type
Group Travel Tour, International Land & Rail Voyages, International River Voyages
Departure Dates
Sep 28, 2024 - Oct 6, 2024

SHIP

lZafiro Ship Amenities

LaPerla Feb. 17, 2024

EXTENSIONS

Post Tour Extension – Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley
January 27 to February 1 (Tour ends January 31)
February 25 to March 1 (Tour ends February 29)
October 6 to 11 (Tour ends October 10)
Delight in this extraordinary opportunity to experience Machu Picchu, the majestic “lost city of the Incas,” the lush Sacred Valley, and the colonial and Inca traditions of Cusco. Perched on an awe-inspiring mountain range in the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu was obscured from humankind for 400 years until Yale Professor Hiram Bingham literally stumbled upon it in 1911. A century of extensive research and study still has not revealed the secrets of its purpose, its residents, or its abandonment; nevertheless, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been carefully excavated and preserved. Admire the spectacular archaeological sites of the beautiful Sacred Valley where ancient engineering marvels, such as the Inca site of Ollantaytambo, stand as lasting testimony to the powerful and far-reaching Inca Empire. Here, village craftsmen employ age-old techniques to weave intricate tapestries and sculpt colorful pottery. In the historic Inca capital of Cusco, a World Heritage site, see the Inca stone fortress of Sacsayhuamán and grand Baroqueand Renaissance‑style churches that provide a fascinating mix of pre-Columbian and colonial influences. Enjoy deluxe, ideally located accommodations in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco.
Price per person, based on double occupancy: $2,965
Price per person, based on single occupancy: $3,845
Further details will be provided with your reservation confirmation.

TRANSFER INFORMATION

Airport transfers and luggage handling abroad are only included if air arrangements are booked through Gohagan & Company. If travelers make their own air arrangements, transfers and luggage handling are not included; transfers can be organized through Gohagan & Company and purchased by the traveler.

READING LIST

TERMS & CONDITIONS

A non-refundable administrative fee of $300 per person will apply for all cancellations received more than 7 days after booking and before other fees take effect at 120 days:
120 days $300 per person admin fee after 7-day grace period from booking
120 – 91 days 25% of full invoice fare
90 – 61 days 50% of full invoice fare
60 – 31 days 75% of full invoice fare
30 – 0 days 100% of full invoice fare
Separate airfare Terms & Conditions apply

TOUR MAP

Amazon_2024_MAP

ITINERARY

  • day 1

    Depart the U.S. or Canada/Arrive in Lima, Perú

    Depart your home city and arrive in Peru’s cosmopolitan capital of Lima, located at the foot of the Andes Mountains. Check in to the Casa Andina Hotel.

  • day 2

    Lima

    After a morning at leisure, enjoy a tour of the historic center of Lima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See pre‑Columbian temples and proud colonial mansions amid modern architecture and the colorful buildings lining the Plaza de Armas—the city’s main square. Tour the opulent Casa de Aliaga, built in 1535 as the residence of Don Jerónimo de Aliaga, the co‑founder of Lima. Filled with original 16th-century Spanish art and furniture, it is the oldest private house in continuous use in the western hemisphere and has been inhabited by the Aliaga family for 17 generations. Then, visit the 17th‑century colonial Convent and Church of San Francisco, a brilliant combination of Moorish and Baroque architectural styles and one of the finest churches in South America. Gather for the welcome reception.

  • day 3

    Lima/Iquitos/Nauta/ Amazon River

    Fly to vibrant Iquitos, an important rubber boom city during thelate 19th century. Dine at the Doubletree by Hilton Iquitos restaurant for lunch. Then, travel to Nauta and embark the Zafiro. Gather on the ship’s observation deck and watch as civilization fades away and the vast Amazon River unfolds before you. A team of expert naturalists will share their insight into this rich and complex ecosystem and help you identify fascinating species like the radiant large‑billed toucan, pink river dolphin, and South American oriole. Across the basin’s planes, jabiru storks methodically search for food in the shallows, three‑toed sloths move between trees in a slow‑motion ballet, and hawks, kites, and turkey vultures glide overhead.

  • day 4

    Amazon River/ Ucayali River

    Wake to the sun rising over the majestic Amazon River and spend the morning looking for wildlife in the tributaries of the Yarapa River After lunch on board the river boat, meet with ribereños, or river people. Inhabited for generations. the villagers here raise thousands of butterfly species that live in the Amazon’s unique ecosystem, including the rare electric-blue morpho.

  • day 5

    Amazon River/ Ucayali River/ Marañón River

    This morning, embark a small excursion boat to explore the Pacaya‑Samiria National Reserve, the largest wetlands reserve in the world. This area is home to the endearing capybara—a large, semi‑aquatic rodent endemic to South America—and a profusion of rare palms, orchids, and other tropical plants that flourish at ground level. Watch for pink and gray river dolphins swimming alongside your boat. After lunch, board a small river skiff in search of exotic wildlife, including toucans and saddleback tamarin monkeys, and marvel at the giant Victoria amazonica water lilies.

  • day 6

    Marañón River/ Pucate River/ Ucayali River

    Enjoy a picnic breakfast under the shade of a magnificent rainforest canopy while you watch for white‑necked heron and wattled jacana dipping into nearby shallow waters. Walk through this mysterious realm of soaring ceiba trees that reach as high as 200 feet, listen for endangered scarlet macaws chattering in the canopy, and watch for egrets, oriole blackbirds, and purple gallinules. This afternoon, by special arrangement, meet a local shaman, or medicine man, who will perform a traditional ritual and explain how the ribereños have used indigenous medicinal plants and herbs to cure ailments for centuries. Participate in a traditional Amazonian tree‑planting ceremony dedicated to ensuring the longevity and well-being of the rainforest. This evening, search for elusive nocturnal creatures such as caimans and bats on a nighttime excursion into the Pacaya‑Samiria National Reserve as a vast blanket of stars glow above you.

  • day 7

    Marañón River/Nauta

    Discover a virtually uninhabited portion of the Amazon where the river narrows. Board excursion boats and cruise along labyrinthine blackwater tributaries while the vessel’s naturalists point out animal and plant life rarely detected by the untrained eye. Then, try your hand at catching a red‑bellied piranha during a fishing expedition. This afternoon, stop in a local village for a demonstration on how to prepare Amazonian specialties, including Juanes, a regional favorite made of chicken and rice wrapped in banana leaves. Later, visit another Amazonian village where you will learn more about the ribereños’ timeless way of life and special relationship with this remarkable environment. Enjoy a final evening of cruising the Amazon. Gather on the vessel’s upper deck for a festive farewell as the sun sets over the lush flora of the passing rainforest.

  • day 8

    Nauta/Iquitos/Lima

    Following breakfast, disembark and continue to the Iquitos Handicraft Market en route to the airport. Fly from Iquitos to Lima, where day-room accommodations have been reserved.

  • day 9

    Return to Home City

    Your flight arrives in your home city.

Everything you need to know about the tour

Save this information for later by downloading the full tour brochure.

Be prepared with the National Trust Travel Plan

Since 1973, USI Affinity Travel Insurance Services has served travelers just like you, to help protect their travel plans