Something Different? Try the Amazon!

If you are no longer so wowed by the Caribbean in winter, but you still want that warm weather feeling post Christmas, then why not try out an Amazon cruise instead? It's an amazing, beguiling adventure, with more than just a hint of romance thrown in. And where else can you get to play at being Indiana Jones, without sacrificng anything by way of comfort, or style?

Typically sailing from and to Barbados or Fort Lauderdale, you venture a full nine hundred miles into this jungle shrouded hinterland, right up to the great city of Manaus, with its magnificent, pearl pink Opera House and stunning boardwalk. Many cruises stay overnight in this quite amazing city.

You'll cross the Equator too and, in all likelihood, you'll be in the mouth of the mighty Amazon long before you actually realise it. At the Atlantic entrance, South America's longest river is a mind blowing 125 miles wide.

Heading upstream, you'll see the breathtaking 'Wedding of the Waters' at Rio Tapajos, where currents of brown and ink black water flow side by side without intermingling for mile after mile. You might see pink, bottle nosed dolphins and beady eyed Caimans that crouch along the banks of the river itself. And where else can you go fishing for piranha under conditions of perfect safety?

Your ship wends through this fantastic visual smorgasbord at a sedate pace, past sudden, surprising beaches as perfect as any in the Caribbean, and on past small, half hidden villages on rickety stilts that seem to crouch along the riverbanks. Cattle and oxen graze lethergically on the fields by the river's edge while small, two man fishing canoes suddenly emerge from the reeds and dense rushes. The cries of hundreds of different bird species forms a shrill cacophony that hangs above the dark, still mangrove swamps.

Top tip; bring insect repellent, because you will most certainly need it. Bugs of all sizes, colours and species are a fact of life in this sultry, tropical wonderland. They can- and do- get everywhere, but it's surprising how quickly you actually learn to adapt to them.

Take a chance to interact with the locals, when and where you can. The Brazilians are a warm hearted, fun loving people, and they really want you to see all of the amazing dviersity on show in this beautiful region. Go with an open mind.

Be aware that Amazon cruises mainly sail only in February and March, with a few sailings sometimes also taking place in November. And, though the Amazon can be achieved on a round trip sailing from Europe, most travellers fly across the Atlantic to embark on their Amazon adventure.