We are thrilled to introduce an extraordinary new experience: a luxury Colombian River Cruise aboard the magnificent AmaMagdalena, a brand-new, custom-built vessel by AmaWaterways—and one of the very first ships to sail the legendary Magdalena River.

Stretching from the Andes to the Caribbean, the Magdalena flows through Colombia’s vibrant heartland, revealing colonial towns, colorful markets, lush jungle-lined shores, and communities alive with music, dance, and tradition. This is not simply a cruise. Iit is a journey into the living soul of Colombia.

In June, we will travel slowly and intentionally along this historic waterway, experiencing Colombia’s deep African influences through its rhythms, its cuisine, its art, and its people, all from the comfort of an intimate luxury ship designed for just 60 passengers. With no crowds and no rush, this journey invites you to experience Colombia as it was meant to be experienced: fully, richly, and in community.

Our home on the river, the AmaMagdalena, was designed specifically for this extraordinary voyage. This elegant, 223-foot vessel features just 30 spacious twin-balcony staterooms, ensuring privacy and comfort throughout the journey. Guests will enjoy locally inspired Latin American cuisine, a heated sun deck pool overlooking the river, a fitness room, and beautifully designed gathering spaces that make every moment onboard as meaningful as the destinations themselves.

For those wishing to begin their experience even earlier, guests will have the option to add a three-day pre-cruise extension in Cartagena, one of the Caribbean’s most enchanting and historically rich cities. There, we will explore the vibrant streets, colonial architecture, and living legacy of Afro-Caribbean culture—visiting heritage villages where centuries-old traditions are preserved through music, dance, and craft, and connecting with the people and stories that define this remarkable region.

Following the cruise, guests will also have the opportunity to extend their journey with an optional four-day exploration of Panama, adding another extraordinary chapter before returning home.

What makes this journey even more special is that this is a brand-new ship, one that is not yet fully booked. Our intention is to bring together our community to share this experience collectively, sailing as one along a river that has carried stories, culture, and resilience for generations.

This is more than a luxury cruise.
It is a journey of rhythm.
A journey of heritage.
A journey of connection.

And it begins on the magnificent Magdalena River!

AmaMagdalena (Launched in July 2025) is a newly designed, intimately sized, and eco-friendly 60-passenger river cruise ship offering the luxury of space and sweeping views as you cruise Colombia’s Magdalena River.

This beautiful ship features three decks (Luna Deck, Cumbia Deck, Salsa Deck), a rejuvenating pool on the Sun Deck (Luna Deck), a spacious fitness room, a Main Restaurant serving exquisite, regionally inspired Latin-American cuisine and Western favorites as well as an intimate al fresco specialty dining experience.

The AmaMagdalena with 30 outside deluxe staterooms, offers a capacity for up to 60 passengers. All staterooms are air-conditioned, have river views and all feature AmaWaterways’ signature twin balconies. There is no elevator on board.

Your journey begins in Cartagena, a city that doesn’t simply welcome you. It embraces you. Bathed in golden Caribbean light and wrapped in centuries-old stone walls, Cartagena is a living masterpiece where African, Indigenous, and Spanish influences blend into something entirely its own. Horse-drawn carriages glide along cobblestone streets, balconies overflow with bougainvillea, and music spills from open doorways, inviting you to slow down and savor every moment.

Step into the vibrant heart of Getsemaní, Cartagena’s most expressive neighborhood, where every wall tells a story.

Murals honoring Afro-Colombian heritage rise boldly against colonial facades, while local artists, musicians, and dancers bring the streets to life. The air is rich with the aroma of freshly grilled arepas, coconut rice, and tropical fruits sold by palenqueras in their iconic, colorful dresses, a tradition rooted in resilience and freedom.

As the sun begins to set, the city transforms. Warm amber light washes over church spires and plazas, and the Caribbean breeze carries the distant rhythm of drums. This is your moment to transition from land to river, as you step aboard your intimate luxury ship and your sanctuary for the days ahead.

With a welcome cocktail in hand and the skyline of Cartagena glowing behind you, your ship gently pulls away from the dock and onto the legendary Magdalena River—the lifeline of Colombia. Ahead lies a journey few travelers have experienced: a deeply immersive passage into the country’s culture, history, and soul, all from the comfort of one of the most exclusive river ships in the world.

Your Colombian story has begun.

Today, you step into living history in San Basilio de Palenque, a sacred place of resilience and cultural preservation. Founded by formerly enslaved Africans who escaped Spanish rule in the 1600s, Palenque became the first free town in the Americas, a powerful symbol of resistance, self-determination, and freedom. But Palenque is not a place frozen in the past. It is alive.

As you enter the village, you are welcomed not as a spectator, but as a guest. The steady beat of hand-played drums fills the air, echoing the rhythms carried across the Atlantic generations ago. Elders share stories passed down through centuries, and you may hear Palenquero, one of the only Spanish-based Creole languages in the world, still spoken proudly today. Women dressed in vibrant colors move gracefully through the streets, balancing bowls of tropical fruits on their heads, a tradition that speaks to both survival and celebration.

