andBeyond will launch its first river cruise experience, andBeyond Amazon Explorer, a state-of-the-art expedition yacht in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon in 2026.
The “sustainably designed” river expedition yacht will have 15 suites (two superior and one deluxe) and cover three- to seven-night journeys from Iquitos in Peru into the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
Interiors will reflect an “authentic sense of place inspired by local Shipibo-Conibo culture and featuring touchpoints of local Kené art”.
Onboard will be a spa, gym, ‘River Retreat’ relaxation area with a pool deck and lounge; interactive cooking station and an Explorer Centre for talks and briefings.
Expeditions will be led by expert guides and include skiff and kayak outings, wildlife spotting, piranha fishing, guided rainforest walks, and nocturnal adventures.
andBeyond is also developing a suite of community-led conservation initiatives, including river turtle protection, education support for local students, and Indigenous scholarships for local students.
andBeyond Executive Chairman and CEO Joss Kent says, “As we expand our portfolio in South America, the biological diversity of the Peruvian Amazon makes it the ideal destination for our brand of sustainable luxury tourism”.
“We believe that it is our duty to protect and preserve the world’s biodiversity hotspots, and this progressively designed new river expedition yacht will allow us to introduce our guests to this incredibly important habitat in a way that is both sensitive and yet truly immersive.
“We have very deliberately chosen this site [Iquitos] as our base of operations since the upper reaches of the Amazon River are best suited to the kind of expeditionary cruise that we are planning to provide for our guests.
“The river here is narrower than further downstream in Brazil and there is less river traffic. We have deliberately designed a yacht that is sleeker and more graceful than most of the other barge-style boats found this far up on the river, but that remains small enough to access the key navigable channels.”
“With the andBeyond Amazon Explorer as a base and using light skiffs for excursions, we are able to curate an intimate river experience that delves deep into the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, a massive conservation area of five million acres.
“We believe that we can bring tourism to this extraordinary area in a responsible way that highlights its beauty and diversity while still protecting it.”
andBeyond Amazon Explorer is currently under construction at the SIMA Shipyard in Iquitos and is due to set sail on 29 September 2026.
For more information, visit andBeyond.
