AMAZON CRUISE IN PERU
AMAZON CRUISE IN PERU , Still, an Amazon voyage is an experience that should be at the top of your trip pail list, If you ’re a nature and wildlife nut. Not only is the Amazon the alternate-longest swash in the world, but the Amazon rainforest is also home to over one- third of the beast species on the earth.
The potent Amazon River starts in the Peruvian Andes and winds its way through Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil and into the Atlantic Ocean. It deserves to be called mighty because it contains one- fifth of the water set up in all the gutters in the world and empties out more water into the Atlantic than the coming seven largest gutters combined.
AMAZON CRUISE
WHAT TO EXPECT ON AN AMAZON CRUISE
The Amazon rainforest is home to the largest and diverse collection of plants and animals, including 40,000 plant species, 1300 birds, 427 mammals, 400 amphibians and 378 reptiles.
Cruising the Amazon river is a chance to see unique wildlife such as tamarin monkeys, three-toed sloths, monk saki monkeys and scarlet macaws.
The river is home to Amazon River dolphins, Amazonian manatees, giant otters, anacondas, caimans, bull sharks, piranhas and electric eels.
Meeting villagers deep in the jungle is a delightful experience.
WHERE TO CRUISE THE AMAZON RIVER
PERUVIAN AMAZON
Amazon river cruises in Peru start in Iquitos, which is a city surrounded by rivers and rainforest and the largest city in the world with no connecting roads.
Iquitos is a kaleidoscope of colourful scenes such as timber shacks with iron roofs, skinny dogs asleep on concrete steps and dark-skinned men hawking piles of plantain, bananas and sugar cane on the streets.
Motorbikes, windowless buses and canopied motorcycle trishaws whoosh past brightly painted shops and sidewalk cafes while coffee-skinned children shriek in high-pitched excitement when spotting the tourist buses.
Other sights in the former rubber town include a statue by French sculptor Auguste Rodin, a cream-coloured gothic cathedral with lancet windows and turrets, grand art-nouveau buildings such as the former Palace Hotel and a house built from iron designed by Eiffel Tower architect Gustav Eiffel.
The most popular section of the river for cruise ships is in Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, which is about 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Iquitos.
The reserve’s three river basins (Pacaya, Samiria and Yanayacu-Pucate) is a stunning area with lakes, canals and a diverse array of flora and fauna.
Peru is a land of mystery and one of the best countries to visit in South America for history lovers. Things to do in Peru include hiking Machu Picchu and the Cusco Valley. The capital of Peru, Lima, has an exciting culinary scene.
BEST TIME TO CRUISE THE AMAZON
The Amazon has two seasons: high water (December to May) and low water (June to November).
During the high water season, most of the forest is underwater and the skiffs carry you deep into the jungle and closer to the treetops than if you were on foot.
AMAZON RIVER CRUISE SHIPS
DELFIN L, II AND III
Delfin II has 14 cabins, four of them are four Master Suites with 180° panoramic windows and the 10 ordinary suites with large windows that allow you to watch the view as you float along the river.
Cabins are roomy and frolicking dolphins can be seen from its big windows.
Delphin has three and four-night itineraries from the headwaters of the Amazon in Iquitos to the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Center of River Mammals (ACOBIA).
Meals are an upscale sampling of Peruvian-style food and daily lectures include ecology, indigenous foods and even towel topiary.
The small ship size allows Dolphin II’s 30 passengers and friendly crew become one big family.
Delfin Itinerary
Delfin I, II and III offer three and four-night itineraries. Here’s a sample itinerary:
Day 1 – Arrive in Iquitos and transfer to the ship, night safari in Nauta Cano.
Day 2 – Kayaking in Yanayacu Pucate and jungle walk in the Amazon Natural Park
Day 3 – Skiff excursion in Palm Forest and wildlife spotting on the Samiria River
Day 4 – Picnic breakfast and piranha fishing on the Samiria River and a visit to San Francisco village.
Day 5 – Disembark and visit the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Center of River Mammals (ACOBIA).
Delfin Excursions
By Roberta Sotonoff
Our first excursion is bird-watching in a creek.
The water is like glass but the silence is broken by squawking parrots and squirrel monkeys jumping from tree to tree.
One rainforest walk traverses the Fundo Casual, part of Pacaya Samira National Reserve.
My travelling mate, Gail Goldman, is not very outdoorsy and insists on putting on makeup before the trip. In no time, it drips away into a sweat.
The reserve’s ground undulates.
A giant kapok tree spreads its roots before us.
Birds entertain us with a jungle symphony and our guide, Juan Luis, explains that each jungle has its own ecosystem.
Then, he goes about finding jungle animals.
He picks up a giant tarantula.
Yuck!
I hate those hairy things.
He finds a poisonous, vermillion-coloured great back frog.
Locals use their venom as ammunition in their blowguns.
He points out at a red-tail boa snake and an anaconda.
I am ecstatic to leave these creatures.
Back abroad the Delphin II, Juan Luis lectures us about the ecology, geology, flora and fauna.
“The Amazon is like a spider,” he says. “It has many legs or tributaries.”
Pink dolphins appear near the swimmers at one of the “spider legs,” Rio Yanayacu.
Later, kayakers return looking to see them.
Gail has never kayaked.
Her instruction consists of, “This is the paddle. If you want to go left, paddle right and vice versa.”
She is doing okay until it starts to rain; not a drizzle but a downpour.
This is life in the Amazon.
The rain is overbearing.