Wild South America: Trinidad, Guyana, and Brazil

Day 1

Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

The sound of the steel pan and calypso tell us we are in Trinidad and Tobago. Arrive and join us for a welcome reception before an overnight at the Hyatt Regency Trinidad Hotel (or similar).

Meals Included: Dinner

Days 2-3

Caroni Swamp / Port of Spain / Embark Ship

Drive to Caroni Swamp on the west coast of Trinidad, where scarlet ibis return by the hundreds at dusk to roost—one of the world’s great wildlife spectacles. The next day, enjoy a leisurely breakfast and perhaps a dip in the pool, with sweeping views of the Gulf of Paria, before embarking our ship in Port of Spain and settling in as we set sail southward.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4

At Sea

Explore the amenities of our ship and prepare for the adventures ahead. Visit the Bridge (a great place to spot marine life), have a relaxing massage, attend a talk about the history of this storied coast, or settle into a cozy chair in the observation lounge to read or look out over the waves and reflect on the day’s highlights and what is to come.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 5-7

Essequibo River, Guyana / Georgetown / At Sea

Little-visited Guyana has some of the planet’s most pristine rainforest. On the Essequibo, watch for colorful macaws, cotingas, and jacamars—a few of the more than 600 bird species of the area. Fly over Guyana’s crown jewel: powerful 822-foot Kaieteur Falls. Once on the ground we explore the rainforest and look for rare parrots and toucans. In Georgetown, Guyana’s capital, discover rich colonial architecture, historic markets, and spirited local music.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8

Paramaribo, Suriname

Paramaribo’s well-preserved Dutch colonial architecture has earned it a UNESCO designation. Explore the waterfront with its wooden colonial buildings, and Fort Zeelandia, home to the fine Suriname Museum.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 9-10

Devil’s Island, French Guiana / At Sea

Devil’s Island became notorious as a penal colony whose inmates included Alfred Dreyfus and Henri Charrière—who chronicled his escape in the book Papillon. Explore the remains of the prison and spot birds and monkeys in the surrounding jungle. Then relax during a day at sea.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 11-13

Amazon River Delta, Brazil

Enter the great delta region of the Amazon and spend three days exploring the river and its tributaries by ship and by Zodiac. Watch for macaws, toucans, and kingfishers, along with monkeys and the two elusive species of river dolphin found here—the gray tucuxi and the pink boto. See some of the communities of local residents, called caboclos, who make their living in this rich but difficult environment.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14

Belém

The gateway to the Amazon, Belém has a rich colonial history evident on our walk in the Cidade Velha (Old City). Visit the Ver-O-Peso market, with its amazing variety of rainforest medicinal remedies, or the town of Icoaraci, known for its ceramics.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 15-17

At Sea

Enjoy the pleasures of being aboard National Geographic Explorer with an expert staff. Attend a photo presentation given by a National Geographic photographer and get your photography questions answered. Head up to the bridge, where the officers reveal the secrets of navigation. Hear talks from our naturalist team that prepare us for the exciting days to come on Fernando de Noronha. Unwind, have a massage in the wellness center, read in the excellent library, or listen to music curated by our onboard musicologist.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 18-20

Fernando de Noronha

The Fernando de Noronha archipelago is a UNESCO site recognized for its marine life and breeding tropical seabirds. Enjoy three days exploring its beaches, birdlife, and rich marine life. Hike, swim, and snorkel. Or go on a boat excursion to watch spinner dolphins, renowned for their acrobatics.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 21-22

At Sea / Salvador / Disembark Ship

After time at sea, arrive at colorful Salvador, capital of the state of Bahia and cultural center of Brazil. Salvador’s music is legendary—the region is the birthplace of the samba. We disembark and have a walking tour of Salvador through the historic Pelourinho, a network of sweeping avenues lined with towering pink, yellow, and purple buildings finished with elegant white trims. Tonight, enjoy a final farewell dinner together and a cultural performance by some extraordinary local artists.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 23-24

Salvador / U.S.

After breakfast, enjoy a choice of activities to get a deeper insight into this fascinating city, or choose to search for nearby wildlife. After lunch, transfer to the airport for overnight flights home. Breakfast and lunch are served on Day 23.