The Amazon River

About the Amazon

UNESCO Heritage Sites

Cruise the Amazon River with River Cruise Your Way

Ports-of-Call on the Amazon River

Here you can find a list of some of the more common river cruise ports along the Amazon River as it flows through Peru and Brazil. These may be the most common, but there may be others that can be found on select river cruises. Your River Cruise Artist can provide you with the full itinerary and all ports for any river cruise that you may be interested in, on any river cruise operator. Explore the Amazon River further and learn more about it’s ports-of-call.

Cuzco

Peru

Although not on the Amazon River, Cuzco is a must-see addition to any Amazon River cruise vacation in Peru. Travelers often visit Cuzco in the Peruvian Andes on their way to visit Machu Picchu but are often surprised at the flavor and cultural excitement of this beautiful colonial mountain town. Cuzco was once the capital of the Inca Empire, and is now known for its archaeological remains and Spanish colonial architecture. Plaza de Armas is the central square in the old city, with arcades, carved wooden balconies and Incan wall ruins. The baroque Santo Domingo Convent was built on top of the Incan Temple of the Sun of Qoricancha, and has archaeological remains of Inca stonework and worth a visit.

Iquitos

Peru

It is known as the “capital of the Peruvian Amazon”. The city is in the Great Plains of the Amazon Basin, fed by the Amazon, Nanay and Itaya rivers. The area was long inhabited by indigenous peoples until the Spanish established the town around 1757 as a Spanish Jesuit reduction by the banks of the Nanay River. In the late 19th century, the city became the center of rubber production and exports from the Amazon Basin and was the headquarters of the Peruvian Amazon Company. The Historic Center of Iquitos features The Cathedral of Iquitos, the Iron House, the Old Hotel Palace, and Cohen House. Other landmarks are the Plaza de Armas; Jiron Prospero, and the lively neighborhood of Belén, often dubbed the “Amazon Venice” for its many waterways.

Machu Picchu

Peru

Although not on the Amazon River, Machu Picchu is the most famous and popular of tourist attractions in Peru and often either included or offered as a pre- or post-cruise extension, on most Amazon River cruise itineraries. Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru, above the Urubamba River valley. Built in the 15th century and later abandoned, it is famous for its sophisticated dry-stone walls that fuse huge blocks without the use of mortar, intriguing buildings that play on astronomical alignments, and panoramic views. Its exact former use remains a mystery. This is a necessary add-on and often included in Amazon River cruise vacations.

Requena

Peru

Requena is a small town in the Loreto Region in northeastern Peru. It is the capital of both Requena Province and Requena District and has a population of less than 20,000. The culture of the city is deeply rooted in the native peoples of the area such as Cocama and Matses, with some Brazilian influence. This river town in the Amazon jungle is a quaint stop on your river cruise where you can interact with indigenous locals and find unique art crafts for sale along the river front.

San Martin de Tipishca

Peru

San Martín of Tipishca is a community deep in the Pacaya Samiria Natural Reserve of Peru. Pacaya Samiria is also known as the Jungle of Mirrors due to the jet black of its waters that perfectly reflect the vegetation along the river. A town of legends and indigenous people of the region, San Martin de Tipishca is worth visiting to explore and interact with friendly locals and perhaps buy some unique locally made hand-craft items to take home from the Amazon.

Nauta

Peru

Nauta is a small town in the northeastern Loreto Province in the Peruvian Amazon, 30 miles south of Iquitos, the provincial capital. Nauta is located on the north bank of the Marañón River, a major tributary of the Upper Amazon, a few miles from the confluence of the Río Ucayali. Established by Manuel Pacaya–Samiria, a leader of the indigenous Cocama peoples, following the 1830 uprising at the Jesuit mission of Lagunas, Nauta soon became the primary commercial hub of the Peruvian Amazonian lowlands. In 1853, a Brazilian owned paddle steamer made it all the way to Nauta from the Amazon.

Your Amazon River Cruise Awaits!

Are you ready to start planning your Amazon River Cruise Vacation Your Way? A River Cruise Artist at River Cruise Your Way is ready to be your vacation concierge. Contact us today at 1-800-259-7612 or use the form below and let us know when it is most convenient to call you, we will confirm via e-mail, and then reach out at the agreed upon time and date.