Amazon River Expedition: A Cultural Cruise from Barbados to the Heart of Brazil

Find the perfect trip

12 days from

£8189 GBP pp

* Current p/p indicative rate.

Overview
Highlights
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
Map
Ships

Highlights

  • Discover Îles du Salut's haunting prison ruins, where dark colonial history meets lush tropical paradise.
  • Navigate the Amazon waterways Rio Cajari and Furo do Cujubá's narrow channels where pink dolphins and rare Amazonian wildlife thrive.
  • Wander car-free Afuá, the "Venice of the Tropics," where stilt houses rise above water and bicycles rule boardwalks.

Highlights

  • Discover Îles du Salut's haunting prison ruins, where dark colonial history meets lush tropical paradise.
  • Navigate the Amazon waterways Rio Cajari and Furo do Cujubá's narrow channels where pink dolphins and rare Amazonian wildlife thrive.
  • Wander car-free Afuá, the "Venice of the Tropics," where stilt houses rise above water and bicycles rule boardwalks.
Ship Vega
Capacity: 152, Types: Luxury ExpeditionWheelchair accessible
Feture image for Amazon River Expedition: A Cultural Cruise from Barbados to the Heart of Brazil

This voyage links the Caribbean and the northern reaches of South America, blending colonial history, equatorial wilderness and life along the Amazon’s vast waterways. From the heritage streets and beaches of Bridgetown, the route crosses to Paramaribo before reaching the haunting former penal colony of the Îles du Salut. Entering the Amazon basin via Macapá, the journey navigates remote channels such as the Rio Cajari and Furo do Cujubá, where dense rainforest, river communities and prolific wildlife define daily life. Calls in stilt-built Afuá and through the Breves Narrows reveal the rhythm of the river before concluding in Belém, gateway to the Amazon and a city shaped by its trading past and vibrant markets.

  • Discover Îles du Salut's haunting prison ruins, where dark colonial history meets lush tropical paradise.
  • Navigate the Amazon waterways Rio Cajari and Furo do Cujubá's narrow channels where pink dolphins and rare Amazonian wildlife thrive.
  • Wander car-free Afuá, the "Venice of the Tropics," where stilt houses rise above water and bicycles rule boardwalks.

Availability is always subject to confirmation. Please check with us before booking flights

05 October, 2027 to 16 October, 2027 on Vega
Prices

Prices quoted here are often dependent on currency fluctuations. Please check with (01432 507450 or info@small-cruise-ships.com) for the very latest price, which may well be cheaper than the one advertised here.

Oceanview D4
£8189 GBP pp
Oceanview D4
19 m2 Sleeps 2 Oceanview cabins features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Oceanview M4
£8589 GBP pp
Oceanview M4
19 m2 Sleeps 2 Oceanview staterooms features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room and a luxurious ensuite bathroom.
Balcony D5
£9005 GBP pp
Balcony D5
28 m2 Sleeps 2 Features 2 single beds, bedroom and living room, a luxurious ensuite bathroom and your own private 6 sq.m. balcony.
Balcony M5
£9415 GBP pp
Balcony M5
28 m2 Sleeps 2 Located at the centre of the ship, these balcony staterooms feature 2 single beds or double bed bedroom with living room area, a luxurious bathroom and your own private 6m2 balcony
Suite
£14325 GBP pp
Suite
44 m2 Sleeps 2 Our Suites features a superking bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom and a 12 sq.m. private balcony.
Premium Suite
£16375 GBP pp
Premium Suite
49 m2 Sleeps 2 Our grandest suites features a superking bed and separate living room with and a soothing flame-effect fireplace a luxurious ensuite bathroom, spacious walk in wardrobe and a 12 sq.m private balcony.
show reverse itinerary
Days 1 - 2 Bridgetown (Barbados)

Bridgetown, the vibrant capital of Barbados, is a dynamic Caribbean city that merges historical charm with modern energy and a warm island welcome. Its UNESCO-listed historic district showcases colonial-era architecture, including the 1870s’-built Parliament Buildings. The bustling city offers colourful markets, duty-free shopping and Bajan restaurants. Bridgetown also has pristine beaches with crystal clear waters, such as Carlisle Bay.

