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Peru

Peru by Riverboat: Amazon Rainforest & Historic Lima

Program No. 25157RJ
From populous city streets to remote rainforests, set sail on a Road Scholar-exclusive voyage to dive into life in Peru on the Amazon River and in historic Lima.
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Start
River BoatsAdventures Afloat Study CruiseSmall GroupNew
Length
10 days
Rating
New
Activity Level
Starts at
4,999
Special Offer
Flights start at
FREE
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
All itineraries and excursions are subject to change. Weather and water conditions may affect the progress of the ship, and we may miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The operators reserve the right to change the content and duration of excursions without prior notice and so the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Whenever possible, Road Scholar’s published daily schedule will indicate port arrival and departure times. Prior to departure, if there is a major change, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
10 days
9 nights
What's Included
22 meals ( 8B, 7L, 7D )
7 expert-led lectures
20 expert-led field trips
2 flights during the program
3 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
8 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 16 miles total, approximately 1 hour total riding time with stops for field trips. Walking up to 2 miles total throughout the day; periods of standing up to an hour at a time at the museum; some stone steps without railings. Terrain may be rough and uneven.
Morning:
After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before our Orientation session.
Afternoon:
Orientation: 3:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. All field trips and lectures will be led by a local expert with the Group Leader present, unless otherwise informed. Transportation will be provided primarily by private bus, unless otherwise noted. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. With a local expert, we will start at a leisurely pace to savor Lima, a capital city that stands alone in the Americas with an uninterrupted architectural legacy spanning 4,000 years. It belongs to an exclusive group of just six capital cities worldwide that share this extraordinary heritage. We will start our exploration at Huaca Pucllana, an ancient pre-Inca archaeological marvel distinguished by its striking adobe pyramid and a captivating history that stretches back over 1,500 years. Then, we will continue to Museo Larco, the nation’s most significant compilation of Pre-Columbian artifacts. With its origins dating back nearly a century, the museum was established by Rafael Larco Hoyle, a trailblazer in Peruvian archaeology. We will embark on a captivating exploration spanning over 5,000 years of ancient Peruvian history. We’ll delve into the profound connection between pre-Columbian societies and the natural world, all expertly illuminated through an engaging exploration led by the museum’s curator.
Dinner:
At Café del Museo. With its charming ambiance, the café offers picturesque views of the museum’s enchanting gardens and the majestic viceroyal mansion, which serves as the museum’s backdrop. This setting creates the perfect atmosphere for an evening of culinary delight and cultural immersion.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 10 miles throughout the day, approximately 3 hours total riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile, approximately 1 hour on flat terrain. Do not forget to refill your water bottle.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Our morning journey with our local expert leads us through the storied streets of downtown Lima, a city that once stood as the capital of the viceroyalty Spain established in 1532. Our first stop takes us to the venerable Plaza de Armas, the beating heart of the city. Here, we’ll traverse the square on foot, soaking in the rich history that surrounds us. As we explore, marvel at the magnificent exteriors of the Government Palace, the City Hall and the surrounding buildings, all resplendent exemplars of the enduring colonial architectural opulence that graces Lima to this day. Continuing this immersive journey, we’ll explore the sacred halls of the Cathedral, an emblem of the city, boasting a rich history and intricate craftsmanship that speaks volumes of the era’s devotion and artistry. Moving on, we’ll head to La Casa Aliaga. For over 480 years and across 17 generations, no other dwelling in the Americas has been home to a family as consistently as the De Aliaga residence in Lima. Erected adjacent to the Government Palace in 1535 by Jerónimo De Aliaga y Ramírez, trusted captain of Pizarro, this dwelling stands as a gem of colonial and republican architecture. We’ll explore its chambers, corridors, and courtyards, a harmonious fusion of styles spanning Renaissance, Cusco baroque, and Iberian Moorish, among others, owing to renovations over the years. Amidst this ambience, we’ll unravel the stories behind the array of paintings, silverware, furniture, and precious artifacts. A visit to the chapel—a space graced by Peruvian luminaries such as Saint Rose of Lima, the Americas’ first saint and a family friend—will conclude our journey through history.
