Itinerary

Fly to Iquitos situated on the banks of the Amazon River in the heart of the northern Peruvian Amazon region.

Transfer to Iquitos’ Main Wharf where the M/V Aria awaits you. Once onboard, you will appreciate the low-key luxury atmosphere of the M/V Aria. Enjoy the view from the Upper Deck as we leave Iquitos behind.

Over the next three days, you will also sail along some of the largest tributaries of the Amazon, as well as the mighty Amazon itself. You are embarking on a magnificent adventure to places visited by only a very few.

Amazon River Cruise

The 130-foot-long, M/V Aria is the ultimate luxury cruise ship on the northern Amazon River in Peru.

Built in 2011 to the highest standards of modern small ship cruise lines, it is fully air conditioned throughout and all the

suites on the Aria Amazon are comparable to a 5-star hotel with private baths, luxury toiletries and fine linen bedding to lull you to sleep under the stars of the Amazon. From the gourmet Peruvian cuisine to the crystal and china service at dinner, the amenities onboard the Aria Amazon will treat you to an intimate but luxurious Amazon River cruise.

Three highly trained interpreter Amazon River guides will take you on as many as three expeditions a day, aboard comfortable motorized skiffs. They will give you both the big picture of life on the Amazon, and will point out the multitude of small details that make the region special - a howler monkey hidden in a tree, a vivid butterfly resting on a leaf, a bird, such as the endangered harpy eagle, enjoying the tranquility of the Amazon basin.

Includes all meals while onboard, all excursions and all beverages (alcoholic & non-alcoholic except premium brands).
 

Rise with the sun to explore a ‘lost river’ along the Marañon River. After breakfast, we will take a jungle walk across suspended bridges deep into the high Amazon rainforest. Later, swim, canoe or kayak in Yanayacu-Pucate River as we look for legendary pink river dolphins. Focus our hi-tech telescope on the night sky to identify the planets and constellations. This evening before dinner you’ll be introduced to some of the crewmembers whom you may not have met, working "behind the scenes" to ensure your countless exceptional experiences aboard the Aria Amazon.

Fly to La Paz – our gateway to wondrous Lake Titicaca and its unique inhabited islands. The lake is South America’s largest and the world’s highest navigable body of water. Long considered a sacred place among indigenous Andean peoples, those who live on and around the lake believe that powerful spirits live in the lake's depths. 

Today is at leisure to relax or explore on your own. Optional activities include canoeing, hiking, biking and row boating.

We’ll spend the day exploring the beautiful Salar de Uyuni (white desert) - the world's largest salt flat at 4,085 square miles. It’s estimated to contain 10 billion tons of salt (less than 25,000 tons is extracted annually).

Fly to Asuncion – a picturesque city of modern and colonial architecture. Situated on unassuming hills above the east bank of Paraguay River, Asuncion is the capital and largest city of Paraguay. With few high rises downtown, El Centro retains its intimate 19th century feel with low balconied buildings and orange trees lining the narrow streets.  

Fly to Punta del Este – known as “the Pearl of Uruguay”. 

Estancia Vik Jose Ignacio sits on 4,000 spectacular acres of rolling countryside where herds of cattle, horses and sheep roam freely alongside wild ostrich, fox, armadillo and other indigenous wildlife. The private residence hotel is located on a high point of the estancia with magnificent views out over the Laguna and Southern Atlantic Ocean.

Today is at leisure to relax or explore on your own.

We’ll sail the waters of the Beagle Channel and observe Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, sea lions, Magellanic Penguins, and over 20 different sea bird species. 

Fly to Puerto Natales. Enjoy beautiful sightseeing along the way while we transfer to the Tierra Patagonia. Located in the furthermost south of Chile, the hotel is surrounded by nature, in splendid isolation, overlooking Lake Sarmiento and the towering peaks of Torres del Paine National Park which was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978.

You’ll consult with the head guide at the beginning of your stay to select the best excursions for you, taking into account individual interests and fitness levels. 
 

Today a choice of selected tours will be available to either explore the lakes and glaciers, enjoy several waterfalls, or hike on one of the many tranquil trails. Excursion options include walks, treks, horseback rides, bicycle rides and scenic tours.

Fly to Castro.  Part of Chilean Patagonia and populated by tiny fishing villages, Chiloe is the mystical Chilean island that time forgot. The beauty of this destination is as much in the landscape as it is in the island residents with their deep-rooted culture and timeless traditions.

Today a choice of selected tours will be available for you to  choose from.

Your tour guide will be available to help you select from numerous tours available including walking and hiking, biking, volcano climbing, horseback riding, bird watching, as well as excursions by vehicle to the more remote areas of the area. Excursions include visits to remote lagoons, red rock formations, salt flats, volcanos, geysers, Moon Valley, petroglyphs, and small villages where you’ll meet local families.

In the evening, experience Astronomy in the starry desert! Tierra Atacama together with the Ahlarkapin Observatory

offers an astronomy excursion that gives guests a unique chance to discover the southern skies while learning about its scientific and ancestral significance. First guests will observe the sky with the naked eye and later discover amazing visualizations through one of the largest private telescopes in the area to observe planets like Mars and Saturn.

Your tour guide will be available to help you select from numerous tours available including hiking, trekking or biking. 

Discover colonial Arequipa with a local guide who will introduce us to some of the city’s most important historical sites. Visit several districts including Cayma and Vallecito, and explore landmarks like the 17th-century Recoleta Convent and the colonial-era Casa del Moral. We’ll also enjoy fabulous views of Arequipa and its spectacular scenery from the Carmen Alto viewpoint.

With our local guide we’ll explore the ancient world of the preIncan Moche and Chimu civilizations. We’ll visit the Temple of

the Moon (Huaca de la Luna) to learn the history and significance of the terraced temple, built by the Moche out of adobe brick. Then we’ll visit Huaco el Dragon, the Temple of the Dragon, built for religious and ceremonial purposes by the Chimú people who lived in northern Peru from about 900 to the 1400s. 

We’ll continue to Chan Chan, the former Chimú capital. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the largest pre-Columbian city in South America and was the center of Chimú political and cultural life from approximately 900 to 1470, when the Incas arrived and conquered the city.

On our boat excursion today we’ll be visiting some of the most exotic and isolated, unspoiled beaches located in the different islands of the archipelago.