The Delfin I & Delfin II are two luxury cruises that voyage deep into the Amazon Rainforest of the fantastic Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. This is Peru’s largest national reserve, which is accessed from the rainforest gateway town of Iquitos.
As these are both similar luxury cruises, do you choose the Delfin I or the Delfin II Amazon cruise?
Let’s first look at their similarities. We will then go over the differences between both cruises to help you make the best decision.
The Delfin Tours & Reserve
From both the Delfin I & Delfin II, enjoy fantastic tours in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve to find iconic wildlife of Amazonia. The Delfin cruises have some of the best guides in the Amazon Rainforest and they will help you find some incredible rainforest plants and animals.
Don’t forget to bring your camera and binoculars, as some of the animals like to rest high in the trees. Your guide will also help you spot the many different sloths, birds, and monkeys that can be seen in the rainforest canopy.
Enjoy excursions from the main vessel on rainforest walks, kayaking adventures, and skiff expeditions. The Delfin skiffs are the most commonly used method of exploration, which will let you get close to the fascinating things to see.
The skiffs are modern motorised boats that take you down the Amazon’s tributaries and deep into the reserve. The skiffs seat 8 passengers, along with a naturalist guide and driver, and offer a safe and comfortable way to explore this extraordinary environment.
Covering 2,080,000 hectares of flooded tropical forest, the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve is an excellent area to explore on a luxury Amazon cruise.
This is the largest reserve in Peru and contains an incredible section of wildlife-rich Amazon Rainforest. Enjoy spotting many different animals, such as several different monkeys, dolphins, sloths, and much more. There are many conservation projects underway in the reserve, such as recovering populations of turtles, giant Arapaima fish, and recent re-introductions of manatees.
Known for it’s beautiful scenery and views, the Pacaya Samiria is often referred to as the ‘Forest of Mirrors’ because of the near perfect reflections in still areas of water. The scenery of the reserve is spectacular and there is much to admire as you scout for wildlife.
Some of the favorite animals to see, enjoy spotting several rainforest monkeys moving through the trees. See large howler monkeys, curious squirrel monkeys, capuchins, titi monkeys, small pygmy marmosets, and different tamarins.
In addition to the diversity of monkeys, see pink river dolphins, sloths, tamandua anteaters, green iguana, turtles, and many different birds. There are also many beautiful and fascinating plants. The giant trees themselves with their magical buttress roots are sure to impress on forest walks. You can also spot different bromeliads, beautiful orchids, and other delicate epiphytes.
The favorite birds to spot are the toucans, macaws, parrots tanagers and cotingas. But there are over 600 different bird species to find, including a variety of kingfishers on the river itself.
In addition to scouting the forest during the day, head out on a night-spotting tour to find nocturnal animals, such as different birds, frogs, and especially the spectacled and black caiman crocodilians.
The Delfin Cuisine
The cuisine and high standard of personal service is the same across both the luxurious Delfin I and Delfin II cruises. Aboard the Delfin cruises, indulge in fine dining as you’re navigated gently through Amazon Rainforest. The dedicated team of expert staff pride themselves on offering unforgettable meals of contemporary Peruvian cuisine and international favorites.
The dishes are prepared with delicious, fresh ingredients and many desserts, sauces, cocktails and juices are influenced from the surrounding rainforest.
As you return to the main vessel after fascinating Amazon tours, enter the elegant dining room on either the Delfin I or Delfin II to find glowing candlelight, sparkling china and crystalware.
Peruvian cuisine is often regarded as one of the world’s finest and Peru is fortunate to contain a few of the world’s top rated restaurants. The country’s diversity is reflected in the food with strong Italian and Asian influences.
To mirror your exploration of the Amazon Rainforest, in the Delfin dining room you will enjoy a separate gastronomic adventure through Peruvian culture and history. Even entering the dining room each day is made special with elegant design and changing table decorations.
Your meals are the accompanied by some of the best South American vintage wines, natural juices, and refreshments. As the Delfin bar, you can also enjoy a variety of beverages including liquors, cocktails, local drinks, tea, and coffee.
Exclusivity, Facilities & Luxury
Offering the same level of high quality tours and delicious fine dining, the Delfin I and Delfin II experience is very similar. However, the Delfin I offers a little more exclusivity and space aboard the cruise vessel itself.
Let’s have a look at both vessels to see their differences...
