If you are anything like us you are always searching for your next truly unique river cruising experience? Perhaps something beyond the well-trodden paths of Europe, offering an off the beaten track adventure but with the assurance of luxury and safety? Then look no further than AmaWaterways, the “Magic of Colombia” cruise, a pioneering journey into the heart of this little known nation, deep into the heart of rainforest. We recently caught up with one of our lovely longstanding customers, Diana, to find out more after she returned from her trip over Christmas 2025-6.
Colombia’s Magdalena River is a Brand New Route
This new route offers a profound and genuine feeling of exploration. Our guest, Diana, confirmed that once on the ship, the river offered a surprising tranquillity, noting that the only traffic encountered was the occasional small fishing boat and the single other cruise ship travelling in the opposite direction. This speaks to the pioneering nature of the trip, offering you a perspective of the region that few outsiders have ever seen. Furthermore, in the towns like Barranquilla and Medellin, Diana observed a wonderful appreciation from the locals, whose communities are actively developing new small businesses and relying on this new source of tourism for investment.
Authentic Cultural Immersion: Your Bucket List Colombia Experiences
The true magic of this cruise lies in its focus on deep cultural immersion and unique travel experience. The excursions aren’t performances—they’re invitations to participate.
- Hands-On Craftsmanship: You’ll get hands-on with local traditions, such as crafting a silver filigree heart in Santa Cruz de Mompox, a town famed for the craft, which Diana described as an enjoyable, “hands-on” experience.
- The Coffee Masterclass: In Medellin, the pre-cruise offered an excursion to a local coffee place where the process was presented as an art form. Diana loved learning everything from picking the beans to roasting, and tasting the final, exquisite product.
- Unforgettable Wildlife: Wake up before dawn for the brilliant 6 AM sunrise wildlife trip. Heading out on small boats to tributaries, Diana saw a vast array of birds, including three kinds of kingfishers, and even spotted “smart monkeys” that locals could call down, along with a shy baby spider monkey.
Medellin Art & Innovation: The Medellin pre-cruise reveals a city transformed, with parts of town, originally slums, now featuring stunning artwork on the hillsides. The locals are channelling the youngsters’ interests into positive activities like football and breakdancing. Public transport itself is an experience, including escalators and an impressive 40-minute cable car route across two hills.
Pre and Post-Cruise Perfection
To complete your luxury South American river journey, the add-on experiences are equally compelling. The post-cruise Panama city extension includes a specialized, full-day tour of the Panama Canal. Instead of traversing the full canal, you access a man-made lake between the locks on a small boat—a unique privilege of the cruise company. Diana recalled the dramatic moment the boat’s roof and frame had to be lowered to pass under a low railroad bridge. You’ll also get up close to the new, massive locks (completed in 2016) used by container ships (which pay over a million pounds to pass) and the parallel old locks used by cruise ships, with three different vantage points throughout the day.
Comfort, Connection, and Local Flavours
For the luxury traveller, the ship maintains a similar standard to European cruises, but with a design that maximizes cabin space. Cabins are a “good size,” featuring double beds and balconies. You’ll spend minimal time inside, as the daily schedule is well-organized and packed with enriching activities. Excursions and expert talks—such as one where the chef showcased and presented tastings of different types of exotic local fruit—are the focus. For those considering solo travel on a luxury cruise, Diana confirmed it was easy to connect with other guests, with many people travelling alone. The cuisine is primarily delicious Colombian, with European-style alternatives consistently available.
Book your unique river cruise adventure today, and discover the welcoming, untouched heart of Colombia in luxury and safety.
Cruise Link: Wonders of Colombia – Magdalena River Cruise
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About Alex Leete
Who is Alex Leete? A passion for travel and over 15 years' experience in the industry encouraged me to set up Global River Cruising, our own family run company. Over the last few years we have been on as many river cruises, ships and seen as many destinations as we possibly can so we can rightfully call ourselves "experts". As independent specialists we work hard to find the perfect river cruise for our clients - at the very best prices too!
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