South America Cruises

A busy port hard by the arid and mysterious Atacama Desert of Northern Chile. With the wealth generated by minerals flowing from the barren land, they’ve managed to build a pleasant town of parks and plazas, conquering, for a while, the emptiness beyond.

Argentina's capital possesses a grandeur embodied by the Colon Theatre, one of the world's great opera houses. The vast Recoleta Cemetery is worth a visit too, where you'll find the black marble memorial that is the resting place of Eva Peron. For many, the city's soul lies in districts like La Boca, home to colourful houses and lively tango caf̩es.

A peninsula dusted with 23 beaches, Buzios stands on the Brazilian coast around 93 miles due east of Rio de Janeiro and virtually on the Tropic of Capricorn. At the time nothing more than a simple fishing village, it was discovered' on the world's behalf by Brigitte Bardot and her Brazilian boyfriend in the early 1960s. It is now one of Brazil's most upmarket seaside resorts, where designer boutiques meet fine dining and sophisticated bars. For the more adventurous, diving and snorkelling are also popular here, thanks to a rich marine life including a variety of corals, giant stingrays, barracuda and even green turtles on occasion.

Caleta Tortel, Chile

Journey to the edge of the earth on a cruise past the fabled Cape Horn. At the southernmost tip of South America, Cape Horn lies off the coast of Chile on Hornos Island. Nestled amongst the dramatic...

Charming, narrow streets host quaint colonial buildings, while the magnificent cathedral and palace dominate the city. The walled old town brimming with colonial history, brightly painted facades, charming balconies and delightful plazas awash with flowers.

The towns are largely built of abundant local woods, and many houses are elaborately shingled in intricate designs. Even the cathedral is a beautiful, vaulted structure crafted of local hardwoods.

If you are a “pollywog,” who has never crossed the line at sea, you will be expected to undergo a mock trial by King Neptune and his court for the entertainment of the “shellbacks” who have already done so. Mild but hilarious indignities will be conjured, and in the end a good time will be had by most, if not all.

Cruising Boca Del Guafo

Cruising Messier Channel

Situated off the coast of Antarctica, Elephant Island is named after the elephant seals that populate it and due to the island being shaped like an elephant head. Rugged mountains, glistening sheets of ice and unique wildlife add to the mystique of this remote destination

Ezeiza International Airport, the airport for Buenos Aires. Referred to as the 'Paris of South America', Buenos Aires is considered as one of the most livable cities in South America. Although the bustling capital city has just under 3,000,000 inhabitants and a population density of 13,680 inhabitants per square kilometer (34,800 per square mile), it was rated in 2018 as one of the top cities on the continent for its ‘quality of life’. Twinned with world cities such as Moscow and Miami, Buenos Aires displays through its architecture, a cultural past rooted in both the Old and New Worlds.

Cruising Fiordo de las Montañas (Fjord of the Mountains) is a highlight of your Chilean Patagonia voyage. This narrow channel, located west of Puerto Natales, stretches more than 40 miles north to south, ending in a glacially carved valley at the far end of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

On the northern stretch of Brazil's shoulder, Fortaleza is a pleasant palm-lined resort. The sands are soft and the backdrops often impressive. A complex of reddish coloured cliffs lie behind Marro Branco, while from Canoa Quebrada, an expanse of sand dunes stretch inland like waves.

Stretching half a mile wide at its face and extending more than 10 miles back to where the Garibaldi Fjord surrenders to the Beagle Channel, this glacier is a testament to nature's grandeur. Unlike many glaciers that carry moraine or glacial till, Garibaldi boasts a medial moraine, a characteristic pointing to the fusion of two individual glaciers.

Pisco dates from 1640, and its Plaza de Armas is a Spanish colonial treasure. Another treasure is the Ballestas Islands, an offshore cluster of rocky outcroppings teeming with seabirds, penguins, sea lions, dolphins and other wildlife.

