The M/V RIO AMAZONAS was built in the late 1800s in Scotland. After following a long career as a cargo/passenger ship on the Amazon River it was completely rebuilt in 1981 to enable the international traveler to experience the Amazon in basic comfort. It was again refurbished in 1994. She carries 44 passengers in 21 air-conditioned cabins on an itinerary that explores life on the Amazon River and its people.

The ship has been designed as an informal cruise ship. The main public rooms - the dining room and library - are air-conditioned. There is ample deck area, both covered and uncovered, with Jacuzzi, comfortable deck chairs, and hammocks for a leisurely look at life on the river. Upper deck cabins (see below) all have private bath/showers and picture windows for a perfect view of the river. Two lower beds with reading lamps and a small writing desk and chair complete the furnishings. Sun deck cabins are slightly larger, have two twin beds, a third bed, a small closet and a chair.

Downriver cruises operate from Iquitos (Peru) to Leticia (Colombia), departing Sundays and arriving Wednesdays. Upriver cruises reverse the pattern, departing Leticia on Wednesday and arriving Iquitos on Saturday. Passengers can combine cruises in both directions for an in-depth seven day/six night round-trip cruise.

M/V RIO AMAZONAS CRUISE ITINERARIES

Day 01, Sunday: Transfer from the airport or your hotel to the dock to board the M/V RIO AMAZONAS. After a short briefing by the ship's cruise director check into your cabin. Lunch will be served on board. Sail downriver from Iquitos passing the city's industrial areas. Enjoy the changing view and the atmosphere on board. Brief shore visit to see a sugar cane still. (L, D)

Day 02, Monday: Early wake up call for morning bird-watching. Visit the 'Bora' and 'Huitoto' Indian villages for a demonstration with blowguns. Later stop at the town of Pevas, oldest Peruvian town on the Amazon, and visit 'La Casa del Artista'. In the afternoon enjoy a jungle hike through the dense rainforest of the Shishita River area. Night expedition by launch up a small tributary. (B, L, D)

Day 03, Tuesday: Morning jungle walk to see the Victoria Regia water lilies, followed by a piranha fishing expedition on a small backwater lake. Afternoon visit to the missionary village at Lake Caballococha. After sunset, cross the lake to look for the Amazon caiman's eyes glow in the flashlights in the reedy shallows. (B, L, D)

Day 04, Wednesday: Sail into Santa Rosa this morning, and then transfer via launch across the river to Leticia, Colombia. Here you have the morning at leisure to wander around and explore this quaint frontier town, and even visit the small museum before transfer to the airstrip for your charter flight back to Iquitos. (B)

M/V RIO AMAZONAS
Leticia to Iquitos Cruise
4 Days / 3 Nights
Departs Leticia Wednesdays 1:00 PM

Day 01, Wednesday: Late morning transfer to Santa Rosa, opposite Leticia and Tabatinga. Board the M/V RIO AMAZONAS. After a short briefing by the ship's cruise director check into your cabin for an early afternoon sailing. Lunch will be served on board. Time permitting there will be a late afternoon or early evening shore excursion. (L, D)

Day 02, Thursday: A morning trip to visit a small village. Afternoon stop at the remote leper hospital of San Pablo, with time to browse in the primitive 'gift shop' which sells patients' handicrafts. Night exploration by launch up the Mayoruna River to listen to the night sounds of the jungle and look for the Amazon caiman. (B, L, D)

Day 03, Friday: After a short stop at Pijuayal for a document check, continue up the Ampiyacu River for a visit to Pevas and a group of Yagua natives for trading your manufactured goods for native handicrafts. (B, L, D)

Day 04, Saturday: Early morning arrival in Iquitos and transfer to your hotel or to the airport in time for connecting flights to Lima. (B)

M/V RIO AMAZONAS
Iquitos to Iquitos (round-trip) Cruise
7 Days/6 Nights
Departs Iquitos Sundays 12:00 NOON

Day 1, Sunday: Transfer from the airport/hotel to dock. Board the M/V RIO AMAZONAS. After a short briefing by the ship's cruise director check into your cabin. Lunch will be served on board. Sail downriver from Iquitos passing the city's industrial areas. Enjoy the changing view and the atmosphere on board. Brief shore visit to see a sugar cane still. (L)

Day 2, Monday: Early wake up call for morning bird-watching. Visit the 'Bora' and 'Huitoto' Indian villages for a demonstration with blowguns. Later stop at the town of Pevas, oldest Peruvian town on the Amazon, and visit 'La Casa del Artista'. In the afternoon enjoy a jungle hike through the dense rainforest of the Shishita River area. Night expedition by launch up a small tributary.

Day 3, Tuesday: Morning jungle walk to see the Victoria Regia water lilies, followed by a piranha fishing expedition on a small backwater lake. Afternoon visit to the river village at Lake Caballococha. After sunset, cross the lake to look for the Amazon caiman's eyes glow in the flashlights in the reedy shallows.

Day 4, Wednesday: Early morning arrival to Santa Rosa Island (Peru), opposite Leticia (Colombia), and Tabatinga (Brazil.) While the ship will remain in Santa Rosa, you will be transferred across the Amazon River for a morning without ship's activities. There is plenty of time to shop and visit both cities in the 'Tres Fronteras' region, such as the local zoo and museum. Return across the river at noon, and board the M/V RIO AMAZONAS for the upriver sailing. Time permitting, there will be a shore excursion in the Cayaru River area.

Day 5, Thursday: A morning trip to visit a small village at the Atacuari River area. Afternoon stop at the remote leper hospital of San Pablo, with time to browse in the primitive 'gift shop,' which sells patients' handicrafts. Night exploration by launch up the Mayoruna River to listen to the night sounds of the jungle and look for the Amazon caiman.

Day 6. Friday: After a short stop at Pijuayal for a document check, continue up the Ampiyacu River for a visit to Pevas and a group of Yagua natives for trading your manufactured goods with native handicrafts.

Day 7, Saturday: Early morning arrival in Iquitos, and transfer to your hotel or to the airport in time for connecting flights to Lima.

The M/V DELFIN is a three-deck, steel-hulled, river boat built in 1982. She accommodates 20 passengers in 10 non air-conditioned, outside cabins with two lower berths and sharing four bathrooms. Due to her very shallow draft (4.5 ft.), she provides travelers with a comfortable, yet adventurous, way to visit the remote tributaries of the upper Amazon. Small motor launches take passengers on excursions to remote tributaries and lakes. Colectivos are a form of typical river travel on the Amazon. Passengers share a common sleeping room with mosquito netting, dining room and bathroom. The crew of four plus the guide sleep in separate quarters.