Thanks to the extensive experience of all those involved and the manageable ship size and shallow draught of the new expedition ships, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is currently the only international provider whose expedition ships navigate up the Amazon all the way to Iquitos/Peru. Other market operators already turn back in Manaus/Brazil. Pevas, one of the oldest Peruvian settlements, and the markets of Leticia/Colombia are the main attractions of this region. Time and again, there are opportunities for authentic encounters with foreign traditions and rituals but, above all, for observing nature under the expert guidance of the experienced expedition team on board as well as the local experts.
The passage on the “Rio Mar” (sea river), as the locals call it, requires experience and the full skill of the crew. Time and again, challenging changes of direction along the narrow course of the river have to be mastered. This spectacle is also watched with interest by the locals, the “caboclos”, who cross the path of the expedition ship with their boats. Occasionally, they also moor at the ship’s marina at the stern and offer their regional goods.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises can draw on more than 20 years of experience in the area of Amazon expedition cruises, as the cruise operator also undertook these voyages with its predecessor ships, the former BREMEN and the HANSEATIC. They are still regarded as highlights in the calendar, as only a few cruises are offered each year, both upstream and downstream.
Isolde Susset, Director Expedition Cruises and Travel at Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, emphasizes: “The Amazon expeditions are extremely popular with our guests and tend to book up very quickly. Next year, our HANSEATIC nature will be sailing these routes for the first time. Now is the time to be quick. There are currently only a few cabins left.”
The route promises unrivalled insights into exotic flora and fauna, both by day and by night. Under the competent guidance of a team of German-speaking experts – including ethnologists, biologists, and botanists – guests experience the diversity of this unique and sensitive ecosystem at first hand. They explore the river’s tributaries by Zodiac and learn about the complex tensions between the region’s unspoilt nature and global economic interests.
Reservations: International guests, as well as travel agencies, can call 877-445-7447 or 800-334-2724 to book a cruise or send an email to salesteam(at)hl-cruises.com or visit www.hl-cruises.com/contact-services for local agents.
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