Heart of Brazil & the Amazon - 2022

Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro. Or, depart earlier for a thrilling pre-trip extension to Iguassu Falls.

If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, you’ll be met at the airport by a representative who will assist you with your transfer to the hotel. Get settled, and later, attend a Welcome Briefing at the hotel before dinner at a local churrascaria. Afterward, we’ll head to the evening Carnival parade at the Sambódromo, where you’ll experience a true feast for the senses with magnificent costumes and electrifying music.

One of South America’s most thrilling and sophisticated cities, Rio de Janeiro enjoys a breathtaking setting, ringed by long crescent beaches and towering monolithic mountains. No other city compares — but today, Rio gets better as you’ll experience it during the peak of Carnival festivities.

Vantage Exclusive:

• Attend Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival parade

For the four states (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Bahia, and Pernambuco) that go big in Carnival, samba is much more than music. It’s culture, heritage, dance, and history. This morning, you’ll go behind the scenes as you learn about the costumery, the beloved samba, and even try out a few steps!

Your afternoon is free to discover more of Rio on your own. Perhaps you'll explore the city's proliferation of street art, from the largest spray-paint mural in the world on Olympic Boulevard to the multicolored mosaic of Escadaria Selarón (Selaron Steps). Or, marvel at both the exteriors and the inner riches of landmarks such as the Museum of Tomorrow and the National Library of Brazil — the largest library in Latin America and 7th largest in the world. 

Included Feature: 

• Behind-the-scenes samba tour

After breakfast, enjoy a city tour of Rio, including a cable car ride to the spectacular Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Mountain. The 124-foot soapstone figure has an arm span of 98 feet. Then, visit the cathedral and admire its modernist design inspired by Mayan pyramids.

Head from the sacred to the footloose when you next visit Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, celebrated in song and frequented by the city’s carefree party-goers. Enjoy lunch at a Rio institution — Confeitaria Colombo. The old-style café — set in a cavernous ballroom crowned with a stunning stained-glass ceiling — has been serving delicious meals and decadent desserts to local cariocas for 120 years. After this incredible dining experience, you'll embark the 5-star Ocean Explorer.

Included Features:

• Rio de Janeiro city tour
• Visit Christ the Redeemer and Rio's magnificent cathedral

Cultural Discovery:

• Lunch at Confeitaria Colombo, a 120-year-old local café

This morning you’ll call on Armação dos Búzios, the buzzing resort town favored by the glamorous jet-setters of the capital. French actress Brigitte Bardot made Búzios famous when she visited in 1964 and transformed the little fishing village into the St. Tropez of South America. Ever since, it is the place for members of high society to be seen. More than 23 beaches grace this peninsular region. On an included tour by open-air trolley, you’ll see many of them, including the wild and scenic Brava Beach, the pink sands of Forno Beach, and the unique rock formations of Point Lagoinha — known as the Brazilian Himalayas. There’ll be time to linger and to swim if you wish, after which you may browse the posh shops downtown.

This afternoon, you can spend more time on the water when you take our shipboard paddleboards or kayaks out to explore. Learn what cultural and historic treasures wait for you in Rio during today’s onboard lecture. Tonight, thrill to the beat of a lively samba show when local entertainers join you on board!

Included Feature:

• Trolley tour of Búzios

Cultural Discovery:

• Evening onboard entertainment: Local samba performance

Active Feature:

• Opportunity for paddleboarding or kayaking at sea

You have today to explore one of the oldest cities in Brazil and one of the nation’s best state capitals to live in. Vitória is set on Honey Island in Vitória Bay and enjoys a picturesque setting at the foot of sloping hills. Your included tour takes you to the mainland over the Third Bridge to Vila Velha, where the 16th-century Penha Convent has long stood as a symbol of faith from atop its high mountain perch. A shuttle takes you halfway up, and you can choose to walk the remaining 365 steps, or to enjoy the breathtaking 360° views from this vantage point.

