What to Expect on AmaWaterways’ New Colombia River Cruises
Ann Bajar | 17 September 2025
Exploring by river has a way of slowing down a journey, giving you time to see a place in a different light. Unlike the Danube or the Mekong, the Magdalena in Colombia isn't a household name, yet it has long been central to the country's identity. Its banks are alive with music, colour, and daily life that feel far removed from the beaten path. With the launch of the AmaMagdalena, the highly esteemed AmaWaterways is offering river cruises here for the very first time, combining comfort on board with the chance to experience Colombia at its most authentic.
AmaWaterways’ aptly named AmaMagdalena is the first international river cruise ship to sail the Magdalena River.
“The Magdalena River is not a product. It is a mirror of Colombia’s soul. Its music, its people, its memory, and its rhythm are alive. What we offer on board the AmaMagdalena is simply a way to get closer to it. The real journey is through the river’s stories and through the people who live along its banks.”
— Beno Atan, Managing Director of Colombia, AmaWaterways.
Explore the Guide
The Fascinating History of the Magdalena River
Life on Board the AmaMagdalena
The Itinerary
Extending Your Trip
The Fascinating History of the Magdalena River
People have lived along the Magdalena for thousands of years. The Muisca, Zenú, and Tayrona fished its waters, grew crops on its fertile banks, and traded along its course. That balance changed in the mid-1500s when Spanish colonisers began moving inland, using the river as their main route between the Caribbean coast and the interior. Colonisation brought conflict, disease, and displacement, as well as enslaved Africans forced to work in river towns. While slavery was finally abolished in 1851, the scars of those years, and the traditions that grew from them, remained ingrained in local culture.
Along the river's banks, in the quaint towns you'll visit on your Magdalena River cruise, a unique blend of native, African, and European influences created a culture that remains distinctive within Colombia. It’s reflected in the traditions and music, and foods like sancocho, arepas de huevo, and fried fish with coconut rice. Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez, who grew up nearby, often drew on these river communities for inspiration in his writing.
(Viva’s book tip for the trip: The General in His Labyrinth follows Simón Bolívar's last journey down the Magdalena and beautifully captures the river's place in Colombia's history.)
Quiet, colourful, authentic: daily life in Mompox feels a world away from the hustle of Colombia's bigger cities.
Life on Board the AmaMagdalena
AmaWaterways has plenty of experience in Europe, with its elegant Danube and Rhine vessels, and the AmaMagdalena reflects the same mix of comfort and intimacy but tailored for Colombia. The ship carries just 60 guests, small enough to feel personal, yet large enough to offer a few spaces to retreat when you want a quiet moment with the view.
Ship highlights include:
· Spacious twin-balcony staterooms, with both French and outside balconies.
· Five cabin options from which to choose.
· A sun deck with a pool for cooling off between excursions.
· A choice of dining venues, indoor and al fresco.
· A fitness room, massage room, and both indoor and outdoor lounge areas.
At meal times, you'll find a blend of international favourites and local dishes, so you can feast on fresh Colombian specialities or enjoy familiar comfort dishes as your desires dictate. What stands out most, though, is the service. Staff are mostly local, and their warmth and pride in sharing Colombia sets the tone throughout the cruise. Evenings are often spent chatting on deck or listening to regional music after dinner.
Wi-Fi can be patchy in remote stretches, and some days feel busy with back-to-back excursions, but those quirks are part of the appeal. A Magdalena River cruise takes you through places not yet shaped for mass tourism, which makes the experience feel all the more genuine. You’ll be exploring a side of Colombia many don’t even know exists.
“As a Colombian, it fills me with pride to see travellers exploring the heart of our country along the Magdalena River. This journey takes you beyond the postcard images of Cartagena into the lifeblood of our history and culture. When you arrive in towns like Mompox, you’ll understand why Gabriel García Márquez was inspired here to create the magical worlds of realismo mágico. The cobbled streets, the colonial churches, and the river mist all seem to blur the line between reality and fantasy.”
— Juanita, Viva Expeditions.
The Itinerary
The eight-day itinerary runs either from Barranquilla to Cartagena or in reverse, and each day brings a new mix of history, music, nature, and a few hand-picked community encounters.
Here’s what the trip looks like:
Barranquilla marks the start of your journey, a city renowned for its Carnaval, one of Colombia's greatest celebrations and UNESCO-listed since 2003. Even if you aren't travelling during the main festival season, AmaWaterways makes sure you get a feel for it, with music, dance, and colour brought on board as a special welcome. It's a lively introduction to Colombian culture and really sets the mood for everything that follows.
