Amazon river cruise 2026–2027: which boat, which country, which season

The Amazon isn’t one cruise. The small boats in Peru and the big ships in Brazil sell the same river name and very different trips. This guide sorts out which one you want, then the line, then the month.

Two kinds of Amazon cruise

Peru: small riverboats on the Upper Amazon. You fly from Lima to Iquitos, a city of about half a million that no road reaches, and board a boat that carries 44 guests or fewer. Trips run three to seven nights on the Amazon and its tributaries, the Marañón and the Ucayali, and most visit the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, Peru’s huge protected flooded forest. Each day is built around skiff trips with a naturalist, so you see far more wildlife than from the deck of a big ship. This is what most people mean by a luxury Amazon river cruise.

Brazil: ocean voyages to Manaus. Ocean ships sail in from the Atlantic and up the river to Manaus. These are long trips: Holland America’s Volendam sails 27- and 30-day round trips from Fort Lauderdale in winter 2026–27, with an overnight in Manaus to see the Meeting of the Waters, where the Rio Negro meets the Amazon. You see the river from a big ship and go ashore in river towns, not into the forest by skiff.

Amazon river cruise lines compared

• Aqua ExpeditionsPeru, the luxury pickTwo boats from Iquitos: Aqua Nera, with 20 suites, and Aria Amazon, with 16 suites for up to 32 guests. Trips run 3, 4 or 7 nights. Aqua lists meals, soft drinks, guided excursions, park fees and Iquitos airport transfers as included on its charters, plus house wine and beer on Aqua Nera.
• Delfin Amazon CruisesPeru, three sizes of boatA Peruvian line with three boats: Delfin I with just four suites, Delfin II with 14 suites for 28 guests, and Delfin III with 22 suites for up to 44. Sold directly and through US partners.
• Lindblad ExpeditionsPeru, with National GeographicHas sailed the Amazon on Delfin II since 2010 and added Delfin III from January 2026. The 6-day Upper Amazon trip includes Pacaya-Samiria; the 10-day Wild Peru Escape adds Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu.
• Avalon WaterwaysPeru, packaged with Machu PicchuSells Delfin III as an 11-day trip from Lima with Cusco and Machu Picchu, from $7,658 per person including flights within Peru (November 2027 departure, checked October 2026). Longer versions add the Nazca Lines (13 days) or the Galápagos (18 days).
• Holland America LineBrazil, by ocean shipVolendam sails the Legendary Amazon Explorer, 27 or 30 days round trip from Fort Lauderdale, or one way from New York, from November 2026 to March 2027.

Which to pick? For the best Amazon river cruise in a week, pick Aqua Expeditions or a Delfin boat, either directly or through Lindblad or Avalon if you want the Lima and Machu Picchu days arranged as well. Aqua and Delfin III are the luxury end. Pick Holland America only if you want a month at sea and the Amazon as a destination rather than a jungle trip. Viking also sells a 22-day ocean voyage from San Juan into the Amazon.

Best time for an Amazon river cruise

The Peruvian Amazon has two seasons, set by the river level rather than the temperature.

• High water, December to May. Rain and Andean snowmelt lift the river by more than 30 feet in places. Skiffs and kayaks go into flooded forest and channels that are dry the rest of the year, and monkeys, sloths and macaws are often at eye level. There are few places to walk. Iquitos is wettest in March and April.
• Low water, late June to November. The water drops and opens up beaches, lagoons and forest trails, so there are more jungle walks. Fish crowd into the main rivers, which makes river dolphins, caimans and giant otters easier to see. It is a few degrees warmer, and July and August are the driest months in Iquitos.

There is no bad month for wildlife; the season changes how you see it. Average highs in Iquitos stay between about 88 °F and 91 °F all year.

The Brazilian ocean voyages run in the northern winter, roughly November to March.

How long is an Amazon cruise, and what does it cost?

• 3 or 4 nights: the short Peru trips, from Iquitos or nearby Nauta. Easy to add to a Machu Picchu trip.
• 6 to 7 nights: the full Upper Amazon trip, deeper into Pacaya-Samiria.
• 10 to 18 days: packaged Peru trips with Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu, such as Avalon’s or Lindblad’s.
• 27 to 30 days: the ocean voyages from Florida to Manaus.

The Peru riverboats are priced like expedition ships, not like river cruises in Europe: expensive per night, but with guides, excursions and most meals included. Check whether flights from Lima, park fees and drinks are in the fare before you compare two trips.

Departure points

• Iquitos, Peru: the base for almost every Peru riverboat. Fly in from Lima.
• Nauta, Peru: a river town linked to Iquitos by highway, where some trips start or end.
• Lima, Peru: where packaged trips start and end.
• Fort Lauderdale and New York: for Holland America’s Amazon voyages. No Peru trip starts in the US.

For a river trip without a long flight, see our Mississippi river cruise guide; for the other big river cruise outside Europe, our Nile cruise guide.

Places an Amazon cruise visits

• Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve: more than 5 million acres of flooded forest, the main reason for most Peru trips.
• The Marañón and Ucayali rivers: the two rivers that join to form the Amazon, both sailed on Peru trips.
• Iquitos: the river city where most trips start, reachable only by air or river.
• Riverside villages: Peru trips such as Avalon’s include visits to local communities.
• Manaus, Brazil: the turnaround point for ocean ships, with the Meeting of the Waters.

For the rest of the continent, including the Cape Horn crossings, see our South America cruise guide.

Amazon river cruise FAQ

What is the best Amazon river cruise?

For a first trip, a 4- to 7-night trip in Peru on Aqua Expeditions or a Delfin boat, because they go into Pacaya-Samiria with naturalists and small skiffs. Lindblad and Avalon sell the same boats with Lima and Machu Picchu included.

Is it better to cruise the Amazon in Peru or Brazil?

Peru, for most people. The Peruvian trips are short, on small boats, and built around wildlife. The Brazilian trips are long ocean voyages, and you see the river from a large ship.

When is the best time for an Amazon river cruise?

Any month works in Peru. High water (December to May) is best for exploring flooded forest by skiff. Low water (late June to November) is best for jungle walks and spotting river dolphins and caimans.

How much does an Amazon river cruise cost?

Avalon’s 11-day Peru trip with Machu Picchu and Delfin III was listed from $7,658 per person, including flights within Peru, for a November 2027 departure (checked October 2026). Shorter riverboat trips cost less in total but a similar amount per night.

How do you get to an Amazon river cruise in Peru?

Fly to Lima, then take a domestic flight to Iquitos. There is no road to Iquitos. The line or tour company usually meets you at the airport.

Do I need vaccinations for an Amazon cruise?

Ask your doctor or a travel clinic well before you go. They will advise on yellow fever, malaria tablets and other vaccines for the Peruvian or Brazilian Amazon, and some lines have their own requirements.