Rio de Janeiro to Bridgetown

Welcome to the Cidade Maravilhosa, or the Marvelous City, as Rio is known in Brazil. Synonymous with the girl from Ipanema, the dramatic views from Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado mountain, and fabulously flamboyant Carnival celebrations, Rio is a city of stunning architecture, abundant museums, and marvelous food. Rio is also home to 23 beaches, an almost continuous 73-km (45-mile) ribbon of sand.As you leave the airport and head to Rio’s beautiful Zona Sul (the touristic South Zone), you’ll drive for about 40 minutes on a highway from where you’ll begin to get a sense of the dramatic contrast between beautiful landscape and devastating poverty. In this teeming metropolis of 12 million people (6.2 million of whom live in Rio proper), the very rich and the very poor live in uneasy proximity. You’ll drive past seemingly endless cinder-block favela, but by the time you reach Copacabana’s breezy, sunny Avenida Atlântica—flanked on one side by white beach and azure sea and on the other by condominiums and hotels—your heart will leap with expectation as you begin to recognize the postcard-famous sights. Now you’re truly in Rio, where cariocas (Rio residents) and tourists live life to its fullest.Enthusiasm is contagious in Rio. Prepare to have your senses engaged and your inhibitions untied. Rio seduces with a host of images: the joyous bustle of vendors at Sunday’s Feira Hippie (Hippie Fair); the tipsy babble at sidewalk cafés as patrons sip their last glass of icy beer under the stars; the blanket of lights beneath the Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain); the bikers, joggers, strollers, and power walkers who parade along the beach each morning. Borrow the carioca spirit for your stay; you may find yourself reluctant to give it back.

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Lie back on the golden sands to soak up the extraordinary setting – or watch on as muscled cariocas – locals – perform effortless athletic feats, during casual volleyball matches. A trip up to Rio de Janeiro’s iconic art-deco statue of Christ the Redeemer is, of course, a must do – offering an extraordinary view of the city rolling out before your eyes. You’ll also want to take a cable car to swing by the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, which juts sharply into the sky from nowhere. Brazil’s second largest city moves to an infectious samba beat, and the famous thumping Carnival floods colour and floats down its streets each year. Of course, Rio is also a city of sharp cultural contrasts – offering fun in the sun for some, while life goes on very much as it always has for others. Take a guided tour, led by a resident, to see the conditions inside these complex tapestries of colour and chaos first-hand. Tijuca National Park, offers easy-to-access tranquillity, immersing you in dense forestry and whopping birdsong. Later, watch the fiery shades of sunset spread across the sky in the city’s oh so famous evening light show. With so much to offer, you’ll quickly learn how Rio earned its other name ‘Cidade Maravilhosa’ – The Marvellous City.

