Expedition Amazon: Lifeline And Legendary Route

If nature’s orchestra has created a masterpiece, then it’s the Amazon. Its name evokes a sense of temptation, risk and a yearning for adventure, but also with the need to protect unique ecosystems. How does it feel to hear, see and sense it for the first time? Find out on board. The advantages of your little expedition ship are already apparent during the daytime passage through the Breves Channels, which gives an idea of the fantastic creations of nature. The calls of the toucans, yellow-headed caracaras and saffron finches will accompany you. The lush banks close in around the ship, while it confidently negotiates challenging changes in direction – much to the delight of the locals, the Caboclos, who you will meet time and again on your adventure in their boats, both large and small. While you experience the Amazon with all your senses, your experts on board will quench your thirst for knowledge and also shed light on the tensions between unspoilt nature and global economic interests.

The Amazon, or “Rio Mar”, as it’s known by the locals, is both a global symbol of the need to protect our nature and a wondrous, record-holding waterway. It is the setting for thrilling natural spectacles that you will experience respectfully and in the company of experts on your small, manoeuvrable expedition ship and its Zodiacs, weather and currents permitting.Your Amazon adventure begins in Guajara, a small settlement where families make a living from cattle farming. Perhaps you will see mighty water buffalo standing in the river, grazing on aquatic plants. With a bit of luck, you will be able to observe the legendary pink river dolphins from your Zodiac – the young are grey at first and only change colour after two years.At the small riverside settlement of Virassaia, look out for a special feathered friend: the indigenous hoatzin. You might even see herons and cormorants as you enjoy Zodiac rides through the species-rich floodplain areas. New surprises await around every bend in the river.Enjoy a relaxing time in the village of Alter do Chao on the Rio Tapajos, where a surprisingly Caribbean-style beach invites you to swim in the warm water. A landscape that appears and disappears depending on the water level. Along the riverbank, the Brazilian rainforest invites you to discover its wonders together with your experts.On the large river island of Tupinambarana, you can explore the city of Parintins. Here you can experience pure Brazilian exuberance shaped by Indigenous traditions – such as the famous folklore festival in June. Pay a visit to the cathedral or treat yourself to some regional delicacies.Seek out a totally different natural treasure in Canacari. You will travel through grassy meadows in Zodiacs in search of the largest water lily in the world, the Victoria amazonica, which can grow to an incredible 3 m (9.8 ft) in diameter. But birdwatchers will also be in their element when great-billed diving petrels, silver and blue herons as well as various species of birds of prey show themselves.Time and again, you will discover hidden idylls and marvel at the exotic plants and creatures. The experts will enhance your experiences with their specialist knowledge. They’ll highlight the extent to which commercial interests are taking over and endangering this natural treasure trove, but also the work of global rescue and reforestation initiatives.

On the Rio Negro, you will bear witness to the legendary “Encontro das Aguas”, the “Meeting of Waters”. The “Meeting of Waters” is the spectacular confluence between the dark Rio Negro and the pale, sandy-coloured Rio Solimoes, the name for this part of the Amazon River. In this unique natural spectacle, the two rivers do not mix immediately, but flow side by side for kilometres. From the deck and the walkway at the bow, you will observe that the protected riparian landscapes of the Rio Negro look different depending on the water level. Your experts on board will have exciting stories to tell about the diversity of plants and animals that favour the riparian areas.