Barranquilla’s Carnaval spirit is “recreated” on the AmaMagdalena, a stunning highlight of the AmaWaterways Colombia river cruise.
From here, the river slows and you pass communities where life still plays out on the water. Homes are built on stilts, children paddle to school, and boats replace streets. Glimpses like these, everyday scenes unfolding along the river, are among the most surprising rewards of an AmaWaterways cruise.
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Further along, you finally reach Mompox, a colonial town that feels almost untouched by time. Its cobbled streets and whitewashed churches still tell the story of its past and, walking through in the early morning mist, it's easy to see how Márquez found inspiration here. The town is also renowned for its filigree jewellery, with workshops open to visitors curious about the intricate craft.
A craftsman at work on filigree jewellery in Mompox, a tradition passed down through generations.
A day near El Banco highlights the birthplace of cumbia. Joining a celebration of cumbia will show you just how deeply this music runs through Colombian life.
Live music is at the heart of El Banco, where cumbia was born and still shapes the rhythm of daily life.
Nature plays its part as well. Around Magangué, the itinerary slows down for early morning birdwatching in the wetlands. This is prime time to be out, when the light is soft and the air is alive with movement. You might spot herons stalking in the shallows, flocks of egrets lifting off together, or the brilliant flash of a scarlet ibis. Guides help you pick out species you’d likely miss on your own, some of them found only in this region of Colombia. It’s a chance to see first-hand why Colombia is considered one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, and why this stretch of river is as important for wildlife as it is for people.
Birdwatching near Magangué offers the chance to see scarlet macaws, herons, ibis, and countless other species unique to Colombia.
The journey finishes in Cartagena, where you can wander the walled city, explore the ramparts of San Felipe Castle, and join a guided tour of beautiful Getsemaní, a neighbourhood just outside the old city walls. Its streets are lined with colourful houses, bold murals, and small cafés serving local delicacies. Once a working-class area, today it’s one of Cartagena’s most vibrant quarters, and walking here gives you a chance to see another side of the city. After the quieter pace of the river towns, Cartagena’s mix of history and energy makes for a dynamic finale.
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“The beauty of this region is not only in the landscapes, but it's in the warmth of the people, the rhythm of cumbia that drifts through the air, and the stories carried by the river itself. Guests on these cruises are in such good hands, cared for while experiencing the real Colombia: vibrant, soulful, and full of life. To truly connect, I'd encourage you to greet people with a smile and a simple "Hola, mucho gusto!" It means 'Hello, it's a real pleasure to meet you,' and that's exactly how Colombians feel when welcoming new friends."
— Juanita, Viva Expeditions
AmaWaterways brings more than twenty years of river cruising experience from the Rhine, the Danube, and other major waterways. In Colombia, this expertise has been put to practical use by building the necessary infrastructure, designing small excursion boats tailored to the river's conditions, and hiring local staff who are familiar with the region.
The result is a balance between comfort and discovery. AmaWaterways' stellar service and well-thought-out itineraries are very much part of the experience, but here they are combined with the freshness of a river only just opening to this kind of travel. It means you can enjoy the ease of a well-run cruise while still feeling a sense of exploration along the Magdalena.
Extending Your Trip
The cruise is a deep dive into Colombia, but it can be extended in ways that add contrast and balance.
The cruise is a deep dive into Colombia, but it can be extended in ways that add contrast and balance.
To the east, Tayrona National Park offers jungle trails and Caribbean beaches. Heading into the Andes, the Cocora Valley and Salento give you a taste of Colombia’s coffee region. You can visit a plantation to see how beans are grown and roasted, sample the local brew, and walk among the towering wax palms, Colombia’s national tree, of the Cocora Valley,. Salento itself is all about colour, craft shops, and mountain views, so it makes a charming base for a few extra days. For those who want to slow down, a Colombian island escape delivers white sand and turquoise seas.
We can help you figure out which extension best suits your time and interests.
Want to explore even more? Then combine our Signature Colombia Tour with an AmaWaterways river cruise for the ultimate journey of discovery.
The Magdalena might not be as well-known in river cruising circles, but that's likely to change soon. For now, its anonymity is arguably its greatest strength and appeal. The Amawaterways Colombia river cruises feel fresh, authentic, and pioneering. Comfort and discovery combined in one truly extraordinary journey.
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Curious about experiencing the Magdalena, first-hand? Check out our Magic of Colombia Cruise (departing Barranquilla) and its reverse itinerary (departing Cartagena)