According to Salvador’s adopted son Jorge Amado, “In Salvador, magic becomes part of the every-day.” From the shimmering golden light of sunset over the Baía do Todos os Santos, to the rhythmic beats that race along the streets, Salvador, while no longer Brazil’s capital, remains one of its most captivating cities. A large dose of its exoticism comes down to its African heritage—at least 70% of its 2,675,000 population is classified as Afro-Brazilian—and how it has blended into Brazil’s different strands, from the native Indians to the Christian colonizers. Salvadorans may tell you that you can visit a different church every day of the year, which is almost true—the city has about 300. Churches whose interiors are covered with gold leaf were financed by the riches of the Portuguese colonial era, when slaves masked their traditional religious beliefs under a thin Catholic veneer. And partly thanks to modern-day acceptance of those beliefs, Salvador has become the fount of Candomblé, a religion based on personal dialogue with the orixás, a family of African deities closely linked to nature and the Catholic saints. The influence of Salvador’s African heritage on Brazilian music has also turned the city into one of the musical capitals of Brazil, resulting in a myriad of venues to enjoy live music across the city, along with international acclaim for exponents like Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, and Daniela Mercury. Salvador’s economy today is focused on telecommunications and tourism. The still-prevalent African culture draws many tourists—this is the best place in Brazil to hear African music, learn or watch African dance, and see capoeira, a martial art developed by slaves. In the district of Pelourinho, many colorful 18th- and 19th-century houses remain, part of the reason why this is the center of the tourist trade. Salvador sprawls across a peninsula surrounded by the Baía de Todos os Santos on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. The city has about 50 km (31 miles) of coastline. The original city, referred to as the Centro Histórica (Historical Center), is divided into the Cidade Alta (Upper City), also called Pelourinho, and Cidade Baixa (Lower City). The Cidade Baixa is a commercial area—known as Comércio—that runs along the port and is the site of Salvador’s indoor market, Mercado Modelo. You can move between the upper and lower cities on foot, via the landmark Elevador Lacerda, behind the market, or on the Plano Inclinado, a funicular lift, which connects Rua Guindaste dos Padres on Comércio with the alley behind Cathedral Basílica. From the Cidade Histórica you can travel north along the bay to the hilltop Igreja de Nosso Senhor do Bonfim. You can also head south to the point, guarded by the Forte Santo Antônio da Barra, where the bay waters meet those of the Atlantic. This area on Salvador’s southern tip is home to the trendy neighborhoods of Barra, Ondina, and Rio Vermelho, with many museums, theaters, shops, and restaurants. Beaches along the Atlantic coast and north of Forte Santo Antônio da Barra are among the city’s cleanest. Many are illuminated at night and have bars and restaurants that stay open late.

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A multicultured, multifaceted place, discover brilliant beach life, airy colonial plazas and infectious samba rhythms as you explore this Brazillian melting pot. Sat on a scenic peninsula, idyllic beaches coat the city on three sides, and a historic fort sits just offshore, watching the waters menacingly. One of the world’s biggest carnivals is thrown towards the end of February, but don’t worry if you miss it – there’s always an excuse to celebrate something in Salvador de Bahia. The old town – with its lemon and duck egg blue colours – rises above the city, peppered with gold-leaf flourishes and carved historical churches. Pelourinho street is one of the town’s most dazzling – a picturesque gathering of bright hues and uneven cobbled streets. Bahia’s capital and largest city was Brazil’s first capital, built on the backs of slaves imported from Africa. Since then the cultures have fused to create a vibrant Afro-Brazilian cocktail. Moqueca is the local flavour here, a slow-cooked stew of coconut milk, seafood and bell peppers, its a creamy and delicious indulgence with a chilli kick. Enjoy a spot of relaxation on the city’s beaches – and see a relatively rare phenomenon in Brazil – sunset dipping over the sea’s waves, on the sands of the westerly facing Porto da Barra. Or, escape the crowds and recline below swaying coconut palms on the golden sands of beaches reaching up to the north, which are some of Brazil’s most picturesque and secluded.

Called the “City of Light,” Fortaleza claims that the sun shines on it 2,800 hours a year. And it’s a good thing, too, as the coastline stretches far beyond the city. To the east, along the Litoral Leste or the Costa Sol Nascente (Sunrise Coast) are many fishing villages. To the west, along the Litoral Oeste or the Costa Sol Poente (Sunset Coast), there are pristine stretches of sand. The shores here are cooled by constant breezes and lapped by waters with an average temperature of 24°C (72°F).Today Fortaleza, a large, modern state capital with more than 2 million inhabitants, is Brazil’s fifth-largest city. It’s also on the move, with one of the country’s newest airports, a modern convention center, a huge cultural center with a planetarium, large shopping malls, several museums and theaters, and an abundance of sophisticated restaurants. At Praia de Iracema there’s a revitalized beachfront area of sidewalk cafés, bars, and dance clubs. But if you wander along the shore, you’re still bound to encounter fishermen unloading their catch from traditional jangadas—just as they’ve done for hundreds of years.

