When it comes to pure escapism there are few places in the world more fitting than the Caribbean. Join the Exploris One in Barbados and set sail on our voyage to Belem in Brazil, through sub-tropical waters of beautiful scenery enjoying the perfect mix of cultural and natural wonders. Each place has its own culture and this colourful mix of island personalities, varied terrain and fascinating cities makes for a marvellous break. Our unique voyage has the added advantage of time spent in the fascinating countries of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana.
During our cruise, we will spend time exploring areas rich in natural wonders from tropical flowers, indigenous birds and beautiful beaches to impressive waterfalls. One of the highlights of our voyage will be our extended time in the former British colony of Guyana, one of the least visited countries in South America but home to a diverse amount of wildlife and natural wonders. During our time here we will visit the magnificent Kaieteur Falls by plane, an amazing experience where you can witness the world’s largest single-drop waterfall. Meanwhile in French Guiana we see the infamous “Devil’s Island” and spend a day in its vibrant capital, Cayenne. Our final afternoon will be spent in Belem, gateway to Brazil’s lower Amazon region, where there will be the opportunity to experience the scenic waterways and lush vegetation of the Amazon River on a local boat trip to Boa Vista do Acara Island.
Such a varied and comprehensive itinerary would be difficult to comprehend or undertake by any other means than a cruise aboard a vessel like the Exploris One in the company of just 120 fellow passengers. We will be able to visit some small islands and ports which the larger cruise vessels simply cannot access and skip the arduous, lengthy land travel which such a trip would usually entail and instead relax on board as we deliver you to a new and exciting destination each day.
Exploring Ashore: This voyage will appeal to those who enjoy the natural world and we will be exploring some off the beaten track regions in the Caribbean and South America with limited infrastructure. Many of the excursions include guided walks through the jungle and remote areas in humid conditions, especially in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Our onboard team will endeavour to arrange a selection of walks to include longer and shorter options to cater for different abilities and interests. A range of modes of transport will be used for our excursions including small planes which we will charter for our excursion to the Kaieteur Falls, local boats and minibuses. We also expect to be at anchor in the Iles du Salut where we will make use of the vessel’s Zodiacs. To best enjoy this itinerary, we do recommend a good level of mobility and if you would like to discuss the level of fitness required, please contact us.
Exploris One
Formerly known as the Silver Explorer and owned by Silversea Cruises, Exploris One began her new life with Exploris Expeditions in December 2023. Having been associated with the vessel for many years, we know her to be ideal for small ship cruising and for our exclusive charter, we will be accommodating just 120 guests on board. The vessel’s shallow draft will allow us to navigate in areas that larger ships would not be able to access and whilst cruising, the vessel benefits from spacious deck areas from where you can watch for passing wildlife and admire the beautiful scenery. The atmosphere on board is relaxed and informal with the focus on the wonders of the destination you are visiting, which combined with the comfortable surroundings, excellent service, superb cuisine and expert onboard team make for the perfect small ship experience.
Itinerary
Day 1 London to Barbados.
Fly by scheduled flight. Arrive this evening and transfer to the Exploris One for embarkation. Sail this evening.
Day 2 Tobago.
After a relaxing morning at sea we arrive in Scarborough, the capital of Tobago and home to about one third of its population. A bustling town, the friendly atmosphere that greets us hides the tumultuous past of a town that has changed hands over 30 times in the past 150 years. We will visit Fort King George, built in 1779 during the many struggles between the French and the English over ownership of the island, before continuing to Plymouth and an eco-tourism estate in Arnos Vale, where we hope to spot some of the local hummingbirds.
Day 3 Trinidad.
Due to its location close to the South American mainland, Trinidad has a unique diversity of plant and animal species which we will discover today. From our berth at Port of Spain we will drive inland to the Asa Wright Nature Centre. Founded on a former cocoa and coffee plantation in 1967 it comprises 1500 acres of forest providing habitat for a range of wildlife. On a series of guided walks we will explore the area searching for the 166 species of birds. Return to the Exploris One for lunch and later this afternoon we head to the Caroni Nature Sanctuary, a mangrove swamp covering an area of 40 square miles. On arrival at the sanctuary, we will board a flat-bottomed boat and slowly travel along the peaceful waterways and lagoons admiring the beauty of the landscape and the variety of birds including the scarlet ibis, a large bright red bird which feeds and nests here and we hope to catch them as they return to their nests at sunset.
Day 4 At Sea.
Spend a day at sea as we cruise towards the South American coast.
Days 5 to 7 Georgetown, Guyana.
We will spend two and a half days in Guyana, South America’s only English speaking country. Georgetown was called Longchamps under the French and Stabroek under the Dutch, so it comes as no surprise that the tree-lined streets are a wonderful mix of colonial styles. During our time here we will enjoy a half day city tour which will include St Georges Cathedral, St Andrew’s Kirk and the Stabroek Market, once described as a ‘bizarre bazaar’, the market offers every conceivable item from household goods and gold jewellery to fresh meat and vegetables brought to Georgetown, Guyana town on the river daily. We will also fly to the Kaieteur National Park where the mighty Kaieteur Falls plunge 822 feet to the bottom of a rocky gorge. Five times the height of Niagara Falls, an amazing 30,000 gallons of water per second crashes to the depths below and witnessing this spectacle is an amazing experience. There will also be the opportunity to tour the extensive botanical gardens where we may see many of the resident birds including the blood-coloured woodpecker, pearl kite and red-bellied macaws.
Days 8 & 9 Paramaribo, Suriname.
