Let go of your idea of the rough-and-tumble Amazonian expeditions of the past as the Amazon enters a new era of exploration. The expansion of luxury river cruising increases accessibility to the world’s largest rainforest for a new generation of travelers seeking both comfort and connection.
Photo credit: Delfin Amazon Cruises.
For decades, the Amazon River was a destination reserved for the most hardcore explorers. It was the realm of biologists, researchers and backpackers willing to brave the humidity and sleep in hammocks for a chance to see pink river dolphins or hear the roar of howler monkeys.
But the travel landscape in Peru is shifting dramatically. The Amazon is no longer just a place to survive but a destination to thrive in style. This change is driven by the rise of luxury river cruising, a sector that has turned the jungle into the new frontier for soft adventure travelers who want the wild experience without sacrificing a good night of sleep or a gourmet meal.
Growth of expedition cruising
Expedition cruising has seen a passenger increase of 22% from 2023 to 2024 alone, making it one of the fastest-growing sectors in the travel industry. Cruise passenger volume in South America increased by nearly 8% in the same time, and this boom isn’t just happening in Antarctica or the Galapagos. It is happening right in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, where companies are reimagining what it means to explore the rainforest.
While there are some traditional big-ship cruise lines that visit the Amazon, they tend to be multi-week itineraries with a few stops in the Amazon. The smaller expedition lines, such as Aqua Expeditions, Lindblad Expeditions, Delfin Amazon Cruises and Avalon Waterways, offer a more in-depth experience. CroisiEurope plans to begin sailing there in 2027, and AmaWaterways launched their first cruises in the region in 2025.
As travelers expand their horizons, they continue to look for new and unique destinations to visit. Where European river cruises used to be exotic, they are now so crowded that ships have to dock in ports attached to each other, and cruisers are seeking less saturated destinations to visit. The Amazon fits the bill.
Redefining adventure on the river
The concept of visiting the Amazon has evolved from a test of endurance to a curated experience that balances thrill with relaxation. This shift has opened the door for couples and groups with varying levels of adventurous spirit. You no longer need to be an avid trekker to appreciate the biodiversity of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
Ines Orihuela, the sales and marketing director for Delfin Amazon Cruises, notes that this compromise is a huge driver for their guests. “The market is world travelers, those who go on safari and the like. By being the pioneers in this area, we have given travelers the option to explore in comfort. Now we can see couples who are compromising with the most adventurous partner who wants to jump into the jungle and the other wants to enjoy the air-conditioned lounge and the fine dining.”
The evolution means you can spend your morning exploring creeks in a skiff while looking for sloths and your evening enjoying a pisco sour made with local fruits in a climate-controlled lounge after a relaxing massage. It is this blend of access and amenity that is defining the modern Amazon experience.
From rustic boats to floating boutique hotels
To understand where the industry is going, it helps to look at where it started. When luxury cruising began in the Peruvian Amazon, the vessels were more traditional; they were authentic but lacked the space and amenities that modern luxury travelers expect. As potential customers began demanding more amenities, the ships underwent massive transformations.
Today, the ships are essentially floating boutique hotels. They are smaller than most river cruises in Europe, and the suites are large and comfortable. With a high crew-to-guest ratio, passengers are pampered with high-end dining, spaces to relax and the modern requirement of wifi access in at least some spaces aboard the ships.
Who is actually going to the jungle?
The demographic of the Amazon cruiser is shifting just as much as the ships are. According to Ines Orihuela, 10 or 15 years ago, the average guest was an octogenarian birdwatcher with a specific checklist of species to see. Today, the average age has dropped significantly, and the type of traveler is more varied.
“We’ve definitely seen the shift. The average age when we started was 80, and now we’ve brought it down to 65. Those very avid birdwatchers were there to live it every second. Nowadays, we get a little more of the leisure traveler who wants to experience it and see it,” Ines Orihuela explains.
There is also a rise in multi-generational travel and solo travelers, particularly women. Ines Orihuela notes that she sees more teenagers and young adults joining their parents, as well as women in their 70s embarking on solo adventures with a thirst for travel that their partners might not share.