Lunch:
Following our exploration of colonial Lima’s most iconic buildings and plazas, we’ll make our way to Barranco, a vibrant neighborhood known for its artistic spirit. Here, we’ll participate in a hands-on Peruvian gastronomy class, where we’ll master the art of crafting their iconic dishes.
Afternoon:
With our local expert, we will explore Barranco’s charming streets, a haven for artists, photographers, and writers. We’ll meander through quaint, tree-lined avenues flanked by historic Republican-era houses, taking in breathtaking views and visiting the iconic Puente de los Suspiros (Bridge of Sighs). To delve deeper into the artistic heritage of Peru, we’ll venture into a couple or more of the neighborhood’s art galleries and concept stores, discreetly nestled along Barranco's unassuming streets, gaining insights into the creative minds of our renowned Peruvian artists in the realms of plastic arts and design. We will have some time to independently explore Barranco before returning to the hotel.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to take a walk along the ocean boardwalk. Prepare for check-out and our flight to Iquitos in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off an aircraft; flight time approximately 2 hours. Getting on/off a bus; driving about 60 miles, approximately 1.5-2 hours from Iquitos to Nauta; paved but rural roads. Embarking on the study boat. The study cruise itinerary will operate from Nauta/Nauta or Nauta/Iquitos or vice versa, depending on the level of the water. When that is the case, the same or similar destinations and activities will still be covered but in a different order. The following schedule is representative.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport for our morning flight to Iquitos, situated in the heart of the Peruvian rainforest. Upon arrival, our naturalist expert will be waiting for us to take us for an overview of this interesting place called Iquitos, the largest city in the world inaccessible by road. We’ll then ride to lunch.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We’ll begin our transfer to Nauta where the boat is docked. En route, we’ll learn from a local expert about the places we are going through, how the local people organize themselves, and how life is between Iquitos and Nauta, the two most important cities in the region. We expect to arrive in Nauta mid- to late afternoon and board the M/V La Perla. After getting your cabin, take some time to freshen up and relax, then start getting familiar with the boat. When announced, we will participate with everyone on board in the boat’s safety drill.
Dinner:
Aboard the boat in the dining room.
Evening:
We will gather to hear our first lecture, an introduction to the rainforest.
Activity Note
Getting on/off motorized skiffs; riding approximately 2 hours. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 1 hour. High temperatures and high humidity: drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Closed-toe shoes for the walking.
Breakfast:
Aboard the boat in the dining room.
Morning:
We will board motorized skiffs to explore Yanayacu de Pucate, one of the best preserved and protected areas of Pacaya Samiria National Park. This area is famous for pink dolphins and resident birds such as the horned screamer, capped heron, vermillion flycatcher, dusky headed parakeet, great black hawk, and great egrets. The initial morning hours present great viewing opportunities as birds tend to be most active during the early hours of the day and at sundown. We’ll also keep an eye out for sloths and a variety of monkeys. Also, we will have the opportunity to see the local handicraft made of “vegetable ivory” that comes from the palm tree. After returning to the ship, we will put on swimsuits and take the first plunge into the Yanayacu River to swim in its black waters.
Lunch:
Aboard the boat in the dining room.
Afternoon:
This afternoon’s river exploration will be in San Regis where we will climb into dugout canoes (local wood made canoes) to explore the area with locals. We’ll then return to the boat to freshen up and relax before going to the lounge in the Observation Deck to listen to some local music from our crew.
Dinner:
Aboard the boat.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to sit out on the observation deck or inside in the reading lounge. Prepare for an early morning rise tomorrow.
Activity Note
Early rise for a field trip via skiff; riding 1.5 hours to watch the rainforest come to life as we look for iguanas, river turtles, cormorants, and other wildlife. Walking about 2 miles, approximately 1 hour. Wear closed-toe shoes for the visit to meet a local community and have lunch together.
Breakfast:
Aboard the boat.
Morning:
After a quick coffee or tea, we will have our first early walk in the jungle to admire how wildlife awakes. We will walk for an hour by the Marañon shores to discover the sounds and sights of the rainforest. We’ll set out again by skiff to visit the Indigenous community in Monte Alegre where we will learn about the weaving and weavers, and how they get the most beautiful colors using what nature provides to dye the fabric. We will learn about their culture and way of life along the mighty Amazon River.
