Sofa 500
The Nature Lover´s Route
Full Aventure Cruise
5 days/4 nights

The Nature Lover´s Route takes the guests upstream from Iquitos into the the Pacaya Samiria Reserve, considered by many to be the most pristine nature preserve in the Amazon Basin. We follow a route traveled by gold-seekers since Inca times.

According to legends, there were seven cities (Cibola), all with huge deposits of gold that were mined by the Inca,s and sought by the Spaniards. No one has ever found the seven cities, although many have sailed upstream from Iquitos, never to be heard from again.

Day One: IQUITOS/NAUTA/TIGRE RIVER
After arrival at the airport, guests travel two hours by road to Nauta where they board the Spirit.

After receiving a briefing by the naturalist and crew, guests settle into their cabins and we cruise up the Rio Maranon towards the mouth of the Rio Tigre. We stop at the Rio Nahuapa, a branch of the Tiger, which is a beautiful black-water river surrounded by dense and pristine vegetation.

Day 2: NAUAPA / SAN MARTIN DE TIPISHCA
We go birding early in the morning to see Macaws, Toucans and Tanagers, along with other species.

Then we cruise up the Rio Maranon to the first ranger station on Pacaya Samiria Reserve, which is at the mouth of the Samira River.

Then we sail to the village of San Martin de Tipishca where we overnight.

Day Three: SAN MARTIN DE TIPISHCA / TACSHACOCHA
First, we take an early morning excursion to an ox-bow lake, or Cocha, formed by changes in the flow of the Amazon. There we bird, see pink dolphins, squirrel monkeys and other forest dwellers. Then we visit the village of San Martin de Tipishca to learn more about the culture of a tribe that recently settled into a permanent village.

Then we head back into the river sailing upstream while birding from the observation deck. We pass another check point at the Ranger Stations a Tacshacocha where conservation officials board the vessel for a friendly search. The Peruvian Government continually monitors the national forests, which are considered to be a national treasure.

Day Four: TACSHACOCH / ATUNCAÑO
On the fourth day, we sail in small boats to a nearbylake called Atuncaño-Atuncocha in search of the timid three-toed sloth and the curious Saki Monkeys that will watch you from the treetops.

Here we find the bizzare looking birds such as the Hoatzin and the Tiger Herons.

After lunch, we take a hike through the rain forest.

Day Five: SAMIRIA RIVER/ NAUTA
This day is spent dolphin watching and fishing for piraña, before heading back down the Rio Samiria toward Nautacano at the south-eastern border of the Reserve. At this point, guests have the option of returning to Iquitos by road or sailing deeper into the Amazon Basin.

If guest want to venture further, we recommend mailing to the confluence of the Rio Ucayali and the Rio Maranon.