Amazon Expeditions

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April 8, 2022

Iricagua Creek, Peru

-4.433° S -73.436° E

Ramiro Adrian, Naturalist

We're a winner of Conde Nast Traveler's 2022 Readers Choice Awards

Sail into the Amazon’s cathedral of green

There’s a pulse to the Amazon, an undercurrent. Inky waters backed by layers of green forest. Wild bird calls fill the air. A leafy branch shakes to reveal a troop of clamoring monkeys. The river water levels can rise by feet overnight, creating new networks of tributaries in what used to be only forest. With nimble, custom-made skiffs we explore this flooded forest, venturing into places no human has seen. With the exquisite Delfin II as your base camp, you’ll discover the pristine upper reaches of the legendary Amazon in style.

Amazon

Special Ships

Upper Amazon Aboard the Delfin II

Duration

10 days

Year Round

From

$8,253

Prices are per person

Highlights

Amazon

Special Ships

Upper Amazon Aboard the Delfin II

Duration

10 days

Year Round

From

$8,253

Top Highlights

Explore the seasonally flooded forest of Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve at the headwaters of the Amazon with a team of experienced naturalists
See elusive, iconic Amazon wildlife like pink river dolphins, monk saki monkeys, piranhas, and scarlet macaws
Meet the welcoming ribereños, natives of the reserve, and learn about their ways of life along the river
Get photo tips in the field from a Lindblad-National Geographic certified photo instructor
Explore even more—seamlessly combine your Amazon expedition with an exploration of Galápagos or Machu Picchu & Peru’s Land of the Inca

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Special Offers

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Amazon

Peru

Special Ships

Wild Peru Escape: Amazon and Machu Picchu

Duration

9 days

Feb
May
Aug
Oct

From

$9,004

Prices are per person

Highlights

Amazon

Peru

Special Ships

Wild Peru Escape: Amazon and Machu Picchu

Duration

9 days

Feb
May
Aug
Oct

From

$9,004

Top Highlights

Explore iconic Machu Picchu with a full day to explore the extensive archaeological site with hand-picked guides
Sail the headwaters of the mighty Amazon River aboard the splendid Delfin II, venturing out daily in narrow, nimble skiffs that are able to explore the tributaries rife with wildlife
Explore the Sacred Valley of the Inca, including the Temple of the Sun, as well as Cusco’s magnificently ornate 17th-century cathedral on the Plaza de Armas
For two nights, use the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo as your base camp. Its Andean-style casitas are set along a reserve with 300 species of orchid

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Special Offers

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Expedition Highlights

Peru’s Pacaya-Samiria Reserve is the largest protected seasonal flood forest in South America. The legendary river provides sustenance and utility for the communities who live along the banks and fosters a staggering level of biodiversity. The exquisite 28-guest Delfin II is perfect for our daily explorations; it's designed for the river environment and to keep you connected to it.

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Life Aboard

Delfin II is a most gracious and lovely river ship. Spacious and clad in gleaming hardwood, she is both modern and authentically of the Amazon. Her public spaces are beautifully appointed—with tropical flowers and native handicraft decorative details.

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

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A skiff on the Amazon River at dawn

A rainbow arcs over the Amazon River

The Best Time to Visit the Amazon: High Season Vs. Low Season

The Amazon, the “King of All Rivers,” supports the world’s most biodiverse rainforest. All life along it adapts to its seasonal fluctuations. What are these river fluctuations in this seasonally flooded forest, and when should you go?

Exploring the Upper Amazon

When you explore the Upper Amazon aboard Delfin II, you'll experience spectacular wildlife, top-notch accommodations, and unparalleled expertise from our team of naturalists.

Highlights from a Wonder-Filled Week on the Amazon River

Naturalist and certified photo instructor Linda Burback shares what it's like to spend an exhilarating week inside this pristine natural wonder.

6 Fascinating Birds to Find on an Amazon River Expedition

Exploring the Amazon’s Pacaya Samiria Natural Reserve has an uncanny way of inspiring travelers who’ve never gone bird-watching before to start scanning the trees and the sky for the most stunning, elusive, eccentric birds. Here are a few to look out for on your adventure.

Upper Amazon: Regional Flavors

Experience food that is locally sourced and represents the biodiversity of the Upper Amazon.

Upper Amazon Aboard Delfin II

Sail in tropical style & comfort with a small band of explorers. Delfin II accommodates just 28 guests in 14 beautifully appointed outside suites. This stately riverboat redefines modern elegance. Airy open spaces are detailed with clean lines in tropical hardwoods.

