Jungle Expeditions (Quiñones 1980, tel. 065/26-1583, www.junglex.com) cruises the Amazon with six elegant, five-star boats that look as if they were transported right out of the 19th century.

Nine-day tours of the Pacaya-Samiria reserve start at US$2,800 pp and include deluxe air-conditioned cabins, professional guides, and gourmet meals served in a grand dining room. During the evening, drinks are served on the upper canopy deck. The trips spend a night or two at La Posada Lodge, the company’s upscale rest stop on Río Marañon, with the opportunity to visit both flooded and terra firma forest.

The company offers a range of other trips as well to the south of Iquitos. Jungle Expeditions only accepts passengers through its Lima booking office or the U.S.-based International Expeditions (tel. 800/643-4734, www.internationalexpeditions.com).