Welcome to the Cidade Maravilhosa, or the Marvelous City, as Rio is known in Brazil. Synonymous with the girl from Ipanema, the dramatic views from Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado mountain, and fabulously flamboyant Carnival celebrations, Rio is a city of stunning architecture, abundant museums, and marvelous food. Rio is also home to 23 beaches, an almost continuous 73-km (45-mile) ribbon of sand.As you leave the airport and head to Rio's beautiful Zona Sul (the touristic South Zone), you'll drive for about 40 minutes on a highway from where you'll begin to get a sense of the dramatic contrast between beautiful landscape and devastating poverty. In this teeming metropolis of 12 million people (6.2 million of whom live in Rio proper), the very rich and the very poor live in uneasy proximity. You'll drive past seemingly endless cinder-block favela, but by the time you reach Copacabana's breezy, sunny Avenida Atlântica—flanked on one side by white beach and azure sea and on the other by condominiums and hotels—your heart will leap with expectation as you begin to recognize the postcard-famous sights. Now you're truly in Rio, where cariocas (Rio residents) and tourists live life to its fullest.Enthusiasm is contagious in Rio. Prepare to have your senses engaged and your inhibitions untied. Rio seduces with a host of images: the joyous bustle of vendors at Sunday's Feira Hippie (Hippie Fair); the tipsy babble at sidewalk cafés as patrons sip their last glass of icy beer under the stars; the blanket of lights beneath the Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain); the bikers, joggers, strollers, and power walkers who parade along the beach each morning. Borrow the carioca spirit for your stay; you may find yourself reluctant to give it back.

Accompanied by the sounds of the jungle, you will reach Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas. In this metropolis on the Rio Negro, it becomes clear how closely nature and culture are intertwined along the river banks. The kaleidoscope of colours in the jungle and the metropolis seem to vie with each other, yet together they form a unique symbiosis. The rubber boom once brought Manaus fabulous wealth, as evidenced by the magnificent Teatro Amazonas, with marble from Carrara and crystal chandeliers from Murano. The colonial past and the global present collide in the jungle metropolis, where modern glass facades alternate with classical and art nouveau buildings. Prepare to be inspired by the city’s history and its contrasts.

A hidden metropolis inside of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, this city is both modern and exciting, yet untouched by the world beyond the jungle. Visit its historical Rubber Museums or stop by the Park of Mindu and catch glimpse of the endangered Pied Tamarin.

Even today, previously unrecorded animal and plant species are still being discovered in the Amazon region – a sign of how unique and precious this ecosystem is.A Zodiac ride through the small canals of Badajos will raise your awareness of how special this place is. Huge water lilies adorn the water surface. Discover giant Brazil nut trees and the red flowers of bromeliads and passion flowers while the experts enhance your perspective on the fascinating undergrowth – for example, to help you marvel at the sloths or the capuchin monkeys doing gymnastics in the trees.When the Zodiacs navigate through the night-time jungle of Cuxiu Muni, look out for the eyes of caimans shining through the darkness. Your Amazon experts on board will introduce you to the bizarre world of reptiles and insects and explain the workings of the sensitive ecosystem with great enthusiasm.This unique cruise is filled with astonishing sights – for example, on the Rio Jutai, when the cries of tropical birds call out across the water and you keep watch for exotic species. You will navigate the flooded forest with the Zodiacs between the submerged trees, which are covered with an abundance of vines and colourful flowering epiphytes.In Leticia, an important trading centre in the tri-border region of Colombia, Peru and Brazil, you will experience lush flora and plant life. Tropical fruits and vegetables and fresh spices on the colourful markets along the riverbank are a vibrant testimony to a culture that lives with and from nature. Tantalising colours and scents captivate your senses, accompanied by the whistling and calling of the parrots.Pevas, one of the oldest Peruvian settlements on the Amazon and still characterised today by the traditional stilt houses of Indian villages, gives you an idea of what it is like to live in the wild. A fascinating end to your intense Amazon adventure.

Iquitos, Peru, the largest city in the Amazon rainforest, is a vibrant gateway to lush jungles and winding rivers. Accessible only by boat or air, it offers unique Amazonian experiences, from wildlife tours to river cruises. The city's bustling markets, such as Belén Market, showcase exotic produce and local crafts. Iquitos blends colonial architecture with colorful street life, reflecting its rich history and culture. Surrounded by dense rainforest, it is a hub for eco-tourism and adventure, making Iquitos a captivating destination for explorers.