A British Isles cruise offer a unique way to explore and contrast the home nations, whose rugged coastlines embrace historic ports. Often these itineraries include visits to our closest European neighbours to create fascinating discoveries in luxury.

Iquique was the undisputed capital of the saltpeter, or nitrate industry from the 1860s to 1920. The town's historic center evinces this period with its many fine palatial buildings. After the Germans invented chemical fertilizer shortly before WWII, the nitrate industry collapsed and the city fell into decay

Iquitos is the most important Peruvian city of the Amazon region. With a municipal population of nearly 440,000, it is the largest city on earth that cannot be reached by road. Its location on the vast Amazon Basin plain east of Andes is accessible only by air or via the river. Along with Manaus in Brazil, Iquitos burgeoned during the period of the rubber boom, and its oldest sections reflect the same Eurocentric taste of the period’s affluent rubber barons, such as the unique Iron House, purchased during the Paris Exposition of 1889, disassembled, and transported through the jungle to be rebuilt in its present location. Today tourism is an important aspect of the city’s economy, with visitors using it as a hub for river cruises and stays in regional jungle lodges.

The Ballestas Islands are an offshore cluster of rocky outcroppings teeming with seabirds, penguins, sea lions, dolphins and other wildlife. On shore, Pisco dates from 1640, and its Plaza de Armas is a Spanish colonial treasure. Many visitors take the opportunity to take a scenic flight over the huge, mysterious Nazca Lines pictographs etched into the nearby desert surface 2,000 years ago.

Entering into the Gulf of Penas, to the southeast lies the 6 kilometer (2.5 mile) wide opening of Baker Channel. Sailing 120 kilometers (80 miles) into the southern margins of the Andes we are now surrounded on all sides by snow-capped peaks.

Karukinka Park, Chile

As you explore Lundy Island, you'll uncover a landscape shaped by time and nature, from sweeping grasslands to dramatic cliffs plunging into the sea. The island is home to a wealth of birdlife, including puffins and Manx shearwaters, making it a paradise for nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers alike.

Relax, slow down and take a beach day at Maceió. Once a hidden gem, Macieo has recently become a haven for beach goers in Brazil and around the world. With so many beaches to choose from, you have your pick of ocean views and beach activities.

Manaus sits where the dark waters of the Rio Negro and the lighter Rio Solimoes flow side-by-side before merging to become the Amazon. With the rubber boom long since gone, this city of almost two million people feels unexpected so deep in the jungle, 1,000 miles from the ocean, and its grand opera house stands as a testament to this faded glory.

Manta sits almost directly on the equator, around halfway up Ecuador's Pacific shore. The setting was inhabited by at least seven different civilisations before the Spanish conquered the area in 1534. While mostly considered an industrial city today, it has also found fame for its beaches and watersports.

This pretty Mexican port town is enveloped by forested hills and bright blue sea. While its beaches are inviting, its marina and Old Town hold equal appeal, with quaint boutiques and fresh local seafood caught in the bay. 

Matarani, located on the picturesque southern coast of Peru in the Arequipa Region, is a bustling port town that bridges the gap between commerce and natural beauty.

Uruguay's vibrant capital city Montevideo houses close to half of the nation's population, resulting in a diverse and exciting metropolitan environment. Your Montevideo exploration could start in the large Plaza Independencia which lies between the Old and New City. Full of interesting architecture the historical Old City has maintained buildings dating back to the Colonial times, whilst the Torre Antel, a distinctly modern skyscraper, shows the evolution of the city. Wine connoisseurs should explore further afield of the city and take advantage of the range of wineries and ranches which help make Uruguay one of the leading wine producers in South America.

Natal is the capital of Rio Grande do Norte, a Brazilian state located in the country’s northeast. The city lies near the mouth of the Potenji (Potengi) River along the Atlantic coast, and its sun-kissed shores are lined with gorgeous white-sand beaches and towering dunes.