Spend a day and a half in the capital of Suriname, Paramaribo, located on the banks of the Suriname River. The city has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and during our guided tour we will see the many historic colonial buildings and tree-lined avenues. This is a city of many colours and cultures and one of the few places in the world where mosques, Hindu temples, synagogues and Christian churches coexist peacefully side by side. Visit the city’s leafy park, Palm Garden which was created in 1682 and is home to more than 1000 palms, the waterfront and Fort Zeelandia, originally named Fort Willoughby by the British in 1651. We will also drive to the Commewijne District just outside of Paramaribo, a beautiful agricultural area of creeks, rivers and former plantations. Here we will take nature walks on the lookout for birds, monkeys and lizards before visiting the museum at Nieuw Amsterdam, an 18th century fort built to protect the city where we can also see the resident giant lilies.
Day 10 Iles de Salut, French Guiana.
This morning we anchor off the Iles de Salut, an archipelago of three small islands and the site of the infamous French penal colonies. One prisoner, Henri Charrière, described the inhumane treatment and his escape in his autobiography “Papillion”. The most notorious of all the islands was the Ile du Diable, or “Devil’s Island”, where political prisoners including Alfred Dreyfus were held captive. Its rocky boundary and rough waters made it so naturally impregnable that even now it is completely inaccessible to visitors. We will spend the day here and use our Zodiacs to visit both Isle St Joseph and Ile Royale where many of the old prison buildings are still standing such as the guard’s quarters, prisoner’s cells and hospital. Sail overnight to Cayenne.
Day 11 Cayenne.
Sail this morning into the capital of French Guiana, Cayenne, a melting pot of French, Asian, African and Brazilian cultures. From our berth we will drive to the Guiana Space Centre, also known as “Europe’s Spaceport”, which occupies a site of 75,000 hectares and employs more than 1,500 people. The location was chosen by the French Government in 1964, due to its proximity to the equator, and the site is still used for launching satellites and rockets for the European Space Agency. A tour of the site will include the control centre and the nearby space museum.
Day 12 At Sea.
Spend a day at sea as we continue our journey along the South American coast towards Brazil.
Day 13 Belem, Brazil.
‘The City of Mango Trees’ as it is affectionately known, Belem is a lovely tropical city, the economic centre of the Amazon and capital of the state of Para. It is a lively and colourful city whose character and culture are steeped in the ways of the forests and rivers that surround it. Arriving over lunch there will be a choice of activities this afternoon. A city tour will include the Ver-o-Peso Market, a huge outdoor market that sprawls over four city blocks and is possibly the largest market in Brazil. Continue to Forte do Castelo, a fortress built by the Portuguese in the 17th century and Emilio Goeldi Park, which covers over 12 acres of woodland and has a renowned centre for studying Amazonian fauna and flora. The gardens feature more than 1,500 species of plants and more than 1,600 fruit trees. Alternatively, experience the scenic waterways and lush vegetation of the Amazon River during a memorable excursion to Boa Vista do Acara Island. Using local boats we will visit some of the creeks, channels and narrow canals of the majestic Amazon River leading to Boa Vista. En route, see local canoes, fishing boats and other rivercraft make their way along the creeks of the great rainforest, as well as homes built on stilts. Upon arrival at Boa Vista do Acara Island, take a guided walking tour through the forest, visiting the native Caboclo residents, known as ribeirinhos. Along the way, marvel at the lush, diverse vegetation of the Amazon as your guide points out the different species of trees, fruits and seeds. Return to the ship in Belem as we moor overnight.
Day 14 Belem to London.
Disembark this morning and transfer to the airport for our scheduled indirect flight to London.
Day 15 London.
Arrive this morning.
Exploring Ashore: This voyage will appeal to those who enjoy the natural world and we will be exploring some off the beaten track regions in the Caribbean and South America with limited infrastructure. Many of the excursions include guided walks through the jungle and remote areas in humid conditions, especially in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. Our onboard team will endeavour to arrange a selection of walks to include longer and shorter options to cater for different abilities and interests. A range of modes of transport will be used for our excursions including small planes which we will charter for our excursion to the Kaieteur Falls, local boats and minibuses. We also expect to be at anchor in the Iles du Salut where we will make use of the vessel’s Zodiacs. To best enjoy this itinerary, we do recommend a good level of mobility and if you would like to discuss the level of fitness required, please contact us.
Dates and Prices
4 to 18 November 2024 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Brochure Price | Special Offer Price |
Deck 3 Ocean Stateroom | £9595 | £9295 |
Deck 4 Deluxe Stateroom | £9995 | £9695 |
Deck 5 Balcony Stateroom | £10495 | £10195 |
Deck 5 Discovery Suite | £10995 | £10695 |
Deck 7 Navigator Suite | £11495 | £11195 |
Deck 7 Grand Suite | £12995 | £12695 |
Deck 7 Owner’s Suite | £13495 | £13195 |
Deck 3 Ocean Stateroom for sole use | £11995 | £11695 |
Deck 4 Superior Stateroom for sole use | £12495 | £12195 |
Tour Reference Code: SCEO041124
PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel • 13 nights aboard the Exploris One on a full board basis • House wine, beer & soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Onboard team including Guest Speaker • Shore excursions • Gratuities • Transfers • Port taxes • Airport taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, Suriname entry fee.
Exploris One
Formerly known as the Silver Explorer and owned by Silversea Cruises, Exploris One began her new life with Exploris Expeditions in December 2023. Having been associated with the vessel for many years, we know her to be ideal for small ship cruising and for our exclusive charter, we will be accommodating just 120 guests on board. The vessel’s shallow draft will allow us to navigate in areas that larger ships would not be able to access and whilst cruising, the vessel benefits from spacious deck areas from where you can watch for passing wildlife and admire the beautiful scenery. The atmosphere on board is relaxed and informal with the focus on the wonders of the destination you are visiting, which combined with the comfortable surroundings, excellent service, superb cuisine and expert onboard team make for the perfect small ship experience.
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Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000