Amazon River Luxury Cruises: The Best Way to See the Rainforest!
Last Updated on April 13, 2024 by Kelly
The Amazon River begins in the foothills of the Andes mountains and flows east over 4,000 miles to the Atlantic Ocean. One of the best ways to explore this biodiverse river is by taking a luxury cruise, which will give you the advantage of being able to travel downstream to see very remote areas of the rainforest. (This is perfect for watching wildlife, while still getting to stay in luxury accommodations!)
When we visited the Amazon Rainforest, we stayed in an eco-lodge. However, we saw plenty of cruises departing from Iquitos while we were visiting. We were curious how a luxury cruise would have compared to our own stay in an eco-lodge. In this article, we’re sharing everything we found out about Amazon River Luxury Cruises. Spoiler alert: Next time we are in Peru we want to book a luxury cruise!
Where to Start?
There are two primary starting points for cruises along the Amazon River. One option is in Iquitos, Peru. Another popular option is in Manaus, Brazil. Because we visited Iquitos personally, we’ll share all about luxury cruises from Peru.
Iquitos is located in the northeast section of Peru along the Amazon River. It’s about 629 miles away from the capital city of Lima.
Amazon River Luxury Cruises
Below, we’ll share some information we found about several of the most popular luxury cruises departing from Iquitos.
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Delfin I
The Delfin I is one of the most luxurious ships on the Amazon River. The ship contains 4 large suites that each have their own terrace. (Two of which have a private whirlpool!) The rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows. For 2022, you can choose between a 3-night or a 4-night cruise.
Delfin II
The Delfin II has 14 cabins, 4 of which are master suites with 180-degree panoramic windows. The Delfin II is a larger boat and has lots of amenities. These include a lecture room, dining area, spa, gym, and an observation deck. For 2022, you can choose between a 3-night or a 4-night cruise.
Delfin III
The Delfin III is the newest and also the largest boat in the Delfin fleet. This boat has 22 suites. There’s a lounge, gym, dining room, sun deck, pool, boutique, and a spa. For 2022, you can choose between a 3-night or a 4-night cruise.
Zafiro
The Zafiro ship is a floating 5-star hotel. The boat contains 19 suites. You can choose between a cabin suite, master suite, or Zafiro suite. (The Zafiro suite has a 180-degree front-facing window as well as a private jacuzzi.)
Aria
The Aria is also a 5-star floating resort. The boat contains 16 suites. There’s opportunities for lots of outdoor excursions, including kayaking and riding on their speedboat. This bot has a jacuzzi, indoor lounge, outdoor observation deck, and dining room. B
Packing List
Here are a few recommendations for things to pack with you on your trip to the Amazon.
- Power Bank Phone Charger: Before we left home, we had at least one (if not two) power banks fully charged. That way we could charge our phones on the go while traveling. Because we used our phones for navigation and for photography, it was really important that we didn’t run out of battery.
- Power Adapter/Voltage Converter: We brought our voltage converter so we could safely use our electronics.
- First Aid Kit: Because we were in such a remote area, we made sure to have some basic first aid items on hand.
- High-Quality Backpack: For day excursions, we needed a backpack that could keep our things dry.
- Quick Dry Towel: We brought a quick-dry towel with us on our excursion. It came in handy when we got wet or when we wanted to sit on the ground.
- Filtered Water Bottle: We didn’t have to worry so much about water quality with a filtered bottle.
- Rain Jacket: It rained a lot while we were in the rain forest (duh), so it was helpful to have a rain jacket. We preferred to have a light waterproof layer because it was still warm and humid.
- Wide-Brimmed Hat: We made sure to protect our faces while cruising the river and hiking.
- Long-Sleeved Shirts: We were long-sleeved shirts and pants to protect from bugs. It also gave us sun protection.
Hotels in Iquitos
When we visited Iquitos, we stayed at the Epoca Hotel Boutique. We enjoyed our experience there, and we’d recommend it to others as well.
Here’s some other hotels you might want to consider:
- Doubletree by Hilton Iquitos: The Doubletree is located right next to a pretty park. There’s an outdoor pool, a hot tub that’s almost floating over the pool (complete with a waterfall), a fitness center, and all the amenities you would expect at a Doubletree Hotel. If we went back to Iquitos, this is where we would book our stay.
- Casa Morey: This hotel has large rooms with air-conditioning. There’s also a pool and a library.
- Victoria Regia Hotel: This hotel has a pool, a restaurant, and spacious rooms.
Summary
We hope this article was helpful in learning about Amazon River luxury cruises! If we visit the Amazon Rainforest again, we would definitely want to look into booking one of these cruises!
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.
