Spondias in the Amazon
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Private Charter

Spondias

A boutique Amazon vessel boasting four comfortable cabins ideal for family or group adventures.

Overview

A private charter cruise aboard the Spondias ensures you and seven of your nearest and dearest are at the center of attention during a four- to eight-day cruise through the Amazon. With four staterooms, the 73.5-foot Spondias is a boutique boat offering excellent service.

Life Aboard The Spondias Cruise Ship

As you step aboard the Spondias, the first thing you will notice is the number of crew members ready and waiting to assist you. Eight crew members, for a 1:1 passenger-to-crew ratio, provide unparalleled service.

On the upper deck’s outdoor lounge, breathe in the fresh air and feel the breeze on your skin while the oversized canopy protects you from the sun. In the dining room, cutlery and glass imported from Europe complement gourmet meals. And, of course, you will still have spectacular views of the river from your comfortable seat at the table.

Excursions from your Spondias cruise

The Spondias sails a variety of itineraries of different lengths that can be tailored to your needs, so there is something to fit every group, schedule, and season. There are special birdwatching cruises – which offers unique opportunities to observe the Amazon’s feathery inhabitants, such as the Yellow-rumped Cacique, the Scarlet Macaw, and the Ringed Kingfisher.

Other itineraries feature chances to explore the wildlife-rich Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve by small boat and on foot. Enjoy an evening picnic in the jungle before taking a night trek to search for poison dart frogs, bats, and other nocturnal animals. Or explore the Amazon’s tributaries, either by skiff boat or canoe, before visiting a local village to learn about the local people’s farming and fishing traditions.

There is even the rare opportunity to meet a local Shaman to learn about shamanic out-of-body travels to the spirit world, go fishing for piranha, spotlighting for caimans, and even go swimming with pink dolphins. Whatever the route, expert naturalist guides will lead the way and provide in-depth information on local cultures and the area’s flora and fauna.

Perfect For Groups Of All Types

A Spondias Amazon cruise is an ideal getaway for your family or your family of friends. Additional children after the fifth passenger and upwards, under 12 years of age may be added to the cruise for just $150 per child, per day, subject to availability, with one roller bed able to be fitted in each suite, two of which are interconnecting.

For a family reunion cruise, a corporate incentive trip, or a holiday for adventure-loving friends, a Spondias Amazon cruise charter allows you to follow in the footsteps of the great Amazonian explorers in exclusive privacy while also being pampered with personalized service.

Itineraries & Prices

All itineraries are subject to change due to seasonal weather conditions (and resultant variations in river and tributary water levels) affecting accessibility to locations. Thus navigation routes, times and excursions may need to be modified at the cruise captain’s or your guide's discretion.

1 / 9
4-Day A
4-Day B
5-Day
6-Day
7-Day
8-Day A
8-Day B

4 Day - Pacaya Samiria

Sample Itinerary
itinerary map

Embarkation

PM: Transfer by private car (approx. 2 hours) to the town of Nauta and board the Spondias. 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.

Spondias 4-Day Itinerary Day One - Embarkation.
Location
Iquitos - Nauta - Amazon River
Day
1 / 4

Piranha Fishing & Nighttime Wildlife Excursion

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

Spondias 4-Day Itinerary Day Two - Monkey Sighting.
Location
Amazon River
Day
2 / 4

Shaman Village Visit & Jungle Walk

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.

Spondias 4-Day Itinerary Day Three - Skiff Exploration.
Location
Amazon River
Day
3 / 4

Disembarkation

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.

Spondias 4-Day Itinerary Day Four - Frog in the Amazon.
Location
Amazon River - Iquitos
Day
4 / 4
1 / 4

4 Day - Birdwatching

Sample Itinerary
itinerary map

Embarkation

PM: Arrive at Iquitos in the afternoon, then transfer by private car for 1 hour and 20 minutes to the town of Nauta to board the Spondias. A welcome drink will be provided soon as you get to the ship, then our Naturalist guide will provide your cabin and explain all facilities of the ship and programs for the next few days, we start to navigate upstream of the Marañon river until we get to a black water creek into the biggest National Reserve of Perú as is the Pacaya-Samiria, also it is the largest protected flooded forest of the world and one of the richest places in biological wealth on the planet. Between its biological diversity we find 449 tropical bird species, 102 mammals, 256 known species of freshwater fish, 69 nine of reptiles, and more than 1,000 varieties of plants, Our Naturalist will take you in our first activity looking for the different species of birds of this area. Dinner and overnight.

