Aqua Expeditions is a luxury expedition river cruise line sailing the Peruvian Amazon, Mekong River, the seas of Indonesia and the Islands of the Galapagos. They were the first adventure company to introduce five-star luxury cruises on the Amazon River in Peru and the first to operate a true superyacht in the Galapagos.
History of Aqua Expeditions
AdventureSmith founder and president Todd Smith has worked with Aqua Expeditions CEO Francesco Galli Zugaro since his days working with a boutique adventure cruise operator in the Galapagos Islands. Francesco has long dreamed of taking guests to one of the world’s most beautiful and remote regions – the Amazon River in Peru. In 2007 he fulfilled this dream by founding Aqua Expeditions.
Aqua Expeditions River Ships
The Lima, Peru-based tour operator operated its first custom built luxury cruise ship, the M/V Aqua (no longer in operation), which sailed round-trip from Iquitos, Peru, taking travelers on a luxurious journey to the sources of the Amazon, the remote Pacaya Samiria Reserve and beyond with outstanding wildlife viewing and shore excursions into the Amazon rainforest and jungle. In April of 2011, the M/V Aria joined the fleet as a second luxury cruise ship on the Amazon, custom built for Aqua Expeditions by Peruvian architect Jordi Puig to offer an extraordinary level of comfort for our guests. In 2014 Aqua Expeditions launched the Aqua Mekong, bringing their unique style of luxury river cruising to the Mekong River in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Aqua Expeditions in Galapagos
In 2022 Aqua Expeditions expanded into the Galápagos with the new 16-passenger super-yacht Aqua Mare. Aqua Expeditions’ fifth vessel holds special significance for company CEO and founder Francesco Galli Zugaro. He left Ecuador in 2006 to start Aqua Expeditions, but his dream was always to return to the Galapagos Islands with his very own luxury expedition ship one day. “It has been 15 years since we ventured to Peru as a family and then onward to Asia to finally come full circle with Aqua Mare back to where it all started.” – Galli Zugaro.
Why Choose Aqua Expeditions
Travelers who appreciate exploring wild places in luxury and style will enjoy a river cruise with Aqua Expeditions. Their specially designed river ships offer incredible views and very large accommodations combined with upscale service and five star cuisine. Of course high end ships attract the best expedition leaders and our clients always comment on the incredible level of knowledge of Aqua Expeditions’ guides.
Also of note, Aqua Expeditions has a commitment to conservation in every region in which they sail. In East Indonesia, Aqua partners with the Indonesia Manta Project, supporting the organization with underwater cameras to supplement their ongoing research. In Galapagos, Aqua partners with the Charles Darwin Foundation, providing support for the CDF’s Shark and Mangrove Ecology programs.
