January and February 2012

Peru and the Amazon River
aboard the Jewels of the Amazon

The Amazon River is at the heart of one of Earth’s most exotic natural realm and our planet’s largest rainforest ecosystem—the mysterious Amazon River Basin. The longest navigable river, the Amazon winds more than 4,000 miles from its source in the Andes Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean, and its tributaries fan out over 1.5 million square miles to sustain the lush flora and extraordinary fauna of this fragile environment. From delicate orchids to transparent glass frogs and pink river dolphins, a boundless diversity of nature’s most wondrous offerings can be explored from the treetops of the lush rainforest to the depths of black-water tributaries.

Join us for this unforgettable experience aboard one of the finest expedition vessels in this part of the world. A limited number of passenger vessels are allowed to cruise this portion of the Peruvian Amazon, and the Jewels of the Amazon are impeccably crafted riverboats that evoke the 19th century’s great age of discovery while featuring 21st-century comforts. In an enchanting atmosphere of exploration, cruise beyond the confluence of the Río Ucayali and Río Marañón—the legendary inception of the Amazon River—where the primeval calls of birds and wildlife echo across the rainforest. Travel far beyond civilization to the Pacaya-Samiria Wetlands Preserve, the largest wetlands refuge in the world, navigating black-water rivers and walking in remote forests where the number of butterfly species climbs into the thousands, and species have yet to be classified or even discovered.

From your expedition vessel, expert Peruvian naturalists will lead you through the rainforest to see rare indigenous species and guide you down the Amazon’s secretive, sinuous tributaries aboard special small excursion boats. You will also visit local villages to gain insight into the traditional way of life of the ribereños (river people) and see a shaman perform an ancient ritual. This custom-designed itinerary includes the choice of a one-night stay in a tented camp in the heart of the Peruvian jungle, highlighted by traditional storytelling and a meal of regional specialties.

In addition to the mystifying reaches of the Amazon, this unique program also features two nights in Lima, Peru, including a visit its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Space is extremely limited for this definitive journey along the legendary Amazon River through the world’s greatest rainforest—reserve now while space is available!

Excursion Boats

Jewels of the Amazon