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Lie back and let it all go in Fortaleza – a bright and breezy Brazillian beachside city of relaxation and rejuvenation. The ‘City of Light’ basks in the reliable glow of the bountiful Brazilian sun for 2,800 hours each year, and the locals make the most of it, spreading out across sweeping stretches of pristine golden sand. Nestled on the north-eastern coast of Brazil, reaching towards the equator, the city is as off the beaten track as a vast state capital can be, and it moves to its own infectious forró rhythms. Get energised for a day exploring – or relaxing – with a morning swim. Dip into the sea at Praia do Futuro, or settle on the sand to listen to the soundtrack of the waves. Fresh coconut water served up from barracas – beach bars – will keep you feeling nice and refreshed. Iracema beach is another urban favourite, while Cumbuco Beach is a tempting option outside of Fortaleza, boasting a vast stretch of idyllic white sand that’s punctuated only by the occasional leaning palm tree. Raise the pulse by skidding and roll across sand dunes while you’re out here. If you’ve had your fill of sea and sand, explore Fortaleza itself to discover more of Brazil’s fifth-largest city. Walk streets of ice-cream coloured colonial buildings, or head to Dragão do Mar Cultural Center – a mini-city of arts venues alive with culture and creativity. The Metropolitan Cathedral squeezes a congregation of 5,000 into its Neo-Romanesque architecture, and its stain glass windows blaze vivid colours across its elegant, white-wash interior.

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The mighty Amazon River over 6,400kms long, meanders through some of the most extreme natural environments and biologically diverse regions of our planet.Sailing down the wide waters passing the dense greenery of rainforests, there’s never a shortage of magical moments but often the greatest thrill is catching sight of an exotic creature. Look out for pink river dolphins playfully breaking through the water by the side of the boat, colourful parrots as they flash through the trees and sloths going slowly about their day. Cameras at the ready to film mischievous monkeys leaping through the rain forest canopy. Even when you can’t see the wildlife you can hear it. The echoing cries of birds, insects and animals ring through the air.The Amazon is home to a diverse population of indigenous communities, some of whom are happy to share their culture with visitors, opening up their river side villages.Witness the Meetings of the Waters, one of South America’s most captivating natural phenomena. The dark waters of the Rio Negro meet the sandy coloured Rio Solimoes to form the Amazon River but refuse to mix. The colossal two rivers flow side by side for 6km until they eventually accept to mix.The world’s longest river, nurturing the largest rainforest on earth, is home to more than a third of all known species, yet is still one of the least explored regions on earth. No matter how impressive the statistics are, they can never do justice to the Amazon, you need to see it for yourself.

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If you are looking for an authentic taste of rainforest culture, then look no further than Santarem. As one of Brazil’s oldest settlements Santarem holds many secrets.Located almost equidistant between Manaus and Belem, Santarem lies 500 miles upriver from the Atlantic. The little city is found at the confluence of the Amazon and Tapajós rivers and this “meeting of the rivers” phenomenon, where the crystal clear waters of the Rio Tapajos flow into the murky brown of the Amazon without merging is one of Santarem’s biggest pulls. The two stripes of colour flow comfortably side by side for many miles before combining. Climb up the hill from the waterfront in order to experience the best views.The Portuguese colonised the region in 1621 and many relics of the city’s colonial past remain. The Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady Conceicao dates from around this time as does the nearby Old Town Hall building, which also houses many artefacts from the pre-Portuguese era. The Sacred Arts Museum has about 1,000 pieces spanning four centuries.However, a trip to the Amazon would not be complete without experiencing the flora and fauna, so make a beeline for the Tapajós National Forest, about an hour away. The huge (over 600,000 hectares) protected forest is home to a great deal of wildlife including protected species such as white-bellied spider monkeys, giant anteaters, jaguars and giant armadillo. Among the brazil nut and rubber trees you’ll find the endangered green-thighed parrot and red-necked aracari.

