As the
voyage unfolds, guests can immerse themselves in the subtleties of
each destination — not just where it lies on the map, but its
cultural and culinary flavors, its natural wonders, and its
historical nuances. Every carefully orchestrated itinerary
represents an exceptional opportunity to experience a facet of
travel that transcends the ordinary, creating an enriching journey
that will leave an enduring impression.
Accompanied
by a naturalist guide, guests board a chartered aircraft. As guests
fly over the Strait of Magellan, Tierra
del Fuego,
Cape Horn and the Antarctica Peninsula, they will be dazzled by
Antarctica’s abundance of wildlife colonies
of penguins
and seals among this amazing landscape of towering mountains,
glaciers and lakes. The flight itself offers
an open bar,
snacks and lunch, enhanced by the naturalist’s commentary about the
region. Guests in window seats
rotate with
fellow passengers so that everyone may enjoy the magnificent views
of this isolated continent.
• Itajai,
Brazil, where a two-day, one-night overland tour of Iguazu Falls
immerses travelers in the awe-inspiring power of nature
After a
motor coach transfer to the airport of Navegantes, only 30 minutes
away from the port of Itajai, guests board a
specially
chartered jet and head to the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls.
Located at the border of Brazil, Argentina and
Paraguay,
the falls, known to locals as the “Big Waters,” are one of nature’s
most impressive displays. Comprising a
spectacular
display of 250 giant cascades twice the height of Niagara Falls,
Iguazu Falls plunges over hard granite to a
gorge 260
feet below. Nature’s incredible power is revealed in the thunderous
roar of crashing water, and in the
enchanting,
rainbow-colored mist that rises from the cliffs. While staying at
the Bourbon Cataratas Hotel near the city of
Foz do
Iguacu, guests can visit the Brazilian side of the falls before
flying back to Navegantes to join Azamara Journey.
• Buenos
Aires, Argentina, where “Behind the Scenes at the Buenos Aires
Hipodromo” gives horse and racing enthusiasts an insider’s glimpse
at the country’s preeminent horse race course
When
travelers arrive at the Hipodromo de Palermo, they will begin their
foray into the behind-the-scenes of Argentine
horse racing
by observing first-class, purebred horses in training while enjoying
a welcome tea or coffee at the Grandstand Tribune. A guided tour of
“La Redonda,” the main gardens used for showing the horses, includes
glimpses of the studs of the big champions, the main horse boxes,
and the “Talabarteria,” a store specializing in leather goods. If a
purebred is in need of horseshoes, travelers may even have the
chance to help shoe it. Guests also visit the “Horses Hotel,” where
out-of-town horses and their trainers are accommodated, and have an
interactive horse-shed making experience. As the tour concludes,
guests enjoy brunch at the Hipodromo’s restaurant before returning
to Azamara Journey.
• Puerto
Chacobuco, Chile, where the Heart of Patagonia Lodge offers
travelers an exclusive fishing experience
This day
trip takes guests to North Patagonia. The Heart of Patagonia Lodge
is located on the border of the Aisen River
with great
fishing only a short trek from the lodge. The lodge is also located
near the Rio Simpson and Mañihuales,
two very
important rivers to the region. Every two guests are paired with a
fishing guide who offers highly personalized
attention
while fishing for seasonal species such as rainbow trout and
steelhead, coho, chinook and Atlantic salmon.
•
Cartagena, Colombia, where “The Walled City Walking Tour with Lunch”
explores the town’s historic forts
From the
pier, guests board a bus to the traditional district of Manga, known
for Republican-style houses, and begin
the tour at
Santiago’s bastion. Passing charming colonial architecture, guests
stop at San Pedro Claver Plaza and
colonial-era
commercial fair site Customs Plaza. Continuing to Plaza de Bolívar
and the Inquisition Palace, guests see
ancient
punishment hallmarks such as jails and torture chambers. At the Gold
Museum, guests can gaze upon original
gold pieces
manufactured by Indian cultures living along the coasts and plains
of the Colombian Caribbean around
1,000 A.D.
At the end of this tour, guests will enjoy lunch at one of the most
beautiful hotels in the Old City that was
originally a
convent before being restored as a five-star hotel.
• St.
John, U.S. Virgin Islands, where a tour of an historical plantation
ruins evokes the island’s complex history, and a separate
eco-adventure lets travelers explore both land and sea
Columbus may
have discovered these islands nearly five centuries ago; however, it
was 1720 before one of the first
settlements
was formed. As guests travel the island of St. John by open-air
safari bus, a local expert will discuss
the island’s
history and expansion. Sights throughout this exclusive tour include
the historical Catherineberg Ruins,
an almost
unspoiled 18th century sugar-mill rum factory; the all-encompassing,
unspoiled natural beauty of the
Virgin
Islands National Park, which occupies two-thirds of the island;
Bordeaux Mountain, which offers map-like
views of
British Virgin Islands Norman Island, Peter Island and Virgin Gorda;
as well as Coral Bay, St. John’s first
permanent
settlement.
For those
travelers inclined to seek adventure and sport, the Lind Point
hiking and sea kayaking excursion will satisfy.