Here, culture is not performed, it is lived. You’ll experience powerful musical and dance expressions rooted in African ancestry, where every rhythm, every step, and every voice carries the spirit of those who refused to be broken.

Later, your journey continues to the riverside town of Calamar, a quiet colonial gem where time seems to slow. Graceful churches rise above peaceful plazas, and brightly painted homes reflect the warmth of the Caribbean sun. To truly experience its charm, you’ll explore as locals do aboard a paola, a traditional bicycle taxi built for two. As your guide pedals you gently through the town’s colorful streets, you’ll pass smiling residents, open doorways, and everyday moments that reveal the authentic heart of river life.

This day is an encounter with courage, culture, and the enduring legacy of freedom.

This morning, you leave the main channel of the Magdalena and step aboard a small, intimate skiff, gliding quietly into the lush wetlands of Boca de Tacaloa, one of the river’s most extraordinary ecological sanctuaries. Here, the water becomes a mirror, reflecting a world few travelers ever witness.

Mangroves and floating vegetation create a labyrinth of emerald passageways, and the air hums with life. Brilliant flashes of color dart between branches as scarlet ibises, snowy egrets, roseate spoonbills, and vibrant kingfishers move effortlessly between water and sky. Overhead, herons glide with quiet elegance, while cormorants stretch their wings in the morning sun. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the chorus of the wetlands, the soft rustle of reeds, the distant call of birds, and the gentle rhythm of water brushing against your boat.

This is the Magdalena at its most untouched, a living, breathing ecosystem where nature sets the pace and every turn reveals something new. Your expert guides help you spot hidden wildlife, from river turtles resting along the banks to monkeys moving through the canopy, reminding you that this river is not simply a route—it is home.

As afternoon fades into evening, your ship continues toward Santa Cruz de Mompox, one of Colombia’s most treasured colonial towns and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Arriving at dusk feels like stepping into another century. Golden light washes over whitewashed churches, wrought-iron balconies, and quiet plazas that have remained unchanged for generations.

As night falls, the riverfront transforms. Beneath a canopy of stars and the warm glow of lantern light, you are welcomed ashore for an exclusive open-air jazz performance, where soulful melodies drift into the night air. The music blends seamlessly with the sounds of the river itself, creating a moment that feels both timeless and deeply alive.

Tonight, you don’t just arrive in Mompox—you feel it.

In Mompox, time lingers. Founded in 1540 along a quiet branch of the Magdalena River, this historic town became one of colonial Colombia’s most important ports, a place where goods, cultures, and people passed through its riverbanks. Among them were Africans brought against their will, whose strength, artistry, and spirit would forever shape the identity of this town. Today, their legacy lives on in the music, the craftsmanship, the faith, and the rhythm of daily life.

As you wander Mompox’s peaceful riverside streets, you’ll notice its quiet elegance: whitewashed churches glowing in the sun, iron balconies draped with flowering vines, and doors worn smooth by centuries of passage. Unlike other colonial cities, Mompox was spared from modern development when the river shifted its course, preserving its original beauty and atmosphere. Walking here feels less like visiting a destination and more like stepping into a living memory.

This is also the heart of Colombia’s legendary filigree tradition, an intricate art form passed down through generations of artisans, many of whom trace their heritage to African ancestors who adapted their metalworking skills into something uniquely Mompoxino. Inside intimate workshops, you’ll watch master craftsmen transform fine strands of silver into delicate, lace-like creations, each piece reflecting patience, precision, and pride.

However, Mompox’s story lives beyond its architecture and artistry. It lives in the cadence of voices along the river, in the distant sound of drums, and in the enduring presence of Afro-Colombian culture that continues to define this remarkable place. Here, history is not confined to museums. It is carried in the hands of its people, in their traditions, and in their unwavering connection to those who came before.

In Mompox, you don’t simply observe history, you walk beside it.

Today, you journey into the heart of La Mojana, a vast and fertile region shaped by the winding channels of the Magdalena River and its countless tributaries. This is a landscape defined by water and life, lush wetlands, swaying grasses, and quiet villages built in harmony with the rhythms of the river. Here, culture flows as freely as the currents themselves, carried through generations in music, craft, and movement.

La Mojana is widely regarded as one of the spiritual homelands of cumbia, Colombia’s most iconic musical tradition. Born from the meeting of three worlds—Indigenous, African, and Spanish, cumbia tells a story of encounter, resilience, and transformation. Enslaved Africans brought their drums and rhythms. Indigenous communities contributed their haunting flutes and connection to the land. Spanish influence shaped its melodies and storytelling. What emerged was more than music. It was identity.

As you explore this tranquil region, you’ll encounter local artisans whose crafts reflect the textures and colors of their environment, woven reeds, hand-carved instruments, and vibrant textiles inspired by river, earth, and sky. Life here moves with intention, guided by tradition and sustained by community.

