Southbound To The Amazon

Montreal is the largest city in Quebec, Canada, and is also the largest inland port in the world. Situated between a majestic mountain and the sparkling St Lawrence River, sailing into the port with its impressive skyline of grand 19th century grey stone buildings never loses its fascination for passengers. Old Montreal is one of the main attractions, where visitors can travel by horse-drawn carriages, stroll along the cobble stone streets, visit museums, art galleries, chic boutiques and vintage coffee shops. Read more about Montreal, Canada

Quebec, capital of the Canadian province of the same name, is so ‘French’ it is said that to visit Quebec is to experience France without crossing the Atlantic. French must be the predominant language on signs, retail or food service employees always greet customers in French, and there are even laws dictating whether parents can send their children to English or French school. The architecture, ambience and mostly French-speaking citizens are proof that some of France has been permanently ingrained in North America. Read more about Quebec, Canada

The 96 km Saguenay River is a major river of Quebec, Canada. It is bordered by steep cliffs and has a very high flow rate. The river drains into the Saint Lawrence River at Tadoussac, where its cold waters merge with the warmer waters of the St. Read more about Saguenay River, Canada

Sydney is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. Located on the waterfront, visitors are amazed to see the "Largest Ceilidh Fiddle in the World" (at 18m). Sydney's tourism draw is increasingly linked to this cultural asset. Read more about Sydney, Canada

Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia, the Gateway to Atlantic Canada, is a lively and colourful combination of urban and rural living at its best. It is situated on the world’s second largest harbour, and the beautifully restored waterfront buildings recall the city's centuries-old maritime heritage, which is also cleverly explained at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, and the Halifax Citadel that explores the unique local heritage. Read more about Halifax, Canada

Perched on a peninsula jutting out into island-studded Casco Bay, Portland - a progressive, lively city - is the largest city in Maine, USA. The city seal depicts a phoenix rising from the ashes, which refers to the city’s recoveries from four devastating fires. It is home to a friendly and hardworking people and is ranked nationally as one of the ten safest and culturally fascinating cities of the US. Read more about Portland, Maine, USA

Boston is the capital and largest city in Massachusetts, USA. Calling this quaint and delightful city the 'Athens of America' might seem a bit pretentious, but the city's 19th-century glory radiates through its grand architecture, and its world-renowned academic and cultural institutions. Disastrous 'urban renewal' projects in the 1950s provoked such a furious backlash that Boston now has some of the best preserved historic buildings and neighbourhoods in the country. Read more about Boston, USA

New York’s port on the Hudson River in Manhattan is four blocks from Central Park. New York is situated on the Atlantic coast of NE United States. With its world-class museums, big statues, even bigger buildings - certainly the Manhattan skyline with its many skyscrapers is universally recognizable - and being the most linguistically diverse city in the world, the Big Apple’s hyperactive rush keeps drawing more and more people to it. Read more about New York (Manhattan), USA

The city of Charleston is located just south of the mid-point of South Carolina's coastline, at the confluence of the Ashley and Cooper rivers, which flow together into the Atlantic Ocean. It is well-known across the United States and beyond for its unique culture, which blends West African, traditional southern American, and French elements. Charleston's numerous parks and scenic, tree-lined streets provide ample space and a beautiful backdrop for walking, jogging and cycling. Read more about Charleston, USA

Miami, located on the Atlantic coast at the southern tip of Florida, where outdoor sports are open all seasons and dress is casual, is a melting pot of cultures. Miami and Miami Beach are in effect two distinctly different cities, as Miami Beach is almost exclusively tourist orientated, while Miami is a cosmopolitan city with a distinctly Latin American flavour. Don’t miss the South Beach section where fashion designer Gianni Versace lived and died that is one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the world. Read more about Miami, USA

St John’s, the capital of the nation of Antigua and Barbuda (two islands) in the Caribbean, sits on the NW coast of the tropical island of Antigua that is home to magnificent beaches. St John's was hit significantly by Hurricane Irma (Sep 2017) but tourist infrastructure remained intact. St John’s reflects its British heritage with such edifices as Fort Barrington overlooking the shoreline, and 17th C Fort James. Read more about St John's, Antigua and Barbuda

Castries is the capital of the volcanic island country of Saint Lucia, part of the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Its popularity stems from the tropical weather (the dry season runs from December through May), scenery, and numerous beaches. Saint Lucia's population is predominantly of African and mixed African-European descent, and while the official language is English, French-Creole is spoken by 95% of the population. Read more about Castries, Saint Lucia

St. George's is the capital of Grenada, British West Indies. The city surrounds a horseshoe-shaped harbour, and is an attractive colonial-era town with a distinctly Mediterranean feel that appears to spill down the hill side. Read more about St George's, Grenada

