Amazon river cruises in 2026
An Amazon river cruise is a stay on a boat, with day and night excursions in smaller boats and on foot. In Peru, ships sail on the Marañón, the Ucayali and the Amazon, and many programs call at the Pacaya-Samiria area. In Brazil, ships leave Manaus for the Amazon and Solimões or for the Rio Negro. A ship does not run from Iquitos to Manaus to Belém on a fixed 2026 schedule, so plan each cruise as a trip of its own.
The prices below are per person, listed for 2026. The Peru prices assume two sharing a cabin. The price per night is the package price divided by the number of nights, so you can compare trips of different lengths.
Our picks: cruises and river passages
The Rio Negro cruise is the guided option with excursions and all main meals. The local boat to Belém is transport with a hammock or cabin, for travellers who want the river itself.
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 cruise, 3 or 4 days
- Cabin or hammock by option
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Bilingual local guide
Two or three nights on board in a cabin or hammock by option, with all main meals and guided excursions, piranha fishing among them.
Check availability →
Local boat from Manaus to Belém
- Cabin or hammock space
- Pickup and port transfer
- Drinking water
A five-day passage on a local transport boat, not a guided cruise, with a cabin or a hammock space. Meals cost about $15 a day extra.
Check availability →Amazon river cruises and boat trips
Multi-day river cruises and boat excursions from Iquitos and Manaus, with live prices and availability.
Cruise prices compared
Per person, 2026. Each row is a separate product, so look at the price per night as well as the total.
| Cruise | Route | Nights | Price per person | Per night (calculated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peru adventure ship, standard to superior | Nauta, Marañón, Ucayali | 3 | $1,947 to $2,194 | $649.00 to $731.33 |
| Peru adventure ship, standard to superior | Longer program | 6 | $3,795 to $4,254 | $632.50 to $709.00 |
| Peru luxury ship, regular dates | Peruvian Amazon, Pacaya-Samiria | 3 | $3,860 to $4,020 | $1,286.67 to $1,340.00 |
| Peru luxury ship, holiday dates | Peruvian Amazon, Pacaya-Samiria | 3 | $4,230 to $4,390 | $1,410.00 to $1,463.33 |
| Manaus cruiser, Amazon route | Amazon and Solimões | 2 (3 days) | $1,330 | $665.00 |
| Manaus cruiser, Rio Negro route | Rio Negro, Anavilhanas | 3 (4 days) | $1,775 | $591.67 |
| Manaus cruiser, both routes | Amazon, Solimões, Rio Negro | – | $2,670 | – |
For most travelers who want a first cruise at a lower price, the Manaus short cruise is the cheapest way in. Choose a Peru ship if you want the upper Amazon, its side rivers and the Pacaya-Samiria area. Choose the luxury ship if you want a higher-end boat and accept roughly twice the price per night.
Amazon river cruise Peru
Boarding in Nauta, not always in Iquitos.
Peru programs include a transfer from Iquitos to Nauta, boarding in Nauta, and a route on the Marañón and Ucayali, with a visit to the Yarapa and the junction of the Ucayali and Marañón. So a cruise sold as "from Iquitos" does not always board in Iquitos. Ask where and when you board, and plan your arrival in town and the transfer by road to Nauta. The luxury ships cover the Peruvian Amazon and the Pacaya-Samiria area. Read more about the city on the Iquitos page and the reserve on the Pacaya-Samiria page.
Amazon river cruise Brazil
Short cruises from Manaus.
From Manaus, cruises follow the Amazon and Solimões route or the Rio Negro route, which includes the Anavilhanas archipelago. Programs include small-boat trips, forest walks, bird watching and night trips to watch wildlife along the shore. They do not promise sightings. Some Manaus programs also include piranha fishing in the late afternoon near Lago Janauacá, a visit to the Meeting of the Waters with the Janauary area, and a view of the harbor and market on the way back. Use these as an idea of the content and ask your provider for the actual day plan. For river cruises across the wider Amazon region, see this river cruise guide.
Season, high water and low water
What changes the price and the route.
Seasons and fares
Peru ships call December high season and October and November low season, but the fare can stay the same. On luxury ships high water runs from December to May, and a holiday supplement is separate from the water level.
Low water in 2026
Scenarios from the Brazilian geological service show low-water levels at Manaus for 2026, not a fixed record drought. A gauge reading is a height on a gauge, not the depth of the river.
Best time to visit →Routes follow the river
Cruise routes can change when the river is low. Before you book, check which route runs at your dates and what happens if the route changes.
What the price leaves out
These examples do not cover tips, flights, individual transfers or conditions for children and cancellation. Ask what else your booking adds.
Amazon river cruises: frequently asked questions
How much is an Amazon river cruise?
In the 2026 examples here, per person: $1,330 for 2 nights from Manaus, $1,947 to $2,194 for 3 nights on a Peru adventure ship, and $3,860 to $4,390 for 3 nights on a Peru luxury ship. The price per night runs from about $592 to $1,463.
Does a cruise really start in Iquitos?
Not always. Several Peru programs transfer guests from Iquitos to Nauta and board there. Confirm the boarding point with your provider.
Can I cruise from Iquitos to Manaus or Belém?
There is no single through cruise from Iquitos to Manaus to Belém with a fixed 2026 schedule. Plan the Peru and Brazil parts as separate trips, and look at the getting there page for passenger boats.
When is the best time for a cruise?
December is high season on Peru ships, and holiday dates cost more on a luxury ship. High water runs from December to May. Check your dates and see the best time page.
Is amazon-river.org a cruise line or an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide with no link to any cruise operator, government or tourism authority.