The Delfin I
The Delfin I is the epitome of luxury cruising on the Amazon River. With only 4 oversized suites, the Delfin I is more similar to floating down the Amazon’s waterways on a luxurious boutique hotel.
As featured in many publications, including Travel+Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, CNN Money, and National Geographic Traveler, the Delfin I offers fantastic tours, delicious cuisine, and unbelievable luxury in Amazonia.
The suites aboard the Delfin I are wrapped with floor-to-ceiling windows to give you a constant connection to the incredible environment. You can even spot colorful birds directly from your suite, which also feature a comfortable sofa. All four of the suites have their own private panoramic terraces and two of the four suites feature a private whirlpool. Enjoy cabin service 3 times each day to provide the most personalized and dedicated suite service.
In addition to the luxurious and spacious suites, the Delfin I vessel offers an entertainment area, bar, and lounge area.
The top deck then features very comfortable, large sofas to observe the Milky Way or surrounding rainforest. This is a perfect place to relax breathing in air fresh from the Amazon Rainforest. Relax in your comfortable sofa taking in the breathtaking landscapes, fascinating diversity, and tranquility of Amazonia.
To learn more about the environment, you will be closeby to the entertainment area for documentaries, reading material, and presentations on the Amazon.
The Delfin I has partnerships with local communities in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve and features special handicrafts made by the different local communities. They also make excellent souvenirs and gifts to remember your time in the Amazon.
The Delfin I
Iquitos, PeruOffering an on-board experience second to none, the Delfin I Luxury Cruise begins in Iquitos, north Peru, and takes you on a cruise of the flooded tro...
- Luxury Cruise, Pacaya Samiria
From $ 4,600
/ personThe Delfin II
The Delfin II is a larger vessel than the Delfin I, but maintains the standard of service and comfort. The Delfin II includes 14 luxurious guest suites with large, comfortable beds with the finest linen available. From your bed, enjoy looking out the large picture window to observe the rainforest pass by. Four of the suites are Master Suites located at the front of the vessel for some incredible views as you head deep into the Pacaya Samiria.
In addition to the very comfortable suites, other rooms and facilities on the Delfin II include the dining room where you will enjoy delicious meals, a bar, entertainment center, library, lounge area, small exercise and massage room, and the observation deck.
The Delfin II presentation room and lounge has been fitted with media equipment and is where you will enjoy fascinating talks on the Amazon Rainforest and learn from the experiences of different guides. When not in use for presentations, you can relax in the presentation room with its different handmade game tables, computers for picture sharing, and air conditioning.
After your excursion, relax with a massage in the small massage area while observing the rainforest through the large picture window. If you feel like keeping active while aboard the vessel, you can also enjoy the exercise space for aerobic exercises or cardio. The window makes sure you don’t miss any birds or interesting areas of the rainforest we pass by.
Enjoy large windows throughout the vessel to keep you connected to this incredible environment. The dining room especially is lined with window, so you can enjoy delicious cuisine while observing the surrounding rainforest and even spot wildlife while you dine.
Both the Delfin I and Delfin II partner with the local communities of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. There are beautifully made handicrafts throughout the Delfin II vessel. You will even visit the local communities to purchase different souvenirs and gifts. These offer some some great reminders of being in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest.
Aboard the Delfin II, you can also notice different artwork by some of Peru’s leading artists as well as art by members of the local communities. If these works take your interest, you can purchase the art and it will be shipped to your home address. This offers an additional opportunity to have a direct benefit on the reserve communities.
The Delfin II
Iquitos, PeruThe Delfin II Luxury Amazon Cruise begins near Iquitos from the small town of Nauta. You will be transported in our comfortable coach from Iquitos air...
- Luxury Cruise, Pacaya Samiria
From $ 3,500
/ person
Ash
Tour Advisor at TourTheTropics.comAsh Card is a frequent visitor to the Tropics and has a passion for helping visitors get the best experiences from tropical locations. Ash is a contributor and tour advisor at TourTheTropics.com. Feel free to contact Ash for tour help in the tropics. When not helping tourists with tours and info, Ash can be found traveling, on wildlife tours or salsa dancing. Ash has completed a BSc in Biology, a Master’s degree in Zoology, and has undertaken a research scholarship at a world-class university on animal behavior. He has published scientific research in the Australian Journal of Zoology and the Journal of Behavioral Ecology. His goal is to help a global society live in balance with the natural world.