After a photo stop at a couple of the city’s urban beaches, pause at the Cooperativa Paneleiras de Goiabeiras to see firsthand how local artisans bring shape to lovely clay pots used to cook many dishes, including moqueca — a delicious traditional fish stew. En route back to the ship, admire Vitória’s blend of old and new architecture in its downtown area. Back on board, attend another enlightening lecture from one of our experts.

Included Feature:

• Scenic tour of Vitória

Cultural Discovery:

• Clay pot making demonstration at a local artists’ cooperative

The indulgent amenities of the Ocean Explorer are yours as you continue your northward expedition along Brazil’s coast. Take a dip in the swimming pool as the forest drifts past, visit the spa, get a workout in the gym, and watch the river open up to the wide Atlantic Ocean from the observation lounge. At mealtime, savor incredible culinary creations thoughtfully prepared by your onboard chefs. In the evening, head up to the Observation Deck for some of the most magnificent stargazing you’re ever likely to experience.

Dock this morning in Salvador, Brazil’s unparalleled colonial gem and the country’s former capital. Its colorful Renaissance city plan and outstanding new-world monuments earned it a prestigious place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your city tour passes Brazil’s famed lighthouse, the Farol da Barra. In the Pelourinho district (the Old Town), walk along charming cobbled lanes from the Municipal Square to Terreiro de Jesus square and view the splendid baroque cathedral, once the home of the largest Jesuit seminary outside Rome. Gaze upon its ornate interior, then visit Largo do Pelourinho Square and the San Francisco Church.

Conclude your tour with a demonstration of capoeira, a regional acrobatic dance that incorporates elements of the martial arts. Then there’ll be time to browse the paintings, pottery, beads, and handicrafts at the local market. This afternoon, enjoy another fascinating lecture on board.

Included Features:

• Coach and walking tour of Salvador
• Visit Terreiro de Jesus square and the Cathedral of Salvador

Cultural Discoveries:

• Capoeira demonstration during your tour
• Visit a local market

Treat yourself to more of your ship’s amenities as you cruise around the easternmost coast of Brazil. Take advantage of this time to read a book from our library or enjoy a soothing massage at the spa. The time is yours! During your time at sea, onboard lecturers will captivate you with talks about Brazilian culture and history and our chefs will continue to amaze you with their culinary expertise.

Around midday, you arrive in Fortaleza, capital of the Brazilian state of Ceará. Despite its size, there’s a light and airy quality to this culture-rich city kissed by soft-sand urban beaches and dotted with stately colonial-era buildings. You’ll tap into the city’s distinctive musical rhythms during an included tour that features the neoclassical Metropolitan Cathedral, adorned with stunning stained-glass windows; the José de Alencar Theater, named for the region’s beloved poet; a drive along the palm-fringed beach past the sophisticated residences of Aldeota; and a stop at the Espigão de Pedras bridge. You’ll also stop to peruse the countless cultural treasures at the Central Market, a lively emporium of Fortaleza’s handmade lace, embroidery, hammocks, and other crafts. There’ll be time to make the short stroll from the ship into downtown afterward.

Included Feature:

• Fortaleza city tour

Cultural Discovery:

• Visit Fortaleza’s Central Market

Lose yourself to the enchanting rhythm of the Amazon River as you follow its course to the Atlantic. Consider that you’re drifting along waters that have flowed and gathered here from as far away as Peru and Bolivia. Its watershed covers 40% of the South American continent, and the streams, brooks, and lesser rivers that have spilled into the river you’re cruising have nourished the world’s largest rainforest. By the time it reaches the ocean, the Amazon fans out into an estuary that, by some accounts, stretches some 200 miles along the coast.

