LivingTravelThe best cruises to take in the Amazon

The best cruises to take in the Amazon

Stretching over 4,345 miles through Peru and Brazil, the Amazon is the longest river in the world and is by far the largest in terms of total discharge. It also happens that you roam some of the most biologically diverse regions on the planet with impressive plants and wildlife that simply cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. This makes for an incredible experience for adventure travelers looking to take a river cruise in a region that, to this day, remains largely unexplored and untamed by humanity.

If you’re ready to take an Amazon River cruise, these are the options you’ll want to consider before you go. Each one of them will provide you with an incredible experience that you will not soon forget and each one is unique in its own right. The biggest challenge of the entire trip may be figuring out which of these itineraries to take.

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Amazon Riverboat Adventure (G Adventures)

Canada-based adventure travel company G Adventures has been operating in Peru for decades and has one of the best (not to mention the most affordable) cruise options on Amazon. The company’s seven-day Amazon Riverboat Adventure begins and ends in Lima, but offers some exceptional opportunities for adventure in between.

The journey takes travelers to the Amazon from Iquitos, Peru, the largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road. From there, board The Amatista , a riverboat with capacity for up to 28 passengers, for a visit to Peru’s spectacular Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, where you’ll see river dolphins, sloths, and some of the most colorful birds on the planet.

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Aqua Expeditions Luxury Amazon Cruises

Aqua Expeditions offers some of the most luxurious cruise options on the Amazon River with travelers boarding the spectacular Aria Amazon during 3-, 4-, and 7-night itineraries along this iconic waterway. The ship sets sail from Iquitos and travels north to the Peruvian Amazon, providing passengers with a decidedly exclusive Amazon experience. In addition to the wonders of the rainforest, guests can also enjoy onboard hot tubs, gourmet dining, interconnecting family suites, and an almost unprecedented 1: 1 ratio of crew to guests.

Off the ship, you can embark on rainforest hikes, bike tours, kayak trips, and even fishing trips. If you love the idea of visiting the Amazon but are looking for a more pampered experience, this is definitely the trip for you.

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Alto Amazonas With Lindblad Expeditions

Lindblad Expeditions has been a leader in adventure cruises for years and the company also extends its expertise to the Amazon. Lindblad’s Upper Amazon itinerary is one of the longest in the business, offering travelers 10 days to explore this intriguing part of the world. And although the journey takes visitors through the city of Iquitos, the journey actually begins in the nearby town of Nauta. There, passengers board the Delfin II and head to the “Green Cathedral” in search of wildlife, river dolphins and adventure.

As is customary with Lindblad, the company offers its customers some unique opportunities throughout their travels. In this case, travelers will have the opportunity to visit local villages and interact with the riparians , the indigenous peoples who live along the Amazon. And since the company partners with National Geographic on all its adventures, you know that any naturalist and photographer on board will be top-notch.

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Cruises on the Amazon River Anakonda

Peru does not have a monopoly on outstanding Amazon River cruises as there are other great options in other parts of South America as well. In fact, if you head to Ecuador, you will find Anakonda Amazon Cruises that offers itineraries of four, five and eight days to a part of the jungle that even fewer people have the opportunity to visit.

In this case, the trip begins in the city of Quito, with a quick flight to the Amazon city of Coca, where a short trip by motorized canoe takes travelers to the luxurious riverboat Anakonda. Over the course of the following days, you will have the opportunity to visit Amazonian villages, observe large numbers of parrots as they approach the natural clay licks, and spot pink river dolphins as they move along the legendary slopes of the Amazon. It’s a lovely, laid-back, yet adventurous escape in a part of the world that is rarely seen.

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Amazon Clipper Premium

While not so immersed in the deep rainforest, Brazil is an incredible place to enjoy the breathtaking expanse of the Amazon in all its glory. When the mighty river crosses the border with Peru, it reaches points that are more than 50 miles wide, giving the impression that travelers are causing along a large lake or calm sea.

Rainforest Cruises Amazon Clipper Premium itineraries depart from Manus, the unofficial capital of the Amazon. Over the course of three, four, or six days, visitors have the opportunity to explore the Brazilian side of the river, spotting dolphins, monkeys, and other wildlife while taking in the sights and sounds of the river. On board the good Premium ship you will find 16 comfortable and cozy cabins, not to mention several lounges, a terrace and a restaurant on board. In other words, it has everything you need to enjoy Amazon in style.

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Amazon River Cruise with Smithsonian Travel

Smithsonian Journeys is proud to offer some of the best historical and cultural tours to incredible places around the world, and the company’s Amazon River cruise itinerary is no different. Over the course of about 10 days, travelers will explore more than 500 miles of the Amazon while wandering the Ucayali and Maranon rivers, as well as the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve.

The trip takes place aboard one of the newest river boats in the Amazon, the modern and comfortable Zafiro. As with most Smithsonian Journey itineraries, this tour is a good mix of active and informative information with plenty of downtime to enjoy as well. Highlights include jungle wildlife viewing and visits to local villages, providing an incredible overview of life in the Amazon basin.

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Pure Peru con Flash Pack

If you don’t necessarily want to spend your entire visit to Peru on an Amazon cruise, but still want to experience life on the waterway, consider Flash Pack’s Pure Peru itinerary. This action-packed journey lasts 11 days and will take you from the depths of the rainforest to the heights of the Andes, covering just about everything else in between.

But days three and four are dedicated to the Amazon, with travelers heading to the town of Puerto Maldonado and boarding a traditional Amazonian boat for an excursion upriver. Flash Pack customers will spend the night in an eco-lodge in the jungle and will also have the opportunity to explore it on foot. Wildlife, colorful birds, and impressive flora will mark this short but sweet visit to the Amazon, likely leaving you to return at a later date for more information.

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