How an Amazon river cruise works
A river cruise is a floating base. You sleep in a cabin, eat on board and leave the ship in small boats or on foot for guided excursions. The ship moves at night or between stops, so you reach places that a single lodge stay does not.
The examples here come from two operators and cover 2026 rates. They show what these two products cost, not a market range. In these examples, a cruise costs more than the lodge stays on the tours page, and flights are extra.
Peru: Delfín ships from Nauta
Rates per person in US dollars, double occupancy, 2026, outside the holiday period.
| Ship and cabin | 3 nights | 4 nights |
|---|---|---|
| Delfín II, suite | $3,800 | $4,900 |
| Delfín III, suite | $4,200 | – |
| Delfín III, Owner's Suite | $5,400 | – |
Delfín III lists an airport transfer from Iquitos to the port of Nauta, where you board. Route building blocks include the Marañón river, Yanayacu-Pucate, Dorado, Pacaya and Yarapa, depending on season and length. Delfín II lists excursions to Yanayacu-Pucate and Dorado and a river junction.
One caution: the Delfín II page now promotes an exclusive 7-night program, yet the same site still shows 3-night and 4-night modules. Older route tables are not proof that a trip is on sale. Ask which program runs on your dates.
Our picks: on the river from Manaus
One multi-day cruise with cabin or hammock, plus two river trips on the water that are not cruises.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Rio Negro and Anavilhanas river cruise, 3 or 4 days
Three days with two nights or four days with three nights, in a cabin or hammock depending on the option. Transfers, meals, water and excursions with a bilingual guide are included; soft drinks and alcohol are extra, and a cabin is not automatically part of the lowest price.
Check availability →
2-day river tour with one night
One night in a simple guest room, not on a cabin ship. All transport, entry fees, water, an English-speaking guide and meals are included; souvenirs and alcohol are extra.
Check availability →Full-day tour on the Amazon River
A day trip with no overnight stay: hotel transfer, water, tropical fruit, lunch and an English-speaking guide. Tips, the return airport transfer, beer and soft drinks are extra.
Check availability →Amazon river cruises and boat trips
Multi-day cruises, river excursions and boat tours on the Amazon and its tributaries, with live prices and availability.
Brazil: Tucano expeditions
Rates per person in US dollars, 2026. Green and Yellow cabins are double occupancy, and the Green cabin has bunk beds.
| Program | Length | Green | Yellow | Blue (single) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Into the Wild Amazon | 4 nights | $2,750 | $3,650 | $3,650 |
| Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon | 6 nights | $4,650 | $6,100 | $6,100 |
Both programs sail on the Rio Negro and later the Amazon, with nature guides, and departures are spread across 2026, not only in the dry months. The short program is described as Monday to Friday, yet several dates in the calendar start on a Sunday. Confirm your dates, and ask what is not covered and which port you leave from.
Manaus guide →What the price covers and how to book
Terms for the Delfín ships in 2026.
Included
Meals according to your arrival and departure day, excursions and equipment, transfers if you use the recommended Iquitos flights, and entry to Pacaya-Samiria.
Not included
Flights to Iquitos, medical emergencies and evacuation, extra transfers and tips. Check what your travel insurance covers for evacuation before you pay.
Children
Delfín II and III accept children from age 7. Up to and including age 11 there is 20 percent off the adult rate. Delfín I has other rules.
Solo travelers and holidays
A single cabin adds 50 or 75 percent, depending on the cabin category. The holiday period runs 15 to 31 December 2026 with different rates.
Payment
If you book at least 91 days before departure, the deposit is $750 per person and the balance is due 90 days before. Later bookings need full payment.
Season and water level
Operators describe the water differently.
For Iquitos, Delfín III lists high water from November to June and low water from June to November. The ranges overlap, so ask which routes run in your month. On the Rio Negro, a Brazilian operator describes the rainy season as roughly mid-December to mid-May, with the lowest water from November to January.
The record low water of 2023 and 2024 is historical, and the WMO reports a return to normal levels at Manaus in the second half of 2025. That does not guarantee a route in any month of 2026. Rain and river levels can change plans, so book with flexible terms where you can.
Best time to visit →
Health, safety and wildlife
Talk to a travel medicine clinic before you pay.
Yellow fever and malaria
The US health agency (CDC) recommends yellow fever vaccination from 9 months of age for Loreto in Peru (12 February 2026) and the state of Amazonas in Brazil (23 April 2025). It lists malaria in both areas. Proof of vaccination is not an entry requirement for Peru or Brazil, but the next country on your trip may ask for it. Your doctor decides what suits you.
Health and entry →On the water
The CDC recommends life jackets on boats and advises against swimming in untreated fresh water. A cruise offering a swim stop is not a health or legal clearance for that water.
Wildlife
Do not touch or feed animals. No operator can promise dolphin, otter or jaguar sightings.
Plan the rest of your trip
Pick a base for your cruise.
Amazon river cruises: frequently asked questions
How much does an Amazon river cruise cost?
The 2026 examples above range from $2,750 for a 4-night Green cabin on the Tucano to $5,400 for a 3-night Owner's Suite on Delfín III. These are two operators' rates per person, not a market range, and flights are extra.
Where does an Amazon cruise start?
It depends on the ship. Delfín III boards at the port of Nauta after a transfer from Iquitos. For other ships, ask the operator, as the departure port can change.
When should I book?
For the Delfín ships, bookings at least 91 days before departure need a $750 deposit per person. Napo Wildlife Center in Ecuador, a lodge, suggests at least 3 months. Popular dates fill, so book early.
Is a cruise good for children?
Delfín II and III accept children from age 7, with 20 percent off up to age 11. Other ships have other rules, so ask before you book.
Does the low water of 2023 and 2024 still affect cruises?
That period was a record low. The WMO reports normal Rio Negro levels at Manaus in the second half of 2025. Water level still changes by month, so ask the operator about your dates.