At a glance
- There is no wrong time for an Amazon adventure – whichever season you choose to set sail, expect to share the river with some of the planet’s most spectacular creatures
- The Amazon River is more than 4,000 miles long, so unless you’re planning on channelling Slovenian Martin Strel (who swam the entire length in 66 days), you’ll need to pick a section
- Amazon River cruises typically include the services of expert guides who will accompany you on nature walks, canoe tours, piranha fishing excursions and village visits
- Ships of different sizes and levels of luxury ply the Amazon, so you’re sure to find a style and itinerary that matches your personality
What to know before you book
Named after legendary female warriors, the Amazon flows through Brazil, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador and is home to more than 30,000 plant species, 1,800 fish, 1,300 bird species, 311 mammals and 165 types of amphibians.
Keep your eyes peeled for pink river dolphins and giant otters swimming in the water, blue macaws swooping overhead and monkeys leaping nimbly from branch to branch as you glide past lily pads larger than humans.
The Amazon has two seasons – high water and low water – with very little difference in terms of wildlife seen between the two. Regardless of which season you choose, expect to get wet (it rains 200 days per year in this part of the world).
What makes a cruise ‘the best’?
At World of Cruising, our travel experts curate our 'best for...' guides by focusing on what makes a cruise the right fit for different types of travellers.
Do you prefer a big ship or a small one? Perhaps you’re travelling as a solo cruiser – or as a couple? Are you looking for wallet-friendly sailing or to cruise in the utmost comfort?
Whatever you’re searching for, there’s an Amazon River cruise ship for you. Here’s our guide to six different Amazon options, who they would appeal to and why.
Best for luxury: Anakonda Amazon Cruises
Why this cruise line?
Launched in 2013, Anakonda Amazon Cruises’ 40-passenger MV Anakonda – named after the large snakes found in the rainforest – is the only luxury ship to sail the Amazon in Ecuador.
More akin to an exclusive boutique hotel than a ship, MV Anakonda features 18 stylish suites replete with full-frame panoramic windows from which to watch the sun rise over the canopy of the rainforest and hear the forest come to life as dawn breaks.
There’s also a bar, lounge and dining room (expect an impressive mix of Ecuadorian dishes such as empanadas and ceviche, as well as simpler seafood dishes, soups and salads) onboard – as well as a small army of staff trained to ensure that every guest’s Amazon experience exceeds their expectations.
What are the standout excursions?
There are hikes through the Pañacocha Protected Forest with experienced guides which reveal all manner of extraordinary flowers, plants and creatures.
Guests can also be rowed ashore to meet the local Kichwa tribe and learn a little about their culture, customs, cuisine and everyday life.
How much does it cost?
At the time of writing, fares for a seven-night Amazon River cruise start at approximately £4,435 per person, including return flights.
Browse offers: Anakonda Amazon Cruises
Best for solo travellers: G Adventures
Why this cruise line?
Not all cruise lines are created equal, with some more solo-friendly than others. G Adventures is one such operator.
Travel with the cruise and tour company onboard the beautiful wooden Amatista, and you can take advantage of their cabin-share scheme, which sees you buddied up with a fellow traveller (of the same sex).
If you’re not sure about sharing with a stranger, keep in mind that cabins are for sleeping and little else. You’ll rise early – at around 6.30 am – for breakfast, before your first activity. Lunch is then served around 12 midday and followed by afternoon excursions ranging from rainforest walks to village visits.
What’s more, Amatista accommodates just 28 passengers, meaning it's easy for solo travellers to make new friends as the ship’s small size ensures you’ll see the same people every day.
What are the standout excursions?
G Adventure’s night-time boat ride gives you the chance to see another side of the Amazon: while some animals sleep, others – think night monkeys, poison dart frogs, tarantulas, snakes and more – emerge.
How much does it cost?
At the time of writing, fares for a nine-day ‘Amazon riverboat adventure in depth’ with G Adventures start at £1,460 per person, including internal flights but excluding international flights.
Browse offers: G Adventures
Best for couples: Viking Cruises
Why this cruise line?
Viking’s entire fleet is adults-only, so instead of casinos and blingy Broadway-style shows, you’ll find light-filled public spaces featuring Swedish granite, birch and juniper furniture and flame-effect firepits, fine dining restaurants and floor-to-ceiling windows from which to savour the constantly changing scenery of the Amazon with your amore.
Activities include expert talks and lectures relevant to the Amazon, while local musicians and dancers are invited onboard to showcase the region’s cultural richness.
