Cattleya

PM: Transfer by private car (approx. 2 hours) to the town of Nauta and board the M/V Cattleya. A welcome drink will be provided as soon as you board the ship, then the Naturalist guide will show you to your cabin and explain all facilities of the ship and programs for the upcoming days.

We start to navigate upstream on the Marañon River. We will explore the national reserve until the sun sets. Later in the evening we sit down for our first gourmet dinner, expertly prepared by the talented onboard chef.

AM: Wake up call. We start early today and set out to explore the impressive biodiversity of the area's unusual ecosystem. Look for a quiet spot to enjoy a picnic breakfast. Head out on a fishing trip like no other! Cast your line to see if you can catch "the most ferocious fish in the world” – the piranha. They are a dietary staple for many of the Amazon rainforest’s indigenous people and are widely considered one of the best fish to eat in South America. Return to the ship.

PM: Lunch. Explore Supay creek riding our Kayaks in this interesting natural scenic area spotting birds, huge trees, monkeys, and river people while you paddle, a unique opportunity to be in touch directly with the rain forest by yourself.

We will sail this afternoon with the daylight into the National Reserve exploring this interesting area, explore riding our Kayaks in this interesting natural scenic area spotting birds, huge trees, monkeys, and river people while you paddle, a unique opportunity to be in touch directly with the rainforest by yourself. 

Enjoy a boat ride in the wild, and watch the forest become a different domain at night. Be on the lookout for bats, night birds, frogs, caimans, poison frogs, and a vast number of other species. See if our flashlights will reflect the ‘red eyeshine’ of the caiman which will be caught by our naturalist. Return to the ship for dinner.

AM: After breakfast, our Naturalist guide will do an introductory discussion about shamanism to help understand the traditions of the people living in the rainforest. Get in touch with your spirit realm with a visit to a local shaman. Shamanism is practiced around the globe, and is universally distinguished by a trance state called shamanic ecstasy. In these "out of body" travels, the shaman enlists the spirit world to help him with a variety of duties, from healing the sick to assisting a deceased person's soul into the afterworld — all the while, the shaman remains conscious. Gain rare insight into the complexities of this phenomenon when you meet an actual practicing shaman in a river village. He'll introduce the group to his spiritual healing craft and talk about rainforest plants that indigenous peoples have been using for centuries. 

PM: Return to the ship for lunch on board. This afternoon you will pack your personal things as we will keep exploring this interesting area by motorized skiff. In the waters of this important tributary, you will see the wonders of the rainforest. Keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths, and a variety of birds while exploring. At night, experience a jungle walk in the dark. Look for night animals: poison frogs, insects, bats and many others species of the jungle. We invite you to have this unique experience. Dinner will be served in the jungle as a picnic.

AM: Breakfast on board. Then we will navigate to the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali rivers which is known as the beginning of the main Amazon river, in this area we will observe interesting animals: gray and pink river Dolphin. The naturalist guide will present lectures about the Amazon on everything from the history and culture of the region to the Amazon’s flora and fauna. Explore the Amazon River or return to airport to catch your return flight. Return to the boat.

PM: Lunch and Disembarkation. Transfer back to Iquitos airport.

PM: Arrive to Iquitos in the afternoon, then transfer to Nauta (approximately 2 hours by private car). A welcome drink will be provided soon as you board the ship, then our Naturalist guide will provide you your cabin and explain all facilities on the ship and programs for the next few days. We start to navigate upstream. Later in the evening we sit down for our first dinner.

AM: Wakeup call and time for a cup of coffee and tea before your tour. Bird watching tour. We start early today and set out to explore the impressive biodiversity of the area's unusual ecosystem. Look for a quiet spot to enjoy a picnic breakfast. Head out on a fishing trip like no other! Cast your line to see if you can catch "the most ferocious fish in the world” – the piranha. They are a dietary staple for many of the Amazon rainforest’s indigenous people, and are widely considered one of the best fish to eat in South America.

PM: Return to the ship for lunch on board. We will explore the national reserve until the sun sets. As night falls, the Amazon comes alive with nocturnal animals. Be on the lookout for bats, night birds, frogs, caimans, poison frogs, and a vast number of another species. See if our flashlights will reflect the "red eye shine" of the caiman which will be caught by our naturalist. Return to the ship for dinner and spending the night on board.

AM: Breakfast. This morning is a full exploration expedition around the Nauta Caño Creek. Explore by skiff ride and by kayaks. Here you will spot birds, trees and monkeys while paddling through the Amazon’s tributary creeks. Visit a local village to learn about the fishing, hunting, and farming traditions of the local people. Return to the ship

PM: Lunch on board. This afternoon you will continue exploring the area by skiff boat. Keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths, and a variety of birds while exploring. After sunset we will head out for a nocturnal jungle walk. Look out for night animals: poison frogs, insects, bats and many others species of the jungle.