Spondias 4-Day Birdwatching Itinerary Day One - Embarkation.
Location
Iquitos - Nauta - Amazon River
Day
1 / 4

Birdwatching & Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

AM: 5:00 wake up call followed by a delicious breakfast to kick-start your day! We start early today and set out to explore the impressive biodiversity of the área unusual ecosystem where we can see Egrets, Hawks, Horned screamers, Jacanas, Parrots and parakeets, and many other species. We will stop in a good spot for our Pic nick breakfast then we will continue sighting more birds from this interesting area. Return to the ship. Lunch will be served.

PM: We start this afternoon in another interesting area of the National Reserve where we can find different species of Parrots, Toucans, Caracaras, Horned Screamers, Scavengers as the yellow-headed Vulture, whose habits is found on the river shores where it is possible to find the “ Shansho¨ or the Hoatzin, bird of prehistoric like features that feed on tree leaves and has claws in the middle of its wing at birth but loses them when it becomes adult. Also as we get the dark of the night we can see the Boat-billed Heron, Capped Heron, the common and Great Potoos and so many other night birds. Return to the ship for dinner.

Spondias 4-Day Birdwatching Itinerary Day Two - Parrot sighting in the trees.
Location
Amazon River
Day
2 / 4

Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

AM: 4:00 wake up call, time to get a cup of coffee or tea before we start our program. Today at 5:00 we go birdwatching in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. We will be in an interesting black water creek looking for the Blue and Yellow Macaw, Scarlet Macaw, Dusky Headed Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrot, Blue-headed Parrot, Striped Cuckoo and Purple gallinule. Afterward, our guides will look for a good spot for your pic-nic breakfast along the riverbank. Then we will continue looking for more species of birds further into the National Reserve.

PM: Return to the ship for lunch on board and some time to relax before your second outing of the day. The birdwatching program continues into another area of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve this afternoon. We will return to the ship as the sun goes down for dinner and another good rest.

Spondias 4-Day Birdwatching Itinerary Day Three - Bird Gathering.
Location
Amazon River
Day
3 / 4

Disembarkation

AM: Breakfast will be served on board before we disembark. We provide your transfer to Iquitos Airport or the local hotel of your choice.

Spondias 4-Day Birdwatching Itinerary Day Four - Disembarkation.
Location
Amazon River - Iquitos
Day
4 / 4
1 / 4

5 Day - Pacaya Samiria

Sample Itinerary
itinerary map

Embarkation

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.

Spondias 5-Day Itinerary Day One - Embarkation.
Location
Iquitos - Amazon River
Day
1 / 5

Fishing & Night Boat Ride

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.

Spondias 5-Day Itinerary Day Two - Bird Watching.
Location
Amazon River
Day
2 / 5

Nauta Caño Creek, Kayaking & Jungle Night Walk

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.

Spondias 5-Day Itinerary Day Three - Jungle Walk.
Location
Amazon River
Day
3 / 5

Marañon & Ucayali Rivers & Yucuruchi Jungle Walk

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

Spondias 5-Day Itinerary Day Four -  Giant Victoria Water Lillies.
Location
Amazon River
Day
4 / 5

Disembarkation

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.

Spondias 5-Day Itinerary Day Five -  Giant Victoria Water Lillies.
Location
Amazon River - Iquitos
Day
5 / 5
1 / 5

6 Day - Pacaya Samiria

Sample Itinerary
itinerary map

Embarkation

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.

Spondias 6-Day Itinerary Day One - Embarkation.
Location
Iquitos - Amazon River
Day
1 / 6

Fishing & Night Boat Ride

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.