Discover

Discover the Amazon

Any given visit to the many small and medium-sized streams, known locally as 'caños,' is simply fascinating! This morning we spotted many colorful bird species: woodpeckers, tanagers, cotingas, jacamars, and kingfishers.

Carlos Romero, Expedition Leader, January 27, 2022

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Expedition Leader

Veteran expedition leaders are the conductors of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition experience for our guests.

Certified Photo Instructor

Every Amazon expedition offers an exclusive service—a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor. This naturalist is specially trained to offer assistance with camera settings and the basics of composition to help you become a better, more confident photographer.

Naturalists

Most of the naturalists were born in towns along the riverbanks and educated in schools in Iquitos. Each hand-picked guide is specially trained before joining the Lindblad expedition team. All are fluent in English, and their personal knowledge, gained from village elders, along with their scientific training makes for fascinating storytelling, as authentic as it is well informed.

Praises to the chef and his crew for the best Lindblad foods so far. Wow! I loved the use of local fruits, etc., and special sauces. Keep the chef. He is excellent and we are foodies.

Kay G.

Making a Difference

Lindblad Expeditions supports stewardship efforts in the places we explore, and one way we do that is through the Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic (LEX-NG) Fund. Traveler contributions to the LEX-NG Fund in the Amazon currently support our regional partner, Minga Peru, in its efforts to promote sustainable change for indigenous women and their communities.

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Daily Expedition Reports

Daily Expedition Reports

4/1/2023

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Delfin II

Marañón River

Today was our last full day on Delfin II , and we had a wonderful day exploring on the banks of the Marañón River. The Marañón is the second longest river in Peru. It measures over a thousand miles long from the headwaters high in the Andes to where it empties into the Ucayali River, just a few miles downstream from where we were exploring today. A section of the Marañon River is carved deep into a canyon in the Andes that has been described as similar to the Grand Canyon in the US. In this section of the river, over 300 miles, a steep slope gives rise to class IV rapids, which are popular for rafting. Today, we had the chance to get our second glimpse of the rainforest ecosystem during a morning walk on shore. After a short skiff ride, we were immersed in the green plants, muddy trails, and towering trees. Accompanied by a few local guides, we spotted a variety of wildlife, including a few different species of spiders, frogs, and snakes. We also heard many species of birds calling in the forest. Our guides taught us about the complex and fascinating topic of tropical ecology. One highlight was standing under a giant strangler fig and learning how the fig tree uses a host tree to gain access to the daylight at the top of the layered canopy. In the middle of the day, we were treated with a presentation from Chef Omar Peña, who taught us how to make ceviche in the Peruvian style. It was quite informative. At the end of the presentation, we were able to sample some of the excellent ceviche. In the afternoon, we had a new experience on this voyage when we went to visit a local community called Amazonas. We were led by a local group of women who have organized themselves. We listened to presentations regarding health projects in the village, including the construction of new, above-ground toilets and a rain catchment system. We learned about work in the village and surrounding areas by a local NGO called Minga Peru. We also learned how women dye palm fibers to make handicrafts and souvenirs. After the presentation, many of us ended up perusing a handicraft market for souvenirs. It was a very insightful visit to learn about the local culture and way of life. On our way back to the ship on skiffs, we enjoyed a wonderful sunset and a distant rainbow.

Daily Expedition Reports

3/31/2023

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Delfin II

Amazon Park and Yanayacu River

Our day started by exploring a pristine forest called Amazon Natural Park. Here, the trees have not been cut. It is the kingdom of the big trees with many trees more than 100 feet high, forming the emergent layer of a mature forest. Light is dim, and some species of insects and very few birds live here. Most are heard but not seen. The forest has abundant plant life. This was a day in which the rainforest gave us the most precious gift…rain. A lot of rain, from morning until noon. We loved watching the rain and listening to the sound of raindrops all around us. We found palm trees, which are so important. Fronds are used to make roofs, and the fruits make meals, ice cream, and oil! These trees are a miracle. In the afternoon, we navigated along the Maranon River. We boarded the fleet of skiffs and explored Yanayacu River for the afternoon until sunset. The river’s black water flows among the trees and eventually reaches a larger river that meets the Ucayali and then the mighty Amazon, which eventually reaches Brazil to finally discharge its volume into the Atlantic Ocean. We enjoyed many interesting sightings along the way, including herons, egrets, monkeys, and various birds, including a capped heron and a green iguana. Today was another amazing day in the heart of the jungle!

