Gliding across the silky Amazonian waters, the Aria Amazon looks like something from a dystopian film – a dark, sleek machine, built with large slabs of glass reflecting the shimmering glint of the tropical sun, as it cruises amongst the pink dolphins and beautiful wildlife of the rainforest. For a true exploration into the natural world, Aqua Expeditions curate authentic tours amongst waterways around the globe, and this river cruise showcases the luxury on board, as guests are immersed into Southern America’s incredible natural beauty.

The bats that swoop across the sundeck, the monkeys jumping from branch to branch right outside your floor-to-ceiling window, and the twittering of birds throughout the day, makes it almost impossible to turn your head away from the world outside the ship to enjoy the relaxing experience on board. In fact, the experience aboard an Aqua Expeditions River Cruise is exactly one which focuses on the beauty, wildlife, and world outside the boat, as guests on board feel so close to the wildlife outside, almost within touching distance, considering the Aria Amazon cruises along some narrow river branches.

The picture perfect environment attracts your attention from your own bed, which faces your room’s fourth wall – an entire window overlooking the Amazon. The Aria Amazon excursions which allow guests to further adventure with the wildlife are paced luxuriously, allowing you to truly amaze and wonder from the comfort of the boat before stepping off to tread amongst the kapok trees. The panoramic views from the sundeck are the perfect backdrop as you relax and rejuvenate listening to the wash of the waves, birdsongs and insect chirps. Almost like taking a rainforest safari aboard the luxury and privacy of a cruise ship, the Aria Amazon homes only an exclusive 16 suites, each designed with natural colours, polished local timber floors, and Peruvian cotton sheets camouflaging into the beautiful background of the wildlife.

Whilst the ship may seem small, and needs to be to navigate along the narrow waterways of the Amazon, the features on board equate to any other luxury cruise, with an outdoor jacuzzi, massage rooms and more. Alongside all this from within the ship, the activities available to explore the Amazon, such as mountain biking, fishing for piranhas and kayaking, are truly one of a kind.

Aside from the view from your bed, of the waves, the birds twittering amongst the greenery, the monkeys swinging from branch to branch, a highlight of a cruise in such a natural area is the stargazing in the clear, unpolluted sky above the deck. Alongside the sounds of the crickets, and the soft swash of the surrounding waters, the peace onboard creates a lasting memory of relaxation.

One of the most attractive features of this luxury river cruise is the sustainability promoted, not only through the teaching and learning aspects, but also through the facilities on board. For example, the Aria Amazon features a water treatment plant, as well as fuel-efficient engines – a vast step towards the future of sustainable travel.