Day 2 Day at sea (At Sea)
Days 3 - 4 Paramaribo (Suriname)

At the heart of Paramaribo, Suriname's capital, is the UNESCO World Heritage historical centre blending Dutch architecture with local craftsmanship. Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral-Basilica is one of the Western Hemisphere's largest wooden structures. Notable sites include Fort Zeelandia, a 17th-century fortress, the Garden of Palms and broad streets. The central square is encircled by impressive buildings including the Presidential Palace (1730).

Day 5 Iles du Salut (French Guiana)

The Iles du Salut (Salvation Islands) are a tiny archipelago off French Guiana's coast, with three main islands: Royale, St-Joseph and Diable - or Devil's Island, a penal colony. Serious offenders and political prisoners, such as Captain Alfred Dreyfus, were held here and dead prisoners were fed to the sharks. The prison buildings are now overgrown, and the islands are now home to green-winged macaws, capuchin monkeys, iguanas and sea turtles.

Day 6 Day at sea (At Sea)
Day 7 Macapa (Brazil)

The most remote of Brazil’s 26 state capitals, Macapá, the capital of and the largest city in the Amapá State, sits on the north bank of the Amazon Delta. Founded by the Portuguese as an outpost, this city's foremost attraction is the Marco Zero monument, a 113-centimetre concrete sundial which symbolises the centre of the metropolis. Other sights include the Fortaleza de São José and the Museu Sacaca.

Day 7 Rio Cajari (Brazil)

The Rio Cajari Extractive Reserve in Amapá highlights remarkable ecological diversity while balancing conservation with sustainable use by local communities. Encompassing rainforests, cerrado grasslands, and flooded riparian zones, the reserve is home to valuable tree species like Brazil nuts and açaí palms. It supports a wide range of wildlife, including tapirs, monkeys, cats, alligators, turtles and numerous bird and fish species.

Day 8 Gurupa (Brazil) & Furo do Cujuba (Brazil)
Day 9 Afuá (Brazil)
Day 10 Cruising Breves Narrows (Brazil)

Navigating Brazil's Breves Narrows, upriver from Belem in the Thousand Islands region, is a mesmerising Amazonian journey. This natural passage, surrounded by towering walls of lush vegetation, creates a secluded green canyon in the heart of the jungle. Enigmatic wildlife such as scarlet macaws, and equatorial flora such as giant Victoria water lilies flourish. The welcoming locals, known as ribeirinhos, offer warm hospitality.

Day 11 Belem (Brazil)

Once one of South America's most prosperous cities, known as ‘tropical Paris’, today Belém remains a thriving port and is the gateway to the Amazon. The opulence of Belém’s golden era is showcased at the neoclassical-style 1874 Theatro da Paz on the Praça de República. Pretty green spaces are shaded by mango trees and the historical centre has plenty of wonderful museums. The bustling Ver-o-Peso market is Latin America's largest open-air market.

Please note:

Itineraries are subject to change. 

Days 1 - 2 Bridgetown (Barbados)

Bridgetown, the vibrant capital of Barbados, is a dynamic Caribbean city that merges historical charm with modern energy and a warm island welcome. Its UNESCO-listed historic district showcases colonial-era architecture, including the 1870s’-built Parliament Buildings. The bustling city offers colourful markets, duty-free shopping and Bajan restaurants. Bridgetown also has pristine beaches with crystal clear waters, such as Carlisle Bay.

Day 2 Day at sea (At Sea)
Days 3 - 4 Paramaribo (Suriname)

At the heart of Paramaribo, Suriname's capital, is the UNESCO World Heritage historical centre blending Dutch architecture with local craftsmanship. Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral-Basilica is one of the Western Hemisphere's largest wooden structures. Notable sites include Fort Zeelandia, a 17th-century fortress, the Garden of Palms and broad streets. The central square is encircled by impressive buildings including the Presidential Palace (1730).

Day 5 Iles du Salut (French Guiana)

The Iles du Salut (Salvation Islands) are a tiny archipelago off French Guiana's coast, with three main islands: Royale, St-Joseph and Diable - or Devil's Island, a penal colony. Serious offenders and political prisoners, such as Captain Alfred Dreyfus, were held here and dead prisoners were fed to the sharks. The prison buildings are now overgrown, and the islands are now home to green-winged macaws, capuchin monkeys, iguanas and sea turtles.