Daily Expedition Reports

3/30/2023

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Delfin II

Iricahua River and Yarapa River

This morning, we again woke up to the sound of birds. We boarded skiffs and set out to explore the Iricahua River. We were greeted with many new bird sightings, including greater anis, common pauraques, and colored trogons. The impressive spotting skills of our naturalists are rubbing off on us. This morning, a few of our guests spotted new and exciting animals. One of these sightings was the queen anaconda, the largest snake in the Amazon. We were able to peer through a pocket of vegetation and get a quick glimpse of its head. After reviewing the photographs, we realized it was covered in mosquitoes. We have seen many pairs of blue-and-yellow macaws on this expedition, but we hadn’t seen any perching until today. Although they were a bit distant, it was very exciting to get a good look at them while they were stationary. These are amongst the largest and noisiest parrots of the Amazon. They live a long life, up to 40 years. Macaws feed on green fruits and are generally understood to be monogamous. Midday, our experienced team of officers on the bridge brought us to another fantastic location. After a delicious lunch prepared by our galley, we had a very informative and insightful presentation from naturalist Javier Arbildo. In the afternoon, we had the chance to explore another amazing tributary called the Yarapa via skiff. This river flows into the Ucayali River near a small community called Puerto Miguel. As we explored, we had many amazing encounters with wildlife. We observed two species of monkeys that we hadn’t yet seen on our voyage: the Isabel’s monk saki and the woolly monkey.

Daily Expedition Reports

3/29/2023

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Delfin II

Pacaya-Samiria Reserve and Magdalena River

This was an exciting day as we reached the deepest part of the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. We are navigating along the Ucayali River, which is one of the main headstreams of the mighty Amazon River. The Ucayali River has sediment-rich water and a murky appearance. The Pacaya River has black, tannin-rich waters. Our morning exploration was mainly along the black water that floods the forest of this large reserve. The moment we entered the reserve to navigate along the black water, we felt like we were on a giant mirror! The black water reflects everything, including trees and clouds. It is a unique experience to observe the mirroring effect of the water. The river is surrounded by green, and it is home to many creatures, including birds, pink river dolphins, and various monkeys. The most special of all is the brown sloth, and we saw many! As we explored the flooded forest, we had our first sightings of large flocks of great egrets, large-billed terns, and horned screamers. This reserve is also home to the black-collared hawk, which is a fishing hawk. The flooded forest offers great opportunities for fish eaters, cormorants, and hawks. In the afternoon, we explored Magdalena River, one of the many tributaries of the Ucayali River. This river is a good place to observe toucans, tanagers, saddle-back tamarins, and squirrel monkeys. We had an exciting afternoon at Magdalena, and we look forward to seeing more in the coming days!

Daily Expedition Reports

3/28/2023

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Delfin II

Yanallpa Creek

This morning we woke up on Ucayali River. Delfin II was tied to a stump near a small community called Nuevo Progresso. From the bow of the ship, we heard a fabulous dawn chorus of birds, including tropical kingbirds, bluish-gray saltators, and undulated tinamous, as well as various flycatchers and tanagers. After a wonderful breakfast, we headed out via skiff to explore the Yanallpa Creek, a protected area of the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve. With incredible skill, our local expert guides and skiff drivers found windows in the dense foliage through which we could observe a long list of primates and birds. One particularly outstanding sighting was a close encounter with a group of saddle-back tamarins eating fruits from a tree near the shoreline. We also observed long-nosed bats resting on tree trunks. At one point in the morning, we turned off the motors and listened to the sounds of the forest, including nearby red howler monkeys. It was a truly amazing experience. Back on board, we enjoyed an inspiring presentation by National Geographic expert Kike Cavo. Naturalist Jorge shared a hands-on presentation on a variety of local fruits. We enjoyed tasting the different fruits. The zapote was a highlight. It tastes like a cross between a pumpkin and a mango. The Pijuayo was also highlighted. The fruit was cooked, and we sampled it with a nice salsa also made from a local fruit called cocona. In the afternoon, we explored the Dorado River by skiff. We had many exciting encounters with birds, including hoatzins, ringed kingfishers, wattled jacanas, and yellow-rumped caciques. We observed brown capuchin and squirrel monkeys. After observing an abundance of giant lilies and a fantastic sunset in a black lagoon, we lingered until after sunset. We were able to observe some caimans, which we spotted via artificial light. It was a memorable, enjoyable, and very productive day here in the Amazon. We are all looking forward to another day tomorrow.

FAQs

FAQs and key information

From climate conditions, to electrical outlets, to packing the right footwear, find answers to the questions Expedition Specialists get most often.

The jungle at the headwaters of the Amazon lives and breathes. It is an entity unto itself.

Sven-Olof Lindblad

1.800.397.3348

1.800.397.3348

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