A Grand Journey Of Atlantic Rhythms & Cultures

Cariocas live life to a different rhythm. If you want to keep up, you need to tune in. Start early on the golden sands of Ipanema and Copacabana, where joggers and sea-swimmers greet the sun, before lunch in the trendy tables of Botafogo and Leblon. Wander the cobbled streets of Santa Teresa; explore mansions and botanic gardens in Cosmo Velho; take the cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain; and ride the rails to the top of Corcovado, where Christ the Redeemer welcomes all with outstretched arms.

When the residents of Rio de Janeiro need a break, they follow Brigitte Bardot's footsteps to the crystal-clear coves and tropical forests of the Búzios peninsula, where there's a beach for every mood. Snorkel and swim the quiet waters of Praia João Fernandes; drop anchor in the remote bays of Azeda and Azedinha; join a game of volleyball on Geribá; or watch the sunset in Porto da Barra after a stroll along Orla Bardot – the beachfront promenade named for its most famous visitor.

With more time to reflect, rejuvenate, and embrace the Ocean State of Mind, days at sea with Explora Journeys invite moments of unhurried exploration. Against a backdrop of endless blue, indulge in a varied programme of wellness, dining and entertainment, enriching the mind and indulging the senses, designed to satisfy even the most curious of minds. These moments at sea offer a rare chance to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with yourself and your loved ones. With so many onboard experiences, each day at sea is unique and memorable.

There's nowhere on earth quite like Salvador, the relentless, beating heart of Afro-Brazilian culture. Gravitate towards the UNESCO-listed streets of Pelourinho, where pastel-painted mansions and magnificent churches reflect the architectural style of the Portuguese colonial era, and life flows to the steady rhythm of samba, drums and the fluid motions of capoeira. Bahia's African roots are celebrated in the museums, galleries and restaurants that line the wide avenues and beachfront boardwalks of Barra, whose iconic lighthouse watches over the entrance to All Saint's Bay.

A modern metropolis overlooking a swathe of spectacular beaches, Maceio is a doorway to the tapestry of rivers and deltas that crisscross Alagoas state. Sail a traditional wooden jangada out to vibrant coral reef; explore the islets and mangrove forests of Mundaú Lagoon; or paddle the calm waters of Rio Jequiá, where sand dunes roll into the sea. After lunch, browse brightly coloured filé lace and handcrafted embroidery in the artisan workshops of Pontal da Barra or head to the city centre to admire the neoclassical grandeur of the Metropolitan Cathedral.

With more time to reflect, rejuvenate, and embrace the Ocean State of Mind, days at sea with Explora Journeys invite moments of unhurried exploration. Against a backdrop of endless blue, indulge in a varied programme of wellness, dining and entertainment, enriching the mind and indulging the senses, designed to satisfy even the most curious of minds. These moments at sea offer a rare chance to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with yourself and your loved ones. With so many onboard experiences, each day at sea is unique and memorable.

Drop a sun-kissed Spanish city onto an island off the coast of North Africa, add a sprinkle of tropical charm and place an active volcano on the doorstep and you have Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Feast on tantalising tapas before exploring neighbouring San Cristóbal de la Laguna's UNESCO-listed Old Town, whose ancient doorways conceal exquisitely tiled courtyards and hand-carved balconies overlooking resplendent churches. Beyond, Tenerife is dotted with half-moon bays, immaculate golf courses, vineyard-covered hillsides, labyrinthine lava tunnels and sheer basalt cliffs: a primordial landscape sculpted by the fury of mighty Mount Teide.

Ocean meets desert in little Fuerteventura, where volcanic landscapes frame pretty former-capital Betancuria and the stacked stones of photogenic Santa María Church. Wind-sculpted hillsides roll north towards the seething sea of sand dunes around Corralejo Natural Park, where rust-red peaks loom over turquoise shores. Clifftop hiking trails along the Fuerteventura's lesser-travelled west coast reveal black sand beaches juxtaposed with the Med's swirling blues, which are swallowed up by the ocean-carved hollows of Ajuy Caves far below.

Artist César Manrique put little Arrecife on the map. Explore his eclectic works in underground caverns, fabulous murals and his former home in nearby Tahíche, or sate your artistic appetite in contemporary gallery MIAC and the surreal underwater world of sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor. The spectral landscape of Timanfaya, once a seething sea of lava shattered by volcanic eruptions, is ripe for 4x4 exploration, while the year-round waves of Playa de Famara invite beginners and pros alike to grab a surfboard and take the plunge.

Sun, sea, and atmospheric architecture are in abundance in Agadir, a buzzy coastal oasis nicknamed the ‘Miami of Morocco'. Stroll into a 1,000 years of memories along modern, tree-lined boulevards designed by Le Corbusier after an earthquake levelled much of the city in 1960. Like a phoenix, Agadir arose and arouses travellers seeking a tapestry of treasures. Meander the Marina to eat fresh fish by the harbour, stroll the beach-side promenade then cool off under the trees in the Valley of the Birds. Shop Souk El Had, with nearly 6,000 stalls laden with spices, tajines, and teapots, then climb the Kasbah of Agadir Oufella, where history lives amongst massive rammed earth walls.

Like a lighthouse, the majestic Hassan II Mosque beckons us to the shores of this bustling port city, its minaret soaring 690ft to the sky. Africa's biggest mosque is one of only two in Morocco open to non-Muslims, inviting us to marvel its mosaics, marble columns and 50 Murano glass chandeliers. Casablanca conjures a charismatic collision of tradition and modernity, the Habous Quartier's faded grandeur of French colonial Art Deco, whitewashed Moorish houses, narrow alleyways, small souks and olive markets in companion to its cosmopolitan nightlife, buzzing restaurants and Parisien-style cafes.

With more time to reflect, rejuvenate, and embrace the Ocean State of Mind, days at sea with Explora Journeys invite moments of unhurried exploration. Against a backdrop of endless blue, indulge in a varied programme of wellness, dining and entertainment, enriching the mind and indulging the senses, designed to satisfy even the most curious of minds. These moments at sea offer a rare chance to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with yourself and your loved ones. With so many onboard experiences, each day at sea is unique and memorable.

Enjoy the rich buzz of Lisbon. Dip into the city's strong architectural, cultural and historical connections. Wander charming-cobbled streets, colourful buildings, the river Sado and endless nature. Pilgrimage to Fatima, tour hilly villages, learn Portuguese cooking techniques and listen to the Lisbon blues. Slip to charming Cascais for quieter energy and golden beaches. And as you bathe in the captivating light, enjoy plates of petiscos which - like fado - you'll soon discover is vibrant, warm and most appealing.