Peru's Exotic Amazon Waterways
Amazon River Cruise Extension
BOOKING DISCOUNT
- Aqua Nera: 20% savings on Suites 101-104 on select 2026, 2027 & 2028 departures
- Aria Amazon: 20% off Suites 201 & 202 on July-Dec 2026 departures
- Waived Single Supplement on Aqua Nera Cabins 105 & 106 on Sep 2026 and June & Sep 2027 departures
Please call for availability
Overview
The mighty Amazon River is home to 2.5 million square miles of rainforest—the earth’s largest tropical rainforest and one of the world’s most impressive wildernesses. Aboard a luxurious river cruise designed to have minimal impact on the delicate Amazon environment, you’ll explore its many wonders as you journey in style along some of the most biodiverse tributaries in the world. With experienced naturalist guides on board and daily small group excursions, you’ll experience this vast ecological haven—a world filled with birds in neon-bright colors, playful monkeys, graceful hawks and herons, and millions of butterflies. As you cruise along, you’ll try your hand at fishing, visit riverside communities to witness their culture and traditions, learn about the area’s conservation and sustainability projects, and enjoy night excursions by skiff under a canopy of sparkling stars. There are two seasons in the Amazon: low water (June to November) and high water (December to May). Each season offers extraordinary experiences of the Amazon.
Arrive: Iquitos, Peru
Depart: Iquitos, Peru
Highlights
- Cruise by small luxury vessel, enjoy excursions by skiff
- Visit riverside communities, learn about local conservation projects
Itinerary
Note: This trip is not exclusive to, nor operated by, Wilderness Travel, who acts solely as an agent in booking your reservation with the operator. Please download the Rate Sheet in the Dates & Pricing section to see the full pricing details and contact our Cruise Collection Specialists to check availability.
Travel from Cusco to your hotel in Puno, a 10-hour journey by train. Enjoy lunch and afternoon tea in one of the dining cars, decorated in the style of the 1920s Pullman carriages. The open-air observation car is a great spot to take in panoramas of the passing Peruvian landscapes, often referred to as one of the most beautiful train routes in the world. Alternatively, you can fly from Cuzco to Juliaca, a 55-minute flight (call for pricing). Transfer to your hotel on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
High Season Itinerary (December to May)
Peru's rainy season runs from December through May. This is a relatively cooler and wetter season when the Amazon region receives a little more than half (60%) of its total rainfall. During the high water season the average temperature is 86°F, only 12 degrees cooler than in the low water season. There are great benefits to traveling to Peru's Amazon at this time of year. The Amazon Basin's rivers and streams are about 23 feet higher than they are during the low water season, so that every river, creek and lake is navigable. You are able to explore more of the Amazon's waterways by skiff, and will have access to areas with more plant life and wildlife than during the low water season. The flooded waterways put travelers much closer to the Amazon jungle canopy, where monkeys play and beautiful Amazon birds like to roost. In fact, you are very likely to see many more mammals, both monkeys and others, during the high water season. Enhanced navigation by water has a flip side—areas to walk and hike are sometimes limited at this time, and there will be more mosquitoes than in the low water season. Fishing in the Amazon River is more limited during these months too, but you still have close to a 50:50 chance to get out your rod and reel and make a catch.
Low Season Itinerary (June to November)
Despite its name, the low water season still exhibits some heavy rains. This is the warmer season on the Amazon River, with temperatures averaging about 98°F. A key difference between visiting Peru in this season versus the high water season is that trails and jungle paths flooded from December to May are now easily accessible, allowing you to explore deep in the jungle by foot (and accompanied by fewer mosquitoes than during the flooded season). The flip side of this is that water levels on the Amazon River and its tributaries are much lower from June to November, which means that many of the creeks and lakes visited during the rainy season are inaccessible. Lower water levels, however, can be a bonus in another way: during these months fishing is 100 percent guaranteed and you stand a fair chance to catch a piranha. And while you are farther below the birds that roost in the Amazon jungle canopy, you will have the chance to see dozens of species of migratory birds in flight, something you would completely miss during the high water season.
Day 1: Iquitos / Transfer to Nauta / Embarkation / Maranon River
Day 2: Ucayali River / Pacaya River
Day 3: Pacaya River/ Ucayali River / Tapiche River
Day 4: Clavero Lake / Jungle walk in the San Jose De Sarapanga Forest
Day 5: Arrival in Nauta / Manatee Rescue Center/ Transfer to the Airport
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
The trip is rated Level 1, Easiest. There are shore excursions featuring nature walks and village visits, and river outings by skiff. It is appropriate for anyone in good health who is physically active.
Conditions along the Amazon River in Peru divide into two seasons: a high water season from December through May and a low water season that lasts from June until November. Cruising the Amazon in either season promises rich rewards with breathtaking opportunities to view and photograph magnificent plant and animal life unlike anywhere else on earth.
If seeing the glorious Amazon rainforest at its lushest and getting up close to lots of birds and mammals (and enjoying slightly cooler temperatures) sounds most attractive, then December to May might be your best choice. If jungle hikes and spotting exotic migratory birds perched on trees between flights across Amazonia appeals most to you, while still having the chance to see capuchin monkeys, kinkajou, and other mammals, and going on great fishing expeditions, you might be happier choosing the warmer, low water season.
Weather in this region of the Amazon remains generally warm with some rainfall even during low water season. In fact, despite being the "rainy" season, during the high water months, the Amazon only gets about 10% more rain than in the low water season. So, as you choose the time of your cruise on the Amazon River (in either season), we suggest you consider the following three key points:
- Some rain will fall in whichever season you choose. This is the Amazon Rainforest.
- You will see spectacular Amazon wildlife, birds and plant life any time of year on the Amazon.
- In either season, you will definitely see the Amazon River's rare pink dolphins.
The Amazon basin is as lush and green as it is because it gets an abundance of rain -- 12 feet a year on average. In a typical year, the Amazon River rainforest experiences 200 rainy days, which means that there will be days of rain even in the low water season. However it rarely rains all day. Rain most often falls in passing cloudbursts, which allow the vessel to coordinate excursions accordingly. When it does rain, you are provided sturdy ponchos to ensure you stay extremely comfortable so you can focus on the astonishing Amazon jungle scenery.
Wildlife excursions often differ depending on the time of the year. During the high-water season (December through May), river ships sail closer to the canopies, making it easier to spot birds and other species that live in the trees. On the other hand, the low water season (June through November) allows better access to jungle trails, making it possible to discover wildlife in the undergrowth.
Low-water months are also an ideal time for fishing as aquatic populations are confined to a few key areas. For birdwatchers, dozens of species of migratory birds are in flight during this time as well.
In contrast, the high-water season concentrates the population of land animals and amphibians, making it easier to spot turtles and caimans.
Most species can be seen throughout the year and the only difference is in the manner they are seen, from the ground of the lush forest or aboard a skiff.
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.