AM: Breakfast on board. Navigate to the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali rivers which is known as the beginning of the Amazon river. Here we will observe interesting animals: the gray and pink river Dolphin. Your naturalist guide will teach you the history and culture of the region. Walk along the banks of the river and explore the Yucuruchi region of the Amazon where you will have the opportunity to see the giant Victoria water lilies. You will also learn about medicinal plants, orchids, bromeliads and other interesting flora in this area. Return to the ship

PM: Lunch followed by exploring the Ucayali river. Return to the ship afterwards for dinner.

AM: Breakfast on board. Then we will navigate to the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali rivers which is known as the beginning of the main Amazon river, in this area we will observe interesting animals: gray and pink river Dolphin. The naturalist guide will present lectures about the Amazon on everything from the history and culture of the region to the Amazon’s flora and fauna. Explore the Amazon River or return to airport to catch your return flight. Return to the boat.

PM: Lunch and Disembarkation. Transfer back to Iquitos airport.

AM: Transfer by private car (approx. 2 hours) to the town of Nauta and board the M/V Cattleya. A welcome drink will be provided soon as you board the ship, then our Naturalist guide will provide you with your cabin and explain all facilities on the ship and programs for the next few days. We start to navigate upstream.

AM: Wakeup call and time for a cup of coffee or tea before we start the bird watching tour program by skiff. Bird watching program around the Tamishiacu area of the rainforest. Breakfast followed by Pink Dolphin and wildlife observation around Lucero Pata area by skiff. Return to the ship.

PM: Lunch followed by exploring the Yarapa river area looking for wildlife (monkeys, toucan, macaw, sloth etc.) by skiff. Return to the ship for dinner.

AM: Breakfast. We explore along the banks of the Ucayali River to the Yucuruchi region of the Amazon, and to have the opportunity to see the Victoria Regia water lily a gigantic aquatic plant. The naturalist guide will give lectures, and point out unique species of medicinal plants, orquid, bromeliads, different insects and other natural attractions of this area. Return to the ship.

PM: Lunch on board. Explore Clavero lake riding our Kayaks in this interesting natural scenic area spotting birds, huge trees, monkeys and river people while you paddle, a unique opportunity to be in touch directly with the rain forest by yourself. Later this afternoon you will continue exploring the area by skiff boat. Keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths, and a variety of birds while exploring. After sunset we will head out for a nocturnal jungle walk. Look out for night animals: poison frogs, insects, bats and many others species of the jungle. Optional overnight in the Jungle.

AM: Transfer from the jungle to the ship. Breakfast on board. Full exploration around the Sapuena creek area by skiff, visit a village where you will see how local people live in the jungle. Return to the ship.

PM: Lunch on board. Take an excursion by motorized skiff around the Yanallpa area to see the wonders of the rainforest. Kayaking time if the weather is good. Keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths, and a variety of birds while exploring. Returns to the ship for dinner.

AM: Early morning wakeup call. Arrive to the El Dorado river, part of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve early today and set out to explore the impressive biodiversity of this unusual ecosystem. Look for a quiet spot to enjoy a picnic breakfast. Head out on a fishing trip like no other! Cast your line to see if you can catch "the most ferocious fish in the world” – the piranha. Return to the ship.

PM: Lunch on board. The naturalist guide will present enthralling lecture about the Amazon on everything from the history and culture of the region to the Amazon’s prolific flora and fauna. We will ride this afternoon with the daylight into the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve exploring this interesting area until night falls, when we watch the Amazon become a different domain. Be on the lookout for bats, night birds, frogs, caimans, poison frogs, and a vast number of another species. See if our flashlights will reflect the "red eye shine" of the caiman which will be caught by our naturalist. Return to the ship for dinner.

AM: Wakeup call. Breakfast. Full exploration on the Yarapa black river water. Return to the ship, Lunch will be served on board.

PM: After lunch, our Naturalist guide will do an introductory discussion about shamanism to help understand the traditions of the people living in the rainforest. Get in touch with your spirit realm with a visit to a local shaman. Shamanism is practiced around the globe, and is universally distinguished by a trance state called shamanic ecstasy. In these "out of body" travels, the shaman enlists the spirit world to help him with a variety of duties, from healing the sick to assisting a deceased person's soul into the afterworld — all the while, the shaman remains conscious. Gain rare insight into the complexities of this phenomenon when you meet an actual practicing shaman in a river village. He'll introduce the group to his spiritual healing craft and talk about rainforest plants that indigenous peoples have been using for centuries. Return to the ship for dinner.

AM: Breakfast. Walking exploration into the rainforest along a tributary of the Amazon. Return to the ship.

PM: Lunch on board. After lunch, we embark on a small skiff excursion to the Pahuachiro Creek looking for a variety of different plants and wildlife. During the excursion we will have one last chance to witness a spectacular Amazonian and enjoy for the last time the sounds of the rainforest as night falls to reveal the star-lit sky. Return to the ship for dinner

AM: Breakfast on board and one last walk through the rainforest at Casual before disembarking the ship. Transfer to Iquitos airport.