New images have been shared of A&K Sanctuary’s 22-passenger riverboat Pure Amazon which set sail on the waters of Peru’s vast Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve earlier this year.
The vessel offers “intimate wildlife encounters across 21,000 square kilometres of protected Amazonian wilderness.”
Designed by Milan-based architect Adriana Granato, A&K Travel Group’s Artistic Director and Director of Studio Ibsen, Pure Amazon features “site-specific commissioned pieces” from Peruvian artists.
Granato describes the vessel as “a mysterious presence, its façade softly lit with spots that mimic firelight,” reflecting Pure Amazon’s commitment to elegance, sustainability, and reverence for the rainforest.
At the heart of the dining room hangs “Manto de Escamas de Paiche,” a striking installation by Venice Biennale artist Silvana Pestana. The piece features hand-crafted bronze and clay elements” put together to conjure the Amazon’s giant fish scales. Pestana’s works across the vessel explore environmental themes, particularly illegal gold mining’s impact, using materials like gold leaf and traditional textiles.
Every suite features authentic kené textiles by Shipibo-Konibo master artist Deysi Ramírez, whose intricate patterns represent cosmological maps. The BENEAI Collective also contributed exclusive hand-embroidered cushions with “20 unique compositions,” supporting Indigenous women artists and preserving their ancestral craft.
Sailing through the reserve, guests can witness pink river dolphins and three-toed sloths. Guided by expert naturalists, travellers might also spot giant river otters, piranhas and scarlet macaws.
Meanwhile, the Iquitos-based culinary team has created a nightly five-course tasting menu paired with Latin American wines. The bar celebrates Peruvian heritage with pisco cocktails infused with “coca leaf and dragon’s blood resin.”
Through A&K Philanthropy, Pure Amazon extends its luxury ethos to conservation and community engagement. Partnerships with Nueva Arica and Amanatari foster sustainable bio-businesses such as aguaje fibre and honey production. Guests also visit FORMABIAP which empowers Indigenous youth—especially women—through education and cultural preservation.
