How many departures do you carry on this boat?

None at the moment, and we would rather say so than let you search. That is measured on our calendar. Your advisor can look for one with the line.

Where does this boat sail?

On the Peruvian Amazon and in the Pacaya-Samiria national reserve, out of Iquitos.

In 2020, at Hai Minh Shipyard, in Ho Chi Minh City.

Who designed the interior?

Noor Design Studio, on responsibly sourced dark woods.

Why does the size of the boat matter here?

Because the outings are made in small craft. Forty guests is the number beyond which they stop being possible without queuing.

Does this boat have a sister hull?

Yes, Aqua Mekong, from the same yard, delivered in 2014 and assigned to the Mekong.

Who owns Aqua Expeditions?

Ponant Explorations Group took a majority stake in Aqua Expeditions on 17 January 2025. The brand continues under its own name, as a standalone unit, and its founder Francesco Galli Zugaro remains a shareholder and its head. In practice nothing changes aboard for you: same crew, same boat.

How many boats are in the fleet?

Six boats: Aria Amazon and Aqua Nera on the Peruvian Amazon, Aqua Mekong between Cambodia and Vietnam, Aqua Blu in Indonesia, Aqua Mare in the Galápagos and Aqua Lares in East Africa and the Norwegian Arctic.

What is included in the fare?

The line sells fares described as all-inclusive, but we have not measured what they cover boat by boat and we will not assert it here. Ask your advisor for the written list before booking: it is the only answer that protects you.

Is a French-speaking guide available?

Aqua Expeditions guides work in English. If French matters to you, say so to your advisor before booking: some lines charter these same boats with French-speaking guiding and others do not, and it has to be checked departure by departure.

Is there a company page for Aqua Expeditions on this site?

Not yet. The address answers, but it is served by a generic template that shows every ship on the site instead of this house's six. We measured it and reported it; meanwhile the boat pages point to one another.

Who protects me if the trip falls through?

Your agency, and it alone. Voyages AquaTerra operates under a licence from Quebec's Office de la protection du consommateur, your payments pass through a trust account, and the compensation fund for travel agency clients covers your departure.

Is this a cruise or an expedition?

Both words apply and neither says everything. There are cabins, service and sit-down meals, as on a cruise. There are also daily outings in small craft, hours set by light and water rather than by a programme, and cancellations for reasons of nature. If you need a fixed schedule, this is not the right trip.

Aqua Nera

Q: What is the Pacaya-Samiria reserve?

More than two million hectares of flooded forest, in north-eastern Peru. You do not move through it in a large hull: you enter by narrow arms, in small craft launched from the boat, early in the morning and at dusk.

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Aqua Nera

The Aqua Nera is an Aqua Expeditions ship offering a luxury expedition cruise in the Peruvian Amazon, providing an immersive journey deep into the rainforest. It sails along the Ucayali and Marañón Rivers in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, showcasing exceptional biodiversity, wild landscapes, wildlife observation, and Amazonian ecosystems. The vessel features elegant suites, refined cuisine inspired by local flavors, personalized service, and guided excursions allowing guests to deeply connect with nature. This cruise emphasizes a responsible travel approach, combining understated luxury, adventure, high-end comfort, and sustainable exploration. It is particularly suited to travelers seeking a luxury small-ship expedition cruise focused on nature, local culture, and an authentic Amazon experience.

Itineraries of the Aqua Nera

Price and Availability Notice
Prices displayed are provided for informational purposes only. They reflect the rates in effect at the time of their most recent update and are shown in Canadian dollars, per person, based on double occupancy, unless otherwise specified.

Supplier rates, exchange rates, taxes and fees, room or cabin categories, and promotions are subject to change at any time. The applicable price is the one confirmed by a travel advisor at the time of booking, subject to availability. Only the confirmed price shall be considered valid.

It is the traveler's responsibility to confirm the price, inclusions, and applicable terms and conditions before making a reservation. While every effort is made to keep our content up to date, transmission, display, or pricing errors may occur. In such cases, the correct price will be communicated to the traveler before any booking is confirmed. Certain terms, restrictions, and exclusions may apply.

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decks plans

Deck 3

Upper Deck Games Room, Indoor and Outdoor Lounge, Plunge Pool, and Movie Screening Room

Deck 2

Second Deck Design Suites, Boutique, Galley, and Dining Room

Deck 1

First Deck Design Suites, Spa, Infirmary

Technical specifications

Passengers: 40
Decks: 3

Aqua Nera: twenty suites on the Peruvian Amazon, and no departure on our calendar right now

Aqua Nera climbs the Peruvian Amazon and the Pacaya-Samiria national reserve out of Iquitos. We carry no departure on this boat at the moment, and we would rather say so in the first line: that is measured, not assumed. Your advisor can look for one with the line.

The hull

Delivered in 2020 by Hai Minh Shipyard, in Ho Chi Minh City, like her river sister. Sixty-two metres by twelve, three decks, twenty suites, forty guests. The interior is by Noor Design Studio, built on responsibly sourced dark woods. She is the newest boat the house has on the Amazon.

Pacaya-Samiria, and why size matters

The reserve covers more than two million hectares of flooded forest. You do not move through it in a large hull: you enter by narrow arms, in small craft launched from the boat, early in the morning and at dusk, when the howler monkeys answer one another from bank to bank. Forty guests is the number beyond which those outings stop being possible without queuing.

The house changed hands

Ponant Explorations Group took a majority stake in Aqua Expeditions on 17 January 2025. The brand continues on its own, and Francesco Galli Zugaro, who founded it, remains a shareholder and its head. Ponant has been sold in Quebec for a long time; it is not the same product, it is the same group.

The other boats in the fleet

Aria Amazon works the same water, smaller: sixteen suites against twenty. Aqua Mekong is this boat's exact sister, on another continent. And Aqua Lares takes the house where it had never been: East Africa, then the Arctic.