132 133MANIFESTO JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2013

Outdoorsy types, forget about the backpacking. Explore new territories like the good ol’ days –

Christopher Columbus-style.

SHIP AHOY!

TEXT: Kee

138 139MANIFESTO JANUARY & FEBRUARY 2013

The Amazon River in South America is the second longest river in the world but it is arguably the most mysterious. Over 5,500 species of fish are said to populate the water’s depths which is twice the number known in the Atlantic Ocean. And that’s not even including the birds and mammals that occupy the Amazon Rainforest. Aqua Expeditions were the first to offer a cruise down the river, accommodating guests for a three-, four- or seven-night stay in one of their motorised luxury river boat that set sail from Iquitos in Peru. The 45-metre, double-deck Aqua Aria, launched in 2011, is one of the new kids on the block by Peruvian designer Jordi Puig. It accommodates up to 32 guests in 16 designer suites, each with its own unobstructed view of nature and its inhabitants. For adventure seekers, indulge in a seven-day cruise that entails a nature expedition like no other in the region. Chart a journey along the Amazon River’s three powerful tributaries (the Marañón, the Ucayali, and the Puinahua) and visit several mystifying blackwater rivers. Other activities include visits to the local tribes, breakfast with pink dolphins and piranha fishing. Such a trip down the Amazon is highly recommended in the December to May period – also known as the rainy season – as there are more opportunities to spot various species of birds and mammals. And if you’re lucky, perhaps a river monster too.

www.aquaexpeditions.com

RIVER WILD

Aqua Aria, Peru

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