Aqua Nera’s Epic Voyage from South East Asia to South America
The launch date of our newest vessel Aqua Nera draws closer every day and we await with excitement her arrival at the port of Iquitos, the base of our operations in the Peruvian Amazon. But before she can wow us with her spectacular presence on the Amazon river, Aqua Nera will embark on a never-done-before transoceanic adventure from Vietnam in South East Asia to Brazil in South America.
Currently docked in District 2 of Hai Minh Shipyard in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Aqua Nera is one-of-a-kind in the world of small ship expeditions. Custom-built following the success of sister vessel Aqua Mekong, this state-of-the-art vessel was designed by award-winning architects Noor Design, inspired by black water lagoons of the Peruvian Amazon and the colorful cultures of Peru, Spain, and Portugal. Each of the vessel’s 20 design suites and spacious interiors has been crafted to perfection, combining refined elegance with a touch of drama and a strong sense of place.
June 29, 2020, marked Aqua Nera’s first milestone, as she entered the waters of Vietnam for the first time. Following Vietnamese tradition, this day was specially chosen based on the Zodiac calendar, bringing good fortune to the new launch.
Aqua Nera’s ceremonial inauguration was held in a solemn Buddhist blessing tradition with the virtual participation of Aqua Expeditions’ CEO & Founder, Francesco Galli Zugaro, who commended the shipyard workers for their outstanding job building a world-class vessel in the record time of under one year, all the while attaining the highest standards in navigation, safety, and technology.
Aqua Nera will depart from Vietnam on August 31, 2020, making her 35-day journey from Ho Chi Minh via a specially reserved heavy-lift transport vehicle and delivered in Belém, Brazil, some 9,233 nautical miles away.
Once arriving in Brazil, Aqua Nera will continue her journey to Iquitos, sailing upriver along the mighty Amazon in a modern-day ‘Fitzcarraldo’ odyssey – a reference to Peruvian rubber baron Carlos Fitzcarrald’s real-life feat of transferring his disassembled steamship over the Isthmus of Fitzcarrald during the 19th-century rubber boom. This epic endeavor inspired German director Werner Herzog’s film “Fitzcarraldo”, winning him Best Director at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival.
Stay tuned as we continue to take you through Aqua Nera’s most exciting features leading up to her highly anticipated launch in June 2021. From some of the most unique design pieces onboard to the exotic flavors and textures of the rainforest-to-table dining experience by Chef Pedro Miguel Schiaffino, we will reveal what makes Aqua Nera the epitome of luxury expeditions in the Peruvian Amazon.
Aqua Nera will cruise alongside the Aria Amazon, taking guests into the depths of the Peruvian Amazon in the comfort of luxury. The vessel is slated to enter service in June 2021 and offer three-, four- and seven-night river expedition itineraries with rates ranging from USD$4,125 to USD$10,325 per person in double occupancy.
You can learn more about Aqua Nera here.
