NEW! From the Caribbean to the Amazon

Explore local history and culture in Santarém, a major port defined by the Amazon tributaries that wind through it. You will see the confluence of rivers where the clean, clear Rio Tapajós meets the muddy Amazon. In the busy downtown area you will see the Nova Orla Fluvial promenade in the redeveloped port area, visit the city's cathedral, and see the Town Hall Museum with its displays of ancient ceramics from the region. Continue your tour to Casa da Farinha, an old cassava flour mill where local people once produced flour using traditional rustic methods. Now an agricultural farm, it is home to native trees of the region; witness how latex is extracted from rubber trees during a demonstration. At the end of your tour, enjoy a scenic ride back to your ship.

Join this river cruise excursion and get a hands-on lesson in angling, Amazon-style. A local cruiser will take you upstream past the “wedding” of the Rio Tapajós and the Amazon. Maica Lake is festooned with small waterways. As we motor ahead, you will pass traditional wooden-stilt houses, whose friendly occupants may wave in greeting as you pass by. Keep your eyes peeled for pink Amazon river dolphins, water buffalo, a vast array of colorful birds, or even the odd iguana or two. But the creatures we seek are the razor-toothed piranhas. Arriving at Maica Lake, you will be given a pre-baited hand line and shown by seasoned locals how to toss your line. Gaze out across the river and wait with bated breath as you anticipate the tug on the end of your line, then reel in what you have caught. Please note that fishing will not be possible if the weather is inclement.

Journey into the vast rainforest of the Amazon for an invigorating trail hike through its lush flora. Embark on a scenic drive by motor coach down a lonely highway to the reserve. Created in 1974, this protected portion of the Amazon covers more than 1.3 million acres of rainforest, lakes, rivers and freshwater beaches. It supports sustainable utilization of local natural resources, such as hardwoods and latex. Meet your guide and set off down the trail under the dense forest canopy. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of your surroundings as you admire the diversity of flora around you. Your guide will help you identify the different species of plants, such as Brazil nut, vanilla and rubber trees. You may also see the samaúma tree—one of the largest trees on Earth, able to reach a height of 240 feet and a trunk diameter of 19 feet.