NEW! From the Caribbean to the Amazon

Drive through the capital of the Amazon, a hub of cosmopolitanism built by wealthy rubber barons. The city is located where two rivers—the black Rio Negro and the light brown Rio Solimões—meet to form the mighty Amazon. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it contains most of Amazon’s ecosystems. See some of the most historic buildings in the city, such as the ornate Palácio Rio Negro, a cultural center that was originally the home of a German rubber baron, and the riverside Mercado Municipal, a bustling marketplace that sells medicinal herbs and produce. Pause for photos at the Teatro Amazonas, or Manaus Opera House, before heading ouside the city for a visit to the Brazilian Army Zoo, a sanctuary for endangered species, including jaguars, monkeys, sloths, and numerous birds and fish. Spend time strolling through this natural habitat before returning to your ship.

Discover the rich history of Manaus during a sightseeing tour and visits to iconic landmarks and a museum. Embark on a scenic drive by motor coach through the city, and pay a visit to Palácio Rio Negro, an ornate mansion built by a turn-of-the-century rubber baron. Today, it is a museum, where you can browse the exhibits and artifacts chronicling the history of rubber in the Amazon region. Stop to take a guided tour of the famous Manaus Opera House, a jewel-box theater of gold, crystal and Italian marble, giving Manaus its nickname, “Paris of the Tropics.” Finally, visit the City Museum, located in Paço da Liberdade. Browse the exhibits, which tell the history of Manaus and its residents from ancient times to the present day using texts, photographs and interactive exhibits that tell an engaging story. Afterward, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Board a local boat to see where the Amazon begins, the famous Meeting of the Waters. The phenomenon occurs where the dark Black River and the light brown Solimões River converge. This location is not only fascinating for its colorful ribbons of water, but is also part of the Central Amazon Conservation Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains the majority of the ecosystems recorded in the Amazon. It is home to pink Amazon dolphins, caiman, electric fish, manatees, otters, abundant birdlife and innumerable other species. Depending on the season, your tour will include either a canoe excursion on Lake Janauari, where you will see the famous Victoria Regina water lilies named for Queen Victoria, or a walk along a wooden path to see the lilies and, possibly, birds and monkeys. These giant green-and-pink, tray-like pads are the symbol of the Amazon. Afterward, return to the Manaus pier by motorboat.

Join a local guide for a jungle trek that will teach you the many ways in which the rain forest sustains life. Board your river boat and cruise along the Rio Negro, admiring the scenery along the way. Disembark your boat at Guedes Lake and meet your local forest expert for a briefing before you begin your walk. Your guide will point out some of the most beautiful stretches of the Amazon. Learn how to identify trees that produce nutrient-rich fruits and nuts like açaí berries, passion fruit and Brazil nuts, and plants whose leaves and roots have medicinal properties. Your guide will also point out which vegetation to avoid, help you find sources of clean water and show you how to build small animal traps. Discover new survival techniques and learn to build a shelter using forest materials.

Embark on a speedboat ride along the Rio Negro, visit a rubber museum and meet indigenous Amazonians. At the Seringal Felicidade rubber museum, on the bank of the Tarumá Mirim Creek, you will enjoy an introduction to the rubber industry and its boom during the 20th century. Learn how the affluent pioneers once lived and the extravagant lifestyles they enjoyed as you hear tales of the vast fortunes accumulated in the region by wealthy barons. Your guide will regale you with stories of the seringueiros, or rubber tappers, and the dangers they faced in their everyday lives. Continue your journey by boat to an indigenous village on the banks of the Rio Negro. This indigenous tribe of the Amazon is a mix of ethnicities—Dessana, Tucano, Tuyuca, Uanano and Tatuya. Witness a traditional tribal celebration during your visit before embarking your boat and returning to your ship.

Witness the vast assortment of Amazonian avifauna during this half-day bird-watching experience. Join your guide and travel across Lake Janauari, scouting its shoreline for bird species. Listen for different bird calls in the jungle, using your binoculars to aid the identification process. Brazil has one of the world's richest diversity of birds, hosting about 60 percent of the species recorded for all of South America. Under expert guidance, learn about the individual habits and markings of various rain forest bird species, including brilliantly colored scarlet macaws, iconic toucans and powerful harpy eagles. The legendary Uirapuru bird sings here once a year as it builds its nest. With more than 1,700 species, of which over 220 are endemic, Brazil is a bird-watcher’s paradise. Share your photographs and discoveries with your fellow guests upon returning to your ship.

Cruise into the moonlit night along the dense jungle backwaters of the Black River in search of elusive caimans. Embark on a journey in a small-motored canoe with your native guide to Lake Janauari to begin your search. A close relative of the crocodile, caimans can be found in the swamps, rivers and lakes of Central and South America. They generally grow to be six or seven feet long, though the black caiman can reach 15 feet and weigh 2,400 pounds. Your guide will expertly navigate your canoe while using a flashlight to locate young caimans by the red reflection of their eyes in the light. While the light hypnotizes the caiman, you will slowly approach it; when you are close enough, your guide will attempt to catch it with his bare hands and lift it out of the water for you to see. After photographs, the caiman will be returned—unharmed—to the water.

Immerse yourself in local culture and cuisine as our Executive Chef leads you on an interactive culinary adventure. Journey by mini-coach to the local market to handpick ingredients under the guidance of our Chef. Later this evening, you will dine on regional dishes prepared by our experienced culinary team, using produce from the market. As you and your fellow guests enjoy this delicious creation at The Kitchen Table, you will also observe the art of plating with each dish. From fresh market fare to cooking techniques and elegant presentation, experience firsthand how your ship’s world-class culinary staff brings distinct, local flavors from the market to your taste buds. It is an unforgettable, one-of-a-kind opportunity to shop, interact and dine with the masters.

Visit the Anavilhanas National Park and explore its eco-reserve by speed boat along the Rio Negro. Meet your guide and skipper, and board your vessel at the pier. After a short safety briefing, you will set off along the Rio Negro, the largest tributary of the Amazon River. Journey upstream for approximately two hours and enjoy informative commentary from your guide as he points out the flora and fauna. The Anavilhanas National Park is a biological reserve that is home to an extraordinary number of plant and bird species, including boto, pink dolphins and manatee. Enter the Ariau River and observe the riverside residents as they tend to their day. Then, journey downstream to the Acajatuba Village and disembark for a short walk. Your knowledgeable guide will explain more about the ecosystem and its the native trees before you transfer back to your ship.

Discover the rich history of Manaus during a sightseeing tour and visits to iconic landmarks and a museum. Embark on a scenic drive by motor coach through the city, and pay a visit to Palácio Rio Negro, an ornate mansion built by a turn-of-the-century rubber baron. Today, it is a museum, where you can browse the exhibits and artifacts chronicling the history of rubber in the Amazon region. Stop to take a guided tour of the famous Manaus Opera House, a jewel-box theater of gold, crystal and Italian marble, giving Manaus its nickname, “Paris of the Tropics.” Finally, visit the City Museum, located in Paço da Liberdade. Browse the exhibits, which tell the history of Manaus and its residents from ancient times to the present day using texts, photographs and interactive exhibits that tell an engaging story. Afterward, head to the airport for your flight home.