• The Amazon rainforest unfolds during a Brazilian riverboat cruise.amazonian brazilian image by Eduardo Azeredo from Fotolia.com
  
  The mysteries of Brazil's Amazon River and surrounding rainforest can lure adventure and luxury travelers alike. Sailing aboard a riverboat can offer views of lush vegetation and tropical wildlife. There are a variety of different cruises that offer different levels of adventure, from a taste to an expedition. Citizens of the U.S.A., Canada and Australia should be aware they will need a visa as well as a valid passport to enter Brazil. U.K., E.U. and New Zealand citizens need only a passport valid for six months from the time of their trip. Please note: cruise itineraries are subject to change. The following information is valid as of August, 2010.
  
  

Latin Excursions

• This Miami, Florida, travel company specializes in Latin America. They offer the Brazilian Northern Adventures, a 15-day luxury tour that includes a cruise on the Amazon River. The tour begins in the huge metropolis of Sao Paulo. From there you will be flown north to Belem, a city on the Amazon Delta, and then east, to Santarem, where you will begin your four-day Amazon riverboat cruise. The itinerary includes swimming, fishing, hikes through the forest, and visits to local communities. After the cruise, the tour will continue on to the sand dunes of Lençois Maranhenses National Park and end on the beaches of the Brazilian coast.
  
  

Voyages of Discovery

• If you are interested in a cruise where Brazil and the Amazon are part of a larger adventure, you may want to consider booking a cabin with Voyages of Discovery. The Natural Wonders of South America cruise launches from Bridgetown, Barbados. You'll sail to Trinidad and French Guiana before heading to Brazil and a cruise down the Amazon. Further ports of call in Brazil include Fortaleza, Natal and Recife.
  
  

Voyagers Amazon Cruises

• Travellers who are interested in only an Amazon cruise may want to see what Voyagers Amazon Cruises has available. This agency specializes in expedition cruises departing from Bolivia, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador. For Brazil, they can book you with one of six riverboat lines that all depart from Manaus, the capital of Amazonas. Most of these riverboats will take you into the rainforest on both the Negro and the Amazon Rivers. Activities could include nature hikes, bird watching, lectures from naturalists, and contact with native communities. The riverboats range from luxury yachts with room for 12 guests to 72 cabin ships. Days onboard and destinations vary, giving you plenty to choose from.
  
  

Responsible Travel

• Concern about your carbon footprint in the rainforest may lead you to seek out an ecotourism adventure. Responsible Travel can to provide that for you. Their Amazon River Wildlife Cruise in Brazil is educational and ecologically-sensitive. The locally-born crew and skilled naturalists will lead you on adventures to areas seldom visited by other riverboat cruises. All activities are meant to have a gentle impact on the surrounding environment and the villages and peoples you may encounter.