The reality of the wildlife experience
One of the biggest misconceptions about the Amazon is that it is like an African safari where large animals are constantly in plain sight. The Amazon is a dense forest, and the animals are masters of camouflage. It is a place of biodiversity rather than one of big game.
Gaby Orihuela, the sustainability advisor for Delfin, emphasizes that managing expectations is key. “As a biologist, you cannot compare an open savannah to the Amazon. Most of our animals are nocturnal here, and we have the forest, not an open plain. They are going to be out at night here. You won’t see them gathered around a pond drinking water, as they aren’t game species.”
Instead of lions and elephants, the magic of the Amazon lies in the sudden, unscripted moments. Visitors may spot a troop of monkeys moving through the canopy or watch pink dolphins breach the river’s surface while they enjoy breakfast.
Ines Orihuela recalls her own favorite moment on the water. “My most National Geographic moment was being on a skiff, seeing monkeys in a tree, and then seeing dolphins right behind us, and then seeing a caiman also in the water. At the same time, I spotted a big group of otters running into the water and going after the caimans. And then there was a river turtle just looking at me. This all happened in seconds.”
Community connection and conservation
As cruising grows, so does the responsibility to the local environment and communities. The new frontier of travel isn’t just about seeing nature but about protecting it and engaging with the people who call it home. The days of treating local villages as mere photo opportunities are fading.
Gaby Orihuela explains that they are working on a massive restoration corridor project with three local communities that will expand in 2026. “We are learning from them about their cultural heritage and their knowledge to put into this program, and we are teaching them technical horticulture techniques like propagation to help restore the forest. We are crossing information from traditional information to modern technical practices for conservation.”
This approach creates a symbiotic relationship where tourism funds conservation and locals become partners in the process. Travelers are encouraged to bring useful items like school and dental supplies rather than candy, and naturalists are trained to ensure respectful interactions. “We don’t encourage petting or handling animals or photographing families that may have some of these as pets,” Gaby Orihuela notes.
Balancing luxury with the natural world
The trickiest part of modern Amazon cruising is balancing the desire for connectivity with the need to disconnect. While travelers want the safety of a paramedic on board and the comfort of fine dining, the true luxury of the Amazon is the ability to unplug.
“The owner of Delfin has curated the ambiance that is so unique in the world, where you can really get disconnected. At first, people have the culture shock that they can’t look at the screen every second, but then they have the realization that you can see all of the Amazon even from on board this ship,” Ines Orihuela says.
This balance extends to the food as well. Smaller ships sailing the Amazon tend to use native ingredients sourced from local people to create world-class meals in the middle of the rainforest. “All of this is breeding sustainability in a way that hasn’t been done before,” Gaby Orihuela adds.
Addressing the myths and fears
Despite the luxury, many travelers still have fears about bugs, illness and safety. However, the reality is far less scary than movies suggest. Gaby Orihuela reassures travelers regarding health concerns: “We don’t have any records of malaria in Peru for the past several years. Many people already have a yellow fever vaccine from traveling in Africa, and that’s good for a lifetime. That said, we haven’t had yellow fever outbreaks in Peru, so it isn’t necessary.”
Safety is also a priority on these expeditions. Ines Orihuela highlights that they always have a paramedic who accompanies the excursions with a backpack full of supplies ranging from electrolytes to antidotes, ensuring that guests can explore with peace of mind.
Malaria is also not a concern in much of the Amazon, though many guests prefer to take anti-malarial prophylaxis medication. Ines Orihuela cautions guests that many cruisers who feel ill often are reacting to the drug and feel much better as soon as they stop. Bugs and mosquitoes are a reality in the Amazon, and any Amazon packing list must include appropriate bug spray.
Join the growing community exploring the Amazon
The Amazon remains one of the most mysterious and vital places on Earth. With the advent of luxury cruising, it has become accessible to those who want to witness its wonders without enduring hardship. As Ines Orihuela advises future travelers, “Open your heart and be ready to learn and have your life changed by the Amazon.”
Michelle Price loves sharing her expertise and experiences at Honest and Truly Travels. She focuses on providing the inspiration and the confidence you need to hit the road with new flavors and experiences, whether that’s across town or across the world.
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