Luxurious Lima & Delfin Amazon Cruise

The stunning JW Marriott Hotel is located in the Miraflores district of central Lima. The hotel has awe-inspiring architecture, magnificent views that tower above grand, ocean side cliffs in Lima. The hotel offers sweeping panoramas of the Pacific Ocean from every guest room. The hotel boasts a 5-star gourmet restaurant, first class health club spa and fitness centre.

You will be picked up from your hotel in the morning. The city tour begins with a visit to the Plaza des Armas, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The Plaza is lined along two sides with shops: Portal de Escribanos and Portal de Botoneros. In the centre of the Plaza is a bronze fountain dating from 1560. The plaza is also home to the Cathedral, with its splendidly carved stalls, silver-covered altars surrounded by fine woodwork, and mosaic walls bearing the coats of arms of Lima and Pizarro. Continue to the San Domingo Convent. You will also see the old colonial streets in the centre of the city. Conclude your tour with the visit to the Larco Herra Museum, famous for its collection of Pre-Columbian art.

Lima was once the gateway for Spanish Colonial expansion, the "door" that which Inca gold and silver left the "New World" and supplies entered. To this day, this rich past can be seen at almost every turn but Liam and Peru has grown and evolved and may do not know, or appreciate that Lima is now a very "funky", trendy and switched on modern city. Art galleries, cafes, beach life, word renowned restaurants and buzzing nightlife make Lima not just a historical stop but a modern cultural experience.
Urban Lima is designed to get you out, into and around the streets of Lima as well as the many restaurants, markets cafes as you absorb modern life in Peru's capital. Be a "local - Liman" for a few days.

After arriving at Iquitos International Airport, you will be met and transported by bus for 1.5 hours, heading northwest toward Nauta (the oldest city in the department of Loreto). Nauta lies between Iquitos and the Maranon River, where the Delfin is waiting for you.

Upon arriving at the port of Nauta, you will board the Delfin III. It will become clear that you are traveling where few have gone before. In fact, you are part of a select group of seasoned world travelers who visit remote Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, five million acres of protected, flooded forest, roughly the size of a small Central American country. A world of flora and fauna awaits you. After settling in to your suite, dinner will be served in the cozy dining room located at the back of the ship's second deck. Aside from providing you with your first rainforest adventure, the Delfin III is also a unique culinary experience, offering the best of Amazonian-Peruvian cuisine in a cosmopolitan gourmet setting. The on board chef prides himself in serving dishes in different styles and seasoned with a wide variety of herbs and spices, as well as exotic fruits.

Following your meal, there will be a briefing with the balance of your day at leisure to enjoy the Amazonian night as the staff serenade you with live music.

Dawn and dusk are ideal times for nature observation and an early rise is therefore highly recommended.

Aboard the skiffs, you will explore this black water stream and start learning about the rainforest. You are now in Pacaya Samiria national reserve, where you will have the chance to see its amazing wildlife. From the skiff you can easily spot parrots, macaws and monkeys, such as the Monk Saki monkey with its gray and black body, naked face and long shaggy tail. You might also see the saddle back tamarin monkey, whose high chirping notes can easily be confused with those of a flock of birds. It is also a good spot to see the beautiful Morpho butterfly that flaps lazily along open corridors through forest or along river edges of lowland forest on sunny days. Different species of hawks will also be found and if you are lucky, you will see the noisy "laughing falcon," named after its loud falsetto call while sitting solitary in secondary forest and plantations.

Return to the Delfin in time to enjoy a world-class gourmet meal as the vessel continues sailing upstream. The innovative chef will surprise your palate, while introducing you to the pleasures of Peru's haute cuisine. The menu features fresh fish and other local delicacies, all prepared with an Amazonian flair.

In the afternoon, head for a spectacular spot within the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve aboard the skiffs. You will have an unforgettable encounter with gray and pink river dolphins. Enjoy a unique opportunity to swim among the dolphins. On the river you will experience abundant wildlife and nature in all its exuberance while searching for the Amazon River's transitional forest specialties such as snail kites, festive parrots, endangered scarlet macaws, olive spotted hummingbirds, Amazonian parrotlets, and wood creepers, among others. Prehistoric looking iguanas laze in the sun while you travel along the shoreline searching for whatever the jungle has to offer. Squirrel Monkeys are very active at this time of the day, when they move in large noisy troops at mid- to upper-levels of primary and secondary lowland forest.

