In a time when the word “luxury” is bandied about like a tourist map in a monsoon, it’s refreshing to see someone get it right. And that someone is &Beyond, the conservation-minded travel company known for its safari smarts and elegant restraint.

Now, unveiling its newest endeavour — a sleek river yacht called the Amazon Explorer — the company is taking its first bold leap into the heart of the Peruvian Amazon.

Due to set sail on 29 September 2026, the vessel is being assembled at the SIMA Shipyard in Iquitos. And let me tell you, it’s shaping up to be more than just a boat with beds. This is &Beyond’s love letter to Amazon — wrapped in timber, steel, and a generous helping style.

“The Peruvian Amazon offers one of the most bio-diverse frontiers left on Earth,” declared &Beyond’s Executive Chairman and CEO, Joss Kent, with the sort of reverence usually reserved for ancient temples and cricket at the MCG. “It’s a privilege—and a responsibility—for us to bring our signature brand of interpretive guiding and sustainability to this critical region.”

The River Less Travelled

Departing from Iquitos and weaving through Nauta into the mighty Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, the Amazon Explorer will offer three, four, and seven-night itineraries. These are no rushed affairs. Guests will cruise along gentle currents in an environment so rich in life that even the trees seem to breathe.

Unlike Brazil’s bustling lower Amazon, this stretch in Peru is delightfully quiet. It’s here that the river becomes more intimate, more personal. And that, according to Kent, is precisely the point.

“This segment of the river is not just less trafficked—it’s better suited to our expeditionary style,” he said. “We’ve opted for a sleeker, more refined vessel that moves with grace and leaves the jungle undisturbed.”

Indeed, this isn’t some floating motel chugging through the Amazon. This is a river-going belle, long on charm and short on compromise, designed to drift through tight bends with the elegance of a ballroom dancer.

A Floating Ode to Craftsmanship

The Amazon Explorer is being built with yacht design supremo Ken Freivokh and interior designer Adriana Hoyos. The result? A vessel that brings more than a hint of Riviera style to the jungle.

With only 15 suites onboard — including 12 luxuries, two superior and one rather stately deluxe — the yacht caters to just 32 guests. Think spacious layouts, locally inspired décor, and materials that whisper stories of Shipibo-Conibo traditions. From the geometric elegance of Kené patterns to the flora-mirroring palettes, it’s a masterclass in sense-of-place design.

In true &Beyond fashion, size isn’t about grandeur for grandeur’s sake. The smallest suites start at 33 square metres, while the most enormous sprawl over 80. But the luxury here isn’t found in excess; it’s in the thoughtfulness.

Not Just a Cruise, A Conversation

This isn’t one of those press-and-play holidays where the most meaningful interaction is with the dessert buffet. The Amazon Explorer encourages immersion. There’s a full spa and gym, naturally, but also a cooking studio for mastering jungle-inspired recipes and an Explorer Centre where talks and tales unfold with the guides.

Then there’s the River Retreat—a shaded deck inspired by high-seas beach clubs, where the pool shimmers and cocktails flow. It’s all about languid afternoons, binoculars in hand, as the Amazon whispers its secrets beyond the railing.

Guests will venture out in skiffs and kayaks, slipping into oxbow lakes and slinking through backwaters. Activities include sloth-spotting, piranha fishing, and torch-lit caiman encounters. It’s all expertly led by &Beyond-trained naturalists — a detail Kent insists makes all the difference.

“We’re known for the quality of our safari guides,” he says. “We’ll bring that same spirit to the Amazon — curiosity, knowledge and a sense of reverence.”

Over the coming year and a half, &Beyond’s guide training team will be on the ground, finessing a crew of local talent to meet the company’s exceptional standards.

Travel With a Purpose

Beyond its creature comforts and headline-grabbing design, the Amazon Explorer carries a deeper mission: to protect the very land it explores. Kent says, “It’s not enough to admire the Amazon’s beauty. We must be active in its preservation.”

To that end, &Beyond is investing in several community-led conservation projects, including one to boost native river turtle populations. Scholarships for local students and education programs for Indigenous communities are also being worked on.

This isn’t greenwashing; it’s a genuine grassroots effort. It’s tourism, not as an extractive force but a regenerative one.

A Logical Leap

For those familiar with &Beyond’s safari lodges and camps, this river yacht feels like a natural progression rather than a change of course. It brings the same luxurious simplicity and ecological integrity the brand has championed across Africa and Asia.

Whether it’s a paddle through the mist, a shared tale beneath a jungle sky, or a quiet moment on deck with nothing but birdsong for company, the Amazon Explorer promises to make travellers feel connected, humbled and, perhaps most importantly, inspired.

Because luxury, as &Beyond understands it, isn’t about five-star excess. It’s about five-star meaning.

Contact your favourite travel advisor or visit &Beyond’s website to learn more or begin planning your Amazon journey.

By Alison Jenkins

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