| Superior
Tourist Delfin I River Cruise:Pacaya
Samira National Reserve
|
| Duration |
5
Days / 4 Nights |
| Starting
Point |
Iquitos
Amazon on Monday |
| Ending
Point |
Puerto
Miguel - Yarapa River on Friday |
|
Tour Type |
Adventure
- Nature - Cruise |
|
Price from |
$
1970 € 1468 |
All
our programmes can be tailor made according to your requirements,
whether regarding the length of your tour, any special interests
or specific activities, flight reservations, optional destinations
or tours.
Tour
Description
|
Day
1: Monday Arrive Iquitos - dinner |
05:00
pm. Arrive Iquitos
After arriving at Iquitos International Airport, you will be assisted
by our guides and transported by bus for about 1 ½ hours,
heading northwest toward Nauta (the oldest city in the department
of Loreto). Nauta lies between Iquitos and the Marañon
River, where the DELFIN is waiting for you.
07:30 pm. Arrive Nauta and board the DELFIN
Upon arriving at the port of Nauta, you will board the DELFIN,
assisted by our experienced crew. They will help you settle into
your wood-paneled, comfortable twin-bedded cabin provided with
orthopedic mattresses and natural cotton sheets and towels, silent
A/C units and private bathrooms with fine wooden furnishings,
hot showers and a variety of environmentally friendly amenities
for your ultimate indulgence.
It will become clear that you are traveling where few have gone
before. In fact, you are part of a select group of seasoned world
travelers who visit remote Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, five million
acres of protected, flooded forest, roughly the size of a small
Central American country. A world of flora and fauna awaits you.
08:00 pm. Happy hour
Just before dusk, as the DELFIN starts its journey into the rainforest,
our barman and staff will provide you with a wide variety of drinks
and cocktails including Peru’s finest and most famous cocktail,
the pisco sour, made of Pisco, a Peruvian grape brandy. Fine regional
cigars will also be available.
08:30 pm. Dinner
Dinner is served in our cozy dining room located at the back of
the ship’s second deck.
Because of its cultural diversity, Peruvian cuisine is considered
one of the world’s finest, making the country an attractive
culinary destination. Aside from providing you with your first
rainforest adventure, the DElFIN is also a unique culinary experience,
offering the best of Amazonian-Peruvian cuisine in a cosmopolitan
gourmet setting. Our chef prides himself in serving dishes in
different styles and seasoned with a wide variety of herbs and
spices, as well as exotic fruits,
09:30 pm. Briefing and time to relax
On the top observation deck, our guides will use charts and short
videos displayed on our flat LCD screen to conduct a brief orientation,
outlining details of your journey, including the places you will
visit, the wildlife you will see, as well as a summary of the
history and geography of the Amazon basin.
Finally, under the beauty of an Amazonian night filled with hundreds
of stars or perhaps a full moon, and wafted by the gentle breeze
of the rainforest, our multitalented staff will briefly entertain
you with a little live music, while you enjoy an after dinner
drink and a fine Amazonian cigar.
|
Day
2: Tuesday Belluda Caño – Dorado River
|
06:00
am. Breakfast – Buffet
Dawn and dusk are ideal times for nature observation, and an early
rise is therefore highly recommended. On your first morning, coffee
will wake us up, and pancakes will be a delicious choice for this
new morning of adventure and new surprises.
Rainy Season (Dec – May) Belluda Stream exploration.
Aboard the skiffs, we will explore this black water stream and
start learning about the rainforest. You are now in Pacaya Samiria
national reserve, where you will have the chance to see its amazing
wildlife. From the skiff you can easily spot parrots, macaws and
monkeys, such as the monk Saki monkey with its gray and black
body, naked face and long shaggy tail. You might also see the
saddle back tamarin monkey, whose high chirping notes can easily
be confused with those of a flock of birds.
It’s also a good spot to see the beautiful morpho butterfly
that flaps lazily along open corridors through forest or along
river edges of lowland forest on sunny days. Different species
of hawks will also be found and if we are lucky we’ll see
the noisy “laughing falcon,” named after its loud
falsetto call while sitting solitary in secondary forest and plantations.