Lunch:
We will share lunch with the local Monte Alegre community around a long table and locally made small wooden chairs.
Afternoon:
After time to rest and relax, we will have an interactive lecture where we will learn about the Amazonian culture and will have the opportunity to make questions about todays' experiences.
Dinner:
Aboard the boat
Evening:
We’ll go on another boat ride to observe the profusion of nocturnal species that may be present such as bats, capybaras, black caimans, and many more. A spotlight will help us see and identify wildlife.
Activity Note
We will rise early again to explore more of the incredible biodiversity of the Amazon’s unique ecosystem by motorized skiff. Riding approximately 3 hours. Wear closed-toe shoes for the jungle walk.
Breakfast:
Aboard the boat following our early morning field trip.
Morning:
After an early wake-up call and a quick coffee, we will go on a jungle walk looking for wildlife such as the poisonous frog among other jungle inhabitants. We will spot the giant trees – the most famous ones called “avatar” or “tree of life” – where the ancient and current inhabitants of the jungle left their offerings as a sign of gratitude to “Yara” or Mother Earth. We also will see how the local women of the community offer some handicraft made locally. Following breakfast, we will set out on a walking field trip to the jungle town of Nauta that we passed through before embarking. We will browse the local markets, engage with local people, and witness the way of life in this small Amazonian port town that we will ride through on the famous tuc-tuc. At the market, we will learn how and what to buy there. We will have some money (provided by us) to do some shopping in the market. We will have to make the best of it because, the cook, will have to make our lunch with our shopping.
Lunch:
Aboard the boat. Let’s taste what you brought aboard!
Afternoon:
After some time to relax, we will have a lecture about the challenges facing the Amazon region. What is changing? Why? How the changes affect the locals and what is being done to face those challenges. Next, we will go on a short walk to see the Victoria Regia (Victoria amazonica) waterlily plant, the largest on earth, with huge circular leaves that can grow larger than six feet in diameter. When in bloom, the short-lived blossoms are more than a foot across.
Dinner:
Aboard the boat.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
We will rise early again to explore by motorized skiff the Amazon River basin. Today most of the field trips are done by skiff boat. Wear closed-toe shoes for a potential walk in the community.
Breakfast:
Aboard the boat following our early morning field trip.
Morning:
Early rise for a field trip via skiff to watch where the origin of the Amazon River, the largest river in South America by discharge volume of water in the world, and the disputed longest river system in the world in comparison to the Nile. We’ll return to the boat for breakfast before setting out again by skiff to sail the Yarapa River with its famous black water to spot macaws, primates, woodpeckers, and some crocodiles.
Lunch:
Aboard the boat.
Afternoon:
After a well-deserved rest, we will visit the Kukama community. The Kukama are an original culture of the Amazon rainforest. They thrived in the rainforest for hundreds of years before the Spanish explorers arrived. Today, the Kukama are based in the flood zone of the Ucayali river basin where their house coexist with the water.
Dinner:
Aboard the boat
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Today most of the field trips are done by skiff boat.
Breakfast:
Aboard the boat.
Morning:
We’ll set out again by skiff to sail the Yacapana area to keep looking for the thounsand of species that, some of them, have not being named yet.
Lunch:
Aboard the boat.
Afternoon:
We will gather to recap all what we have seen, learned, and felt. We will exchange opinions with our local naturalist, and our Group Leader will inform us about the next steps for the following chapter of our adventure. We will have our last skiff boat ride to say goodbye to the rainforest, and its magical ambiance with a strong commitment of protecting nature from the place we live. Back aboard the boat, we will hear a lecture about medicinal plants.
Dinner:
Aboard the boat. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure tomorrow.
Activity Note
If the group must disembark in Nauta instead of Iquitos due to low water levels, we will have an early wake-up depending on the flight schedule from Iquitos to Lima. Getting on/off a bus; driving about 60 miles, approximately 1.5-2 hours riding time to the Iquitos airport. Getting on/off an aircraft; the flight to Lima takes 2 hours, where the program ends.
Breakfast:
Early aboard the boat.
Morning:
After we disembark the riverboat, we will transfer via bus to the airport in Iquitos for our flight to Lima where we will connect to our flights back home.
Afternoon:
Arrival to Lima International Airport. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!