Just imagine going on a morning boat ride skirting the edges of the river in search of cackling macaws and tree sloths slowly waking up to begin their days, then returning to your vessel with a chilled local fruit juice waiting for you. Or, how about swimming in a mirror-like lagoon that is so calm that it seems preface to a storm, yet instead, you’re greeted by rare pink river dolphins jumping up to say “hello,” then your guide offers you a warm towel after your dip? Finally, what better way is there to close out your evening fishing for red-bellied piranhas during a fiery sunset than with a 3-course, individually-crafted gourmet meal made of ingredients sourced from the natural backyard that surrounds you?
These and much more are the kinds of details that have been anticipated by the exceptional crew of the Delfins, whose operations have been painstakingly considered to cater to even the most discerning and seasoned explorers who seek styled, boutique experiences along with authenticity and charm.
Delfin Amazon Cruises offer a true luxury experience in a supremely natural setting, floating on the mighty Amazon river and exploring the smaller streams that criss-cross the Pacaya Samiria Reserve in smaller skiffs on your daily excursions. Delfin River Cruises offers 3 barges:
Delfin i
The dining area has a single table so everyone can share the dining experience together. (If you prefer to dine in private, you have the option of dining in your cabin.) The outdoor top deck lounge area offers a well-stocked bar.
Delfin ii
The dining room can seat up to 32 passengers. On the top deck outdoor lounge area, passengers can enjoy a stocked bar. There is also an indoor lecture room and lounge area as well as a massage room and small gym.
Delfin iii
Other facilities include an indoor and an outdoor top deck lounge, a pool, a full bar, as well as a massage room, gym, and a boutique shop.
- All meals while on board (arrival day: dinner, cruise days: all meals, departure day: breakfast).
- All excursions & equipment (including rubber boots & rain ponchos).
- Transfers to/from vessel when arriving on recommended flights to Iquitos; for more information Please ask!.
- Entrance fee to Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
- Air tickets to/from Iquitos.
- Cost of medical emergencies (including evacuation). We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance.
- Gratuities (amount suggested per guests: US$ 120.00).
- Any additional transportation services.
- Any additional bar consumptions, and Spa services.
WEATHER
The itineraries are subject to change due to weather conditions at certain times of the year. The water levels of the rivers also vary from time to time, as well as the hours of sailing. Excursions may be modified at the discretion of the Delfin crew.
The weather in Iquitos is warm and humid and the temperature varies between 33 °C (90 °F) and 21 °C (70 °F).
Low water season: June to October. Ideal for travelers that prefer to walk through the rainforest to discover its flora and fauna. Allows for more trail walks.
High water season: November to May. Ideal for travelers that prefer to duck into otherwise isolated corners of the reserve onboard speedboats. Allows for more extensive exploration and access via water.
INSECTS & MOSQUITOES
We recommend taking Vitamin B or B-15 a few days before arrival in the jungle. These vitamins are the best natural repellent against insect bites. As well, do not forget to bring conventional repellent and cream for bites.
HEALTH/INSURANCE
Although no vaccinations are officially required, visitors are advised to take precautions, especially when visiting jungle regions. Preventative malaria medication is advised.
CONNECTIVITY
There is no WiFi Internet or phone signal coverage on our vessels.
TIPS
Tips for both the crew and the guides are not included and are expected, as is customary on cruises around the world. The amounts are distributed equally between your entire vessel’s crew, and we hope their service is valuable and insightful to your experience aboard Delfin. From past experience, an average of US$ 120.00 per passenger is suggested, and envelopes will be provided in your room.
GUIDES
We have assembled a talented and experienced team of naturalist and interpretive Amazon River guides who are the most important and essential ingredient in our cruises. Their expert knowledge of plants and birdlife, and the history of this part of the Amazon, will be the difference between a visit to Peru and an unforgettable life experience in the jungle. Put together, they have decades of invaluable experience.
Most of our guides were born and raised in the rainforest they now call their office, in small communities that are spread throughout the Peruvian Amazon. They spent their childhoods walking the forest paths, climbing trees to pick fruit, fishing the small streams, and chasing iguanas along the shoreline. Now, they are proud to share their knowledge and passion with our travellers from around the world.
Many of them have also participated in training sessions and projects with Peruvian and North American professors, researchers, scientists, and other professionals of similar leagues. All our guides are bilingual in Spanish and English, and some have additional language aptitudes. You will also discover during a cruise that they have delightful musical talents to boast!
ITINERARIES
All of our itineraries have been carefully crafted to showcase the best flora and fauna that the Marañon and Ucayali Rivers in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve have to boast, along with offering ideal soft adventure excursions for travelers to further discover the secrets of the Peruvian Amazonia.
Itineraries vary based on whether the travel dates fall in the high water/rainy season or low water/dry season. All activities are optional, although we encourage all guests to tempt their adventurous side. 2-3 times daily excursions (one in the morning, one in the afternoon) may include but are not limited to kayaking in the calm creeks and lakes, swimming with dolphins, fishing for piranhas at sunset, skirting the riverbanks in search of playful creatures, birdwatching, trail walks, and visits to local communities to interact with the native people. Optional early birdwatching excursions before breakfast are also available for those who are up for the challenge!
light clothes, blouses, long-sleeved shirts, swimwear, shoes with a soft rubber sole for the boat
(rubber boots and rain ponchos are provided by us), cardigan or long-sleeved shirts, windproof jackets. The days are hot and humid while the night breeze is fresh.
We suggest bringing sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, binoculars (very important for enjoying the fauna and flora. Preferably 1 per person), camera, and extra batteries.
Delfin has made it a highest priority to give back to the Amazon’s communities as much as the local people have enriched their travelers’ experiences. Handmade, custom-designed artisanal wares made by the village women vibrantly enhance every Suite and dining room on board, and often the community men with lightning-fast reflexes accompany trail walks to make sure you don’t miss fast-moving poison dart frogs or slithering anacondas! Visits to these communities bring our travelers together with the local people, allowing for cultural exchange at both ends.
The rainforest’s various cultures and lifestyles have long resolved how to live together in harmony, and Delfin promises to uphold this natural, delicate synergy.