Wildlife, rainforest, skiff adventures and luxury - could an Amazon river cruise be your next big travel experience?

At a glance

Best for: Wildlife lovers & adventurous luxury travellers

Ship size: 32 guests / 16 suites

Style: Immersive, nature & expedition-style

Wildlife: Birds, monkeys, sloths, caimans & more

Adventure: Moderate - skiffs, rainforest & exploration

Luxury: Luxury all-suite small-ship experience

When you think about a luxury cruise, the Amazon probably isn't the first destination that springs to mind.

The Mediterranean? Perhaps.

The Caribbean? Almost certainly.

But the Amazon?

Now we're talking about something totally different.

Because an Amazon river cruise isn't really about sailing from one pretty port to another, but the destination is the experience itself.

Imagine waking up surrounded by rainforest, heading out by skiff into smaller waterways in search of wildlife, hearing birds calling from the canopy, and watching the river change as the light fades.

And then, after your day of exploring, returning to a luxury ship, enjoying a wonderful meal, relaxing in comfort and knowing you don't have to pack your bag again tomorrow.

Adventure and luxury aren't necessarily opposites, and that's exactly what makes an Amazon river cruise so intriguing.

Why cruise the Amazon?

There are some destinations where the journey is almost as important as the places you visit, and the Amazon is one of them.

Rather than simply arriving somewhere, taking a few photographs and moving on, an Amazon cruise allows you to spend several days immersed in the environment.

It's a very different proposition from a traditional European river cruise, where you might wake up in a different historic town each morning and spend your day exploring castles, museums, markets and cafés.

Here, you're looking for movement in the trees, listening for unfamiliar bird calls and watching the riverbanks for signs of life.

You don't know exactly what you'll see, and that's part of the magic.

What is an Amazon river cruise actually like?

Forget the image of sitting on a ship all day watching the rainforest go past.

Although there is certainly something wonderful about doing exactly that, the real adventure happens when you leave the ship.

Days can include exploring by small skiff, venturing along narrower waterways, wildlife spotting with experienced guides and, depending on the itinerary, guided walks and opportunities to learn more about local communities and the environment.

And the timings of the day can be different from a conventional cruise, as it’s all focused on the rainforest.

You might head out early, when the rainforest is waking up, and later, return to the ship for lunch and some time to relax. Then perhaps head out again to explore a different area. There is no racing from one major attraction to another, you are in the attraction.

How do you explore the Amazon?

One of the things I would love about an Amazon cruise is that the ship is really your base camp for exploration.

By skiff

Small boats allow you to leave the main river and explore narrower waterways that the larger ship simply can't access, bringing you much closer to the rainforest and wildlife.

You can move quietly through the waterways, often with local guides who know exactly what they're looking for, and that local knowledge makes an enormous difference. What looks to you like a wall of green may actually be full of life.

On foot

Depending on the itinerary and conditions, guided walks can offer another perspective.

You'll learn about the environment, plants, wildlife and the relationship between the rainforest and the communities that live there.

From the ship

And then there's the simplest option of all: Stay onboard, sit somewhere comfortable, have a drink, watch the river and the rainforest.

Sometimes luxury travel is about doing absolutely nothing, and I’m not here to judge.

What wildlife might you see?

This is obviously one of the biggest attractions of an Amazon journey, and you won’t be disappointed. The region is home to an extraordinary variety of wildlife, including monkeys, sloths, caimans and an enormous range of birdlife, including macaws.

But there is something important to remember: Wildlife is wildlife.

There are no guarantees. You're not visiting an attraction where you know exactly what you're going to see and where it will be, you're entering their natural environment.

But where does the luxury come in?

This is where you get a nice surprise, because this isn’t an"Amazon adventure", where you’re roughing it in basic accommodation with hammocks, mosquitoes, and possibly wondering where the nearest decent shower is!

But an Amazon cruise can offer a very different version of adventure. A great example is Uniworld's Aria Amazon, an intimate all-suite ship designed specifically for exploring the Peruvian Amazon. With just 16 suites accommodating 32 guests, it is tiny compared with the vast majority of cruise ships, giving the intimacy of a small ship, comfortable accommodation and luxury facilities, while outside, you're surrounded by one of the world's most extraordinary natural environments. One minute you're exploring a remote tributary by skiff, and the next, you're back onboard enjoying a comfortable suite and a meal.

Is an Amazon cruise suitable for everyone?

No, I don’t think so, and I think that's important to say, because I don't believe every cruise is right for every traveller.

An Amazon journey could be wonderful for you if you:

Love wildlife and nature
Enjoy exploring somewhere rather than simply sightseeing
Have travelled extensively and want something different
Are looking for a genuine bucket-list experience
Like smaller, more intimate ships
Want adventure without sacrificing comfort
Are curious about other cultures and environments

But it may not be the right choice if your idea of a perfect cruise is spending your days beside a large swimming pool, visiting busy ports and enjoying lots of traditional cruise entertainment.

And if you're looking for guaranteed wildlife sightings, this probably isn't for you either.

