Cattleya Amazon River Cruise in Peru

Day 1: The Adventure Begins

You will be met at the airport from your afternoon flight and be comfortably transported 2 hours by road to the port town of Nauta. Here you will embark our modern and newly built riverboat, the M/V Cattleya. As safety is our priority, we will conduct a safety drill and explain everything you need to know about the riverboat to have a safe and exhilarating adventure. 

Day 2: Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve & Yanayacu Pucate River basin

Enjoy breakfast as we cruise along the Marañón River. Board our sturdy excursion boat for a day-long excursion in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve – the largest reserve in Peru and the second largest in the Amazon region. Travel by skiff from Yanayacu Creek to the remote Yarina Cocha. As we take a rainforest hike you will experience the huge biodiversity that the rainforest is known for. Watch for monkeys, sloths, frogs, iguanas, gray and pink river dolphins, and a wide variety of bird species in their natural habitat. Examine and learn first-hand about the jungle plants – their unique survival tactics as they compete for sun and nutrients in the dense rainforest, the part they play in sustaining the complex balance of life in the jungle and the important medicinal value they offer. After a day filled with once-in-a-lifetime experiences, return to the M/V Cattleya for dinner and a relaxing evening with friends.

Day 3: Yanayacu Pucate & Shaman Ceremony

In the morning we depart for our next adventure - a spectacular skiff tour along the Yanayacu Pucate River to hear and see the amazing sights and sounds of the rainforest as it awakes. After this breathtaking experience, enjoy lunch and some free time aboard the Cattleya.In the afternoon we will visit one of the local villages to gain a deeper insight into how people live in Amazon. We will get to meet a local shaman and participate in a traditional ceremony of spiritual healing. Before you depart, you will have the opportunity to view and purchase some of their handicrafts and delightful folk art. This evening, join the crew and all your friends in a farewell dinner of authentic Peruvian cuisine and a celebration of your Amazon experience.

Day 4: Disembark / Return to Iquitos

As we cruise slowly back down the Marañón River, we will come to the confluence of the Marañón and Ucayali rivers, where the true Amazon River begins. Observe small villages that dot the river’s edge and catch a glimpse of the locals’ activities as they go about their day. At the confluence, the famous freshwater gray river dolphins and Amazon pink dolphins frequently swim near the boat. We will reluctantly disembark in Nauta and our guides will escort us back to the Iquitos airport in readiness for our journey home or continued travels!