In yet another exciting addition to their South American portfolio, conservation-led luxury adventure company &Beyond has launched their latest project, a state-of-the-art river expedition yacht to be based in the Peruvian Amazon. Boasting the ultimate in modern design and technology, the &Beyond Amazon Explorer is currently under construction at the SIMA Shipyard in Iquitos, Peru, and is due to set sail on 29 September 2026.
“As we expand our portfolio in South America, the biological diversity of the Peruvian Amazon makes it the ideal destination for our brand of sustainable luxury tourism. We believe that it is our duty to protect and preserve the world’s biodiversity hotspots, and this progressively designed new river expedition yacht will allow us to introduce our guests to this incredibly important habitat in a way that is both sensitive and yet truly immersive,” says &Beyond Executive Chairman & CEO Joss Kent. “We look forward to bringing our trademark brand of hospitality and interpretive guiding to the Peruvian Amazon.”
The &Beyond Amazon Explorer will operate from the port city of Iquitos through the smaller town of Nauta and into the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, located in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon. It will offer a selection of 3-, 4-, and 7-night itineraries, as well as a full 7-night itinerary.
“We have very deliberately chosen this site as our base of operations since the upper reaches of the Amazon River are best suited to the kind of expeditionary cruise that we are planning to provide for our guests,” explains Kent. “The river here is narrower than further downstream in Brazil and there is less river traffic. We have deliberately designed a sleeker and more graceful yacht than most of the other barge-style boats found this far up on the river, but that remains small enough to access the key navigable channels. With the &Beyond Amazon Explorer as a base and using light skiffs for excursions, we can curate an intimate river experience that delves deep into the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, a massive conservation area of five million acres.”
Conceptualised in collaboration with renowned yacht architect Ken Freivokh and Adriana Hoyos Interior Design, the &Beyond Amazon Explorer combines the elegant lines of an ocean-going yacht with a small and relatively intimate size. The yacht will offer just 12 luxury suites, two superior suites and one deluxe suite, catering to a maximum of 32 guests. Providing an extra sense of comfort, the suites will range from a spacious 33 square metres (355 square feet) in the luxury category to over 80 square metres (860 square feet) in the deluxe. As with all &Beyond properties, the interiors will reflect an authentic sense of place inspired by local Shipibo-Conibo culture and featuring touchpoints of local Kené art. The materials and design will reference the local culture and the history, fauna and flora of the yacht’s surroundings, allowing the destination to become the star.
In addition to the extra spacious suites, the &Beyond Amazon Explorer will include a variety of innovative touches that bring more focus to the guest experience. Generous spa and gym areas will ensure that guests can relax and unwind while on board, and beautiful dining spaces will include an interactive cooking station that will allow for cooking demonstrations and classes. The yacht’s Explorer Centre will allow guests to engage more deeply in the destination with informative talks by the guides. At the same time, the pre-expeditionary area will offer a comfortable place for briefings and preparations to embark on the yacht’s numerous excursions. Inspired by the Beach Club format of many ocean-going yachts, the spacious design of the &Beyond Amazon Explorer will also allow for the addition of the River Retreat. This leisure area includes a pool deck and lounge where travellers can relax and take in the magnificent scenery.
The planned excursions will focus on exploring the river, its tributaries, and the surrounding conservation areas. Guests will be able to reach deep into the rainforest using smaller boats known as skiffs or even kayaks. Additional activities will include guided walks, which provide the opportunity to look for sloths, fish for piranhas, birdwatching, and even night-time expeditions to search for caiman, bats, frogs, snakes, and nocturnal birds.
&Beyond is renowned for the quality of its safari guides, and the company is looking forward to bringing this to the Amazon. All expeditions will be led by expert guides, selected for their operational experience and knowledge of the destination. Over the next 18 months, the &Beyond guide training team will work with these individuals to infuse them with the finer points of the company’s particular style of guiding.
“With the Amazon known as the lungs of the world and because of the increasing threats that it is facing, its protection aligns very strongly with our impact initiatives and goals,” says Kent. “We believe that we can bring tourism to this extraordinary area in a responsible way that highlights its beauty and diversity while still protecting it.”
In alignment with this, &Beyond is researching and planning to support various community-led conservation projects, including one aimed at boosting the population of native river turtle species. The company is also looking to establish a scholarship program for local community students, as well as to take part in an initiative to further educational opportunities for indigenous communities living in the area.
For more on the &Beyond Amazon Explorer, please contact your preferred travel provider or log on to andBeyond.com.
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