New Luxury Cruises in the Peruvian Amazon

MV Aria from Aqua Expeditions

Luxury options to explore the mighty Peruvian Amazon are expanding with the M/V Aria, Aqua Expeditions new luxury Riverboat, making its maiden voyage this month and Delfin Amazon Cruises recently re-launching the Delfin I luxury vessel after an extensive refurbishment.

Although Peru is best known for attractions in the Andes and visitors flock to Cusco and Machu Picchu, there is an immense and diverse wilderness to explore in the Amazon Basin which is a staggering 4,000,000km² in its entirety, and covers 60% of Peru.  In fact, it is in Peru where the mighty Amazon River begins its journey.  The gateway to sail on the Amazon River and Peru's largest natural reserve, Pacaya-Samiria, is the northern Amazon bustling hub of Iquitos, which travellers can reach after a 1hour 15 minute flight from Lima.

With its maiden voyage on 24th April, 2011, the design-driven luxurious M/V Aria riverboat has joined its sister ship with providing visitors with three, four and seven night itineraries to explore Peru's remote National Reserve.  The cruise features 16 specially designed cabins with floor to ceiling windows, a fully air-conditioned top deck as well as the Aqua Expeditions' signature Amazon Grill by award-winning Executive Chef, Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. Its top deck features an observation lounge, an outdoor Jacuzzi and sun deck and it also has an exercise room.  To give guests an insight into Peruvian Amazon nature, the crew consists of four world-class nature guides and there is an Amazon Wildlife reference library and air-conditioned multimedia room on board. www.aquaexpetitions.com

Delfin Amazon Cruises

Delfin Amazon Cruises also has two luxury classic designed vessels and refurbished its Delfin I at the end of 2010 to provide four opulent large premium suites of 350 square feet.  Each guest receives a personalised service and each suite has its own large 316 square feet sun deck, private Jacuzzi and floor to ceiling windows.   Aboard the Delfin I is a an Amazon Wildlife reference library, flat TV& DVDs , exotic bar wooden game tables.  www.delfinamazoncruises.info

The Amazon in Peru is home to a unique biodiversity , with over 25,000 plant species, approximately 1,800 bird species, 361 mammal species, 251 amphibian species, 297 reptile species and more than 2,500 fish species.

This 24th of June tie in a trip to the Peruvian Amazon with the Feast of Saint John the Baptist, when the entire Amazon region comes alive!  This celebration has a strong association with water and all the stops are pulled out with live bands playing traditional music, dancing parades and a feast made up of Amazonian food.

For more information on Peru, please visit www.peru.info