09-07-2025
Why South America could emerge as a key river cruise destination
Brinley Hineman
The big news in South America river cruising is AmaWaterways launching the first luxury river ship on the Magdalena River in Colombia, with plans to launch a second ship later this year. But it is not the only line with South America on its mind.
I spoke in June with AmaWaterways co-founder Rudi Schreiner, ahead of him stepping down as company CEO. Though he didn't divulge company names, he told me in that other lines are considering joining them in Colombia -- now that the infrastructure has been built to support the budding industry.
But outside of Colombia, the Amazon River has attracted river cruises. Many well-known brands are there, but perhaps most notable is Delfin Amazon Cruises, which is based in Iquitos, Peru. The company just took three months to renovate and relaunch its ship the Delfin I.
Europe river cruising remains king of the river-cruise category, but I have repeatedly been told by river cruise executives and travel advisors that clients want to break the mold of a traditional river experience and explore off-the-beaten-path or "exotic" destinations.
The Amazon, which flows through six countries, seems like it has the makings of a river poised to experience growth, and it's been years in the making, as Travel Weekly has reported. Especially in an era of overtourism dupes and European rivers becoming more crowded each year, it seems that the Amazon and other South American river could offer an alternative.
What other lines are doing on the Amazon
And there are plenty of options to choose from already.
National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions charters Delfin Amazon Cruises' Delfin II and Delfin III to explore the Peruvian Amazon in the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. With an expedition approach to cruising, the line aims to offer a luxury approach to the world's most biodiverse rainforest.
Avalon Waterways, which has offered Amazon cruises since 2014, also charters the Delfin III to explore the Amazon. It offers six itineraries this year that include the South American waterway. Uniworld Boutique Luxury Cruises charters the Aria Amazon and offers two itineraries to explore the Peruvian Amazon.
Though chartering is a popular way for brands to operate itineraries, some lines are going all-in by building their own ships. Abercrombie & Kent will debut a new ship, the Pure Amazon, on the river this year, while CroisiEurope will begin operating cruises on the Brazilian Amazon in 2027 on its Brasilian Dream.
