andBeyond launches luxurious Amazon Explorer yacht in Peru

Conservation-led luxury adventure company andBeyond has launched their latest project, a state-of-the-art river expedition yacht to be based in the Peruvian Amazon.

Boasting the ultimate in modern design and technology, the andBeyond Amazon Explorer is currently under construction at the SIMA Shipyard in Iquitos, Peru, and is due to set sail on September 29, 2026.

“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,” says andBeyond Executive Chairman & CEO Joss Kent. “We look forward to bringing our trademark brand of hospitality and interpretive guiding to the Peruvian Amazon.”

About andBeyond Amazon Explorer

The andBeyond Amazon Explorer will operate from the port city of Iquitos, through the smaller town of Nauta, and into the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve, located in the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, and will offer a selection of three- and four-night itineraries, as well as a full seven-night itinerary.​

“We have very deliberately chosen this site 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,” explains Kent. “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.”

15 luxury suites

Conceptualized in collaboration with renowned yacht architect Ken Freivokh and Adriana Hoyos Interior Design, the andBeyond Amazon Explorer combines the elegant lines of an ocean-going yacht with a small and relatively intimate size. The yacht will offer just 12 luxury suites, two superior suites and one deluxe suite, catering to a maximum of 32 guests.

Providing an extra sense of comfort, the suites will range from a spacious 33 square meters (355 square feet) in the luxury category to over 80 square meters (860 square feet) in the deluxe. As with all andBeyond properties, the interiors will reflect an authentic sense of place inspired by local Shipibo-Conibo culture and featuring touchpoints of local Kené art. The materials and design will reference not just the local culture but also the history, fauna and flora of the yacht’s surroundings, allowing the destination to become the star.

The guest experience

In addition to the extra spacious suites, the andBeyond Amazon Explorer will include a variety of innovative touches that bring more focus to the guest experience. Generous spa and gym areas will ensure that guests have the ultimate ability to relax and unwind while on board, and beautiful dining spaces will include an interactive cooking station that will allow for cooking demonstrations and classes.

The yacht’s Explorer Centre will provide an opportunity for guests to engage more deeply in the destination with informative talks by the guides, while the pre-expeditionary area will offer a comfortable place for briefings and preparations to embark on the yacht’s numerous excursions. Inspired by the Beach Club format of many ocean-going yachts, the spacious design of the andBeyond Amazon Explorer will also allow for the addition of the River Retreat, a leisure area that includes a pool deck and lounge where travelers can relax and take in the magnificent scenery.

The planned excursions will focus on exploring the river, its tributaries and the surrounding conservation areas. Guests will be able to reach deep into the rainforest using smaller boats known as skiffs or even kayaks. Additional activities will include guided walks, which provide the opportunity to look for sloth, fishing for piranha, birdwatching and even night-time expeditions to search for caiman, bats, frogs, snakes and nocturnal birds.

For more on the andBeyond Amazon Explorer, please contact your preferred travel provider or log on to andBeyond.com.