Rivers & Coasts: The Amazon to Fortaleza Expedition

date_range
10 days from

£4939 GBP pp

* Current p/p indicative rate.

Overview
Highlights
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
Map
Ships
What's Included

Highlights

  • Expert-led Talks - Learn more about this isolated polar region from our on board team of experts.
  • The Amazon Delta - A maze of channels, islands, and flooded forest, where the river feels like an inland sea.
  • Macaws and Pink Dolphins - Cruise narrow waterways where river dolphins surface and rainforest birds flash through the canopy.
  • Rainforest Hikes - Take guided walks on rainforest trails and coastal paths, with time to stop for views, wildlife spotting, and photos.

Highlights

  • Expert-led Talks - Learn more about this isolated polar region from our on board team of experts.
  • The Amazon Delta - A maze of channels, islands, and flooded forest, where the river feels like an inland sea.
  • Macaws and Pink Dolphins - Cruise narrow waterways where river dolphins surface and rainforest birds flash through the canopy.
  • Rainforest Hikes - Take guided walks on rainforest trails and coastal paths, with time to stop for views, wildlife spotting, and photos.
Ship Vega
Capacity: 152, Types: Luxury ExpeditionWheelchair accessible
Feture image for Rivers & Coasts: The Amazon to Fortaleza Expedition

Sail into the Amazon Delta, navigate the jungle-walled channels of the Breves Narrows, and go ashore in Afuá — a car-free river city built on stilts above the waterways of Marajó Island. From the heart of the world's largest rainforest, the route follows Brazil's northeastern coast to São Luís, where over 3,500 colonial Portuguese houses line a UNESCO-listed historic centre, before ending in Fortaleza, where the continent finally turns its face to the open Atlantic.

  • Expert-led Talks - Learn more about this isolated polar region from our on board team of experts.
  • The Amazon Delta - A maze of channels, islands, and flooded forest, where the river feels like an inland sea.
  • Macaws and Pink Dolphins - Cruise narrow waterways where river dolphins surface and rainforest birds flash through the canopy.
  • Rainforest Hikes - Take guided walks on rainforest trails and coastal paths, with time to stop for views, wildlife spotting, and photos.

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

16 October, 2028 to 25 October, 2028 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
£4939 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
£5189 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
£5425 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
£5675 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
£8639 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
£9875 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. Belem


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.

Day 3. Cruising Breves Narrows


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 4. Afuá


Nestled within the world's largest rainforest, Afuá in Pará state, known as "Marajó's Venice" or the "Amsterdam of the Tropics," rests on fluvial Marajó Island near the Amazon's mouth. Built primarily on wooden stilts 1.5m above the waterways with boardwalks, this car-free city aims to become a net-zero emissions model. Residents travel the narrow streets by bicycle and boat, with many relying on fishing for their livelihood

Days 5-6. At sea


Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Days 7-8. Itaqui, São Luís


Itaqui, a port in São Luís, Maranhão, provides access to the UNESCO-listed Praia Grande historic city centre. This area is home to over 3,500 colonial Portuguese houses, along with galleries and museums. Further inland, Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is renowned for its unique landscape of stunning white sand dunes sculpted by the wind and filled with rain-fed, crystal-clear blue lagoons

Day 9. At sea


Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers

Day 10. Fortaleza


Fortaleza is Brazil's fifth-largest city, located on the northeastern coastline in the state of Ceará. Its history includes a Dutch outpost in 1654, later retaken by the Portuguese and renamed Fortaleza (fortress). Among the highlights are the Praia do Futuro beach, forró, traditional music and dance at the ornate, Art Nouveau-styled Theatro José de Alencar, or shopping for hammocks and handmade lace and embroideries at the Central Market

Please note:

Itineraries are subject to change. 

Days 1-2. Belem


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.

Day 3. Cruising Breves Narrows


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 4. Afuá


Nestled within the world's largest rainforest, Afuá in Pará state, known as "Marajó's Venice" or the "Amsterdam of the Tropics," rests on fluvial Marajó Island near the Amazon's mouth. Built primarily on wooden stilts 1.5m above the waterways with boardwalks, this car-free city aims to become a net-zero emissions model. Residents travel the narrow streets by bicycle and boat, with many relying on fishing for their livelihood

Days 5-6. At sea


Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.

Days 7-8. Itaqui, São Luís


Itaqui, a port in São Luís, Maranhão, provides access to the UNESCO-listed Praia Grande historic city centre. This area is home to over 3,500 colonial Portuguese houses, along with galleries and museums. Further inland, Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is renowned for its unique landscape of stunning white sand dunes sculpted by the wind and filled with rain-fed, crystal-clear blue lagoons

Day 9. At sea


Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers

Day 10. Fortaleza


Fortaleza is Brazil's fifth-largest city, located on the northeastern coastline in the state of Ceará. Its history includes a Dutch outpost in 1654, later retaken by the Portuguese and renamed Fortaleza (fortress). Among the highlights are the Praia do Futuro beach, forró, traditional music and dance at the ornate, Art Nouveau-styled Theatro José de Alencar, or shopping for hammocks and handmade lace and embroideries at the Central 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

Includes

  • All onboard meals & most beverages
  • lectures
  • Standard WiFi
  • Gratuities
  • Port taxes
  • One shore excursion per port
  • Expedition parkas and rubber boots in polar regions

Excludes

Premium alcohol, boutique purchases, laundry, premium WiFi, spa treatments, visas, travel insurance, international flights, domestic transfers, and pre/post-cruise hotels aren’t included unless specified.

Overview
Highlights
Dates & Prices
Itinerary
Map
Ship
What's Included

10 days from £4939 GBP pp

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