Spondias 6-Day Itinerary Day Two - Embarkation.
Location
Amazon River
Day
2 / 6

Nauta Caño Creek, Kayaking & Jungle Night Walk

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.

Spondias 6-Day Itinerary Day Three - Sloth Sighting.
Location
Amazon River
Day
3 / 6

Marañon & Ucayali Rivers & Yucuruchi Jungle Walk

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

Spondias 6-Day Itinerary Day Four - Pink River Dolphin Sighting.
Location
Amazon River
Day
4 / 6

Pahuachiro Creek

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

Spondias 6-Day Itinerary Day Five - Skiff Exploration.
Location
Amazon River
Day
5 / 6

Disembarkation

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

Spondias 6-Day Itinerary Day Six - Disembarkation.
Location
Amazon River - Iquitos
Day
6 / 6
1 / 6

7 Day - Pacaya Samiria

Sample Itinerary
itinerary map

Embarkation

PM: Arrive at Iquitos for the reception and transfer to board the Spondias in Bellavista Nanay. A welcome drink will be provided soon as you get to the ship, then our naturalist guide will show you to your cabin and explain all facilities of the ship and the program of activities for the week ahead. Dinner is served onboard as we begin to journey along the river.

Spondias 7-Day Itinerary Day One - Amazon River Sunset.
Location
Iquitos - Amazon River
Day
1 / 7

Tamishiacu, Lucero Pata & Yarapa River

AM: An early wake-up call, followed by time for a cup of coffee or tea before we start the bird watching tour program by skiff. We search around the Tamishiacu area before heading back to the boat for breakfast. After food, we search for pink dolphins and continue our wildlife observation around the Lucero Pata area by skiff. Afterward, we return to the ship for lunch.

PM: Around mid-afternoon, we begin to explore the Yarapa river area looking for wildlife (monkeys, toucan, macaw, sloth, etc.) by skiff. We return to the ship for dinner.

Spondias 7-Day Itinerary Day Two - Pink River Dolphin.
Location
Amazon River
Day
2 / 7

Ucayali River

AM: Enjoy breakfast before we start our day of exploration once more! This morning we venture along the banks of the Ucayali River to explore 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 including orchids, bromeliads, different insects, and other natural attractions of this area. Following this, we will head back to the ship for a hearty lunch.

PM: This afternoon we embark on the Ucayali river bank by skiff and land excursions will be performed during the hotter hours of the afternoon to see more of the wonders of the rainforest. 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.

You will pack your things as we will keep exploring this interesting area by motorized skiff. In the waters of this tributary, you will see the wonders of the rainforest. Keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths, and a variety of birds while exploring. Tonight you will have the experience to spend the night in contact with the jungle as will be preparing a tent with a mosquito net to protect from bugs. You will hear the symphony of the jungle and have this unique experience. Dinner will be served out there as a picnic. Overnight in the jungle.

Spondias 7-Day Itinerary Day Three - Victoria Water Lily.
Location
Amazon River
Day
3 / 7

Sapuena Creek & Yanallpa

AM: This morning you will be transferred from the jungle to the ship where breakfast will be waiting for you. After a refuel we embark on a full exploration around the Sapuena creek area by skiff, visit a river people village where you will see how they live in harmony with the jungle doing some activities like fishing, hunting, farming, and others. Return to the ship for lunch.

PM: Take an excursion by motorized skiff around the Yanallpa area to see the wonders of the rainforest. Keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths, and a variety of birds while exploring. Return to the ship for dinner and a well-deserved rest.

Spondias 7-Day Itinerary Day Four - Village Visit.
Location
Amazon River
Day
4 / 7

Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

AM: Early morning wake-up call to ready us for El Dorado river, part of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Early today we 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. (Piranhas aren't selective about what they eat, making piranha fishing fairly easy.) They are a dietary staple for many of the Amazon rainforest’s indigenous people, and, while fearsome, piranhas are also esteemed as some of the best-eating fish in South America. Return to the ship for lunch on board.