Could you combine an Amazon cruise with a wider holiday?

Absolutely, why travel all that way to just do a 7 day river cruise?

Depending on your itinerary, you could potentially combine your Amazon experience with other parts of Peru or a wider South American adventure, like Lima, Cusco or Machu Picchu.

Also, you could add a pre-cruise extension, staying a few nights in Rio de Janeiro to see Christ the Redeemer Statue, Sugarloaf Mountain & Iguazu Falls.

OR…how about cruising the Galápagos Islands? Marine iguanas, giant tortoises, sea lions, penguins and incredible birdlife. Now that, is bucket-list territory. Too much? I don’t think so.

Basically, we can start with the river cruise, and build the journey around it.

So… is an Amazon river cruise for you?

If you've been following my travels and cruise recommendations for a while, you'll know I'm not really interested in simply finding another cruise to sell you, I'm much more interested in finding the right experience.

After more than 35 years in travel, I've learnt that some of the most memorable holidays are the ones that initially make you think: "I hadn't even considered that."

The Amazon is one of those destinations, it isn't necessarily the easiest or most obvious choice.

But if you're an experienced traveller looking for something different, love wildlife and nature, and don't want to sacrifice comfort and luxury to experience it, then it could be an extraordinary next adventure.

Still not convinced the Amazon is for you?

Well, here's a little reassurance from my Canadian counterpart, and friend, who has actually ticked the Amazon off his own bucket list and is a big believer in getting out there and exploring the world.

He wrote this on Facebook after I posted about the Amazon recently, and I thought, “Yep, he's got a point!” So I wanted to share it with you…

“Most people won't go to the Amazon because their preconceived notions about dangerous critters. You will not be attacked, you will not perish out there. The guides will get you up close in a safe, exhilarating way.”

Here is another amazing Amazon memory from one of my clients…

“I remember this so well...the sheer number of Cormorants that flew into the air, as we sped by. One morning we were out to see the early wildlife, and unbeknown to us, they surprised us with a beautiful stop on the way back to the ship, and the chef with his team, were anchored up with breakfast to be served to us outside....complete with trays and linen. It was such a magical moment, and surreal to be eating a croissant etc in the middle of the Amazon...But also, there was another surprise…Sunset cocktails. Ohh, how I loved that trip.”

Here are some of her pictures, used with permission.

But wait….

I’m going to throw a spanner into the works, because there’s more than one way to do the Amazon.

Amazon River Cruise vs Ocean Cruise: What's the Difference?

Here's something worth knowing if you're researching an Amazon cruise: Not every “Amazon cruise” is the same.

You can sail the Amazon as part of a much larger ocean cruise itinerary, or you can choose a small, specialist river expedition designed specifically around exploring the rainforest.

And while both can be fantastic ways to experience this extraordinary part of the world, the experience can be very different.

An ocean cruise that includes the Amazon

Some larger ocean-going ships sail from the Atlantic into the Brazilian Amazon, with ports such as Santarém, Parintins and Manaus featuring on longer South American itineraries. This can be a wonderful option if you want to combine the Amazon with a much wider journey.

You might be cruising the Caribbean or South American coast, then venture inland along the Amazon before continuing your voyage. But the Amazon is often one part of a much bigger cruise.

You'll still experience the mighty river and the surrounding region, but you're experiencing it from a very different perspective.

South-America yachting with Scenic, or another small-ship cruise line

A dedicated Amazon river expedition

Compare that with a small expedition-style river ship operating in the Peruvian Amazon, rather than the rainforest being one destination amongst many, it's the reason you're there.

Ships operating from the Iquitos/Nauta area can explore the narrower waterways and remote areas of the Peruvian Amazon, with excursions by small boats and guided experiences focused heavily on wildlife and the rainforest.

So which experience is right for you?

Neither is “better”, as it really comes down to what you want from the journey.

If you're looking for a grander South American voyage, love ocean cruising and want to experience the Amazon as part of a much longer itinerary, an ocean-going cruise could be an excellent option.

If the Amazon itself is the reason you're travelling, and you're particularly interested in wildlife, rainforest exploration and getting further away from the larger ports, then a dedicated small-ship Amazon expedition could be a very different proposition.

And this is why you should ask yourself “What do I want to experience?”

Two holidays can both be described as an Amazon cruise and yet deliver completely different experiences.

And that's where having someone who understands the difference can make all the difference when you're planning a trip like this.

Ready to go beyond the usual?

Perhaps the Amazon has been sitting quietly on your bucket list for years, or until now, you hadn't even considered it.

Either way, you don't need to know which ship, itinerary or cruise line is right for you before you get in touch, that's my job.

Tell me what you'd love to experience, how you like to travel, how adventurous you want to be and what matters most to you when it comes to comfort and luxury.

I'll research the options and help you find the right way to experience the Amazon, whether that's a dedicated small-ship river expedition, or an ocean cruise that includes the Amazon.

If the Amazon has just moved a little higher up your bucket list, let's talk.

START YOUR JOURNEY

Amazon River Cruises: What It's Really Like to Explore the Amazon in Luxury