Amazon
Peru & Brazil
The Amazon is the largest river in the world by volume, carrying nearly a fifth of the world's river water through the rainforest of Brazil and Peru. River cruises here trade castles and cathedrals for extraordinary wildlife and remote riverside communities, sailing past flooded forests, tributary lakes, and jungle villages accessible only by boat. Expect close encounters with pink dolphins, monkeys, and exotic birds alongside visits with the riberenos who call the riverbanks home.
Because there are no locks, dams, or grand river ports to speak of, Amazon cruising is done aboard small expedition ships of 20 to 40 cabins, built for shallow water rather than ballrooms, with kayaks, skiffs, and naturalist guides standing in for conventional shore excursions. High water season, roughly December through June, floods the forest and lets ships push deep into flooded channels that are impassable the rest of the year; low water, from July through November, exposes riverbank beaches and concentrates wildlife around shrinking pools, which many guides consider the better season for sightings.
Ports of Call
Parintins, Brazil
Situated on Tupinambarana Island, in the mid-Amazon archipelago, this 200 year-old town is shrouded by dense rainforest and accessible only by boat or plane. Despite its remote location, Parintins sees massive visitation in June each year, when it hosts the impressive Boi Bumba festival, held in the purpose-built BumboDromo stadium. From port, it is only a short walk into Parintins to explore shops and the local flea market, where you will find handmade woodworks, beads, masks, and other crafts.
Manaus, Brazil
The Amazon's most removed navigable port, lying 1,000 miles from the sea, Manaus is known as the Jungle City. The city's heyday was in the late 19th century, courtesy of the Brazilian rubber trade, and features from that era, including lovely Belle Epoque mansions and the stunning Teatro Amazonas Opera House, have now been restored. If you're up for something more adventuresome, make a riverboat excursion to see the Meeting of the Waters, the point at which the dark waters of the Rio Negro meet the light, sandy waters of the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon.
Santarem, Brazil
This town some 500 miles up the Amazon was founded by a group of Confederates who were fleeing the Civil War in America. Santarem is still a bastion of the rubber trade. Another interesting spot is Maica Lake, an outlet of the Amazon surrounded by flooded forest (igapos) and home to many exotic creatures. From the water, you will get ideal views of the stilt houses along Santarem's waterfront.
Boca de Valeria, Brazil
This tiny village, whose name is literally "Mouth of the Valeria River", accommodates cruise ships so that travelers can take in a taste of the indigenous lifestyle. Its 100 or so inhabitants live in a river-centric style, traveling by canoe and building their homes on stilts lining the waterfront.
The Anavilhanas Islands, Brazil
Mostly uninhabited and often submerged, the islands and their accompanying lakes, watercourses, and channels form a wonderland for wildlife. The area is filled with monkeys, amphibians, reptiles, and birds year round, and in the dry season, impressive creatures like pumas, jaguars, and tapirs are added to the mix.
Iquitos, Peru
Primarily an embarkation point and not much more, Iquitos sits on tourism's frontier. From Lima, Iquitos is a 1.5 hour flight. Then, depending upon your cruise line, you may have a 1.5 hour drive on winding jungle roads to the port village of Nauta.
The Pacaya-Samiria Reserve, Peru
Covering more than five million acres, this pristine swath of jungle and river is home to incredible flora and fauna. The reserve is bound by the Maranon and Ucayali rivers, which come together to form the mighty Amazon. As you sail through, you'll explore via kayak and skiff, spotting monkeys, sloths, exotic birds, and if you're lucky, the rare pink dolphins.