PM: The naturalist guide will present an enthralling lecture about the Amazon on everything from the history and culture of the region to the Amazon’s prolific flora and fauna. There will be plenty of time to relax and enjoy the comfort of the Spondias deck. We will ride this afternoon with the daylight into the Pacaya/Samiria National Reserve exploring this interesting area, we will take advantage of this

until nighttime boat ride in the wild, and watch the Amazon become a different domain. 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.

Spondias 7-Day Itinerary Day Five - Exploring the Jungle.
Location
Amazon River
Day
5 / 7

Yarapa River & Meeting a Shaman

AM: An early morning wake-up call for a nutritious breakfast gets you ready for the day. Today's morning exploration is to the Yarapa black river - which is a very important tributary of the Amazon. After exploring this area and the wildlife it has to offer, we return to the ship for lunch.

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. Touch upon the spirit realm, a visit to a local shaman in the San Jose village of Paranapura will be performed.

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 denizens of 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, for untold centuries, held to possess curative properties. After this fun-filled day, we return to the ship for your final dinner on board.

Spondias 7-Day Itinerary Day Six - Walking through the Jungle.
Location
Amazon River
Day
6 / 7

Disembarkation

AM: Enjoy your final breakfast on board! Today an optional rainforest walk will be on offer depending on the timing of your departure flight. After you disembark with your belongings, we provide your transfer to Iquitos Airport or the local hotel of your choice.

Spondias 7-Day Itinerary Day Seven - Bird Sighting.
Location
Amazon River - Iquitos
Day
7 / 7
1 / 7

8 Day - Pacaya Samiria

Sample Itinerary
itinerary map

Embarkation

AM: Arrive to Iquitos in the afternoon, then transfer to Nauta (approximately 2 hours by a 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.

Spondias 8-Day Itinerary Day One - Embarkation.
Location
Iquitos - Amazon River
Day
1 / 8

Bird Watching, Pink River Dolphin Observation & Yarapa River

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.

Spondias 8-Day Itinerary Day Two - Spotting Wildlife.
Location
Amazon River
Day
2 / 8

Ucayali River, Yucuruchi Region, Clavero Lake & Night Jungle Walk

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.

Spondias 8-Day Itinerary Day Three - Giant Water Lily.
Location
Amazon River
Day
3 / 8

Sapuena Creek, Village Visit & Yanallpa Area

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. Keep an eye out for monkeys, sloths, and a variety of birds while exploring. Returns to the ship for dinner

Spondias 8-Day Itinerary Day Four - Local Village Visit.
Location
Amazon River
Day
4 / 8

Dorado River & Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

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

Spondias 8-Day Itinerary Day Five - Caiman at Night.
Location
Amazon River
Day
5 / 8

Yarapa River & Shaman Village Visit

AM: Wakeup call. Breakfast. Full exploration on the Yarapa black river water. Return to the ship.

PM: Lunch on board. 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.

Spondias 8-Day Itinerary Day Six - Exploring the River.
Location
Amazon River
Day
6 / 8

Pahuachiro Creek

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

Spondias 8-Day Itinerary Day Seven - Jungle Walk Excursion.
Location
Amazon River
Day
7 / 8

Disembarkation

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

Spondias 8-Day Itinerary Day Eight - Bird Life.
Location
Amazon River - Iquitos
Day
8 / 8
1 / 8

8 Day - Birdwatching

Sample Itinerary
itinerary map

Embarkation

AM: Arrive at Iquitos for the reception and transfer to board the Spondias in Bellavista Nanay. A welcome drink will be provided soon as you get to the ship, then our naturalist guide will show you to your cabin and explain all facilities of the ship and the program of activities for the week ahead.

PM: Lunch will be served after you are familiar with your new home for the next 7 days! Your first birdwatching tour will take place around the Iquitos area (boulevard of Iquitos and Itaya river) with our skiff and walking tour. Here you will have the opportunity to see: Jacanas, Blue and Gray Tanagers, Great Egrets, Neotropical Cormorants, Turkey Vultures, Yellow-Billed terns, Smooth Billed Anis, Lesser Wagtail-Tyrants, Spotted Tody-Flycatchers, Short Crested Flycatchers, Small-Billed Elaenias, Tropical Kingbirds, and Social Flycatchers. After this first outing, we will return to the ship to enjoy a wholesome dinner, ready to relax during your first night onboard the Spondias.