On shore days, hop off your Viking ship and explore: a complimentary excursion is included for you and your other half at every port of call.
More exciting excursions – think jungle treks and thrilling speedboat rides along the Rio Negro – cost extra but are arguably worth it when you consider that it would be hard to recreate the activities independently.
What are the standout excursions?
Fancy fishing for piranhas in the Amazon? Viking offers an excursion that will give you a hands-on lesson in angling, Amazon-style. Upon arrival at Maica Lake, you’ll be given a pre-baited hand line and shown by seasoned locals how to toss your line to (hopefully) catch a razor-toothed piranha.
How much does it cost?
At the time of writing, fares for Viking’s 22-day ‘From the Caribbean to the Amazon’ itinerary start at approximately £9,595 per person, including return flights.
Browse offers: Viking Cruises
Best for adventure: Rainforest Cruises
Why this cruise line?
If you're after an adventurous, off-the-beaten-path Amazon cruise, look no further than Rainforest Cruises’ Motor Yacht Tucano.
Designed in the style of a 19th-century steamer with wooden panels and polished brass and arranged across three decks, Tucano welcomes just 18 guests in nine cabins.
Due to its small size, Tucano can leave the main tourist paths far behind and instead sail in uncharted waters. Make no mistake: you may not see other ships (or people) for days at a time during your sailing.
Passengers can join rainforest walks or kayaking trips to get closer to the region’s tropical flora and fauna – and even try their hand at a spot of piranha fishing, safe in the knowledge that Tucano’s resident naturalists are world-class when it comes to expertise and enthusiasm.
What are the standout excursions?
Don’t miss the beautiful Anavilhanas – the name given to around 350 forested islands in Brazil's Rio Negro, which together form the world's largest inland archipelago. They start 80 kilometres north-west of Manaus and stretch some 400 kilometres up the Rio Negro as far as Barcelos.
How much does it cost?
At the time of writing, fares for a week-long ‘Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon’ itinerary start at approximately £2,299 per person, excluding flights.
Browse offers:Rainforest Cruises
Best for an intimate experience: Delfin Amazon Cruises
Why this cruise line?
Relais & Chateaux member, Delfin, operates three ships on the Peruvian Amazon: the 22-suite Delfin III, the 14-suite Delfin II (which has been chartered by Lindblad Expeditions–National Geographic) and, for those who want the Amazon (almost) to themselves, the dinky, four-cabin Delfin I.
The quarter of spacious suites has panoramic terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows, with two boasting plunge pools.
Standards don’t slip when it comes to gastronomy either: talented chefs whip up delicious Peruvian and international dishes, and there are native superfood tastings and cocktail-making classes (Pisco Sour, anyone?) on offer too.
What’s more, you get to really experience the Amazon as two shore excursions are included every day. There’s also the chance to combine your Peruvian Amazon cruise with a visit to the Inca capital of Cusco, as well as the iconic Inca site of Machu Picchu.
What are the standout excursions?
Can’t miss activities ashore include a walk across one of the world’s longest canopy walkways, and a visit to the vast Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve – home to hundreds of exotic bird species, monkeys and manatees, piranhas and pink dolphins as well as fascinating flora.
How much does it cost?
At the time of writing, fares for a four-day Peruvian Amazon cruise start at approximately £3,688 per person, including return flights.
Browse offers: Delfin Amazon Cruises
Best for a big ship experience: Holland America Line
Why this cruise line?
If you want to go big, HAL’s Volendam can carry 1,432 passengers as far as Manaus on cruises that start, end or sail round-trip from Florida.
Only a portion of the itinerary is spent in the Amazon, but on these days, there are plenty of opportunities to go on rainforest walks, take small boat trips and visit indigenous villages.
Back onboard, there won’t be a dull moment: the ship resembles a floating resort with two speciality dining venues (Pinnacle Grill and Canaletto), a Piano bar, World Stage theatre where you can catch live shows, the Greenhouse Spa, pickleball courts and a programme chock full of fascinating lectures and activities.
What are the standout excursions?
Fans of Bear Grylls should consider signing up for HAL’s half-day Amazon survival course. You’ll learn about edible plants (and those to stay away from) and where to locate drinking water. And it’s capped off with lunch and a canoe ride to a nearby village.
How much does it cost?
At the time of writing, fares for HAL’s 30-day Amazon Explorer itinerary start at approximately £3,659 per person, excluding flights.
Browse offers:Holland America Line
Enjoyed this story?
Choose World of Cruising as a Preferred Source on Google News to keep up to date with our latest articles
Set as preferred source