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Located between Santarém and Manaus, Boca de Valeria is the entrance to the Valeria Channel (boca meaning mouth). The channel leads to Lake Valeria, which marks the border between the States of Amazonas and Pará. While the ship is at anchor, a colourful picture unfolds as canoes with the local population come out to meet the ship, providing additional excitement to your Amazon experience. There are no facilities to operate any organised excursions. If conditions permit, the ship’s tenders may take you to one of the typical Caboclo (river dwellers) villages to get a glimpse of the natives’ traditional lifestyle. See monkeys and snakes and also look at a selection of local handicrafts. Recommended dress is lightweight cotton. Sun protection and insect repellent also are essential.

A hidden metropolis inside of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, this city is both modern and exciting, yet untouched by the world beyond the jungle. Visit its historical Rubber Museums or stop by the Park of Mindu and catch glimpse of the endangered Pied Tamarin.

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Lying in the heart of the Amazon, hundreds of miles upriver from the Atlantic, Manaus is a busy port city surrounded by the richest rainforest habitat on Earth. Placed strategically at the confluence of two rivers, the town was founded as a fortress by the Portuguese Navy, but quickly became a trade hub for the surrounding area. By the late 19th Century, Manaus was the centre of Brazil’s booming rubber industry, and grew rapidly into one of the largest cities in Brazil. During this period, many of Manaus’ grandest buildings were constructed by the city’s ‘Rubber Barons’, including the Public Market, and the Amazon Theatre, a vast decadent opera house.Today, Manaus is a cultural melting pot, with a diverse population. A complex system of free trade rules has turned Manaus into one of the wealthiest cities in the Brazil, with heavy industry developing alongside traditional livelihoods such as river fishing, and gathering the bounty of fruit, nuts and medicinal plants which the rainforest bestows.However, it is the surroundings which give Manaus its unique character. The famous Meeting of Waters, where tannin-rich water from the Rio Negro combines with milky water from the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon, can be seen just outside town, and the jungle beckons visitors to explore and discover. Excluding Manaus, the state of Amazonas is extremely sparsely populated, and in the largest rainforest on Earth, it is easy to forget the hustle and bustle of the city and simply enjoy the wonders of nature.

A hidden metropolis inside of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, this city is both modern and exciting, yet untouched by the world beyond the jungle. Visit its historical Rubber Museums or stop by the Park of Mindu and catch glimpse of the endangered Pied Tamarin.

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Lying in the heart of the Amazon, hundreds of miles upriver from the Atlantic, Manaus is a busy port city surrounded by the richest rainforest habitat on Earth. Placed strategically at the confluence of two rivers, the town was founded as a fortress by the Portuguese Navy, but quickly became a trade hub for the surrounding area. By the late 19th Century, Manaus was the centre of Brazil’s booming rubber industry, and grew rapidly into one of the largest cities in Brazil. During this period, many of Manaus’ grandest buildings were constructed by the city’s ‘Rubber Barons’, including the Public Market, and the Amazon Theatre, a vast decadent opera house.Today, Manaus is a cultural melting pot, with a diverse population. A complex system of free trade rules has turned Manaus into one of the wealthiest cities in the Brazil, with heavy industry developing alongside traditional livelihoods such as river fishing, and gathering the bounty of fruit, nuts and medicinal plants which the rainforest bestows.However, it is the surroundings which give Manaus its unique character. The famous Meeting of Waters, where tannin-rich water from the Rio Negro combines with milky water from the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon, can be seen just outside town, and the jungle beckons visitors to explore and discover. Excluding Manaus, the state of Amazonas is extremely sparsely populated, and in the largest rainforest on Earth, it is easy to forget the hustle and bustle of the city and simply enjoy the wonders of nature.

A hidden metropolis inside of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, this city is both modern and exciting, yet untouched by the world beyond the jungle. Visit its historical Rubber Museums or stop by the Park of Mindu and catch glimpse of the endangered Pied Tamarin.

