Belmond x Parley: A Deeper Connection with the Ocean

Photos courtesy FSB. communications consultancy.

Some experiences change the way we see the ocean. For me, having the opportunity to experience some of the initiatives developed by Belmond and Parley for the Oceans during my stay in Brazil in June was certainly one of them.

I have long admired Parley and its work to protect our oceans, as well as Belmond and, in particular, the Copacabana Palace, an icon of Rio de Janeiro and one of the world’s most legendary hotels. Seeing them join forces around a cause that resonates so deeply with me made this experience even more meaningful.

The partnership between Belmond and Parley for the Oceans goes beyond reducing environmental impact. Through conservation, education and community engagement, it aims to inspire a different relationship between hospitality and the natural world.

During Ocean Week in June, I had the privilege of experiencing part of this work first-hand in Rio. The programme included initiatives dedicated to protecting Rio’s coastal ecosystems, from the removal of abandoned fishing nets, known as ghost nets, around the Cagarras Islands to conversations on marine conservation and sustainability at Copacabana Palace.

But one experience touched me more than any other.

I had the honour of joining a whale-watching expedition with Copacabana Palace and Parley, aboard Velas Rio. It was one of those rare experiences that photographs and videos can capture, but never truly explain.

Seeing a whale in its natural habitat is extraordinary.

There is something about the sheer scale and, at the same time, gentleness of these animals that immediately changes our perspective. Watching a whale emerge on the horizon or seeing dolphins swimming freely creates a sense of wonder that is almost impossible to put into words.

Perhaps that is part of the mystery of our oceans. An entire universe exists beneath the surface, largely unseen in our everyday lives. When we encounter these animals in the wild, it feels as though we have been given a brief glimpse into a world that does not belong to us.

I felt incredibly privileged.

Whale sightings along Rio de Janeiro’s coastline have been attracting increasing attention, revealing yet another extraordinary side of the city. But with that fascination comes responsibility. Observation should never become interference. Respecting distances and understanding that we are the visitors is essential if these encounters are to remain both beautiful and sustainable.

What made the expedition even more meaningful was its connection to citizen science, encouraging observation and the monitoring of marine species. It was not simply about seeing the ocean, but about understanding it.

And perhaps this is where the strength of the Belmond and Parley partnership becomes most evident: using hospitality as a platform to connect people with places, science and nature in a way that can inspire genuine change.

I came away from the experience profoundly moved, more fascinated than ever by whales, dolphins and the mystery beneath the ocean’s surface, but also more conscious of our responsibility to protect it.

Because perhaps one of the greatest lessons the ocean can teach us is simple: we do not need to possess what enchants us. We need to learn how to protect it.

Photos courtesy FSB. communications consultancy.