With new Amazon river sailings from the likes of Explora Journeys and Holland America Line, Laura French gives her top tips
Need to know
The draws: As one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, the Amazon is a dream for nature-lovers and there’s no better way to explore its winding tributaries, wildlife-rich rainforest and remote, centuries-old villages than from the water.
Exploring by ship gives travellers the chance to visit hard-to-reach communities and glimpse a plethora of wildlife – from jaguars to macaws to glass frogs – all while learning about indigenous cultures from in-the-know guides. Clients will find plenty of adventurous excursions too – from kayaking and canoeing to trekking, piranha fishing, biking and more.
The lines: Viking Cruises, Explora Journeys, Seabourn, Silversea, Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises all sail the Amazon in Brazil, while Holland America Line has just added new sailings here too. Aqua Expeditions and Avalon Waterways offer smaller-ship explorations on the Peruvian Amazon.
The ports: In Brazil, key ports of call include the cities of Macapá, Santarém and Manaus. Several cruise lines visit the villages of Parintins and Alter do Chão, as well as Boca da Valeria – an indigenous hillside community that’s home to fewer than 100 inhabitants.
Peruvian cruises depart from Iquitos and explore the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, where spider monkeys, pumas, coatis, manatees and red macaws are among the species to spot.
Top tips
Distinguish between small and big ships: It’s important to find out what kind of experience your clients want. If it’s a big-ship experience where the Amazon features as part of a longer trip, the likes of Holland America Line might be the best bet.
If they want a smaller-ship experience, look at Aqua Expeditions: its ships Aqua Nera and Aria Amazon have 20 and 16 suites respectively. Some lines such as Seabourn also carry Zodiacs to take guests into the smaller rivers and tributaries.
Encourage clients to be flexible: For the best wildlife-spotting opportunities, it’s important to remind clients to be flexible, says Jen Martin, Seabourn’s director of product development for expeditions. “Flexibility is essential.
We have purposely kept the locations vague to maximise our ability to be flexible and offer the best experiences as they come,” she says. “There is an initial plan in place, but we don’t want to lock ourselves into the specifics.”
Target new-to-cruise customers: Sailing the Amazon is far from your traditional cruise, so it’s an excellent opportunity to entice first-time cruisers. Highlight the adventure aspect; excursions range from jungle treks and bird-watching trips to moonlit cruises in search of caiman.
Oceania offers an exclusive performance of the Amazonian folklore show Boi Bumbá in Parintins, while Viking offers a boat trip to an indigenous village for a traditional celebration.
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Gustavo Frazao
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