Dry Season (Jun – Nov) Hiking at Belluda Caño
During the dry season, you can visit and explore two different
kinds of ecosystems: flooded forest and terra firme forest. After
disembarking at this native village we’ll start our morning
hike. This walk affords excellent opportunities for spotting transitional
species such as the snail kite, black tailed ant bird, manikins,
tanagers, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, nun birds, orioles, blackbirds,
etc.
You’ll also see tall trees filled with epiphytes, woody
vines and many varieties of palm trees. After an hour we’ll
reach a lovely lagoon where two dugout canoes await us in the
midst of one of the most remote, least visited areas in the world.
This lagoon is filled with endangered and unique fresh water fish,
such as the paiche, the largest in the Amazon basin, which can
weigh more than 80kg. (170 lb). The paiche is considered a delicacy
and you can often hear them when they rise to the surface. We
hope to spot the peculiar crested hoatzin bird with its olive-colored
plumage. Hoatzins live in small family groups along forested swamps
and oxbow lakes.
We will then hike back to the skiffs, where icy towels will refresh
us, while we will continue to explore the surrounding wild life.
We will have a good chance of finding the smallest monkey in the
world, the pygmy marmoset, seen only at its sap-sucking sites
low on tree trunks.
11:00 am. Back to the boat
We will continue upstream towards our next destination.
12:30 pm. Lunch
After emerging from the depths of the forest, you’ll be
treated to a world-class gourmet meal.
Our young and innovative chef will surprise your sophisticated
palates, while introducing you to the pleasures of Peru´s
haute cuisine. Our gourmet menu has been designed especially to
please you. The menu features glorious fresh fish and other local
delicacies, all prepared with an Amazonian flair and our personal
touch.
03:30 pm. El Dorado River exploration
We
will head for this spectacular spot within the Pacaya-Samiria
Reserve In the skiffs, where you will also experience an unforgettable
encounter with gray and pink river dolphins. Enjoy a unique opportunity
to swim among the dolphins.
On the river you will experience abundant wildlife and nature
in all its exuberance while we search for the Amazon River’s
transitional forest specialties such as snail kites, festive parrots,
endangered scarlet macaws, olive spotted hummingbirds, Amazonian
parrotlets, wood creepers, among others.
Prehistoric looking iguanas laze in the sun while we travel along
the shoreline searching for whatever the jungle has to offer us.
Squirrel Monkeys are very active at this time of the day, when
they move in large noisy troops at mid- to upper-levels of primary
and secondary lowland forest.
06:30 pm. Back to the boat
We will continue sailing towards our next destination
07:00 pm. Happy Hour
Our bar is open and our barman is waiting to serve you new combinations
of regional fruits and drinks, while you relax aboard the Delfin
as we continue our journey up the Ucayali River towards the Puinahua
River.
08:00 pm. Dinner
The service continues. Wine pairings will includes some of the
best South American vintages.
Desserts are also a wonderful treat on our menu.
09:30 pm. Relaxation on board
Our staff and guides will be there to answer any question about
what we have already seen and visited. While feeling the warm
breeze of the Amazon night, fine cigars and after dinner drinks
will be available before you fall asleep to the musical sounds
of the jungle. Don´t forget to look up at the sky, where
the feast continues, with millions of sparkling stars set against
the deep black night or perhaps a full moon that lights up the
entire river.
| Day
3: Wednesday Atun Poza Lake – Rio Pacaya
|
07:00
am. Breakfast – Buffet
As usual, our dining room and kitchen staff are waiting for you;
fresh ground coffee grown in the highlands of the Amazon and local
fruits await you as you continue your jungle experience.
08:00 am. Atun Poza expedition
Rainy Season (Dec – May) Atun Poza by skiff: This morning
we will cruise in our skiffs along a lake called Atun Poza, where
we will surprise several species of egrets, herons, hawks, long-legged
neotropical cormorants fishing for their dinner, and unusual and
loud horned screamers. We will also have a chance to explore other
black water lagoons linked to this huge lake, were wattled jacanas
compete with a wide variety of spiders, grasshoppers, dragonflies,
butterflies, moths, beetles, etc. living along the grassy edges
and lily pads of freshwater swamps and marshes. We will have an
excellent opportunity of seeing social spiders and how their webs
embrace huge parts of a tree.