Return to the Delfin in the early evening for dinner and some time to relax.

An early start to this morning with a 5:30AM wake up call. Breakfast will be taken on board the skiffs, in order to see as much wildlife as possible in one of the earth's greatest wilderness'.

Arrive at the Pacaya River located in the heart of the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Peru's largest protected area and by far the largest protected wetland reserve in the world. Filled with lakes, palm swamps and streams, the reserve becomes a flooded forest in the rainy season and is one of the most beautiful places you will ever visit. Aboard the comfortable skiffs, you will explore magnificent views and wildlife opportunities, experiencing spectacular rainforest wilderness, while searching for different species of monkeys, such as small family groups of red howler monkeys, the largest in the Amazon basin, with its bright rust-colored fur and long prehensile tail. As the sun starts to heat up, you will continue along the shores of the Pacaya river, spotting huge ceiba or kapok and mahogany trees, strangler figs, epiphytes, palm trees and woody vines.

You can jump in the water for a very refreshing morning swim, a once in a lifetime experience in the beautiful setting of dark, clean and warm water.

Return to the vessel for lunch as she navigates back down the Puinahua River towards Nauta.

This afternoon, you will cruise in the skiffs along a lake called Atun Poza encountering surprise several species of egrets, herons, hawks and long-legged neo-tropical cormorants fishing for their breakfast. You will also have a chance to explore other black water lagoons linked to this huge lake, where wattled jacanas can be found compete with a wide variety of spiders, grasshoppers, dragonflies, butterflies, moths and beetles living along the grassy edges and lily pads of freshwater swamps and marshes.

Returning to the Delfin, you will enjoy a briefing with the guides reviewing all that you have seen and learned. After having some time to relax, enjoy a farewell dinner as the chef and kitchen staff will treat you to a grilled dinner, including fresh salads, grilled vegetables and an array of meats. The talented staff will delight you with some live music before you retire.

After visiting the village, we will explore the Yarapa River, where there's a good chance that you'll see squirrel and capuchin monkeys, herons, egrets and green iguanas. We will reach a beautiful lagoon called Uvos, named after a fruit that grows wild along its shores. Pink river dolphins ply its waters in search of fish. The forest also boasts abundant flora including a variety of bromeliads and orchids. Monkeys love these surroundings.

After your last breakfast, board one ot the skiffs to visit the village of Puerto Miguel to meet local villagers. You will have the chance to learn about their culture, traditions and folklore. You may also visit one of the villager's homes, to see how they live and purchase some of the handcrafts they make.

Continue sailing downstream to the Amazon Headwaters, were the Ucayali and Maranon Rivers merge and give birth to the mighty Amazon River. Keep your eyes peeled for the elusive pink river dolphin. Gather all of your things pack and enjoy your last moments aboard the Delfin. As usual, you will enjoy the diversity of the culinary choices available on board with a delicious lunch. Disembark at the port in Nauta where a bus will be waiting to take you back to Iquitos. En route to the airport, stop for a short visit at the Manatee Rescue Center. It will allow you to see from up close these beautiful creatures. Admission to the center is free, but donations are encouraged and appreciated.

On arrival at the airport, you will be assisted with check in.

Assistance at Lima Airport for arrival or departure.

Includes: Assistance for walk to airport hotel on arrival or assistance with check in.

Located within Jorge Chavez International Airport, the hotel Wyndham Costa del Sol Lima Airport offers guests first class infrastructure and service to make your stay in the capital a true pleasure. Thanks to its strategic location, you will be able to save time during your stay and optimize your rest. In this way, you will benefit from a perfect combination of time, pleasure and relaxation.

Assistance at Lima Airport for arrival or departure.

Includes: Assistance for walk to airport hotel on arrival or assistance with check in.