Puerto Rico Cruise from San Juan to Manaus — 12 Days

San Juan

San Juan puts a remarkable piece of Caribbean history within easy reach of your ship. Founded in 1521, Old San Juan is a compact district of blue cobbles, pastel façades and Spanish colonial landmarks. Walk its steep lanes to El Morro, the 16th-century fortress that guards the harbor. From its ramparts, the Atlantic comes into view. Beyond the old walls, cafés, galleries and contemporary restaurants show a city still shaped by its maritime past.

Gustavia St Barths, France

Gustavia makes a polished first impression, but its appeal is more than designer boutiques and superyachts. Swedish rule left its mark in the town’s name and the ruins of Fort Gustav above the harbor. From the waterfront, cafés, galleries and shops sit within easy walking distance, while Shell Beach lies just beyond the center. Come ashore for French-Caribbean style, with history close at hand.

Saint-Pierre Martinique (Ask Travel Agent)

Bridgetown, Barbados

Bridgetown rewards travelers who leave the ship and walk into Barbados’ compact capital. Its UNESCO-listed Historic Bridgetown and Garrison trace the island’s colonial history; Broad Street offers a lively glimpse of daily life. Pause beside the Careenage, where boats thread the old harbour, then browse shops for local rum and Bajan crafts. Carlisle Bay’s pale sand and clear water lie just beyond the city.

Port-of-Spain

Port of Spain pairs a busy capital with views across the Gulf of Paria. At Queen’s Park Savannah, shady paths circle a broad green, framed by the Northern Range. Nearby, the Magnificent Seven mansions reveal the city’s architectural past, while the National Museum traces Trinidad and Tobago’s story. Hear steelpan, sample Creole cooking and browse city markets before returning to the waterfront and the Gulf of Paria.

Macapa, Brazil

Santana is the Amazon gateway to Macapá and the remote state of Amapá. The capital lies about 20 kilometres away by road. At Marco Zero, a monument marks the Equator’s passage through the city. On the waterfront, the 18th-century Fortress of São José recalls Portugal’s colonial presence. Expect a working river port, broad Amazon views and a capital whose character is inseparable from the water.

Santarem, Brazil

At Santarém, the Tapajós meets the Amazon in a striking convergence visible from the riverfront. The city rewards a stroll through its lively market and around the Cathedral of Our Lady of Conception. For a change of pace, travel about 35 kilometres to Alter do Chão, where clear water and white-sand beaches await. These shores are most expansive when falling river levels reveal the Tapajós’ sandy banks.

Boca da Valeria, Brazil

Boca da Valeria is a small Amazon settlement reached only by river. It stands at the mouth of the Valeria River, on the Amazon’s great waterway. Expect no grand sights or polished attractions. The visit is about meeting local families, seeing wooden homes and observing river life at close range. Look beyond the landing to the forest and passing boats, which define this remote corner of Brazil.

Manaus, Brazil

Manaus rises from the rainforest, far inland from Brazil’s Atlantic coast, where the Negro and Solimões rivers meet. Visit the Teatro Amazonas, the city’s opera house, opened in 1896 during the rubber boom. Explore the Mercado Adolpho Lisboa, a riverfront market inspired by Paris’s Les Halles. Boat trips reveal the Meeting of the Waters, where dark and sandy-colored currents run side by side. Manaus rewards travelers who look beyond its role as an Amazon gateway.