Dry
Season (Jun – Nov) hiking at Atun Poza: Today we will hike
through this pristine and unique ecosystem, passing through a
classic tropical rainforest with emergent trees and canopy trees
reaching up to 55 mt. in height. Many trees have buttress roots
which often extend high up the trunks while palms are abundant
and many of them have stilt roots.
Biologically, this kind of forest is probably one of the richest
habitats on earth, supporting the most species of plants and animals
per unit area. Our target is the giant ceiba or kapok tree with
its large diameter. If we’re lucky, we’ll also see
giant otters with their large bodies, dark fur with spotted throat
and noisy calls. They nest in a small stream inside this forest
and we must be very quiet, because if they hear us they will swim
away. This forest is also very good for spotting birds such as
the bluish-fronted jacamar seen in pairs in middle and lower parts
of forest edges, or collared trogons, red capped cardinals, etc.
11:00 am. Back to the vessel
We will continue up the Puinahua River towards the Pacaya River,
our destination at the very heart of the Pacaya Samiria Reserve,
for further exploration of the largest wetland reserve in the
world.
12:30 pm. Lunch
More delicious combinations are in store for you today. Our chef
has selected the best ingredients, preparing a unique meal, so
just relax and enjoy and let yourself be pampered by our staff.
04:00 pm. Pacaya River expedition
We have reached our main goal, the Pacaya River, at the very heart
of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Peru’s largest protected
area with a mean annual rainfall of nearly 3,000mm, by far the
largest protected wetland reserve in the world. Filled with lakes,
palm swamps and streams, the reserve becomes a flooded forest
in the rainy season and is one of the most beautiful places you’ll
ever visit.
Aboard our comfortable skiffs, we will explore magnificent views
and wildlife opportunities, experiencing spectacular rainforest
wilderness, while searching for different species of monkeys,
such as small family groups of red howler monkeys, the largest
in the Amazon basin, with its bright rust-colored fur and long
prehensile tail.
At sunset, you’ll be will be astonished by the beautiful
colors of the sky and the reflection of the jungle in the black
water of the Pacaya River, which is why it has been called the
forest of reflections: it’s hard to know where the jungle
begins and the water ends. Once it is dark, you’ll hear
the second installment of the jungle symphony. Armed with powerful
spot lights, we’ll start our night safari in search of night
herons, pauraques, spectacled owls, up to a dozen species of croaking
from the river’s edge, and fish bats flying over the water
scooping up fish.
Spectacled and black caimans are found in these pristine waters,
and our guides will point them out to you. Stargazing at this
time is unique while fireflies light up the jungle around us.
08:00 pm. Back to the boat
We will spend the night in front of a ranger station on the Puinahua
River.
08:30 pm. Dinner
After our night safari, we will calm your appetite with wonderful
dishes, so let the heart of the jungle captivate yours. Our first
class service continues while you enjoy the wonders of your surroundings.
| Day
4: Thursday Caro Curahuayte Lagoon – Jungle Hick
|
07:00
am. Wake up call
This morning we will start very early and breakfast will be ready
for you, in order to see as much wildlife as possible, in one
of the earth´s greatest wilderness.
08:00 am. Fishing at Caro Curahuayte Lake or Exploring the Shores
of emergent Islands
Rainy Season – Fishing at Caro Curahuayte
On board our excursion skiffs, we will head for a beautiful lake
to a spectacular spot, where we expect to catch some fish, mainly
piranhas. During the rainy season, the forest is flooded and many
trees flower and bear fruit in conjunction with the flooding.
Many fish, including piranhas, swim among the flooded tree trunks
devouring the fruit or chewing at their skins. Obviously, the
piranhas’ reputation as super-carnivores is an exaggeration!
There are 25 different species of piranha in the Amazon basin,
including black, white and red bellied.
Dry Season – In search of shore-birds
On board the skiffs we will search for shore-birds. When the river
is very low, broad white sandy beaches emerge and river islands
form, creating a special ecosystem that harbors sandpipers, terns
that hover and dive to catch fish, black skimmers with their peculiar
low flight over the water´s surface, egrets, jabirus, wood
storks, and kingfishers.
11:30 am. Back to the Boat
We will start navigating back down the Puinahua River towards
Iquitos.
