Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has launched Amazon Season 2026: Expeditions Deep into the Rainforests to Iquitos, offering access to remote regions and remarkable biodiversity.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is among the few operators navigating the river with small expedition ships and the only cruise line sailing the full route from Belém, Brazil, upstream to the remote rainforest city of Iquitos, Peru, and back.
This week, the Hanseatic Spirit departed Belem on an 18-day upstream expedition along the legendary river route. For nearly 30 years, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has taken guests on this approximately 4,000km (2,385m) journey deep into the heart of the Amazon. Each year, just two voyages, one upstream and one downstream are offered, making them among the most sought-after expeditions in the company’s program.
“The Amazon is one of the most captivating natural and cultural regions on earth,” Hapag-Lloyd Cruises managing director Isolde Susset said. “Our expeditions allow guests to experience the river intensively while respecting the region’s ecosystems and communities.”
The line’s small expedition ships, designed for challenging routes, feature shallow drafts that allow them to reach remote tributaries inaccessible to larger vessels. With fewer than 230 guests, spacious observation decks, Zodiac excursions, and a team of experts and local wildlife spotters, travelers can explore the rainforest up close and gain deeper insight through onboard lectures and the Ocean Academy.
Encounters with riverside communities are also part of the journey, as many villages along the Amazon are accessible only by water.
Amazon expeditions have long been among the most popular voyages in the Hapag-Lloyd Cruises program. The Hanseatic Inspiration sails the iconic route again in 2027 and 2028, with limited availability already remaining.
2027 – Amazon Cruises
Expedition Amazon (upstream) – From Belem, Brazil to Iquitos, Peru aboard Hanseatic Inspiration, 11 to 29 April 2027 (18 days).
- Platinum fare from EUR19,190 (around AU$31,195.26) per person (double occupancy), including charter flight.
Expedition Amazon (downstream) – From Iquitos, Peru to Belem, Brazil aboard Hanseatic Inspiration, 29 April to 17 May 2027 (18 days).
- Platinum fare from EUR22,370 (around AU$36,364.67) per person (double occupancy), including charter flight.
Also available for 2028
Expedition Amazon (upstream) – Belem to Iquitos, 2 to 20 April 2028 (18 days).
- From EUR17,840 (around AU$29,000.70) per person with early booking discount available until 31 May 2027.
Expedition Amazon (downstream) – Iquitos to Belem, 29 April to 17 May 2028 (18 days).
- From EUR22,370 (around AU$36,364.67) per person with early booking discount available until 31 May 2027.