After a
1.2-mile hike through the lush flora of the Lind Point Trail, during
which an expert guide will talk about the
abundant
plant life and its medicinal uses, guests will stop at the Lind
Point Overlook to gaze upon St. Thomas, and,
on a clear
day, St. Croix, the third and largest of the four Virgin Islands. A
stop at Honeymoon Beach, one of several
protected by
the National Park, offers travelers a refreshing dip before being
acquainted with their kayaking guide and
paddling
about one mile to Henley Cay. Snorkel equipment in hand, guests can
then enjoy the magnificent undersea
marine and
coral life, bursting with color and wonder in these protected
waters.
• Grand
Turk, Turks & Caicos, where “A Chukka Taste of Grand Turk 4x4
Experience” puts travelers in safari-themed 4x4 Ford F250s
As a skilled
and experienced driver navigates the rugged vehicle through the
quaint and charismatic Front Street, lined
with
turn-of-the-century, Bermudian-style architecture, travelers will be
richly informed with historical facts as the
tour makes
its way to the center of town. After passing the ruins of the old
salinas, depicting how salt was derived
through
natural process of “solarization,” and observing the windmills that
were used to funnel natural seawater from
one salina
to another, guests will be driven to the airport to view the space
capsule in which Lieutenant Colonel John
Glenn
splashed down in the Atlantic close to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Afterwards, guests travel where tour buses
dare not
venture, right alongside the impressive Town Salina. Here you might
just catch a glimpse of the famous
endangered
pink flamingos that are seasonally seen foraging through the silted
bottom of the salina ponds in search of
brine shrimp
and other crustaceans, before traveling uphill to find breathtaking
views of the Atlantic Ocean atop
Breezy Brae.
Traveling to the northernmost tip of the island, guests will
navigate one of the several trails that may be
found there.
They may even catch a glimpse of the humpback whales that migrate
there between February and
March each
year.
• Puerto
Caldera, Costa Rica, where a bird sanctuary and mangrove boat tour
offers the chance to witness the natural habitat of one of the
mainstay symbols of the exotic beauty of the tropics: the scarlet
macaw
One of the
most endangered species in the American Tropics, the scarlet macaw
has found a safe place in this refuge.
The
adventure begins only 10 minutes away from the pier in Puntarenas,
when guests board small boats and cross the
mangrove
forests, rife with birds and even the occasional crocodile. A quick
motor coach trip across sugar cane fields
and quaint
villages is all it takes to reach the macaw sanctuary. A short walk
on flat and easy paved trails enhances
travelers’
understanding of the macaw’s habitat. Several other species of
exotic birds that have been confiscated by
national
park rangers can be observed in this refuge, living in harmony with
the scarlet macaws.
• Puerto
Limon, Costa Rica, where a once-in-a-lifetime Pacuare River hike
lets travelers meet the indigenous Costa Ricans whose ancestors
greeted the Spaniards who first arrived to the region’s verdant
shores
This tour
lasts most of the day and is physically demanding. The Talamanca
Mountains are host to the Cabecar
Indians, the
largest indigenous group in Costa Rica, and one that retains many of
its traditional customs and beliefs. At
the Pacuare
Lodge, guests may visit isolated family groups to learn something of
their folklore and way of life, as well
as enjoy the
alluring tropical rainforest. Guests will depart the lodge for a
naturalist-guided uphill climb through lush
rainforest,
crystal clear streams and stunning wildlife. From time to time, a
pair of toucans will take flight overhead,
and strange,
piercing calls will punctuate the stillness, followed by the flutter
of wings and a burst of color. After
approximately two hours, the foliage thins and a banana-tree-fringed
clearing opens, providing a stunning, panoramic
vista of the
shimmering rainforest canopy below. Once at the Shaman’s hut, the
naturalist guide will introduce
travelers to
the Zutkia, a man wizened beyond his years. Depending on his mood,
travelers will have the unique
opportunity
to learn from the Zutkia’s intimate knowledge of nature, and of the
traditions and customs that have
survived for
centuries and which provide the foundation for the Cabecars’
relationship with nature (translated by the
naturalist
guide). Guests may want to save their cameras for the stunning views
of the jungle; it is important to know
that the
Cabecar are protective of their customs and way of life and do not
like to be photographed, and it is important
to respect
this wish.
• San
Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, where “Romancing Granada” lets travelers
revive memories of a nostalgic past while enjoying present-day
amenities and a personalized pampering experience
A 90-minute
drive through Nicaragua’s countryside is enhanced by the narration
of a professional tour guide, who has a
deep
understanding of this beautiful country. Named after the city of the
same name in southern Spain, Granada became
the oldest
colonial city in the continent and the number of churches and
buildings is proof of it. Guests arrive at the Old
Train
Station, now restored to its original beauty, where colorfully
decorated carriages drawn by horses await. Boarding
those,
couples are taken into the city in comfort; opportunities to absorb
the local culture are endless, and tour guides are posted at every
stop to provide detailed information, answer questions and provide
assistance. Carriages will then
continue to
the embarking area, where private local boats will navigate the
isletas, or isles, before reaching the one where a private and
exclusive lunch awaits. Thought to be of volcanic origin, these
islands vary in size and shape. After lunch, boats are ready for a
short ride back to the embarking area, where the carriages wait,
ready to take guests back to the Old Train Station, chilled farewell
glass of wine in hand.
