DAY 1

TUESDAY: Welcome to Peru. 

You are met on arrival in Lima, and taken to your hotel in an Oceanside section of vibrant Lima. 

This large cosmopolitan city, called “The City of Kings,” is known for its important historical sites and high‐quality museums. The remainder of your day is at leisure.

Miraflores Park Plaza, Lima

DAY 2

WEDNESDAY: 

This morning enjoy a tour of Colonial Lima, centering around the Plaza de Armas, a spacious and handsome square in the heart of the city. Visit the Municiplidad de Lima, or Town Hall, and the Government Palace. See the landmark baroque‐style Lima Cathedral, originally built in 1564, which has been reconstructed many times due to earthquakes. Tour the San Francisco Monastery, a remarkable colonial masterpiece of architecture, with a vast collection of religious art, a 17th century library, a cupola with a superb carved ceiling and a maze of catacombs containing hundreds of bones and skulls. 

This afternoon, fly northeast to Iquitos. You are met, and taken to board the Aria. Settle into your suite on this deluxe vessel, and later enjoy a delightful Welcome Dinner. (B, D)

Aria

DAYS 3 – 5

THURSDAY ‐ SATURDAY: 

Enjoy the next three days exploring the beauty, wildlife and cultures of the Peruvian Amazon. The Amazon River Jungle offers millions of acres of lakes, streams and swamplands. You can see hundreds of species of fishes, such as the Arapaima, Paiche or Pirarucu. 

There are also thousands of registered species of plants, and hundreds of species of amphibians, mammals and birds – including endangered species like the Nutria, The Harpy Eagle, the Black Titi Monkey, the Red Monkey, the Goeldi’s Monkey, and the Giant Armadillo. Explore the Belluda stream in the Pacaya National Reserve, and look for the monk saki monkey, the saddle back tamarin monkey, and the beautiful morpho butterfly. 

Travel aboard comfortable skiffs to venture into the Pacaya River, and view its many wildlife species up close. Keep a special eye out for manatee, which can weigh up to 900 pounds. These herbivorous mammals can be seen most easily when they feed on the aquatic vegetation, such as aquatic grasses and water lilies that grow near the shoreline. This Amazon region is also host to a large concentration of turtles, such as the Charapa and the Taricaya, as well as the gigantic Anaconda, also known as the Yacumama or ʺMother of the Waterʺ, which can reach a length of up to 25 feet! You may also spot Grey and Pink Amazon River Dolphins. 

The included shore excursions provide you an opportunity to learn about the local culture ‐ see village life and interact with the locals. The night safaris reveal night herons, caiman, and the millions of stars in the sky. In the evenings relax and enjoy the opportunity to discuss your observations with the experienced guides on board. (3B, 3L, 3D)

Aria

DAY 6

FRIDAY: 

Enjoy your last morning in the Amazon before disembarking from the cruise in Iquitos and being taken to the airport. 

Return to Lima Airport for your connecting flight home or to your next destination. (B)

Package price is per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement applies. Intra-tour air pricing is subject to change. International airfare is additional. Other restrictions may apply. Contact us for complete journey details.

Miraflores Park Hotel
Lima, Peru

Located in Malecon de la Reserva, an exclusive residential area with a spectacular ocean view, Miraflores Park Plaza Hotel is a relaxing, comfortable oasis.

Your ocean view guestroom features an ample private bathroom in marble and granite, comfortable king-sized bed, air-conditioning, heating, spacious closets, a sitting area equipped with the best in communications technology—fax machine, two phone lines, data port. Access to the Internet and personal computers are available upon request.

M/V Aria
Amazon River Cruise

The 147-foot-long, new M/V Aria is Aqua Expeditions' second luxury cruise ship on the northern Amazon River in Peru, launched in April 2011. The M/V Aria can accommodate a maximum of 32 cruise ship guests plus crew. This luxury cruise ship is the perfect size to sail along the Amazon River, providing extremely comfortable lounge, outdoor jacuzzi, exercise room, dining and sleeping accommodations and modern navigation technologies and standards for cruise ship travel and safety on the water. The M/V Aria’s sixteen oversized cruise ship design suites, feature en suite sitting areas and generous outward-facing picture-windows with panoramic Amazon river views. Each of the handsomely decorated, air-conditioned cruise ship suites measure around 240 square feet.

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