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Delfin III

The Delfin III, the first Relais & Chateaux cruise in the world, is one of the newest luxury vessels cruising Peru's Amazon. On board this 22 all-suite ship, the rainforest is never far away, yet 5-star comforts and conveniences abound on board. Explore one of the wildest and bio-diverse places on earth while enjoying luxury aboard this intimate yet spacious vessel. Spend time relaxing on the open-air sun deck, take a dip in the refreshing plunge pool, or take a cooking class in the indoor lounge. 

Taste a Pisco sour at the ship's bar or pamper yourself with a spa treatment of Amazon elixirs. It truly is luxury at its finest. Experience famed Peruvian cuisine as well as conventional favorites prepared by an expert culinary staff using locally sourced ingredients. Indulge in exceptional menus featuring roasted meats, grilled fish, savory vegetables, sun-ripened tropical fruits, decadent desserts, and free-flowing wine during dinner. The Delfin III's expert Naturalists guide you to explore the small Amazon tributaries, flooded forests, and jungle villages along the river, and introduce you to the locals who call the Amazon home. 

Enjoy cultural performances on board, as well as Naturalist presentations about the diverse ecosystem. Off the ship, you'll visit the Lost City of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Cusco, and Lima. Please note: For the few rivers not sailed by Avalon Suite Ships®, we carefully select only the best river ships that meet our high standard of excellence in quality, comfort, and amenities. Avalon personally selected the Delfin III to deliver the exceptional experience cruisers have come to expect from Avalon Waterways.

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Accomodation Types

This spacious and indulgent ship boasts an intimate atmosphere with only 22 suites, allowing a maximum of 44 guests on board. Each of these luxury suites features en-suite sitting areas, individual air conditioning, polished and sustainable wood flooring, and floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that frame the Amazon Jungle in the backdrop.

Owner's Suite

Corner Suite

Upper Suite

Suite

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Deck Plans

This spacious and indulgent ship boasts an intimate atmosphere with only 22 suites, allowing a maximum of 44 guests on board. Each of these luxury suites features en-suite sitting areas, individual air conditioning, polished and sustainable wood flooring, and floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows that frame the Amazon Jungle in the backdrop.

Observation Deck

Upper Deck

Main Deck

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Dining

Experience famed Peruvian cuisine as well as conventional favorites prepared by an expert culinary staff using locally sourced ingredients. Indulge in exceptional menus featuring roasted meats, grilled fish, savory vegetables, sun-ripened tropical fruits, decadent desserts, and free-flowing wine during dinner.

Main Dining Room

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Entertainment

Enjoy cultural performances on board, as well as Naturalist presentations about the diverse ecosystem. Off the ship, you'll visit the Lost City of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Cusco, and Lima.

Lounge

Sun Deck

Open Air Covered Lounge

Bar

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Enrichment

The Delfin III’s guides and crew have first-hand knowledge of Amazon River wildlife, plants, and birds, as well as the history of this fascinating region of Peru. Each Naturalist onboard leads guests of the Delfin III on daily expeditions venturing deep into the Amazon’s tributaries aboard comfortable skiffs, and on foot into the sultry Amazon rainforest. True ribereños, or “river dwellers,” our English-speaking expert guides grew up here on the banks of the Amazon. Each guide knows the call of every bird and mammal and possess a native’s ability to spot a brown-throated three-toed sloth sleeping high up in the tree canopy, an anaconda slithering along the shoreline, and even the elusive capybara hiding in the high grass after nightfall.

Wildlife Watching Excursions

Each of the Naturalists onboard lead guests of Delfin III on daily expeditions aboard comfortable skiffs deep into the Amazon’s tributaries and on foot into the sultry Amazon rainforest. True ribereños, or “river dwellers”, the English speaking Amazon experts onboard grew up on the banks of the Amazon, and know every bird and mammal call as well as they do the sound of their mother’s voice. They possess a local native’s ability to spot a brown-throated three-toed sloth sleeping high up in the tree canopy, an anaconda slithering along the shoreline and even the elusive capybara hiding in the high grass after nightfall.

The black waters of the Yana Yacu Pucate River (a protected area within the Pacaya Samiria Reserve) will allow guests the chance to see parrots, hummingbirds, hawks, and “laughing” falcons. Spot pink and grey dolphins swimming below and red howler monkeys in the canopy above. Zoom-in on exotic spiders, dragonflies, butterflies, and tarantulas. Perhaps even catch glimpses of the endangered charapa turtle, spider monkey, giant river otter, or red macaw.

