2026 Amazing Amazon Adventure

Being Gay in Peru

It is legal to be gay in Peru, but gay marriage is not yet legal.

Climate

The climate in Peru will vary depending on our location in the country. It will be cool in Lima in May, as it will be autumn then. We recommend long pants and a light jacket because, in addition to being cool (62°F/17°C by day and 52°F/11°C by night) it will also be damp. However, while we are on the ship in the Amazon, closer to the equator, temperatures will be much hotter (89°F/32°C by day and 71°F/21°C by night) and it will be more humid. The ship will provide each guest with a rain poncho and rain boots during short rain showers, but we also recommend bringing a light rain jacket to use while in Lima.

Currency

The monetary unit of Peru is the sol. Major credit cards are useful for paying for hotel extras and for shopping at larger stores. US dollars are not typically accepted in Iquitos or the Amazon region. You will need soles in small denominations (10s, 20s, and 50s) to purchase handicrafts in the Amazon. Additionally, where US dollars can be used, new bills are recommended. You may exchange money upon arrival at the Lima airport or at your hotel. You will not be able to exchange money or get soles in small denominations aboard the Delfin II. You can find the most current conversion rate at currency conversion websites such as http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

Major credit cards are useful in Peru for paying for incidental costs at hotels and for shopping at larger stores. Otherwise, we suggest you carry US dollars in small denominations for purchases at these venues.

Languages

Spanish is the national language of Peru, but English is spoken widely.

Celebrations: Birthdays, Anniversaries, Honeymoons, and More

If you will have a birthday or celebration during your vacation and have not already informed your Olivia Travel Consultant, please let us know as soon as possible, but no less than 90 days prior to the trip.

You can register at Olivia Honeymoon Wishes for your honeymoon, anniversary, or other special celebration; browse through the selections and let your friends know just how easy it is for them to purchase a gift for you.

Clothing

Plan on bringing clothes that cover your body.  Long sleeve shirts, long pants, socks that you can use to tuck your pants in. More packing tips will be in information sent closer to the trip.

Connect with Other Guests: Join the Facebook Group

If you'd like to chat with people who are going on the trip, join Olivia’s Facebook Group for the trip.

Passport and Visa

If you are a US, Canadian, or Australian citizen, the only document you will need is a passport that is valid for six months past the first date of the trip and has at least two blank pages. You will not need a visa.

If you are not a US, Canadian, or Australian citizen, please check with both your country’s consulate and the Peruvian consulate or embassy nearest you for visa requirements to enter Peru. You will also need a passport that is valid for six months past the first date of the trip and has at least two blank pages.

Precautions: Food and Water

Although the water and food are generally safe in Peru, occasional stomach upsets may occur, and we suggest that you ask your doctor to recommend antidiarrhea medication. We recommend that you drink only bottled or purified water throughout your trip. Bottled and purified water is available at the hotel and on board the ship.

Precautions: Mosquitos

Precautions should be taken to avoid mosquito bites while in the region. For several years, the CDC has published a travel watch regarding cases of chikungunya fever and a travel alert regarding cases of Zika (another mosquito-born viral infection) in the regions where you will be traveling. The CDC recommends that women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant take special care and consider postponing travel to any area where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. For more information, visit http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-travel-information and http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/chikungunya.

The CDC also recommends using a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)–registered insect repellent (bug spray) with 30-50% DEET (and a minimum of 20% DEET) to avoid contracting mosquito-borne illnesses such as Dengue fever. Please visit http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/peru for detailed health information. The CDC also has excellent information on avoiding mosquito bites at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/avoid-bug-bites. The EPA provides information on finding the appropriate insect repellent: https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you.

Specific Needs: Dietary, Medical, Mobility, and Other

If you have any medical, mobility, dietary, or other special requirements that you haven't yet shared, please reach out to [email protected] as soon as possible. To verify if we can accommodate your needs, kindly do so at least 90 days before your trip.

Vaccinations

All information supplied below regarding health precautions is from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). You can verify this information and obtain additional information on the CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov (just click on “Traveler’s Health” and then “Vaccinations”) or call them in Atlanta at 1-404-332-4559.