Located on the western tip of the island of Trinidad, between the rainforests and mountains of the Northern Range and the Gulf of Paria, Port of Spain is the country’s cultural, commercial and governmental centre. It is a busy and vibrant city with the tall buildings, neon lights and crowded streets, as well as a multicultural Caribbean character and a home-grown calypso soundtrack. Maracas Bay is a beach that fulfils the fantasy of the ideal Caribbean beach, but is just as famous for the scenic rainforest drive that must be made to reach it. Read more about Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

Macapa, Brazil, is a river port and capital of the territory of Amapa, lying on the northernmost and largest arm of the Amazon River delta, opposite the Marajo archipelago. The city lies exactly on the Equator, and the football stadium is the only one in the world where each half of the field is located in opposite hemispheres. Macapa retains some of the history of the region in its monuments. Read more about Macapa, Brazil

Santarem in Brazil, some 800 km up the Amazon, is located on the southern bank of the clear emerald blue waters of the Tapajos River, a tributary of the Amazon. Not far from here these waters encounter the muddy waters of the magnificent Amazon River. A natural phenomenon, the two rivers flow side by side and are known as the ‘meeting of the waters’. Read more about Santarem, Brazil

Located at the confluence of the Amazon and the Valeria rivers in Brazil, Boca da Valeria is a small remote Indian village consisting of a wharf, wooden homes on stilts, a school, a church and a bar that doubles as the village meeting place. It is hidden amid jungle lake lands where the screeches of colorful parrots fill the air and trees stand waist-high in water. Be sure to take your camera on the tender ride, because there is a very distinct line where the waters of the Valeria River meet the Amazon. Read more about Boca da Valeria, Brazil

Manaus is a main port on the banks of the Negro River 1450 km inland in the heart of the Amazon rain forest, and is the main transport hub for the entire upper Amazon Basin. It also attracts crowds of tourists who find a variety of land and boat trips into the jungle. Wildlife is plentiful, even within the city, and it is home to the Pied Tamarin, one of Brazil's most endangered primates. Read more about Manaus, Brazil

Paranaguá, with its excellent port facilities, is located in the state of Paraná in Brazil. It is the sea port for Curitiba, the capital of the state. The seafront with its colourful buildings is charming and romantic. Read more about Paranagua, Brazil

Santarem in Brazil, some 800 km up the Amazon, is located on the southern bank of the clear emerald blue waters of the Tapajos River, a tributary of the Amazon. Not far from here these waters encounter the muddy waters of the magnificent Amazon River. A natural phenomenon, the two rivers flow side by side and are known as the ‘meeting of the waters’. Read more about Santarem, Brazil

Macapa, Brazil, is a river port and capital of the territory of Amapa, lying on the northernmost and largest arm of the Amazon River delta, opposite the Marajo archipelago. The city lies exactly on the Equator, and the football stadium is the only one in the world where each half of the field is located in opposite hemispheres. Macapa retains some of the history of the region in its monuments. Read more about Macapa, Brazil

The city of Bridgetown is the capital and largest city of the island country of Barbados, a major tourist destination in the West Indies. The city has numerous attractions, landmarks, monuments, museums, and art galleries of an international standard. It is also a starting point for visiting many other popular cities on the island. Read more about Bridgetown, Barbados

Roseau, a small, compact and most important urban settlement, is the capital and largest city of the island of Dominica, in the Caribbean. Dominica has been nicknamed the ‘Nature Isle of the Caribbean’ for its unspoiled natural beauty. Interestingly, it is built on the site of the ancient Kalinago Indian village of Sairi. Read more about Roseau, Dominica

The island is shared in two parts as: the northern part Saint-Martin (a French overseas collectivity) and southern part Sint Maarten (of the Kingdom of the Netherlands): hence its name St-Martin / St Maarten. It lies in the NE Caribbean, located 300 km E of Puerto Rico. This tiny island is an extremely popular holiday and duty-free shopping destination famous for its variety of 37 palm-treed beaches that include salt-water ponds. Read more about St Martin (Philipsburg), Sint Maarten (Dutch part)

San Juan, the capital and most populous city of Puerto Rico, is the oldest city on US territory. It is the Caribbean commercial hub, best known for its beautifully restored historic district of Old San Juan. It is situated on a rocky peninsula girded by thick walls jutting into the crashing Atlantic surf. Read more about San Juan, Puerto Rico

Great Stirrup Cay is a small island that is part of the Berry Islands in the Bahamas, about 90 km NNW of the capital Nassau. The narrow island stretches E-W in a 3km arc. (A smaller island to its west, Coco Cay, is a resort for Royal Caribbean guests.) Norwegian Cruise Line purchased the island from Belcher Oil Company in 1977 and developed it into the cruise industry’s first private island for their passengers. Read more about Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas

Miami, located on the Atlantic coast at the southern tip of Florida, where outdoor sports are open all seasons and dress is casual, is a melting pot of cultures. Miami and Miami Beach are in effect two distinctly different cities, as Miami Beach is almost exclusively tourist orientated, while Miami is a cosmopolitan city with a distinctly Latin American flavour. Don’t miss the South Beach section where fashion designer Gianni Versace lived and died that is one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the world. Read more about Miami, USA