Day itinerary:

Lying in the heart of the Amazon, hundreds of miles upriver from the Atlantic, Manaus is a busy port city surrounded by the richest rainforest habitat on Earth. Placed strategically at the confluence of two rivers, the town was founded as a fortress by the Portuguese Navy, but quickly became a trade hub for the surrounding area. By the late 19th Century, Manaus was the centre of Brazil’s booming rubber industry, and grew rapidly into one of the largest cities in Brazil. During this period, many of Manaus’ grandest buildings were constructed by the city’s ‘Rubber Barons’, including the Public Market, and the Amazon Theatre, a vast decadent opera house.Today, Manaus is a cultural melting pot, with a diverse population. A complex system of free trade rules has turned Manaus into one of the wealthiest cities in the Brazil, with heavy industry developing alongside traditional livelihoods such as river fishing, and gathering the bounty of fruit, nuts and medicinal plants which the rainforest bestows.However, it is the surroundings which give Manaus its unique character. The famous Meeting of Waters, where tannin-rich water from the Rio Negro combines with milky water from the Rio Solimões to form the Amazon, can be seen just outside town, and the jungle beckons visitors to explore and discover. Excluding Manaus, the state of Amazonas is extremely sparsely populated, and in the largest rainforest on Earth, it is easy to forget the hustle and bustle of the city and simply enjoy the wonders of nature.

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The small village of Parintins lies on Tupinambarana Island, which is part of a large river archipelago in the mid-Amazon, 250 miles east of Manaus. In existence for two centuries, Parintins is rich in Indian culture that is represented in the celebrated annual Boi-Bumba festival. It is a ritual of magic, mystery, passion and faith that has been held here for over 80 years, inspired by local legends. A stadium, the Bumbódromo, was built in 1988 to accommodate the over 40,000 spectators that come and take part in this festival each year. The Boi-Bumba is listed on the official Calendar of Events to be one of the highlights in Amazonas State. As a special treat, Silversea has arranged an exclusive performance, enacting the show for you with all the exuberance and vibrancy normally displayed in the real Parintins festival.

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The mighty Amazon River over 6,400kms long, meanders through some of the most extreme natural environments and biologically diverse regions of our planet.Sailing down the wide waters passing the dense greenery of rainforests, there’s never a shortage of magical moments but often the greatest thrill is catching sight of an exotic creature. Look out for pink river dolphins playfully breaking through the water by the side of the boat, colourful parrots as they flash through the trees and sloths going slowly about their day. Cameras at the ready to film mischievous monkeys leaping through the rain forest canopy. Even when you can’t see the wildlife you can hear it. The echoing cries of birds, insects and animals ring through the air.The Amazon is home to a diverse population of indigenous communities, some of whom are happy to share their culture with visitors, opening up their river side villages.Witness the Meetings of the Waters, one of South America’s most captivating natural phenomena. The dark waters of the Rio Negro meet the sandy coloured Rio Solimoes to form the Amazon River but refuse to mix. The colossal two rivers flow side by side for 6km until they eventually accept to mix.The world’s longest river, nurturing the largest rainforest on earth, is home to more than a third of all known species, yet is still one of the least explored regions on earth. No matter how impressive the statistics are, they can never do justice to the Amazon, you need to see it for yourself.

Blessed with an abundance of wildlife, the first thing visitors to Ile Royale will notice will be the sea turtles feeding along the pier, the iguanas basking on rocks, and perhaps even the peacocks strolling along the road. At first glance, the island seems like paradise but scratch the surface and a much sombre past becomes clear. In fact, French Guiana was not always the tropical holiday destination it is today – far from it. During its penal colony days, being sent ‘en Guyane’ was the ultimate form of punishment, reserved primarily for the worst of France’s criminals (many will, of course, know the story of Henri Charriere aka Papillon, played by Steve McQueen in the film of the same name). Thankfully, Ile Royale – part of the three islands known as The Devil’s Islands (the smallest of which still retains the name today) has thrown off the shackles of its past and today embraces visitors in a rather more welcoming manner! If you decide to venture beyond the picture postcard long beach with swaying palm trees, historians will no doubt enjoy visiting the beautiful French colonial buildings, once home to the prison officers. Besides the officers’ quarters sits one of the highlights of Ile Royale – the prisoner-built chapel, dating from 1855. The most striking features, inside the wooden church, are the murals painted by convicted forger, Francis Lagrange. Other remains include the House of the Sisters, the military hospital and of course, the prison itself. Interestingly, in 1971 the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (or CNES, France’s equivalent to NASA) purchased the islands. As they sit in the flight path of most rocket launches, the islands must be evacuated on launch days.