The CDC recommends malaria prophylaxis and yellow fever vaccination for travel to the Peruvian Amazon, as well as vaccines for hepatitis A and B and for typhoid. The CDC also recommends that these routine vaccines be up-to-date prior to travel: influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR vaccine), and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP vaccine).

If you are not traveling directly from the United States, please contact the CDC for specific information regarding travel to Peru from other countries. If you plan to travel to another country after your visit to Peru, please contact the CDC because some countries have vaccine requirements for travelers arriving from Peru.

Please remember we are a travel company and are in no way authorized to prescribe any inoculations or medications. We recommend that you consult your personal physician for medical advice, showing them the itinerary indicating the places you will be visiting. Your physician is most familiar with your personal medical history and is best qualified to determine your particular needs. It is always advisable to have physical and dental check-ups before you depart on a trip.

Valuables

Each room has a safe; however, we recommend you leave all valuables at home.

Air Travel

Airport: You will need to fly in and out of Lima, Peru, through Lima’s international airport, formally known as the Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) .

Flight Arrival and Departure Times

Arrival: Please plan to arrive at any time on May 9, 2026. Most flights arrive in the evening. The hotel check-in begins at 3 pm.

Departure: Flights from Lima can depart after 8:00 pm on May 17* or anytime on May 18. Hotel check-out is 12 pm May 18.

There are flights that depart Lima late in the evening of May 17 (for example, most US airlines have flights in the late evening). You can book a flight on May 17 any time after 8:00 pm, and we will have a day room for you instead of an overnight room. However, we do not suggest you book this same late-night flight for departure on May 18 (instead of May 17) because there would be a long wait between checking out of the hotel at noon and these flights.

Airfare Discounts: Save up to 15% on your airfare through our partner airlines. Airfare discount codes will be available approximately 330 days prior to the departure date. Please check back here for updates on discounts.

Luggage Allowances: Airlines often restrict (or charge) for excess baggage. Because each airline is different, and the regulations change over time, please check with your airline for baggage allowances.

Please note that there are luggage weight restrictions on the included flights between Lima and Iquitos. Each passenger may have one checked bag weighing no more than 23 kilos (approximately 50 pounds) and one carry-on weighing no more than 8 kilos (approximately 17 pounds).

If you are traveling prior to or after the trip and have additional luggage, you may leave behind excess luggage at the Wyndham Grand Airport Hotel. You can collect this luggage when you return to Lima at the end of the trip.

Transfers 

The hotel is directly across from the International Terminal. Transfers from the airport to the hotel are not included; however, you will be able to walk right across the street to the hotel. Transfers (and/or luggage assistance) from the Lima hotel to the Lima Airport, from the Iquitos airport to the ship, from the ship to the Iquitos Airport, and from the Lima airport to the Lima hotel are all included as needed.

Hotel

Our host hotel in Lima is the brand-new Wyndham Grand Airport Hotel which is scheduled to open in late 2025. Should you wish to arrive a day early or extend your stay, we will have information under our Vacation Stretcher tab approximately 11 months prior to the trip. This airport hotel was chosen because it is conveniently located within easy walking distance of Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport. All rooms have hair dryers, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion.

Because the Wyndham Grand Airport Hotel is at the airport, a cab is necessary to get to the beach and historic district, approximately 30–45 minutes away, depending on traffic. If you are planning to spend a little more time in Lima, we suggest you stay at a hotel that is closer to or in the Miraflores District and use this hotel only as the included hotel. TripAdvisor is a good source for hotels in the Miraflores district. The Miraflores District offers nice restaurants, places of interest to visit, the beach, and a beautiful promenade walkway along the ocean.

Hotel Check-In/Check-Out: Hotel check-in begins at 3 pm. Check-out is 12 noon.

Getting to Your Ship

After breakfast at the hotel on May 10, you will be taken to Lima airport for your flight to Iquitos. Once we arrive in Iquitos, we will transfer to the riverside town of Nauta (approximately 1 ½-2 hours) to embark the elegant Delfin II in time for dinner. (Program may change depending on flight times.)

