4 Day Zafiro Amazon Cruise
4 Days/3 Nights
From $3,000 per person
(Dbl. Occupancy, Not Incl. Airfare)
Wednesday Departures Throughout the Year
Overview
Discover the biodiversity of the Peruvian Amazon on this 4 day cruise aboard the Zafiro. Departing from Iquitos and then Nauta, you will explore the tributaries of the Amazon River in search of caiman, monkeys, dolphins, and other wildlife. You will also have the opportunity to interact with native villagers. Highlights include identification of the plants that comprise the natural pharmacy of the Amazon, and a cooking class in a native home to learn first-hand about local cuisine. On your final day, you will also visit the Manatee Rescue Center.
Lodging and Meals: This tour includes accommodations for 3 nights (aboard the M/V Zafiro) and 10 meals (3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners).
Best Time to Go: June-November.
Destinations: South America, Peru, and Amazon.
Interests: Adventure, Culture & History, Expedition Cruising, Luxury, and Wildlife Viewing.
Places Visited: Iquitos & the Northern Amazon.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Note: This itinerary is subject to change according to climatic conditions at certain times of the year. The excursions can be modified at the discretion of the Zafiro crew.
Day 1 (Wed): Iquitos-Nauta-Embarkation-Marañon River-Ucayali River.
Pick up service on arrival in Iquitos. Transfer by private vehicle on a paved road to the city of Nauta: the first city founded in Loreto, located 95 km. from Iquitos.
VIP welcome upon arrival at our private port in Nauta.
Get accommodated in the rooms, accompanied by our staff. The ship begins navigating the Amazon.
Discover the facilities aboard Zafiro. Enjoy a cocktail in our bar or enjoy the breathtaking view from our indoor and outdoor lounge.
Meet with the guides. This meeting will explain the program of the trip, the activities, and routes that will be taken, the important moments in the expedition and the particularities of the life and landscape of the area, as well as other curiosities.
Safety drill. Safety on board is essential, that is why a safety drill will be conducted to get to know and understand the ship’s protocols.
Meeting with the cruise director. You will meet the director of the cruise, who will present the first summary of the activities.
Welcome dinner **. The welcome dinner will be served at 8:00pm. Overnight aboard the ship. (D)
** Our team is prepared to attend any special nutritional needs. Notify your crew about preferences in advance so that we can offer you the best alternative.
Day 2 (Thu): Ucayali River-Yanallpa River-Trapiche River-Dorado River-Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.
Breakfast. Grab energy for a day full of activities.
Expedition to Yanallpa River. After breakfast, we will stroll along incredible streams of black water, explore the “gallery forest”, and observe the parrots, macaws, and saki monkeys in the trees along the banks of the river accompanied by our guides and their explanations about the jungle.
Exploration of the Trapiche River. On the way back to the Zafiro we will explore the Trapiche river and we will take a walk with our guides to learn about medicinal plants, and search for insects, snakes, and birds. The guides will identify the fruit trees and medicinal plants that comprise the natural pharmacy of the Amazon.
Return to Zafiro for lunch. Upon boarding the ship, the food will be served.
Exploration of the Rio Dorado and a night excursion. We will make a trip in skiffs through “the jungle of mirrors”, where we will be able to see the tall trees reflected in the black water of the river, observe the parrots and macaws as well as observe primates and sloths.
Return to Zafiro. Our guides will point out alligators, frogs, and fishermen bats.
Dinner. The Peruvian culinary scene will once again be the protagonist in our dinner on board. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 3 (Fri): Ucayali River-Yarapa River-Amazon River-Panguana 2nd Zone.
Breakfast. Another day begins with delicious Amazonian foods.
Expedition to the Yarapa River. We will continue exploring the water ways in the skiffs to the place where the pink and gray freshwater dolphins swim and play. We will observe monkeys such as the capuchin and marmoset. We will also observe birds such as flycatchers, trogons, and carpenters as well as other typical creatures of the Amazonian ecosystem.
Return to the Zafiro and start navigating downstream to Iquitos. Once back to the Zafiro we will serve lunch and enjoy some time with some relaxation and rest.
Cooking class in Panguana 2nd zone. We will enjoy a cooking class in a native home with our guides as interpreters. We will learn firsthandabout local cuisine and taste the culinary art of the Amazon.
Return to Zafiro. Once on board, the cruise will continue its descent by the river towards Iquitos.
Informational session in the interior lounge. We will look back to remember everything we discovered on our trip and learn more about the Amazon and its geography.
Wildlife viewing. We will admire the creatures that inhabit the banks of the Amazon River.
Dinner and presentation of the crew. After dinner, our guides will introduce us to all crew members. Overnight aboard the ship. (B,L,D)
Day 4 (Sat): Boat Trip Itaya River-Disembark in Iquitos-Transfer to the Airport-Manatee Rescue Center.
Boat trip on the Itaya River. We will navigate this tributary of the Amazon and admire the floating houses of the Belen Market.
Return to Zafiro for an early lunch. We will share one last lunch before the trip back home.
Transfer to the airport and visit the Manatee Rescue Center. On the way to the airport we will visit the rescue center for Manatee; where biologists and volunteers take care of the endangered species. We will see how manatees are cared for and prepared for their re-introduction into their natural habitat.
Check-in at Iquitos International Airport. Your guides will assist you with Check-in and departure formalities to board your flight back to Lima. (B,L)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Itinerary Map
Prices & Dates
Price per Person
| Category | Single | Double | Triple |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Deck Suite | $3,600 | $3,000 | $2,500 |
| Second Deck Suite | $3,840 | $3,200 | $2,667 |
| Master Suite | $4,080 | $3,400 | $2,833 |
| Zafiro Suite | $4,800 | $4,000 | $3,333 |
Notes:
- The above prices are valid until December 31, 2023.
- The Single Supplement is 20% of the Double Price.
- There is a minimum age of 7 for all departures.
- Triple price is based on one Child 7-11 sharing the cabin with one or two adults. The Child Rate is 50%.
Departure Dates
Wednesday departures throughout the year. This itinerary is offered during the low water season, which runs from June to November. A slightly different itinerary is offered during the high water season, which runs from December to May.
What's Included
Price Includes
- South American Vacations’ expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
- Transfers to/from vessel when arriving on recommended flights to Iquitos.
- Accommodations on board the M/V Zafiro.
- All meals scheduled on board.
- Natural juices, soda, coffee, tea, water, and beer (on board the ship).
- Entrance fee to Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
- Licensed, English-speaking tour guides.
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare.
- Domestic airfare.
- Hotel nights before/after the cruise.
- Gratuities to ship crew and guides (Suggested $20-$30/person/night for the crew, and $7-$10/person/night for the guides).
- Gifts and personal items.
- Travel insurance.
We will be happy to quote the cost of airfare, land services, and travel insurance and to make these arrangements for you.
Accommodations
Iquitos
Additional Details
Group/Private: All services included in this tour are operated on a group basis.
Elevations: N/a.
Passport/Visa: U.S., Australian, Canadian, and EU citizens require a passport valid for at least six months from date of entry and return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Peruvian embassy in their country before traveling.
Travel Insurance: In order to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We offer Allianz Global Assistance’s Classic Comprehensive and other plans. The Benefits and Coverage Limits are summarized on our Travel Insurance page. Call your travel counselor if you have any questions or to purchase a plan.
To Book This Trip: Call or email us to confirm the availability of the ship and airfare for your desired dates of travel. Once we have confirmed availability, you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of $1,000 per person. The balance of the trip cost is due 90 days prior to departure.
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