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You wouldn’t know it, as you approach the soft sands and gently waving weave of palm trees, but this tropical paradise once stashed away some of France’s most notorious criminals. Home to one of history’s most remote and brutal penal colonies, Ile Royale is one of three – somewhat ironically named – Salvation Islands. The neighbouring Devil’s Island’s title offers some honest insight into how these islands were previously thought of. Nowadays, you’ll discover a heavenly escape of tropical beaches, and jungle reclaiming the island from the prison’s imprint and cleansing its dark history within a cloak of verdant green. The setting for Steve McQueen’s Papillon, and indeed the 2017 remake, the films tell the story of Henri Charriere’s attempted escapes from these notoriously impossible to leave islands, which lie seven miles offshore from French Guiana. Unravel the stories for yourself, as you explore the ruins that have been left behind. Wander to the chapel that was constructed by prisoners, as well as the island’s hospital and staff quarters. There’s incredible wildlife among the penal colony’s ruins too. Cute agouti sniff tentatively at fallen coconuts, vast sea turtles lounge around, squirrel monkeys clamber up through the vegetation, and giant iguanas bask in the sun’s glow. Wander the path that loops around the island’s circumference to spot them, and to discover the lay of the land. Now administered by the French equivalent of NASA, CNES, the islands are occasionally cleared, as rocket launches roar up into the sky overhead.

Located beside the island’s only natural harbour, the capital of Barbados combines modern and colonial architecture with glorious palm tree-lined beaches and a number of historical attractions. Experience the relaxed culture of the city renowned for its British-style parliament buildings and vibrant beach life, and seek out the Anglican church and the 19th-century Barbados Garrison. The distance between the ship and your tour vehicle may vary. This distance is not included in the excursion grades.

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Bridgetown, the captivating capital of Barbados, combines faded colonial history, captivating tradition, and vivid white beaches plucked directly from your richest imagination of Caribbean perfection. Recently listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks to its beautifully preserved colonial architecture, Bridgetown’s mask of modernity covers a core of complex history and fascinating culture. Sherbet coloured buildings line up to overlook the waterfront of the Constitution River at the ‘The Careenage’ – where gleaming ships bob on the blue water, and peaceful strolls along a wooden boardwalk await. Stop for a sobering moment at the commemorative plaque honouring the people traded at this spot, when Bridgetown was the British Empire’s most important harbour, and first stop on the Transatlantic Slave Trade crossing. Just five minutes’ stroll from here is Carlisle Bay – a postcard-perfect place where you’ll find crystal-clear, turquoise seawater glowing in the Caribbean sun, and a mile of soft white powder sand. A treasure trove for divers, the shipwrecks scattered below the shallow water’s waves are now inhabited by turtles and swirling, rainbow-coloured tropical fish. Head to the backstreets, where street food vendors serve up spicy chicken soup, barbecued pigtails and thirst-quenching coconut water. There are bargains aplenty to be had on Broad Street, where duty-free malls and souvenir stalls cram together, vying for your attention. Roebuck Street is the spot where one of the Caribbean’s favourite drinks, rum, was discovered – having been created here from the by-products of the island’s booming sugarcane trade. Nowadays, it’s lined with bars splashing every variety of the deliciously spicy dark libation imaginable into glasses. For a touch more culture, visit one of the oldest synagogues in The Americas – Nidhe Israel Synagogue, which was built in 1654. The adjoining museum tells the story of Barbados’ Jewish immigrants, who were instrumental in the island’s development.