The World's Largest River System
Imagine sailing along the immense Amazon River, inspired by the sites and sounds of nature in one of the world's great adventure destinations!
The statistics about the Amazon region are staggering:
- The world's second longest river at 6,450 km (4,100 miles) from its source in the Peruvian Andes to the Atlantic Ocean - second only to the Nile River*.
- The world's largest watershed with more than 200 tributaries.
- The tropical rainforest measures 5.5 million square km (or over 2 million square miles) extending to 8 countries surrounding Brazil.
- The planet's most diverse ecosystem is home to millions of species of plants and animals.
Cruising the Amazon
You can cruise the Amazon River in style with Princess, Silversea, Crystal, Seabourn, Holland America and Regent Seven Seas. These cruise lines are deploying ships to the area in 2009 and 2010 on several different routes:
- One way sailings between Florida and the city of Manaus, Brazil, the capital of the State of Amazonas.
- One way sailings between Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires and Manaus.
- Longer cruises between Florida and Rio de Janeiro.
- On a complete circumnavigation of South America, or a segment of this voyage.
Sailings usually include at least one overnight on board in Manaus, the unique, European-style city on the edge of the jungle, well worth exploring.
Ports and Excursions
As you sail from the Atlantic to Manaus, you'll pass or call at several ports along the way.
Macapá, Brazil
On the north bank of the mouth of the Amazon, Macapá is surrounded by the encroaching jungle of Brazil's rainforest. Visit Marco Zero Monument where the equator passes through the city, São José Fort (1782), the Sustainable Development Museum and the Botanical Gardens where you will see trees from the Amazon region and medicines made from roots, leaves and shells. This is a good place to buy indigenous artefacts like weapons made from local wood and ornaments of animal teeth and bone, bird feathers, seeds and natural fibres.
Santarem, Brazil
Dating back to 1661, Santarem has been a major river port since the days of the 19th century rubber boom. It was in the 1920s that Henry Ford developed the immense rubber plantations of Fordlandia and Belterra, carving them out of the jungle. The region's natural resources of timber, bauxite and gold have kept Santarem prosperous since then. From here take a one-hour cruise, passing the "Meeting of the Waters" where the Tapajós and Amazon rivers first meet and stopping at Maica Lake for bird and wildlife viewing or Piranha fishing! Take a rainforest walk in the Tapajos National Forest or visit the resort town of Alter do Chao.
Alter Do Chao, Brazil
Situated on the clear Tapajos River with beautiful white sand beaches, this is Santarem's weekend resort just 25 minutes from the city. See spectacular views of the Amazon River from the surrounding hills. Visit the arboretum with over 200 species of trees. The Center for the Preservation of Indian Art is home to an extensive collection of art from all parts of the Amazon Basin. You can hike into the jungle to the local open-air market.
Boca da Valeria (Amazon River), Brazil
This remote fishing village is home to 75 people who live surrounded by the Amazon rain forest. Experience their culture and see firsthand how the people of the Amazon live. Handmade crafts are for sale and it is customary to offer gifts to the villagers - pencils, pens, makeup, a baseball cap or souvenir T-shirt - in exchange for a tour of their homes.
Parintins
This small village is situated on Tupinambarana Island in the largest river archipelago of the mid-Amazon. It is home each June to the annual "Boi Bumba" folkloric festival, which rivals the Carnivale in Rio. The festival celebrates the town's centuries old Indian culture. A festival show featuring some elements of the "Boi Bumba" is held for visitors at other times of the year.
Manaus, Brazil
This sophisticated city of 1.5 million people, capital of the State of Amazonas, was established where the black waters of the Rio Negro meet with the tan waters of the Solimoes. In the heyday of the Brazilian rubber boom Manaus was the wealthiest city on earth beckoning the rich and famous from around the world. You might be surprised to find a duty-free zone with an electronics trade right in the heart of the Amazon, on the edge of the jungle. Another surprise is the city's most famous landmark, the Teatro Amazonas Opera House. This magnificent neo-classical theatre was designed by Portuguese artists to make European patrons feel at home. It has hosted the world's finest operatic performers since 1896. See its lavish interior on a tour, available Monday through Saturday.
Anavilhanas
This Archipelago and nature reserve on the Rio Negro tributary near Manaus, is the world's largest fresh water archipelago with 400 river islands. Seabourn offers a complimentary shore excursion at this spot visited by few cruise ships - a torchlit jungle dinner party featuring a barbecue, local entertainment, a campfire and an Amazon crocodile hunt by canoe.
Small Ship Cruising Options
Smaller river boats also ply the Amazon and its tributaries. One such cruise is offered by G.A.P. Adventures on the Rio Negro from Manaus. Guided jungle hikes, visits to a local village and a monkey jungle reserve are part of the trip.
It is also possible to see the Amazon tributaries in Ecuador or Peru with exploration by motorized canoe and a stay at a rainforest lodge. Sounds exotic, doesn't it?
Brazil Visa and Inoculation
- Canadian passport holders require a Visa for Brazil. This can take time to process so be sure to plan early for your South American adventure.
- A Yellow Fever vaccination is advised for the Amazon region. Cruise lines might not let you board the ship if you do not have proof of inoculation. Travellers should check with their cruise line and a Canadian Public Health Agency Travel Clinic for advisories and up to date information at least six weeks prior to travelling.
* This fact has recently been disputed by scientists who believe the Amazon is now actually longer than the Nile.
By Susan Milne
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