Aria Amazon
Aria Amazon set a new benchmark for contemporary river‑cruise design, with oversized picture windows, spacious suites and a layout that maximises rainforest views. Created to pair deep, expert‑led exploration of Pacaya‑Samiria with boutique‑level comfort, it fulfils that brief with distinction.
Location
Its itineraries focus on the Pacaya‑Samiria National Reserve, the largest protected area in Peru and one of the world’s most extensive flooded forests. Often called the Jungle of Mirrors for its glass‑calm waterways, the reserve is a vast mosaic of rivers, lagoons, várzea and igapó forest, rich in wildlife including pink river dolphins, giant river otters and an extraordinary diversity of birds.
Accommodation
The vessel only has 16 suites, all of which are immaculately sophisticated and luxurious, featuring hardwood interiors and a full wall of windows to showcase the lushly forested banks as they slip past.
We love the fact that this boat features indoor and outdoor lounges in addition to its observation deck. There’s an exercise room, an outdoor jacuzzi pool too, and a massage room for extra indulgence.
The restaurant, at the stern of the middle deck, is a great place to watch the minimal wake of the vessel and enjoy sumptuous dishes curated to ensure that at least 70 percent of ingredients are locally sourced. The world-renowned Peruvian chef responsible for the menu has spent his career studying the food and cooking traditions of Amazonia, and it shows.
Experiences
- Join expert naturalist guides for twice‑daily explorations, gaining deep insight into Pacaya‑Samiria’s wildlife, ecology and Indigenous cultures.
- Glide upriver in one of Aria Amazon’s four skiffs, entering narrow side channels and mirror‑calm lagoons unreachable by larger vessels.
- Head out on nocturnal excursions, scanning for caimans, night birds and other creatures that animate the forest after dark.
- Canoe, kayak or swim in the Clavero River, watching for pink river dolphins surfacing in the Ucayali’s warm waters.
- Visit Bellavista Nanay market, sampling regional flavours such as suri, a traditional delicacy made from palm‑weevil larvae.
- Enjoy quiet forest picnics beneath towering buttress roots, listening for bird calls and spotting wildlife in the dappled light.
- Absorb the guides’ bilingual expertise, learning how plants, animals and waterways interconnect across one of the world’s richest flooded forests.
Why We Include Aria Amazon in Our Journeys
Its low‑impact operations, superb cabins and floor‑to‑ceiling views offer immersion day and night, while its tried‑and‑tested routes – flexible to the conditions of the day – ensure travellers experience the very best of the Peruvian Amazon with comfort and clarity.
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From the Team
“On Aria Amazon, it’s clear that wildlife‑watching is the priority. Even so, comfort is everywhere – deep sofas, a refreshing plunge pool and your enormous bed facing that spectacular picture window. The guides are eagle‑eyed and hugely knowledgeable. Taken together, Aria Amazon is superb.”
Why Plan with Journeysmiths
Every journey we design begins with listening. Whether you’re travelling as a family, a couple, or across generations, we take time to understand how you want to feel – not just where you want to go. From there, we carefully weave together exceptional places, trusted guides, and seamless logistics to create journeys that flow naturally and feel entirely your own.Every journey we design begins with listening. Whether you’re travelling as a family, a couple, or across generations, we take time to understand how you want to feel – not just where you want to go. From there, we carefully weave together exceptional places, trusted guides, and seamless logistics to create journeys that flow naturally and feel entirely your own.
Positive Impact
We prioritise working with properties that address location-specific needs from education to conservation and environmental sustainability. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.We prioritise working with properties that address location-specific needs from education to conservation and environmental sustainability. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.
Great Places to Combine with Aria Amazon
Aria Amazon works beautifully as part of a wider journey in Peru and Latin America. We often pair it with contrasting environments to create a sense of flow and variety.Aria Amazon works beautifully as part of a wider journey in Peru and Latin America. We often pair it with contrasting environments to create a sense of flow and variety.
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