Cruising might normally be associated with long, multi-stop trips around the Caribbean or Mediterranean seas, but a growing number of destinations now offer river cruises which follow the course of navigable waterways away from the coast.

One of the newest entrants to the market, Colombia recently introduced routes along the South American nation’s emblematic Magdalena River. The longest in the country, the Magdalena is navigable from Honda, near the capital city Bogotá, to its mouth at the Caribbean Sea, taking in a huge variety of landscapes and cultural traditions on a journey through the heart of Colombia.

U.S. firm AmaWaterways, which also runs river cruises in Europe, Asia and Africa, started its Colombian operation in March 2025 with the specially designed AmaMagdalena, boasting capacity for 60 passengers in luxurious surroundings. Then in October the company added AmaMelodia, a similarly sumptuous vessel with capacity for 64 passengers. The vessels offer an opulent experience for guests, with well-appointed rooms, four suites in two different sizes, a heated pool and fitness room, and a restaurant serving both Colombian and Western cuisine. Smaller in size than most of the company’s other vessels, they offer an intimate experience.

© AmaWaterways

Seven-night itineraries start either in Cartagena and sail upstream before returning to the coast at the port of Barranquilla or follow the same route in reverse. On the way, passengers stop at destinations including Mompox, El Banco, Magangué, Santa Bárbara de Pinto, Nueva Venecia and Palenque, with “each stop revealing a new layer of Colombia’s identity — from rich musical rhythms to powerful stories of heritage and continuity,” according to AmaWaterways.

The cruise line includes a raft of shore excursions in the fare, all of which have been put together in conjunction with local communities, helping guests to get a feel for Colombia. For example, in Magangué, guests are invited to drift through wetlands teeming with nature on board a small boat before sailing on to the town of Mompox for an exclusive, open-air jazz performance.

The next day, travelers can watch local artisans working on Mompox’s intricate filigree jewelry as they wander around the town that inspired perhaps the most famous piece of Colombian, and arguably Latin American, literature: Cien Años de Soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude) by Gabriel García Márquez. Thanks to its success, the magical realist masterpiece has been translated into English, making it the perfect pre-travel read, and it has also been turned into a Netflix series for those who prefer a visual representation of the area and its surrealism.

Despite its charms, the Magdalena and its riverside communities only recently came into sharper focus for international visitors who previously were more likely to stick to more accessible hot spots such as Cartagena. Both the Colombian national government and export promotion agency ProColombia have worked to boost river tourism along the Magdalena, investing in infrastructure such as boardwalks in order to improve the visitor experience. This is part of a wider drive to boost travel and tourism, which appears to be bearing fruit in the form of record visitor numbers to a country which is increasingly shaking off a dangerous image borne of a long-term civil war.

© AmaWaterways

In fact, destinations such as Cartagena have become wildly popular with U.S. travelers in recent years, with the port city also a popular stop for ocean cruise liners sailing the Caribbean. It’s worth tacking on a few days to the start or end of your river cruise to soak up the atmosphere in this historic city and perhaps visit the beaches at Isla Baru, around an hour from the center of town.

Barranquilla, less popular with international tourists, is certainly worth visiting if you time your trip to coincide with the city’s famous carnival celebrations taking place for four days before the beginning of Lent. If those dates don’t suit, you could always take in some of the pre-carnival events in the weeks prior. Failing that, AmaWaterways puts on a carnival experience for guests on each of its cruises, featuring street dances, live music and masquerades.

Prices vary for 2026 departures, with dates listed throughout the year. AmaWaterways currently offers reduced rates on select departures to celebrate the company’s 23rd anniversary, so there has never been a better time to explore Colombia on a cruise along the Magdalena River.