Peru’s Amazon is an immense wilderness seemingly worlds away from coastal Lima or the Andes. And while its Brazilian neighbour may be better known, Peru’s stretch of rainforest is just as extraordinary. In the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve - one of South America’s largest protected areas, spanning some 8,000 square miles - pink river dolphins arc through water as dark as treacle, herons flash overhead in streaks of white, and the air thrums with a constant chorus of insects and birds (more than 600 species are native to the reserve alone). It’s here that Pure Amazon, an A&K Sanctuary, journeys along the river. Launched in 2025, this sleek, design-led vessel reimagines cruising as something wilder: a floating safari through the Amazon’s mirror-like waterways.
Where?
Iquitos, gateway to the Amazon Basin and the nearest airport city, is reachable only by plane or boat (the latter taking at least 12 hours from Lima). The easier option is a two-hour flight, after which A&K Sanctuary representatives meet us at the airport and usher us into a shared transfer. From there, we follow the long one-track road to Nauta, slipping past a flurry of tuk-tuks that weave and dart through traffic. Around two hours later, we reach the riverbank in the heart of the Pacaya-Samiria Reserve: it’s a short hop across the water by skiff before arriving at Pure Amazon, our floating home for the next few days.
Style
Riverboats don’t come much slicker than this. From the outside, the three-floored vessel is substantial yet far from oversized; inside it feels unmistakably boutique, hosting a maximum of just 22 guests (with the highest staff-to-guest ratio of any riverboat in the Peruvian Amazon). The interiors are quietly elegant: think pale creams offset by swooshes of sea blue and jungle green, paired with rich, dark woods to mirror the jungle outside. Occasional flashes of colour come through in locally woven textiles: artworks adorning the walls of each room and perfectly plumped cushions scattered across the living rooms.
Facilities
After sun-soaked mornings exploring the wilderness, we return to the boat for languid afternoons on board - tempting though it might be to snooze in our suite, there’s a surprising number of things on board to keep us busy. Two bars double as spacious lounges for sinking a tipple, while a small map room-come-library is stocked with tomes on local flora and fauna. There’s also a hushed treatment room for soothing massages and facials, and even a compact gym kitted out with treadmills and weight machines - ideal for keeping our step count ticking over between excursions. Up on the top deck, a hot tub and sun loungers line the wraparound outdoor space, which transforms into the perfect vantage point for stargazing once night falls.
The itinerary
Getting deep within the wilderness is naturally the first thing on the agenda. Sleeping on a riverboat allows us all-access to the depths of the river and rainforest, with Pure Amazon’s expert naturalists on hand to guide us through the wilderness (Ulber and Javier, who lead the team, are both native to the Amazon). As part of the journey, we cruise through the wetlands of Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve with daily-changing activities on land and water. Mornings typically begin with sunrise skiffs, gliding into hushed creeks where bushy-tailed monkeys scamper through the treetops. By the time we return for breakfast, the sun is already dancing on the water, its surface glistening like a darkened mirror. Refuelled, we head out again, spotting Amazonian pink dolphins (and squealing with excitement when they breach; they’re famously elusive) and fishing for piranhas in the heady midday heat. Wildlife sightings depend largely on the time of year, and as we visited towards the end of high-water season, our attention was drawn mostly upwards - to the canopy - or down to the water, as much of the reserve still lay submerged. In the afternoons, we set out on jungle treks through the dense rainforest, or visit Nueva Arica, an isolated Amazonian river village supported in part by A&K Philanthropy: Abercrombie & Kent’s nonprofit organisation, which works to preserve precious ecosystems around the globe by working with local communities. We’re back on board in time for evening drinks and dinner, before waking to do it all over again the next day.
Food & drink
There’s simply no chance of going hungry on board. Mornings begin with generous buffets of pancakes, chorizo sausages and omelettes, whipped up to order by the chirpy chef. Lunch follows a similar format: an abundant spread to graze at between excursions. It’s at dinner that the kitchen really pulls out all of the stops, treating us to four-course suppers that showcase the best of local produce: braised beef with yuca mash and freshly-fished Amazonian paiche, followed by a delicate tree nut tart paired with camu camu coulis. Amazonian ingredients root the menus firmly in the region, despite the subtle international influences woven through each dish. After dinner, we roll ourselves back to our suite to discover homemade truffles waiting for us.
Which room?
There are just twelve cabins on board, ten of them suites (the remaining two are singles). They’re surprisingly spacious, and feature a fresh, modern feel - they wouldn’t look out of place in a luxury city hotel - yet still nod to the landscape outside: soft shades of green and glossy woods mirror the rainforest we’re gliding through, while local, handmade textiles dangle above the king-size beds. Bathrooms are similarly roomy and thoughtfully stocked with every amenity and gadget you might need, while panoramic, wall-to-wall windows mean the ever-shifting riverscape is never out of sight.
Best for...
Adventure-seeking guests of all ages.
Details
Pure Amazon rates and inclusions differ per journey. The 3-night sailing expedition I enjoyed was £4,118; abercrombiekent.com
