- When AmaWaterways decided to open up the Magdalena River to cruising, it was the start of a years long project.
- The line had to start from scratch building docks and training staff as well as launching two ship.
- Today, the Columbian destination is attracting cruisers from all over the world – including Australia. And the line has launched a film about it.
For decades, the world’s great river cruise experiences have centred on Europe. But AmaWaterways is betting that adventurous travellers, including Australians with a passion for river cruising, are ready for something completely different: Colombia’s mighty Magdalena River.
The luxury river cruise line has seven years turning an ambitious idea into reality, building an entirely new cruising destination from scratch.
It took years of planning, development, and pioneering work to launch river cruising in Colombia. The company officially began its maiden voyage on the Magdalena River on April 12, 2025, with the 60-passenger AmaMagalena, marking the return of luxury river cruising to the region after more than 60 years.
It was not simply a matter of sending ships to an existing market. AmaWaterways had to create the infrastructure, train local communities, develop tourism partnerships and even commission two brand-new ships purpose-built for the river. And then there was a pandemic in between.
The result is one of the most groundbreaking new destination launches the river cruise industry has seen in years.
The Magdalena River is often described as the lifeblood of Colombia. Stretching more than 1,500 kilometres through the country, it flows from the Andes to the Caribbean coast, linking remote towns, wildlife-rich wetlands and historic colonial cities. While ocean cruising has long visited Cartagena, few international travellers have explored inland Colombia in comfort and safety.
AmaWaterways saw an opportunity to change that.
Why Columbia
Co-founder Rudi Schreiner began looking into Colombia in 2018. “There are lots of rivers,” he said, “but there are very few rivers where you really have life on the river.”
It’s that experience of daily and vibrant life in small villages and lesser-known destinations that AmaWaterways hope to showcase on the line’s two Magdalena itineraries.
Working alongside Colombian officials, tourism organisations and local communities, the company developed the experience. Ports had to be upgraded, shore excursions designed and navigation systems carefully mapped. Local musicians, artists and guides were brought into the project so that the cruises would feel authentically Colombian rather than imported tourism products.
The company also commissioned two luxury ships specifically designed for the Magdalena River. Unlike Europe’s large river vessels, these ships had to suit the river’s unique conditions, including fluctuating water levels and narrower channels.
The first ship, AmaMagdalena, introduces guests to a boutique-style cruising experience carrying fewer than 70 passengers. A second vessel, AmaMelodia blends contemporary luxury with Colombian design influences, creating an intimate and locally inspired atmosphere.
For guests, the journey is unlike anything found on Europe’s rivers.
And now, AmaWaterways has launched a new film showcasing the area, and the local people. You can view it here.
AmaWaterways says they have received amazing feedback from Aussie guests.
Cruises typically begin in Cartagena, the colourful Caribbean city famous for its Spanish colonial architecture, before heading inland along the Magdalena River. Travellers experience a side of Colombia many never imagined — vibrant riverside towns, lush tropical scenery and wildlife-filled wetlands alive with birds and monkeys.
Guests may visit jazz performances in Mompox, explore bustling local markets, watch traditional cumbia dancing or meet artisans preserving generations-old crafts. Food is another highlight, with Colombian flavours showcased through fresh tropical fruits, seafood and regional dishes unfamiliar to many Australian travellers.
The experience is also deeply immersive. Unlike large ocean cruises, river cruising places travellers directly in the heart of communities. Passengers step off the ship and immediately encounter local life — children playing near the riverbanks, fishermen working the waterways and musicians performing in village squares.
For Australians, who have embraced river cruising in huge numbers over the past decade, the appeal is obvious. Many experienced river cruisers are now looking beyond Europe for new destinations. Colombia offers the same relaxed pace and scenic exploration river cruisers love, but with an added sense of discovery.
Importantly, AmaWaterways says local communities are central to the project’s success.
The company has emphasised hiring local staff, supporting regional suppliers and creating economic opportunities in towns that historically received little international tourism. Local guides, performers, drivers and artisans all benefit from visitor spending, while infrastructure improvements linked to the cruises may provide long-term advantages for communities along the river.
Tourism officials in Colombia believe the Magdalena project could help reshape international perceptions of the country, showcasing its culture, biodiversity and hospitality to a new audience of high-value travellers.
For AmaWaterways, it is a bold expansion beyond traditional European cruising. For travellers, it is a chance to experience one of South America’s most fascinating waterways in comfort and style. And for Colombia’s Magdalena River communities, it may mark the beginning of a new era driven not by mass tourism, but by carefully managed cultural exploration.
AmaWaterways is offering savings of up to $1500pp off Wonders of Colombia for selected dates in both 2026 and 2027.
Find out more here.
