South American Odyssey: From the Caribbean to the Amazon River
Oct 12, 2025
-
Oct 24, 2025
South American Odyssey: From the Caribbean to the Amazon River
ABOUT THE TOUR
Join us for a unique cruise expedition that will explore parts of South America that are seldom offered to travelers. Yet the places we will visit present extraordinary natural and cultural attractions. Aboard the Vega, we will sail from Barbados in the Caribbean to Belem, the old city of Brazil that is situated at the mouth of the mighty Amazon River. We will call at tropical shores of beautiful scenery in Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil’s lower Amazon River. What makes this cruise especially enticing is the perfect mix of natural and cultural wonders we will discover. Featuring Dr. Nigella Hillgarth, a renowned research scientist and Affiliate Professor at the University of Washington, this expedition promises to be both educational and inspiring. [Bio below.]
Lowest cabin categories from $9,990 per person, not including airfare.
Dr. Nigella Hillgarth is a research scientist and Affiliate Professor at the Center for Ecosystem Sentinels at the University of Washington. She previously served as Executive Director of the Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where she developed one of the first major climate change exhibits in the US.
Prior to that, she was Executive Director of Tracy Aviary, the largest bird sanctuary in the country, where she worked on conservation efforts for marine birds in the Galapagos Islands, Peru, and Argentina. From 2014 to 2017, Dr. Hillgarth was President and CEO of the New England Aquarium, where she founded the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life. In 2019, she was the Climate Art Fellow for the Climate Science Alliance, working on visualizations of ocean-atmosphere interactions. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology from Oxford University and a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology. Dr. Hillgarth has conducted extensive research on the behavioral ecology and evolution of birds worldwide.
Celebrate our 45-year anniversary with Philadelphia’s Sister City, Tianjin with a unique and curated tour that combines the worlds of international affairs and classical music by the Philadelphia Orchestra! Learn more and register by August 28!