Tour

The Aria Amazon Cruise Tours are designed to show off one of the most diverse areas of the Amazon Rainforest as our highly skilled naturalist guides point out wildlife, birds and plant life from our custom designed launches. These seat 8 passengers each and we journey out from the vessel on three daily excursions deep into Amazonia. Here we will be finding interesting animals like armored catfish, red bellied piranhas, and the beady-eyed heads of spectacled caimans in the enigmatic black waters. Just as captivating is the scene above water where yellow spotted Amazon River turtles meander along the muddy shoreline, sapphire blue beaked Amazon kingfishers streak past and antediluvian prehistoric hoatzin birds alight on high branches near dusky titi monkeys playing in the tree canopy.

In accordance with safety policies and environmental conservation and responsible travel guidelines, these skiffs are equipped with the latest Mercury 60 HP Marine Outboard engines, which operate at ultra-low emissions levels as certified by the California Air Resources Board. These energy-efficient vessels produce 65 percent lower emissions than required by the United States Environmental Protection Agency standards. Captains on board are constant radio contact with the Aria Amazon to ensure the safety of our guests while they explore Amazonia.

Aria Amazon Cruise’s four naturalist guides lead three daily excursions from comfortable skiffs into the Amazon’s tributaries and on forest walks in the rainforest. Our guides grew up in these forests on the bank of the Amazon and know the forest well. They possess a local native’s ability to spot a brown-throated three-toed sloth sleeping high up in the tree canopy, an anaconda slithering along the shoreline and even the elusive capybara hiding in the high grass after nightfall. Despite acknowledging the Aria’s luxury and attention to detail, the main comment from all guests is the knowledge and quality of the Aria’s naturalist guides in showing off the Amazon Rainforest and its wildlife.

Community Outreach

The Aria Cruise Tour Operator has a strong commitment to identifying and helping to meet the needs of local communities in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, where it operates its luxury vessel, the M/V Aqua. To underscore that commitment, Founder and Chief Executive Officer Francesco Galli-Zugaro recently appointed Juan Díaz Alván to the newly created position of Community Research Manager.

“I am delighted to welcome Mr. Díaz Alván into the Aria Cruise family,” Galli-Zugaro noted. “His very important role will be to help identify the specific needs of the communities in Pacaya Samiria, and to help us implement plans to provide meaningful assistance.”

Mr. Díaz Alván is a biologist who specializes both in working with communities in protected areas, as well as in the study of Amazon birds. He will manage relationship-building between the Aria Cruise Tour Operator and the local riverside communities, and will also work with the leadership of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve and other institutions related to tourism and environmental conservation in Amazonia. He is a graduate of Universidad Nacional de la Amazonía Peruana (UNAP).

The Aria Cruise Tour Operator believes that responsible eco-friendly operations play a crucial role in protecting the health of the Amazonian people, Amazon wildlife and the Amazon rainforest. We are genuinely committed to keeping our Peru rivers clean and beautiful, for today and for generations to come. As a result, our environmentally responsible ecotourism practices have been developed to be world-class and well above the environmental protection requirements of local regulations.

Waste Management Meticulous waste management represents a major step towards ensuring conservation of the environment. All waste is treated onboard in fully-contained storage tanks. The result is 100% clean, sterile water that can safely be discharged into the rivers of the Amazon Basin. In fact we are the only vessel operating on the Amazon to have a sophisticated sewage treatment plant. Our waste storage tanks comply fully with IMO and U.S. Coast Guard standards.

Water Purification Water is a scarce commodity and an essential resource vital for human health. Natural water is contaminated by undesirable substances or microorganisms that can be harmful. We collect and treat river water on board by using our 7,000 liter purification system in order to provide water fit for human consumption.

Fuel Efficiency Our M/V AQUA’s new Cummins NT 855 2007 model engines are fuel efficient, quieter, virtually smoke free and with a marked reduction in emissions. Furthermore, in order to minimize noise and vibration on board, our Marine Generators have been encapsulated. All these measures comply with the latest IMO and EPA standards.

Engine Emissions The three expedition skiffs come equipped with new 40 HP Mercury Outboard engines providing Three-Star Ultra-Low Emissions, as certified by the California Air Resource Board, and producing 65% lower emissions than engines meeting U.S. EPA's 2006 standards.

Food Security Ecolab provides the most effective and efficient cleaning, food safety and infection control programs available worldwide. Our use of their cleaning and sanitation products increases safety, lowers consumption of water and energy and reduces the chemicals and waste released into the environment.