Iquitos is the largest city in the world that cannot be reached by road: surrounded by rainforest, it can only be reached by air or by river. That is exactly why it is the ideal starting point for an Amazon River cruise, the only way to access some of the most remote and untouched areas of the Peruvian Amazon.

Sailing between two great rivers

A short distance downstream from Iquitos, the dark waters of the Río Maranon and the chocolate-coloured waters of the Río Ucayali meet to form the true Amazon River. Boats sailing these waters, from the simplest to genuine river cruise ships with air-conditioned cabins, make it possible to reach areas of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve otherwise inaccessible.

During the cruise it's common to spot pink river dolphins, monkeys, sloths, caimans and an incredible variety of tropical birds, while canoe excursions along smaller tributaries allow for even more direct contact with the forest.

Local communities and river life

Many cruises include visits to indigenous communities and ribereño villages along the riverbanks, where you can discover local crafts, traditional fishing techniques and the daily relationship these populations maintain with the Amazon ecosystem. A night boat excursion, with the darkness of the forest broken only by the sounds of animals, often remains the most intense memory of this trip.