Spondias 8-Day Birdwatching Itinerary Day One - Bird Species.
Location
Iquitos - Amazon River
Day
1 / 8

Allpahuayo-Mishana & Vieja Cocha

AM: Be ready for your early 4:00 am wake-up call! Certain wildlife is best caught at very specific times of day, so grab your camera and make time for a cup of coffee or tea. Our outing begins with a transfer by car (45 minutes) to Allpahuayo Mishana Reserve which contains 500 varieties of trees per 2.5 acres - more than any site on earth with nearly 100 different plant species.

The flora of the reserve is diverse with over 1,900 species. This rainforest is composed of several soil types, ranging from rare white quartz sand to red clays. Each of these soil types supports a unique community of plants and animals, making it one of the most biodiverse in the world. Many of these species are white-sand specialists and are therefore exceedingly rare, due to the scarcity of white-sand forest.

Of the 475 species of birds that have been documented, 21 species are associated only with the white-sand forest. White sand forest makes up only a tiny fraction of the Amazonian landmass. Many of the trees in this area are fairly uniform in their height and diameter, and due to their appearance without large major branches, they are rather similar to utility posts. We can see species like Ancient Antwren, Mishana Tyrannulet, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Zimmer´s Tody-Tyrant, White-winged Potto, Brown-banded Puffbird, Allpahuayo Antbird, Northern Chestnut-tailed Antbird, range Crested Manakin and Iquitos Gnatcatcher here. Breakfast and lunch will be served during your time in Allpahuayo-Mishana.

PM: Take some time to relax and enjoy the scenery from the boat before your next excursion. We will head out again to Vieja Cocha in Nanay Bellavista by skiff. Our Naturalist guide will take you to a lake where you can see the Black-Crowned Night Heron, Striated Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Roadside Hawk, Snail kite, Southern Caracara, Common Gallinule, Purple gallinule, Southern Lapwing, Pied Lapwing and some other species from this interesting area. Afterward, return to the ship for dinner and a’s rest.

Spondias 8-Day Birdwatching Itinerary Day Two - Skiff Exploration.
Location
Amazon River
Day
2 / 8

Confluence of the Waters

AM: 5:30 wake up call followed by a delicious breakfast to kick-start your day! At 7:00 our birdwatching program begins around the area of Yarapa river looking for species like the Collared Trogon, Ringed kingfisher, Yellow-billed Jacamar, Great jacamar, Black-fronted Nun bird, Chestnut Jacamar, and Pied puff bird. After the morning out we return to the ship for lunch.

PM: This afternoon we will arrive at the confluence of the two rivers, the Marañon and Ucayali rivers where the majestic Amazon river starts. Our Naturalist guides will explain the history and other information about the Amazon, answering any questions you may have. Later we will explore this area by skiff, looking for more birds such as the Barred Antshrike, Black Crested Antshrike, Purple-throated Cotinga, Pompadour Cotinga, Bare Necked Fruitcrow, Blue-fronted manakin, Varzea Schiffornis, River Tyrannulet, Piratic Flycatcher, Neotropical Cormorants, YeYellow-Billederns, and more. Afterward, return to the ship for dinner and spend the evening at your leisure.

Spondias 8-Day Birdwatching Itinerary Day Three - Bird Photography.
Location
Amazon River
Day
3 / 8

Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

AM: 4:00 wake up call, time to get a cup of coffee or tea before we start our program. Today at 5:00 we go birdwatching in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. We will be in an interesting black water creek looking for the Blue and Yellow Macaw, Scarlet Macaw, Dusky Headed Parakeet, Blue-winged Parrot, Blue-headed Parrot, Striped Cuckoo and Purple gallinule. Afterward, our guides will look for a good spot for your pic-nic breakfast along the riverbank. Then we will continue looking for more species of birds further into the National Reserve.