12:30 pm. Lunch
By now, you’ll know the routine, our kitchen staff welcomes
you again, surprising you with a very sophisticated meal and a
well balanced menu. There’s also time for dessert. Coffee
will be served at the bar on the Observation deck.
03:30 pm. Visit the Yanallpa Community
This afternoon you will have the opportunity to visit this riverside
community, this will be your first interaction with local villagers
and to meet their unique way of life. This is time to bring along
any presents you have and will like to give out to the people
and children’s, (papers, books, pencils, colors, T-shirts)
they will really appreciate them and will be very pleased. You
will learn about all fruit trees and how they harvest them.
05:30 pm. Back to the vessel
We will continue down the Puinahua River towards the Ucayali River.
06:30 pm. Briefing and Slide Show
At this time our guides will review all that we have seen and
learned, with the help of videos and a slide show on our flat-screen
TV. This will give you the chance to see up close the birds, monkeys,
reptiles, etc. This is the time to clear up any doubts. We will
sail all night long as the Delfin continues its smooth journey
downstream. Our barman is ready to offer you a wide choice of
drinks. Coffee and tea are always available.
08:00 pm. Farewell Dinner
Leaving behind the wildlife, you will continue enjoying our service,
as a world class traveler deserves. Tonight our chef and kitchen
staff will treat you to a grilled dinner, including fresh salads,
grilled vegetables, magical sauces, and wonderful combinations
of different types of meat. Our talented staff will delight you
with some live music before you retire.
| Day
5: Friday Amazon River – Yarapa River – Puerto
Miguel Community
|
07:30
am: Breakfast – Buffet
This will be your last breakfast with us, so dare to try all the
things you resisted: natural, fresh fruit juices, fresh fruit,
cereals, fresh ground coffee.
08:00 am. Yarapa River Exploration and Puerto Miguel Village Visit
On board our skiffs we will stop at the village of Puerto Miguel
to meet local villagers. You will have the chance to learn about
their culture, traditions and folklore. You may also visit one
of the villager’s homes, to see how they live and the simplicity
of their lifestyle and purchase some of the handcrafts they make.
10:30 am. Back to the vessel
We will continue sailing down the Amazon River.
This is also the time to gather all of your things, pack your
bags and check out.
12:30 pm. Lunch
AS usual, you’ll enjoy the diversity of our culinary choices.
Our kitchen staff will be there for any special requests.
13:30 pm. disembark at Nauta
We will disembark at our port in Nauta, where a bus will be waiting
to take you back to Iquitos.
03:30 pm. Arrive at Iquitos Airport
Our personnel will help you check in, and say goodbye.
05:30 pm. Flight departs for Lima
All activities are subject to change due to weather conditions
and time of year. River and tributaries level may vary and thus
navigation times and excursions may need to be modified at the
captain´s discretion.
Note:
All itineraries are subject to change, due to weather and other
conditions. All times indicated are approximate, and are also
subject to change.
See
all our hotels
in Iquitos
prices per person
Single
|
Double
|
$
2960 € 2206
|
$
1970 € 1468 |


The
highest standards for impeccable service,unique style and superb
quisine. The vessel will take you one step beyond Luxury, where
comfort and grace combine effortlessly, with the wilderness of
the Amazone, ina setting of understated elegance and world class
hospitality. As a 6 cabin vessel, intimacy and personal attention
is the key to our service.
*
private bathrooms
* hot showers

| Notes,
General Information:
|
The weather in Iquitos is warm and
humid with average annual maximum temperature of 33°C (95°F)
and minimum of 21°C (70°C)
The dry season is from May to November
The wet season is from December to April
The seasons feature differences in the plant and animal life as
well as in the climate.
All activities are subject to change due to weather conditions
and time of year. River and tributary levels may vary and thus
navigation times and excursions may need to be modified at the
captain´s discretion.
Bring comfortable soft-soled shoes, light-weight trousers and
long-sleeved tops, hat, sun glasses, lightweight rain gear, sunscreen,
mosquito repellant, BINOCULARS, camera and spare batteries.
Don´t forget to include some items that you can give away
to the locals. (T-shirts, pens and paper are especially prized)
Tipping is expected by the crew and the guides, envelopes will
be provided in your cabin (suggested amount is US$100 per passenger)
|