Relax on board as you sail the Brazilian coast. Take a dip in the swimming pool as the forest drifts past, visit the spa, get a workout in the gym, and watch the river open up to the wide Atlantic Ocean from the observation lounge. At mealtime, savor incredible culinary creations thoughtfully prepared by your onboard chefs. In the evening, head up to the Observation Deck for some of the most magnificent stargazing you’re ever likely to experience. Over these three relaxing days, our onboard naturalists will keep you informed and enlightened about such wonders of the Amazon during fascinating discussions.

Arrive this morning at the confluence of the Amazon and Tapajós rivers, where the city of Santarém rises on the banks. The people of this small market town rely on boats to get around; the 60 miles of white-sand beaches on the river have earned it the nickname “the Amazonian Caribbean.”

Spend the morning on a spectacular nature cruise, viewing a rare natural phenomenon along the river and learning how locals fish for the notorious piranha. You'll head downriver on a small local boat to witness the Meeting of the Waters, where the Amazon and the Tapajós converge. Each waterway has its own distinct color and they run side by side, one deep blue and the other milky brown, for several miles. Soon, you'll arrive at Lake Maica, a natural outlet of the Amazon and home to abundant wildlife and birdlife. Your captain will cut the motor here so you can cast a line into the water in hopes of catching and releasing the famous piranha fish. Or, just sit back and take in the lush flora and plentiful fauna of the Amazon.

Vantage Exclusive:

• Piranha fishing tour on a local boat

Cultural Discovery: 

• Try catching and releasing piranha during a local boat ride

Continue taking in the Amazon’s splendor as we visit Parintins. Located just west of Santarém, this town is renowned for its Brazilian folkloric festival, the Parintins Folklore Festival, which is second only to Carnival. Today, you’ll explore this municipality, which is known for its rich biodiversity. Due to its central location in the Amazon, during low tide you’ll discover its riverside beaches along the Uaicurapá and the Amazon rivers.

Starting outside the port, you’ll get to know this incredible province, including Caprichoso Boi, Liberty Square, and Bumbódromo — where the annual festival is held. With the possibility of riding locally-decorated tricycles, you’ll have the opportunity to interact with locals. After visiting the cathedral and cruising along the shore, you’ll get to see Boca dos Botos, weather permitting. Hop on a Zodiac boat for an afternoon cruise, where you may even spot the incredible pink dolphin.

Included Features:

• Tour of Parintins — possibly on local tricycles
• Zodiac cruising in Boca dos Botos, weather dependent

After breakfast this morning, disembark the Ocean Explorer and discover Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas state. You might find that Manaus has a fascinating contradictory feel; it is a city in the middle of a jungle, and despite its size, it is only accessible in a practical sense by boat or plane. And though seafaring vessels dock here, the ocean is 900 miles away. It’s all part of the intrigue of the Amazon! After lunch on your own, get acquainted with the largest city in the Amazon basin during an included tour that features the Manaus Opera House. This stunning vision in pink — opened in 1896 at the height of the rubber barons’ prosperity — was built with European bricks, French glass, and Italian marble. We’ll check into the hotel after the tour, just in time for an afternoon and evening at leisure. Dinner is on your own.

Included Feature:

• Manaus city tour

Enjoy a morning at leisure before an afternoon tour. If you’re in the market for exotic fruits, Amazon herbal medicines, and local handicrafts, you’ll love rubbing elbows with the citizens of Manaus during a visit to the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa. Fashioned after the Les Halles market of Paris in 1882, it is the city’s oldest market and a scintillating way to immerse yourself in the local culture. Produce from the surrounding countryside and fish from the river are delivered every morning. Cross the street to see how all these goods arrived — aboard the armada of fishing boats and cargo boats bobbing on the Amazon’s waters. Lunch is included.

Tonight, savor a special Farewell Dinner. Depending on the timing of flights, some travelers will fly home tonight, others on Day 19.

Included Feature:

• Half-day heritage tour of Manaus

Cultural Discovery: 

• Visit the oldest market in Manaus

Today, you’ll return home or stay on longer in our post-trip extension to the Amazon jungle.