PM: Return to the ship for lunch on board and some time to relax before your second outing of the day. The birdwatching program continues into another area of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve this afternoon. We will return to the ship as the sun goes down for dinner and another good rest.

Spondias 8-Day Birdwatching Itinerary Day Four - Bird Groups.
Location
Amazon River
Day
4 / 8

Casual Rainforest Walk & Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

AM: A slightly later start this morning as breakfast is served at 7:30. This morning you will partake in a rainforest walk around the Casual area, looking for different species of birds from this area such as the Ruddy Ground-Dove, Plumbeous Pigeon, Yellow-Billed Nun bird, Long-billed Woodcreeper, Lineated Woodpecker, Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Striped Woodcreeper, Chestnut-eared Acacari, and Many Banded Aracari.

PM: Lunch will be served on board, followed later by another exploration program to look for more species of birds in the National Reserve Pacaya Samiria. Return to the ship for dinner and overnight on board.

Spondias 8-Day Birdwatching Itinerary Day Five - Bird in the trees.
Location
Amazon River
Day
5 / 8

Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve

AM: A slightly later start this morning as breakfast is served at 7:30 am. This morning we take a visit to the local river people’s village looking for more birds like the Yellow-rumped cacique, Russet backed Oropendola, Band TailednOropendula, Magpie Tanager, Chesnut bellied Seedfinch, Shine Cowbird, Giant Cowbird, Yellow hooded Blackbird, Oriole Blackbird and some many other species from this village.

PM: Return to the ship. Lunch on board. Exploration program into the National Reserve Pacaya Samiria looking for more species of birds from this interesting area. Return to the ship. Dinner and overnight on board.

Spondias 8-Day Birdwatching Itinerary Day Six - Blue and Yellow Macaws.
Location
Amazon River
Day
6 / 8

Marañon River

AM: Breakfast will be served at 7:00 today. At 8:00 our exploration program along the banks of the Marañon river and a black water creek of the National Reserve area continues, looking for more species of birds.

PM: Return to the ship. Lunch is served. Mid-afternoon your final excursion will take place. Use this time to admire the beauties of the Peruvian Amazon and this wild birdwatching program to the National Reserve of Pacaya Samiria. You will return to the ship for your final dinner. Enjoy your final night on board the Spondias.

Spondias 8-Day Birdwatching Itinerary Day Seven - Looking for birds.
Location
Amazon River
Day
7 / 8

Disembarkation

AM: Breakfast will be served on board before we disembark. We provide your transfer to Iquitos Airport or the local hotel of your choice.

Spondias 8-Day Birdwatching Itinerary Day Eight - Disembarkation.
Location
Amazon River - Iquitos
Day
8 / 8
1 / 8

Accommodations

Social Areas

Breakfast
Dining Room
Meals
Cabin
Kitchen
Sun Deck
Table by the window
People having meal
Cabin
Waiter
Deck on Spondias

Suites & Cabins

Spondias' Amazon Suite. Spondias' Amazon Suite - Bathroom. Spondias' Amazon Suite - Twin. Spondias' Amazon Suite.
2 Cabins

Amazon Suite

Guests
2
Size
12 m² / 129 ft²
Beds
Twin

The large main deck amazon suites are large enough to accommodate double occupancy with no inconveniences. Also, guests get to enjoy the organic bathroom accessories and a hot refreshing shower, after which they can wrap themselves with the finest towels and bathrobes.

Spondias' Shaman Suite. Spondias' Shaman Suite - Bathroom. Spondias' Shaman Suite - Double.
2 Cabins

Shaman Suite

Guests
2
Size
13 m² / 139 ft²
Beds
Double

Each chamán suite is air-conditioned and spacious with a panoramic window for a great view of the tropical rainforest vegetation. A safe deposit box allows you to put your valuables and a wardrobe for your clothes. Enjoy a few drinks from the minibar when relaxing.

Technical Information

Deck Plan

3d deck plans of Spondias

Features

  • Air conditioning
  • Medical staff

Equipment

  • Satellite phone
  • Kayaks / Canoes
  • Fishing equipment
** Use of certain equipment at additional cost, ask for details
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