It’s common to associate the Amazon rainforest with Brazil, but the rainforest spans eight of the 12 countries in South America. Given its immense size and biodiversity, there are several ways to explore and discover this region. After over a decade of operating small ship expeditions in the region, Aqua Expeditions strongly believes that the Amazon is at its best in Peru. This is the section of the rainforest that is the most untouched and largely protected as part of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.

The Amazon rainforest houses the world’s largest and most diverse collection of plant and animal life. It is a ‘home sweet home’ for more than one-third of all recorded animal species in the world, including 20% of all bird species. At least 40,000 plant species, 427 mammals, 1,300 birds, 378 reptiles, more than 400 amphibians, and around 3,000 freshwater fishes are known to exist within this giant cradle.

Aqua Expeditions have on-the-ground sustainability projects across the destinations, and the involvement in the Sustainable Paiche Project has been one of our longest-running initiatives.

The paiche is one of the world’s largest freshwater fish, native to the Amazon rainforest. Unfortunately, it has been the subject of illegal poaching and overfishing for decades. As of 2010, the paiche had become critically endangered with a population of less than 500. At that time, we started working closely with local communities in the Peruvian Amazon to restore the paiche population. We are proud to announce that, through our collective efforts, the population has grown back to almost 10,000 today. We have set up equitable supply chains for our river ships Aqua Nera and Aria Amazon, wherein we are committed to purchasing one ton of sustainably sourced paiche per year to support local fishing communities. Our world-class dining experience revolves around sustainability, with 100 percent of our protein sourced locally and ethically.

While sailing on Aqua Nera and Aria Amazon, you get to discover the Peruvian Amazon River. Over here, the riverbanks are close enough to always keep the forest in view. Through the vessels’ floor-to-ceiling windows, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the world’s largest rainforest. It’s like watching a nature documentary in real-time.

On board the Aria Amazon and Aqua Nera luxury vessels, you are guaranteed to feel at ease in the middle of the wilderness. Air-conditioned suites with panoramic windows and elegantly customized interiors offer comfort and tranquility after each day’s excursions. Cuisine is curated by world-renowned Peruvian chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, with plenty of options to cater to vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and other diets.

Peru offers explorers the most direct and accessible path to the heart of the Amazon via luxury. Iquitos in Northeastern Peru, where the Aria Amazon River tour sets sail, is just a two hours’ flight from the capital and international air hub of Lima and the archeological treasure trove of Cusco. Surrounding Iquitos is lush Amazon territory — a region comprising the headwaters of the Amazon River and the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Here the upriver Amazon waters are low in sediment and rich in aquatic life, coupled with an astonishing concentration of wildlife on land. Setting a new standard for luxury river cruising on the Amazon, Aqua Nera draws design inspiration from the Peruvian Amazon’s mystical black water lagoons and bears the hallmarks of contemporary style and generous interiors that Aqua Expeditions cruise ships are known for. Aqua Nera operates alongside the Aria Amazon, taking you into the depths of the Peruvian Amazon in the comfort of luxury. Every day, expert naturalist guides conduct small-group excursions that reward guests with up-close wildlife encounters in the world’s most biodiverse rainforest.

Here are the top 05 experiences you can expect in The Amazon Forest:

1) Jungle Trekking and Animal Spotting
Walk deep into the rich Amazonian rainforest for a rendezvous with exotic wildlife. The forest is home to three-toed sloths, macaws, hoatzins, capuchin monkeys and anacondas, and that’s just the beginning. As you make your way over to the rainforest on a tender ride, you might find yourself accompanied by the elusive pink river dolphins which can be found in these waters.

2) Visit the Manatee Rescue Center in Iquitos
The Manatee Rescue Center rescues and rehabilitates these rare creatures – a process that can often take months or years. While visiting, you might also be able to meet and help feed adorable, orphaned baby manatees. Apart from manatees, the center also looks after other animals like ocelots, parrots, and turtles.

3) Fish for Piranhas in the Amazon River
Since it’s tough to see what’s going on beneath the water’s surface in the Amazon, you’ll be in for a surprise once you cast a line in the water. Fishing for piranhas is a bucket list adventure that will leave you filled with adrenaline and excitement. After you’ve taken a photo with your catch, our naturalist guides will ensure that they make it safely back into the water.

4) Learn about Local Life
Beyond nature and wildlife, the Amazon also has a lot to offer in terms of culture and heritage. Introduce yourself to a brand-new way of life and find out all there is to know about jungle living. This provides an eye-opening insight into how people can live in harmony with the rainforest, depending only on their surroundings for sustenance. Although the truly remote indigenous tribes are protected and inaccessible to visitors, there are stilted villages and riverside settlements to visit where you’ll get a glimpse of the Amazonian way of life, and the native customs and traditions.

5) Swim in the Lap of Nature
Would you really want to travel this far and miss out on the opportunity to swim in Amazonian water? Lake Clavero is a magnificent spot to relax after a day of spotting animals and exploring the rainforest. Cool off and rejuvenate yourself for the adventures that lie ahead.