The most intrepid Amazon cruises
This year’s World Cup has cast a spotlight on Brazil like never before. As the South American country raises its international profile, its tourism industry is gaining momentum too. And, given the vast offering available, it comes as no surprise.
From the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to the cultural hub of Sao Paulo – Brazil has an embarrassment of riches. But away from the country’s cultural megacities – further north – lies the vast Amazon River.
Spanning almost 4,350 miles, the mighty waterway runs through Colombia, Peru and Brazil – feeding the famous Amazon Rainforest.
It offers those taking a cruise along it a real spirit of adventure; the remote communities, dense wildlife and largest tropical rainforest on earth – conjuring up images of a time when the great explorers were filling in vast blank swathes of the map.
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite intrepid Amazon itineraries below.
15-day Caribbean Isles and Amazon
Ultra-luxury connoisseur Seabourn is running an exciting itinerary which is available as both a 15-day and 35-day voyage – depending on how deep your customers’ pockets are.
The 15-day voyage departs Fort Lauderdale, before heading through to Guadeloupe and Barbados and eventually the Amazon River. From there the ship will visit Curua Una, Santarem, Parintins and Manaus, the Amazon’s biggest city.
In Manaus guests can enjoy everything the city has to offer, as well as the famous Meeting of the Waters where the black Rio Negra waterway meets the Amazon River, running side by side for miles. All in the absolute lap of luxury too.
Prices from £3,999 per person
16-day Amazon Riverboat Adventure & Machu Picchu Explorer
Expedition firm G Adventures is offering something very special with this 16-day itinerary which takes in the likes of Machu Picchu, the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, an Amazon river cruise and a visit to the Sacred Valley – all in a single trip.
The excursion also includes a good chunk of free time to check out Lima, Peru’s capital city, as well as the country’s remote populations by plane, train, ship and trekking!
Not one for those looking for a flop and drop.
Prices from £2,649 per person
Aria Expedition Cruise
As soon as we heard that luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent was running an Amazon itinerary, we knew it was going to be something special.
The voyage is onboard the sublime 32-guest Aria, which features wall-to-wall panoramic windows in the over-sized suites, giving a great experience while sailing down the river.
Passengers will cruise from the small village of Nauta after a one-and-a-half hour drive from Lima and explore the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve and look out for pink dolphins, alligators and an array of other species.
The ship also has use of a skiff too, to explore parts of the flooded Amazon rainforest.
Price upon request
Ecuador in depth
Australian company Aurora Expeditions is hosting its inaugural Ecuador experience this year, in the remote Amazon tributary, the Napo River – and including a transfer to the Galapagos Islands.
Across 23-days passengers will ride motorised canoes through small lakes and backwaters creeks looking for giant otters, learn from local people and enjoy night-time stargazing.
There will also be a drive through the Avenue of Volcanoes before flying to the Galapagos and boarding a ship in Baltra and heading for Santa Cruz.
Guests will visit the Charles Darwin Institute as well as see main nesting site for sea turtles.
Price from £7,237
Amazon, West Indies & The Azores
A huge voyage here with CMV – 42-nights roundtrip from Tilbury which takes in seven Brazilian destinations.
From the UK, the ship will sail to Amsterdam, Lisbon, Madeira and the Cape Verde Islands. After that there is a six-day crossing with the ship making its first call in Amazonian city of Santarem.
From there it’s Boca de Valeria and two days in Manaus – the city in the heart of the Amazon and the farthest westerly point the ship will visit.
A great journey and an ideal opportunity to see a huge amount of Brazil.
Price from £2,999