Amazon river cruises from Iquitos: Aqua Expeditions and Delfin, with the Lima and Iquitos logistics

This is a representative itinerary, not a published sailing. Neither operator publishes a day-by-day for the Peruvian Amazon on the pages we read, so the 4-night round trip below is built from what they do say. No vessel is tied to any day.

At a glance

• Route: Lima (Day 0), optional Iquitos extra day (Day 0b), then four nights on the river from Nauta into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Days 1 to 5. Representative, not a published sailing.
• Operators: Aqua Expeditions offers 3, 4 and 7 night Peruvian Amazon itineraries aboard Aria Amazon and Aqua Nera . Delfin lists Delfín I, Delfín II and Delfín III .
• Sea days: none. This is a river trip, with three full river days (Days 2, 3 and 4), plus an embarkation day and a disembarkation morning.
• Fares: not shown here. Both are small-ship luxury, priced by the operator; ask for a quote.
• Entry fee for the reserve: included in the Aqua rate .
• Advisory: Peru Level 2 overall, with a Level 4 area on the Colombia border in Loreto [read 2026-10-16, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/peru-travel-advisory.html, — Level 2, issued 2026-09-04].
• Health: see a travel clinic about the Peruvian Amazon 4 to 6 weeks before departure, as commonly advised — Not confirmed on https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/peru as of 2026-10-16.
• Points: LATAM, the usual Lima to Iquitos carrier, is on no transfer chart entry. Flights to Lima can use Delta, American or Avianca routes on our chart.

When to go. Aqua describes two seasons rather than named months: high water, when the ship sails nearer the canopy and skiffs reach hidden creeks and lakes, and low water, when normally submerged trails can be walked . Neither is better in general. High water favors birds and tree-dwellers; low water favors walking. Ask your operator which season your dates fall in and what that changes.

The route in one page. You fly Lima to Iquitos on the day of embarkation. Aqua's guests meet the company counter at Iquitos airport; embarkation is at 4:30 pm either from Iquitos Main Port or from the company's private wharf at Nauta, and disembarkation is at 9:00 am at the same place . Nauta is reached by road from Iquitos. From there the ship works the area where the Ucayali and Marañón rivers meet to form the Amazon, and the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve . Days are built around skiff trips, jungle walks, kayaking or canoeing and riverside community visits, about two excursions a day. The page names pink dolphins, spider monkeys, caiman, sloths and anacondas as possible sightings. Treat them as possible, never promised.

Who this suits. Travelers who want wildlife time with a naturalist guide and a comfortable bed to return to, and who can handle heat, humidity, early starts and a few hours on small boats. It is a poor fit if you need step-free access throughout, cannot tolerate insects, or want a packed nightlife. Children and mobility needs are worth discussing with the operator before booking, since skiff boarding involves steps and uneven surfaces.

Where to stay the night before. Most international arrivals reach Lima in the evening, so a Lima night before the Iquitos flight is the sensible default. Look at Miraflores (walkable, sea-cliff paths, many restaurants) or San Isidro (quieter, business-district feel). Check the chain's map for Miraflores and for San Isidro if you are using hotel points.

Rough cost three ways. Fill these in from the official pages; we do not quote fares.

Entry rules. Peru's immigration authority is Migraciones; the rules for US citizens (passport validity, stay length, any tourist card) are not confirmed here: they are commonly described as a valid passport and a tourist stay of up to 90 days, as commonly described — Not confirmed on https://www.gob.pe/migraciones as of 2026-10-16. The national tourism site links to Migraciones for requirements . Check before you book.

<!– Check this on the official page before you book. The State Department rates Peru Level 2, exercise increased caution, and lists no Level 3 areas; it lists Level 4 (do not travel) areas including the Colombia-Peru border area in the Loreto Region, with crime and limited law enforcement, and the VRAEM valley region [read 2026-10-16, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/peru-travel-advisory.html, — Level 2, issued 2026-09-04]. The Level 4 Loreto zone is a border area; Iquitos and Nauta are not described as part of it, and this representative route does not go near the border, but confirm your operator's exact route. [read 2026-10-16, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/peru-travel-advisory.html, — Level 4 area: Colombia-Peru border area, Loreto Region, issued 2026-09-04]. Health: the CDC publishes yellow fever vaccination and malaria guidance for the Peruvian Amazon; the details are not confirmed on https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/peru as of 2026-10-16. See a travel clinic 4 to 6 weeks before you go; PerkJolt gives no dosing advice. Emergency numbers: 911 in the US; in Peru confirm the local number with your operator and hotel.

3 free things (each with a photo subject)

1. Walk the Malecón de Miraflores at sunset on your Lima night. Photo subject: the Malecón de Miraflores clifftop path above the Pacific.
2. Sit in Parque Kennedy in Miraflores and watch the evening scene around the church. Photo subject: Parque Kennedy with its cats and evening crowds.
3. Stroll the Plaza de Armas in Iquitos, or the riverfront Malecón Tarapacá, if you arrive a day early. Photo subject: Plaza de Armas, Iquitos.

Points primer. Per our transfer chart, checked 2026-10-08: Amex transfers to Delta 1:1 and to Avianca 1:1; Capital One transfers to Avianca 1:1; Citi transfers to American 1:1 on select cards and to Avianca 1:1. LATAM is on no transfer chart entry, so the Lima to Iquitos leg is usually a cash purchase. The cruise itself is paid to the operator; check whether your card's travel portal can price it.

Disclosure: Written by PerkJolt's AI desk from official sources. We may earn a commission from links; it never changes what we recommend.

This is the free lite guide. The full day-by-day guide, with maps, photo stops, rain plans and the points playbook, is part of PerkJolt All-Access.