The largest wildlife preserve in Peru, Pacaya Samiria boasts more than five million acres of rich biodiversity. Throughout the day, expert naturalist guides will assist you in identifying flora and fauna from more than 527 species of birds, 102 mammals, 69 reptiles, 58 amphibians, nearly 300 varieties of fish, 1024 species of wild and cultivated plants, and innumerable classes of insects.

Onboard Experiences

Special onboard experiences are presented by local chefs, entertainers, artisans, and experts, designed to enrich your cruise.

Native Village Visits

Cruise up another tributary and visit the local community of Santa Ana Village. Here, guests will be treated to an enchanting dance performance by the children, with music provided by the parents. After the show, guests will have a chance to shop their arts and crafts market.

The Momon tributary leads to the village of the Bora people who maintain many of their original beliefs and customs. After coming ashore, guests will meet members of the Bora community, visit their ceremonial lodge (maloca), and witness an exhilarating, stick-thumping, traditional dance performance.

Iquitos City Tour

Upon arrival in Iquitos, you’ll be greeted by a member of the Amazon Discovery team. A short, air-conditioned, motor coach ride takes you through bustling streets where much of the city’s historical flavour can be seen in rickshaws, colourful tuk-tuks, and 19th century mansions financed by the rubber boom.

Originally inhabited by Amerindian hunter-gatherers, Iquitos was established as a port city during the Spanish Colonial era. In the late 19th century, an increase in demand for rubber drew large numbers of European immigrants to the area. While this “rubber boom” brought great wealth and commercial development, it also had a devastating effect on the native populations.

Upon arrival at Itaya River port, you’ll board the Amazon Discovery, then gather for cocktails and a celebratory welcome dinner as you make your way out of port and into the Amazon River.

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Health & Fitness

Rainforest Spa

Gym

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Kids & Teens

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Useful Information

Special Dietary Requirements

Guests should advise of any dietary or medical issues that may affect them during their holiday. In your MyAvalon, you can notify us in advance to ensure your special request will be accommodated. 

Dress Code

On our Mekong, Amazon, and Galápagos cruises, we recommend that guests forgo dressier attire completely due to warm, humid climates.

In short, wear exactly what suits you – and the discoveries you make onboard and off – best!

Additional tips to consider:

• While Avalon isn’t interested in cramping your style with a dress code, some excursions may require one (no knees or shoulders in some holy places; or no shorts during some evening events in ports-of-call, for instance).
• And if you fancy a dip in the whirlpool or pool (varies by ship), we ask that bathing suits are worn only on the Sky Deck.
• If you’re feeling fit for fun, we also want you to know that an Adventure Host will be your guide, at the ready for fitness activities, on all European cruises. Your host will not only lead daily workouts but can also help you pave your own path to wellness with biking, hiking and other, on-your-own adventures. Dress for your own fitness success!

Age Restrictions

In our many years of cruising experience, we have found that children under the age of eight typically are too young to fully enjoy a cruise holiday. Because of this and for the safety and enjoyment of all passengers, we do not accept children under eight years of age. In addition, please note that there are no special arrangements or activities for children on our ships.   

Smoking Policy

All ships have non-smoking interiors. Smoking is permitted only in a designated outdoor area of each ship. 

Accessibility

At Avalon Waterways, we strive to accommodate the needs of disabled and mobility-impaired travellers to the best of our abilities. However, we want to clarify that we may not always be able to fulfil every request due to certain limitations. While we make reasonable efforts to assist travellers, we cannot assume responsibility if we are unable to provide individual assistance in certain situations.

It's important to note that most of our transportation services are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. We encourage you to review our terms and conditions for further information regarding our services and their specific accommodations. To learn more about how we can assist you, please don't hesitate to contact us directly. We are here to address any questions or concerns you may have regarding your specific needs. 

Air Conditioning & Heating

All rooms on the ships are air conditioned and heated. All ships have individual controls in the staterooms.

Laundry

Laundry service is available on board for a modest fee. Check the price list in your stateroom. Clothes cannot be dry cleaned on board. For safety reasons, we ask that passengers do not iron their clothes in the staterooms as this is a safety hazard. Onboard laundry service will press your clothes for a fee. Laundry service is not available in the Galápagos.

Medical Facilities

Due to the proximity to land, onshore medical services can be called rapidly. On Amazon and Galápagos ships, first-aid-trained staff is available.

Onboard Language

The language on board is English. All staff, crew, and tour guides speak English. All announcements and commentary will be in English.

Onboard Payments

Peru uses Nuevo Sol (PEN) as their official currency; however, U.S. dollars are widely accepted. Credit cards are accepted in Peru, and you should have no problems using them in larger shops and restaurants. Visa and MasterCard are most accepted. Smaller shops may ask you to pay in cash or have a minimum amount required to use a credit card.