If there's one reason why you need to put an Amazon River cruise at the top of your travel wish list its the region's amazing biodiversity. Visit our website: www.planetcruise.com/en/amazo...
The Amazon cuts a path across the continent of South America as it makes it way through Brazil, Columbia and Peru. More than a third of the world's animal species live in this vast river basin's rainforest. A cruise along this mighty river will introduce you to squirrel-size tamarin monkeys, three-toed sloths, monk saki monkeys, scarlet macaws, Amazon River dolphins, Amazonian manatees, giant otters, anacondas, caimans, bull sharks, piranhas, electric eels, jaguars, and much more. And if wildlife encounters aren't enough, you'll also visit villages deep in the heart of the forest where few outsiders venture.
The largest tropical rainforest on earth, Amazonia encompasses 7 million square kilometres throughout South America, and an Amazon cruise holiday will give you a unique insight into this great wilderness.
Best time to cruise the Amazon
The Amazon is technically a year round destination and there are pros and cons to cruising there in both in the "wet" season of December to April and the "dry" season which is May to November.
Most people automatically assume the dry season is the best time to go but you need to bear in mind that even the dry season is not really dry, as the rain forest (obviously) gets rain at any time of year. However the rainfall and water levels will be lower, and more jungle paths will be accessible then. So if you like to get up-close and personal with sloths and other jungle inhabitants, the dry season is the best time to do it; you'll be able to explore further ashore on foot (and without being as plagued by mosquitoes). On the other hand, it will be hotter - by an average 12 degrees -- than it is in the wet season, so expect temperatures in the mid to high-90s.
If you prefer floating, the wet season is the better option for you, as water levels are, on average, 21 to 23 feet higher, so it's easier to explore some of the Amazon's smaller tributaries. You'll also see a richer variety of wildlife, partly because the higher waters will take you nearer to the forest canopy and partly because flowers and plants are in full bloom at that time, so monkeys and exotic birds come closer to the river's edge to feast.
The downside? Mosquitoes might also come out to feast - on you. You'll also miss the main carnival month of June.
Amazon Cruise Itineraries:
There are several itinerary options open to you for cruising the Amazon ranging from 3 nights to up to 70!
Brazilian Amazon: Most of the Amazon-specific itineraries originate in Manaus or Rio de Janeiro, sailing up the Amazon to the port of Macapa. Occasionally lines include an Amazon trip in a cruise around Brazil.
Peruvian Amazon: Cruises of three, four or seven days operate from Iquitos to the fascinating Peruvian stretches of the river. Besides exploring different tributaries, these cruises include a tour of the Yacapana Isles, famed for their population of iguanas, and take passengers to see the Yarapa River's pink and grey freshwater dolphins, to visit Madgalena village (home to gigantic water lilies) and to meet the Cocama Indians of Puerto Prado.
Amazon plus Caribbean: Some, usually originating in the Florida ports of Miami or Fort Lauderdale, concentrate on the river sailing and combine it with calls on a few Caribbean islands such as Barbados, St. Thomas and Grenada plus a visit to Devil's Island in French Guiana, home of the punitive prison regime chronicled in the novel "Papillon".
Amazon plus South America or Antarctica: Longer itineraries are more ambitious, originating in Manaus or Rio de Janeiro. Some include an Amazon trip in a cruise around Brazil, while others combine the Amazon with cruises around Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands. Longer (60 nights-plus) itineraries start or end in Valparaiso, Chile, and combine a river trip with a voyage around South America and Antarctica.
Planet Cruise is an independent cruise travel agency dedicated to providing exceptional cruise packages to destinations around the world. Whether it is a pre-cruise hotel stay in your chosen destination, a land tour to pair with your days at sea or private flights and transfers across the world, Planet Cruise can plan it all with their personalised service and expertise.
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