The natural selection for wildlife cruises

Spirit of Adventure will invite passengers to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth on a spectacular voyage around the natural wonders of central and southern America next year. The 352-passenger ship will visit the rich habitats once trodden by Britain’s greatest naturalist – born in 1809 - throughout the Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica and the Amazon Rainforest during its 2009 cruise schedule.

Each itinerary within the collection combines a superb mix of exploration, discovery, lifelong learning and fascinating ports of call which are often too small for many of the larger ships to access.

After exploring Antarctica, the High Andes and Galapagos Adventure cruise will follow the footsteps of Darwin during his research on the diverse Galapagos Islands, which helped formulate his theory of evolution. Departing February 21 2009 and starting in Chile, Spirit of Adventure sails north to Peru and Ecuador before passengers join a memorable three-night cruise aboard MV Galapagos Explorer II – during which they will visit the Charles Darwin Research Centre. Prices start from £4,354 per person for the 18 might adventure.

For passengers wanting to uncover the rich and exotic flora and fauna of the Amazon, Secrets of the River Sea will discover the fascinating habitat along South America’s longest river. Charting a course along the Amazon, the 22-night voyage will give people the chance to enjoy expeditions into the surrounding jungle - home to one of Brazil’s most endangered primates, the Pied Tamarin – and visit the town of Santarem, which was once home to the Tapajos Indians. Prices for the cruise, which departs on March 24 2009, start from £3814 per person.

More nature-spotting is on offer on the Tropical Wildlife and Wonders cruise, a 15-night journey from Costa Rica to the eastern Caribbean. Passengers will be invited to take an eco-jungle river adventure along the canals of Tortuguero or go swimming with dolphins in Tortola. Other highlights include cruising the Panama Canal, a visit to Port Antonio, Jamaica, and an unforgettable rainforest aerial tram joinery through the Dominican rainforest. Departing March 10 2009, prices start from £2939 per person.

All Spirit of Adventure cruises include a series of meticulously planned shore excursions, which delve deeper into the historical, cultural and architectural surroundings of each destination visited. In addition, each day of exploration is further enhanced by a comprehensive programme of lectures led by expert guest speakers on board. The topics covered include archaeology, history, local traditions and food and wine.

For further information on Spirit of Adventure cruises, visit spiritofadventure.co.uk.