The Amazon River, a fluvial course located in South America, is the longest and largest river on our planet, followed in length by the Nile River in North Africa, and as a flow through the Congo River (Zaire River), in the center of Africa. All the flora and fauna of the American wet intertropical forest is present in the Amazon. There are countless species of plants, thousands of bird species, so many amphibians and millions of insects still unclassified. The fauna is very varied, from the smallest insects to large mammals such as the jaguar, the puma, the tapir and several species of deer. There are also reptiles such as turtles, alligators, babillas and snakes. There are birds and fish of all species, plumage and scales. In the lagoons along the Amazon the Victoria Regia plant blooms, a kind of water lily whose circular leaves reach more than a meter in diameter and sometimes, up to 5 m, which has given rise to the myth that one of these leaves can sustain a person, which is false.
The main cruise companies served in the country are: Princess Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Holand America Line, Compagnie Du Ponant, Afran Line, V. Ships Leisure S.A.M. and Restige Cruise Services.
It is estimated that 60% of passengers arriving at the ports of the country leave their cruise ships to do various tourist and commercial activities. Many of them hire city tours that include gastronomic experiences and purchase of jewelry and crafts; while others choose to travel to see attractions in the interior of the country.
There are tours of noon, one day and maximum three days, previously scheduled with local travel agencies, being Lima, Cusco, Paracas, Nasca and Trujillo, the main destinations that visit.
In Peru, this type of tourism is also developed with luxury cruises that run along the Amazon River, in the Loreto region. The port of Iquitos concentrates the largest volume of cruise traffic.
The idea of a trip through the Amazon for some is synonymous with adventure but there are also those who prefer to travel with style and, above all, comfort. This is how luxury cruise trips on this river are increasingly popular and requested.
The Amazon is the main river in South America and the largest in the world, containing more water than the Nile, the Yangtze and the Mississippi combined. Its watershed waters a vast region and supports thousands of species of living beings, some of which have not yet been classified.
The Amazon region is known as the Amazon and is of great cultural, biological and economic importance. The river is the base of the survival in the basin, that provides a great variety of habitats for thousands of alive beings. The wildlife is incalculable; roughly, the Amazon contains 10 percent of the world's known species, and a third of the known animals live in its jungle.
Typical examples of its fauna are the piranhas, the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), the pink dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), catfish, the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), the jaguar (Panthera onca), the arapaimas, the anacondas, the candirú (Vandellia cirrhosa) and the electric eel (Electrophorus electricus); its waters are also visited by some sharks and many species of fish, insects, reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds.
There are only 2 ways to get to Iquitos. Take a flight that takes us to the airport Coronel FAP Francisco Secada, or arrive, in a boat, by the waterway. For us, from Lima, the most practical thing was to get on a plane, and so, after an hour and a half of flight, we were already in the jungle. After the drastic change of climate that represents traveling from the capital to Iquitos (we went from 19 ° to more than 30 ° of temperature), we had to set off quickly towards the port closest to the city, where we would arrive after half an hour, after passing through motocars and linear motorbikes that abound in the area. It is estimated that only in Iquitos there are more than 40 thousand motocars.
After seeing a lot of vegetation around us, we know that we are about to reach our first meeting point. In the Nanay River the boat that runs through the Amazon awaits us. So, as we go along the river, we see motorboats, seaplanes and small children, and finally, the impressive cruise that will be our home and base for a few days. We had lunch in the afternoon, then a short walk and then to rest to be ready for our second day in the jungle.
It dawns in the Amazon and, contrary to what we expected, the rain is our first contact with the outside world. Within our expectations was to wake up shortly after 5 o'clock in the morning to be able to have images of the sunrise, but none of this occurred due to the dense fog that covered our entire panorama. Still, it was a good start, some pink dolphins showed up before us, and that was a good omen. Touring the Amazon in our boat destined for tours we know some activities of the area: agriculture, fishing and selling handicrafts are basic for people to obtain resources.
Our contact with nature would continue with bird watching. For this, an important fact: In a hectare of forest you can find more than 400 species of birds. In this video you will see some of them, a locrero, a sparrow hawk and other birds of different colors and fur appear before our eyes. Some monkeys come out to meet us and watch us as they try to get closer. Note the sound they produce when being close to human beings. Afterwards, entering the jungle, and with great care of where we tread, we continue to enjoy everything that this place offers us. An otter, a tarantula and a snake appear at our reach, which surprised us because of the way it was camouflaged in the humid soil. With great care, one of the guides approached us to be able to appreciate it better.
It's getting dark and it's time to go back for dinner. The sound of the jungle traps us, and it's time to pause. There is much more to tell about the jungle, about the Amazon and about Iquitos.
Life in Iquitos is on the shores of the Amazon, sailing is amazing with its chocolate waters where you find pink dolphins and piranhas.
In its tributaries you find floating hotels and restaurants. In its widest part, the river measures 5 km. October is one of the best months to sail it since it is at the lowest flow and there is no danger in traversing it in a wooden boat.
During the boat ride on the Amazon River you can see the gray and pink dolphins. It is a wonderful sight that inspires peace and confidence in yourself. If you go to the top the river becomes wider and wider, you feel a breeze that only inspires you to close your eyes and feel relaxed. It is a gift for the Peruvian Amazon and for all those who visit us. AMAZONAS OR MAJESTAD INFINITA, RUGEN YOUR BLESSED WATERS.
Paradise in paradise
Great turism with phenomenal guides. The service could not be better. The large amount of wildlife and the opportunity to see up close and interact with the natives who live along the river was unforgettable. To do all this on a luxury boat with excellent local food was exceptional. Did I mention we had the opportunity to swim in the Amazon?
The sky on a boat
We had an amazing 4 night trip on what is described as the best trip of my life. The ship and its crew are really there for the passenger. The food was totally amazing and better than some 5 star places we have been to. The rooms were so fantastic and clean that it seemed a shame to change anything. The crew were there and that's what we did. Breakfast at the lake in the forest was a big surprise and something totally unexpected. When I think about this trip, I am lost by words to describe the experience we have enjoyed. I wish it never ended. You will never regret this trip if you decide to take it. Trips in the Amazon rainforest are professionally safely and passenger enjoyment carefully. Do not miss this trip on an amazing boat that offers the best.
The best season is during the dry season, which covers the months April to the end of September. In October the rains begin and you can enjoy the Amazon and find Machu Picchu clearly of clouds. If you travel in June, we recommend you to book the Inti Raymi 2020 Tour that takes place in June 24th, and also hike the Palcoyo Mountain Tour, which is an incredible Rainbow Mountain located in the Andes.
Many are the routes that pass through the Amazon, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.