Cruising the Amazon

Arrive in Iquitos, the gateway to the Amazon. After a brief tour of the jungle city, you’ll have the chance to meet an indigenous community whose traditions are unchanging. Come the early evening, you’ll board your gleaming vessel and settle into a river-facing suite. Dinner is a medley of Amazonian concoctions created by super-star Peruvian chef, Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. This could be palm heart soufflé, yucca gnocchi or Amazon bass tiradito fish.

The advantage of a small ship means that you can venture down the Amazon’s smaller tributaries such as the Yarapa River, which you’ll explore this morning. With a savvy naturalist guide to help you, scan the canopy for exotic creatures such as black-collared hawks, sloth and squirrel monkeys. Go piranha fishing on Lake Moringo and learn about the area’s incredible wildlife. As the sun sets, float down the black glossy waters of the Nauta Caño and observe the night’s sky from the deck.

Rise at the crack of dawn for a walk along the Marañon River. The views of the jungle and river rapids are worth the early morning wake-up call. After breakfast, stop to dip into the cool waters of the Yanayacu-Pucate River for a spot of wild swimming with pink river dolphins if you’re lucky. You have the afternoon to relax on deck. Or if you’re feeling more adventurous, take a kayak out to explore further. There’s time for stargazing too before dinner with a high-tech telescope.

Start your day with a visit to the local market. Your guides will help you identify all the unusual and wonderful ingredients for sale here, from giant Amazonian fish to exotic fruit and vegetables. Then it’s time for a visit to the Manatee Rescue Centre, where you get to see these gentle ‘mermaids’ up close. You’ll also be able to visit a local craft market for some last-minute souvenir shopping.