Capital of French Guyana located more than 7,000 km from the French mainland, Cayenne offers a harmonious ensemble of monuments, beaches, and old Creole houses on the eastern side of the South American continent. Between history and modernity, the city is marked by the presence of the former prisons, the vestiges of which can be seen on the Salvation Islands. This port of call gives you the opportunity to visit two museums, the Musée local de la Guyana and the Musée des cultures guyanaises, and learn more about the historic and cultural interests of the region. The Place des Palmistes, with its three soaring Guisanbourg palm trees, is the main square in Cayenne and provides the setting for a variety of events throughout the year.

The historical city of Belém stretches along the Bay of Guajar on the Amazon Delta, at the northernmost tip of Brazil. Its lively waterfront is home to the century-old Ver-o-Peso market and its iconic turreted iron structure, the Mercado de Ferro. Nearby, mango tree-shaded streets lead to the neoclassic Da Paz Theatre, the Baroque cathedral of Sé, and Presépio Fort, whose battlements look out over the old town and the bay. The Bosque Rodrigues-Alves Botanical Garden is a fascinating mini Amazonian forest in the middle of the city that was established in the 19th century.

Optional Excursion: 

Discovering Belem - length: 3h30m. Begin your visit to Belém at Ver-o-Peso, a vast open market whose distinctive steeples and sky-blue color make it a landmark feature and certainly the largest market in Brazil. Hundreds of stalls offer a whole range of goods from African-influenced food, to pottery, arts and crafts, handmade clothes, charms, medicinal plants for body and soul, and tropical fruit and vegetables. Having walked through the market, your tour takes you to the Feliz Luzitania complex and Castelo Fort area. There is a photo-stop on route at Batista Campos Square, inspired by the Bois de Boulogne with its ponds, bridges, and music kiosques dating back to the early 20th century. You continue your visit as far as the Basilica of Our Lady of Nazareth, built in the image of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. 

Through the “green corridor” of the Strait of Breves, discover the banks of the Amazon. Sailing via Guajara Bay, discover Santarem, a very lively city with a strong traditional style. A unique sight appears before you: the dark waters of the Amazon brushes those of the Rio Tapajos without actually mixing, like two strokes of paint. A little further on, Alter do Chao reveals its immaculate beaches.

Optional Excursion at Santarem:

From Santarem to Alter Do Chao - length: 4h30m. Leaving Santarém port, you can stop in the city center to visit Nossa Senhora da Conceição cathedral, the oldest building in Santarém (1761), followed by Praca do Pescador Square. Then leave the city for Alter do Chão, stopping en route to visit a factory that makes cassava flour. There is a short walk into the rainforest to visit a family, to see how they prepare cassava flour, which is a staple food in the region. Continue into the Brazilian countryside heading to Alter do Chão and one of Brazil's top five beaches - Alter do Chão is a beautiful riverside resort on the Amazon, at the entrance to a huge lagoon in a bay bathed by the Tapajós River. The village lies between two rolling green hills, one of which is shaped like a church altar, hence the name. You can relax and explore this delightful village with its white sandy beaches and crystal-clear water. 

Optional Excursion:

Boi Bumba Folkshow - length: 1h30m. The Boi Bumba is one of the greatest folk festivals in Brazil. Held every year at the end of June, it is a world full of magic, bright colors, music, dance and folklore – a feast for the senses. The luxurious costumes and floats, not unlike those seen in Rio’s Carnival, are a spectacle in themselves. Nevertheless, at the “Bumba Bull” festivities, the Samba is replaced by milder melodies, and props and allegories are usually crafted with local raw materials, such as tree bark, seeds and peacock feathers.

Say farewell to your fellow passengers and the crew and start your journey to Miami (flight included in cruise fare).