When you join a luxury Amazon cruise you will wake up to the sound of birds singing and monkeys laughing and fall asleep to the mysterious sounds of the night. You will follow an expert naturalist guide through the thick jungle in search of the planet’s cutest and most deadly animals. You will swap stories with fellow travelers over a Pisco sour and an Amazonian-inspired three-course dinner. And this is just a glimpse into an astounding journey along the Amazon River.
If you’re want more than a glimpse into what it’s like to meander along the Amazon River on a luxury riverboat then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we share all about why it’s worth joining a luxury Amazon cruise and what to expect on a 7-night itinerary from the exciting excursions to the relaxing downtime in our descriptive day-by-day sample itinerary.
Why Join a Luxury Amazon Cruise?
The most luxurious stay in the Amazon
The rainforest’s luxury riverboats provide the finest accommodation in the Amazon. Expect plush spacious suites with king-sized beds, ensuite bathrooms, and panoramic windows and facilities you’d never have imagined to find in the Amazon including games rooms, wellness rooms, gyms, and even small theaters. There’s no better feeling than returning to such luxuries after a day spent exploring one of the world’s wildest places.
Explore farther and winder
An Amazon riverboat cruise allows you to explore far and wide as it cruises down remote rivers. At each stop, there’s an opportunity to experience a different side to the Amazon whether it be blackwater lakes, lush rainforest canapies, or mangroves. It also gives you an opportunity to meet several different Amazon communities and get a window into their unique spiritual practices and ways of life.
Keep in good company
From the cruise director to the chefs, the waiters and stewards, the service standards of a luxury Amazon cruise are impeccable. Best of all, the cruises are accompanied by an onboard expert naturalist guide who offer guests valuable knowledge and insight about the jungle through excursions and onboard briefs and lectures. And of course, you’ll be joined by like-minded guests to share the experience with.
Luxury Amazon Cruise Itinerary Highlights
- Tour the Amazon’s incredible gateway city
- Spot birds of paradise on sunrise birdwatching sessions
- Interact with endemic grey and pink river dolphins
- Try jungle delicacies at the local market
- Discover the Amazon’s amazing flora and fauna
- Learn about the rainforest’s ecology from naturalist guides
- Try fine Amazonian cuisine made by expert chefs
- Learn about the way of life in Amazonian communities
- Cycle along the Amazon River banks
- Meet manatees being rehabilitated
Luxury Amazon Cruise Day-to-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Arriving in Iquitos, the gateway to the Amazon, you’ll be taken by private transfer to the heart of this otherworldly, jungle city where you’ll get acquainted with a tour followed by lunch. Having had your first taste of life in the Amazon, it’s time to board your luxury riverboat which you’ll call home for the next seven nights, and meet your fellow guests and crew. Once you’ve settled into your spacious suite, the cruise’s naturalist guides will fill your chest with excitement with a brief about what to expect on your upcoming adventure. Finish the night by sharing the first of many delicious Amazon-inspired dinners with fellow guests.
Day 2
Wake up at sunrise to the soulful sounds of birdsong on your first morning sailing through the Amazon, the best time of day to pick up your binoculars and do a spot of birdwatching. Only in the Amazon can you catch sight of birds of paradise before breakfast! Rainforest-ready, you will join your naturalist guides on a jungle walk to identify the Amazon’s fascinating flora and spot even the shyest animal species. After returning to the riverboat for a spa treatment (if you fancy), you’ll hop onto a skiff boat and navigate some tributaries to watch the nightfall on the rainforest.
Day 3
Start the day with an excursion to the obscured waters of Clavero Lake for a heartwarming interaction with endemic grey and pink river dolphins. Upon returning to the riverboat via the Ucayali River, stop to meet a local community living along the banks and learn about their simplistic way of life in the world’s wildest environment. This afternoon, plunge into the pool, bathe on the sundeck, or play a game of billiards before an evening walk in the San Jose de Paranapura floodplains. Here, you’ll discover more of the Amazon’s amazing feats of nature including lakes of giant waterlilies stretching up to three meters in diameter.
Day 4
Today is all about learning about the Amazonian way of life. Begin by discovering the jungle’s most delicious delicacies at the local market including everything from edible flowers to edible insects, and other weird and wonderful produce. Next, learn traditional palm-weaving techniques, an essential skill for those living in the rainforest, before delving into the fascinating world of beekeeping to find out why the Amazon produces the world’s most healing honey. Back on board your luxury riverboat for the evening, the naturalist guides will share more of their invaluable knowledge of the rainforest’s ecology as the captain sails towards ‘the birthplace of the Amazon’ where the Ucayali and the Marañon Rivers visibly merge.
Day 5
See which species you can spot in today’s sunrise birdwatching session before heading out with your trusted guides in search of more rare Amazonian wildlife. Sloths, monkeys, and Taricaya turtles might just make an appearance. Afterward, come face-to-face with the world’s toothiest fish on a piranha fishing excursion and cycle along the Amazon River banks to work up an appetite for lunch. This afternoon, an indigenous healer from the Kukama Kukamiria community will introduce you to a spiritual ceremony that honors the natural world. Once darkness has descended on the jungle, join your guide on a skiff boat in search of nocturnal wildlife like snakes, tarantulas, bats, and even big cats.
Day 6
Set to go with a sumptuous picnic prepared by your luxury riverboat chef, you’ll join your guides on a full-day tour down the Samiria River. Enjoy a peaceful swim, kayak, or canoe along the river with calming rainforest sounds playing in the backdrop and stop to tuck into your gourmet jungle grub at a scenic riverside spot. Full full stomachs (and hearts) you’ll venture back to the riverboat on a skiff, stopping along the way to spot your favorite Amazonian animals including the pink river dolphin. After an exciting day out, treat yourself to a relaxing evening in the lounge with fellow guests or an early night in your panoramic-view suite.
Day 7
Before your bountiful morning breakfast, take a final opportunity to join your naturalist guide on a wildlife excursion into the rainforest. While they keep a look out for today’s exciting animal encounters, you’ll have a chance to pick their brains about Amazonian habitats, food chains, species, conservation, and more. After breakfast, cycle between the villages of Puerto Prado and Santa Cruz to meet more locals. In the afternoon, return to the birth place of the Amazon or take advantage of your riverboat’s luxury facilities like the gym and sundeck before toasting to a final farewell dinner with fellow guests and crew.
Day 8
It might be the final day of your luxury Amazon cruise itinerary but the excitement doesn’t stop yet. Before disembarking you’ll stop at the local market to sample some unique jungle snacks and gather some gifts for loved ones back home. Finally, your luxury riverboat will dock in Nauta, it’s final destination, where you’ll bid farewell to your exemplary crew and the Amazon River. However, what’s arguably the best activity of the trip has been saved until last – a visit to the Manatee Rescue Center. Here, you will get to see majestic orphaned manatees being rehabilitated ready to be released into the wild.
Secure your luxury Amazon Cruise for 2025
TLA takes care of everything from booking the cruise to the flights, ensuring each element of your trip is secured at the best possible rate. Specializing in creating bespoke South America itineraries, you can also trust us to create a personalized vacation package where we take care of every aspect of your trip from impressive accommodation to private guided tours, transportation, and even restaurant reservations. Find out more by messaging us here or calling on +1 855 217 9045.