As evening approaches, you are welcomed into an intimate cultural gathering where the story of cumbia comes alive. The steady pulse of drums fills the air, joined by the melodic call of flutes and the soft shimmer of percussion. Dancers emerge in flowing skirts of red and white, their movements graceful and deliberate, symbolizing courtship, resistance, and pride. Each step, each rhythm, carries echoes of Africa and the enduring spirit of those who transformed hardship into beauty.

This is a living expression of Colombia’s soul. And tonight, beneath the open sky, you become part of its rhythm.

Nestled along the banks of the Magdalena River, Santa Bárbara de Pinto offers a rare and intimate glimpse into Colombia’s rural heartland, a place where traditions are not preserved for visitors, but lived each day with quiet pride. Here, the river is more than scenery; it is sustenance, storyteller, and lifeline, shaping everything from livelihood to culture.

As you step ashore, you’re welcomed by streets lined with soft pastel homes, shaded by flowering trees and alive with the gentle pace of small-town life. The air carries the earthy scent of tobacco leaves drying in the warmth, while nearby, fishermen sit along the river’s edge, skillfully weaving their nets by hand using techniques passed down through generations. Their hands move with practiced ease, each knot tied with knowledge learned not from books, but from fathers, grandfathers, and ancestors before them.

In open-air workshops and shaded doorways, local artisans transform simple, natural materials into beautiful handmade wares—woven baskets, carved woodwork, and functional pieces designed for everyday life along the river. You may pause to watch a master tobacco roller at work, carefully shaping each cigar with precision and care, continuing a tradition deeply rooted in Colombia’s agricultural heritage.

For those looking to explore, you may choose to wander the peaceful streets at your own pace, where warm smiles and friendly greetings are part of daily life. Or, join a guided walk into the surrounding landscape, where lush vegetation, birdsong, and open skies reveal the quiet beauty of the Magdalena’s fertile plains.

This is not a place of spectacle, but of authenticity, a place where culture is carried in hands, hearts, and habits. In Santa Bárbara de Pinto, you witness tradition and feel its continuity, its purpose, and its enduring connection to the river that sustains it all.

As your ship continues its graceful passage north, the Magdalena River widens and quickens, carrying you toward the Caribbean Sea. Along the way, you’ll step ashore in Sabanagrande, a warm and welcoming riverside village where the rhythms of daily life unfold with authenticity and grace.

Here, life is lived outdoors. Neighbors gather in shaded plazas, children play beneath flowering trees, and the sounds of conversation, laughter, and distant music drift through the air. As you walk through the town’s colorful streets, you’ll witness everyday moments that define the Colombian spirit—local vendors offering fresh tropical fruits, artisans practicing their craft, and families who have lived along the Magdalena for generations. This is a place where tradition is not performed, but simply lived, offering a genuine connection to the people and culture of the river.

Returning to your ship, you continue toward Barranquilla, Colombia’s vibrant Caribbean gateway and one of the country’s most culturally dynamic cities. Known as the birthplace of musical legends and the home of Colombia’s most famous Carnaval, Barranquilla pulses with creativity and pride. Here, African, Indigenous, and Caribbean influences merge to create something bold, joyful, and unmistakably alive.

As evening falls, you are invited into an exclusive private Carnaval celebration, an unforgettable farewell to your journey along the Magdalena. Dancers emerge in dazzling, elaborate costumes adorned with feathers, beads, and brilliant color. The thunder of drums fills the air, joined by brass, flutes, and the irresistible rhythms of cumbia and mapalé—traditions rooted deeply in Afro-Colombian heritage. Each movement, each note, tells a story of resilience, celebration, and cultural pride.

This is more than a performance—it is a joyful expression of Colombia’s soul. And as you celebrate beneath the Caribbean sky, you’ll feel the full arc of your journey—from the quiet villages of the Magdalena to the vibrant heartbeat of Barranquilla, where river and sea, history and joy, meet.

As the AmaMagdalena glides into Barranquilla, where the mighty Magdalena River completes its timeless journey to the Caribbean Sea, your own extraordinary voyage reaches its final, unforgettable chapter. This vibrant coastal city, alive with color, music, and creative spirit, offers a fitting farewell, embodying the joy and resilience that have defined your days along the river.

Step onto the sunlit shores knowing you have traveled not just across a country, but through its living heart. You have followed the rhythms of cumbia to their source, walked streets where history breathes, and met the artisans, storytellers, and communities who carry Colombia’s soul forward each day.

Savor your final moments aboard the AmaMagdalena with one last breakfast overlooking the water that has carried you so gently and profoundly. The river that began as a path of discovery now becomes a part of your own story, a thread connecting you forever to this land of beauty and spirit.

As you disembark in Barranquilla, you carry with you more than memories. You carry the warmth of its people, the pulse of its music, and the quiet transformation that only journeys like this can bring.

The Magdalena may flow on to the sea, but its magic now flows on within you.