Day 6 Day at sea (At Sea)
Day 7 Macapa (Brazil)

The most remote of Brazil’s 26 state capitals, Macapá, the capital of and the largest city in the Amapá State, sits on the north bank of the Amazon Delta. Founded by the Portuguese as an outpost, this city's foremost attraction is the Marco Zero monument, a 113-centimetre concrete sundial which symbolises the centre of the metropolis. Other sights include the Fortaleza de São José and the Museu Sacaca.

Day 7 Rio Cajari (Brazil)

The Rio Cajari Extractive Reserve in Amapá highlights remarkable ecological diversity while balancing conservation with sustainable use by local communities. Encompassing rainforests, cerrado grasslands, and flooded riparian zones, the reserve is home to valuable tree species like Brazil nuts and açaí palms. It supports a wide range of wildlife, including tapirs, monkeys, cats, alligators, turtles and numerous bird and fish species.

Day 8 Gurupa (Brazil) & Furo do Cujuba (Brazil)
Day 9 Afuá (Brazil)
Day 10 Cruising Breves Narrows (Brazil)

Navigating Brazil's Breves Narrows, upriver from Belem in the Thousand Islands region, is a mesmerising Amazonian journey. This natural passage, surrounded by towering walls of lush vegetation, creates a secluded green canyon in the heart of the jungle. Enigmatic wildlife such as scarlet macaws, and equatorial flora such as giant Victoria water lilies flourish. The welcoming locals, known as ribeirinhos, offer warm hospitality.

Day 11 Belem (Brazil)

Once one of South America's most prosperous cities, known as ‘tropical Paris’, today Belém remains a thriving port and is the gateway to the Amazon. The opulence of Belém’s golden era is showcased at the neoclassical-style 1874 Theatro da Paz on the Praça de República. Pretty green spaces are shaded by mango trees and the historical centre has plenty of wonderful museums. The bustling Ver-o-Peso market is Latin America's largest open-air market.

Please note:

Itineraries are subject to change. 

Itinerary also available in reverse
Vega
Launched in 2022, this state of the art ship has been designed to journey to off the beaten path destinations and remote polar regions in style and comfort. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-stren…

Vega

Launched 2022
Maximum capacity 152

Launched in 2022, this state of the art ship has been designed to journey to off the beaten path destinations and remote polar regions in style and comfort. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible.

Sophisticated Elegance. We know how important outdoor space is, so our spacious, relaxing public spaces provide wide open, unobstructed views throughout the ship. The destination will always be in view.

Your Wellbeing. The safety & happiness of our guests is paramount to our 120-strong crew on board as well as our passionate expedition team who'll be serving up thrilling shore excursions and lasting memories.

Cabin Types. Our 76 cabins including 6 suites have all the amenities you will need to feel comfortable including dressing gowns, hairdryers, personal safes and minibars. Our stylish cabins all have desks, a dressing area and comfy seating. En suite bathrooms all feature glass-enclosed rain showers.

Wheelchair access
Guests who use wheelchairs must bring their own, as we have only a small number of wheelchairs stored onboard for emergencies. To ensure ease of movement on the ship, wheelchairs and mobility aids must be no wider than 65cm. All mobility or medical equipment brought on board must be capable of being carried safely and must be declared before sailing. To ensure that all guests can safely evacuate during an emergency, guests requiring a wheelchair can only be accommodated in our ADA-accessible cabins.

We offer an Oceanview stateroom on Vega which is specifically designed to be completely ADA compliant and have a fully operable wheelchair-access wet unit.

Vega has two lifts, serving every passenger deck apart from the Stargazing top deck, which is, therefore, more difficult to access, as are the Aft Marina and Swan’s Nest forward observation platform. Also, we don’t have special equipment to access the swimming pool, jacuzzi, or sauna. Otherwise, the ship is entirely at your disposal.

Many of the expeditions ashore in remote places are by Zodiac. Boarding these boats and returning aboard can present challenges for wheelchair users, as can navigating uneven terrain. These challenges are by no means always insurmountable, though, and our highly experienced crew is trained to provide reliable advice and assistance. They will make every effort to ensure wheelchair-using guests enjoy a memorable experience at each destination. Our general guidance, however, is to recommend wheelchair users travel with a companion for their ease and enjoyment.

If you prefer to remain aboard, our panoramic interiors and ample open decks ensure an immersive, intimate experience of your inspiring surroundings.

Deck plans are for illustrative purposes only – The actual ship and cabin layout may differ.

Cabin layout for Vega
Overview
Highlights
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
Map
Ship

12 days from £8189 GBP pp

Find your favorite region