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Left : The Church of San Pedro Claver in Cartagena , Colombia image : AWL IMAGES . WORDS : GEORGIA LEWIS
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VIVA COLOMBIA
The next spectacular river cruise destination could be in South America , thanks to an exciting new launch
Could Colombia rival Europe as a must-do destination for river cruise enthusiasts ? AmaWaterways is opening a new market with the launch of two seven-night itineraries , sailing between Cartagena and Barranquilla on the Magdalena River .
The river cruise company is the first major player to launch on this route , and is already taking reservations for this year . Once on board , guests can expect cultural , historical and culinary experiences , and plenty of opportunities to see Colombia ’ s unique wildlife .
With a capacity of 60 and 64 guests respectively , the luxury vessels , AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia , have been designed with an intimate , boutique hotel feel . After a postponement to allow for infrastructure improvements along the river , AmaMagdalena ’ s maiden voyage is scheduled for March 2025 , while AmaMelodia is expected to set sail in June . AmaWaterways is also offering land extension trips for travellers interested in exploring beyond the river , including tropical fauna-spotting in the city of Medellín .
Wildlife tourism remains a big priority for Colombia , which hosted the UN Biodiversity Summit in Cali in 2024 . At COP29 , held in Baku , Azerbaijan , in November 2024 , Colombia ’ s tourism ministry hosted a panel discussion on the positive impact of sustainable tourism on conservation . In addition , the country won Top Birdwatching Destination in the 2024 Global Big Day awards , an annual event that recognises bird conservation efforts around the world .
An OECD report on Colombia ’ s growing tourism industry praised the country ’ s Tourism Sustainability Policy 2022-26 for “ fostering sustainable management of natural capital , promoting sustainable travel culture , and positioning Colombia as a sustainable tourism destination .”
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spring 2025 • 11