Travel Agent Assistance

To assist with your pre- or post-trip plans, air, transfers and more, we recommend our LGBTQ+ Travel agent, Debbie Gudis at Go Travel: (877) 777-5210 or (408) 364-7300.

Air Conditioning

The ship is air-conditioned throughout. Each cabin has its own thermostat, allowing you to control the temperature level in your cabin.

Because of the high humidity in the Amazon rainforest, keeping the temperature extremely low inside the cabin can cause your cameras to fog up when it comes in contact with the warm, humid air outside. Slow acclimatization is healthier for your equipment. We recommend that, while on board the ship, you keep cameras on a table or on a hanger provided outside your room in a common area so it can remain at the same temperature throughout the trip. We recommend that you have a bag to protect your camera or to hang it on the wall. If you bring a computer, we recommend keeping a cloth on the keyboard when it is closed to help minimize condensation issues.

Electricity

110 V (standard US style) outlets are available in cabins.

Elevator

There is no elevator on this ship. All decks are accessible only by stairs.

Gratuities  

Gratuities are included in the cost of your trip. Gratuities go to the naturalists, cabin steward/stewardess, dining room staff, and other behind-the-scenes crew members.

Internet and Phone

Complimentary Starlink internet access is available as the service allows in the Amazon. Phone access is very sporadic and not reliable.

Laundry and Dry Cleaning

There is no dry-cleaning service on board, nor self-service laundry facilities. For an additional charge, the ship’s crew will handle personal laundry. We recommend quick-drying clothes and bringing a small amount of detergent to wash your clothes in your bathroom sink.

Masseuse

There is a masseuse on board for an additional charge.

Medical Services

There is a medic on board. Should there be an emergency, we will transfer to medical facilities by boat or by seaplane. The services of the onboard medic are complimentary.

Money: Paying for Things on Board 

Your on-board charges may be placed on your account. At the end of the voyage, you may settle your bill with US or Peruvian cash or with a credit card.

Rain Gear

As the Amazon’s verdant jungle is fueled by 200 inches of rain each year, we often see storms roll through the river basin. Each skiff is outfitted with ponchos and rain boots that are distributed as needed since light rain will not affect our plans to explore.

Restaurant and Hours

There is one restaurant on board. Meals are served buffet-style for breakfast and lunch. Dinner is served at the table. On this expedition, our shipboard chef prepares international cuisine with Peruvian and Amazonian flair, using fresh ingredients.

Each evening you will have a choice of two entrées, one of which is usually a local fish. Vegetarians can be accommodated. Dining hours are breakfast from 7 to 8 am, lunch from noon to 1:30 pm, and dinner from 7 to 9 pm.

 Skiffs

Key to our operation is our fleet of skiffs, which we use to explore the Amazonian waterways. The aluminum skiffs are 30 feet long, powered by four-stroke outboard engines, and capable of carrying 10 guests with ease.

Smoking Policy

The ship is completely nonsmoking except for a designated area of the exterior top deck.

Disembarkation

This morning you’ll be driven back to Iquitos airport for your flight to Lima. We will stop for a visit to the Amazon Rescue Center en route to the Iquitos airport.

Once we arrive in Lima, you will be taken to the hotel to check in where you will either stay overnight, or freshen up and collect your belongings for your flight home. Exact flight times from Iquitos to Lima will be announced in the final mailing.

Hotel

We will stay at the Wyndham Grand Airport Hotel on our return May 17. The check-out time is 12 noon on May 18. Dinner is on your own tonight.

Guests departing the evening of May 17 will have a day room to use as long as needed before their flight departure that evening.

Vacation Stretchers

We will not be offering vacation stretchers for this trip due to the small size of the trip. If you would like to explore Lima before or after the trip, we recommend TripAdvisor for hotel recommendations in the Miraflores District, which is a safer, nicer area of Lima. If you would like to add another day at the Wyndham Grand Airport Hotel, please check back for more information approximately 11 months prior to the trip.