Paradise Bay captures what most people imagine when they think of Antarctica - dramatic ice formations, expansive blue-hued glaciers, charming penguins waddling about, and whales gliding through serene waters.

At the head of scenic Eyre Fjord is situated the longest glacier in the southern hemisphere outside of Antarctica. The monumental ice-mass of the Brüggen Glacier fills the fjord to a width of 4.5 kilometers (3 miles) and covers an area of 1,265 square kilometers (488 square miles).

Discover a small slice of Wales in Argentina. While Puerto Madryn has roots from the British Isles, the scenery is unmistakably Patagonian, with sweeping vistas and colonies of sea lions and penguins.

Perched on the wind-swept shores of Navarino Island, with the majestic Dientes de Navarino mountain range as its backdrop, Puerto Williams is a testament to resilience and beauty amidst the harshness of nature. It's a place where the air is crisp, the waters are pristine, and the views are breathtaking.

The western coast of South America meets the Pacific Ocean, the north and east are bordered by the Atlantic while the Caribbean surrounds the north-west corner of the land. Most of the continent’s 385 million inhabitants live along the east and west coasts, with only a small proportion of the population settled inland.

A glitzy seaside resort on Uruguay’s Atlantic coast, Punta del Este has earned the nickname of Uruguay’s St. Tropez thanks to its glamorous visitors and famed nightlife. It is more than just a party, though. When the sun comes up and the crowds melt away, stunning beaches and quaint colonial towns take centre stage.

Punta Islay is on the Southern Peruvian coast, along the Lagunas de Mejia National Marine Sanctuary where the Tambo River meets the Pacific Ocean. This is a crucial environment supporting prolific populations of birds.

Stretching across three islands, Recife's cityscape is accented with scenic inlets, canals and bridges, in addition to its famous beaches. What began as a scattering of fishing shacks in the 16th century is now a vibrant city that boasts delicious cuisine, colourful markets and a lively nightlife.

Rio will command your non-stop attention from the moment you set foot on its shores or the golden sands of Copacabana or Ipanema for that matter. Climb Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car, then try out your samba steps as night falls. Rio is an amazing experience a city everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.

As the host of the world’s largest carnival, Salvador is sometimes referred to as the Brazilian capital of happiness. A cruise to Salvador gives you a taste of the country’s rich cultural history, beautiful architecture, candy-hued buildings and unusual cuisine. Originally the capital of Brazil until 1763 when Rio de Janeiro was given the title, it is now the third most populous city in the country.

This large, modern port serves Chile’s capital, Santiago, a city with Spanish colonial charm and a vivacious spirit. Encircled by the Andes and the Coastal Range, Santiago is centered around the Plaza de Armas, with several of the city’s landmarks: the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral the Palacio de la Real Audencia from 1808, the City Hall and the National Museum of History.

Santarem has been a major player in the booms of wood, rubber, minerals and now soybeans. Nearby is a ‘meeting of waters’ where the pale brown Amazon is joined by the darker Rio Tapajos. A few miles to the west, the town of Alter do Chao attracts visitors with its white sand beaches, a huge natural lagoon and the surrounding national forest.

A single tram ride will open up a whole vista of possibilities during your visit to Valparaiso - from the colourful houses set upon the hillsides to the stunning Maipo Valley wine region.

Home to one of the world’s largest urban populations and hosting an enticing fusion of residents from over 200 different countries, São Paulo is simply a cultural extravaganza.

The Beagle Channel, a majestic waterway that carves a path between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, is a spectacle of nature's grandeur. Its shores are adorned with gleaming glaciers, while the backdrop is dominated by the snow-capped peaks of the southernmost Andes range.

Cutting eastward from the Sarmiento Channel in Southern Chile, this fjord divides into three separate fjords, called Amalia, Asia and Calvo Fjords. Amalia leads to Amalia Glacier, the El Brujo Glacier is in Asia Fjord, and Calvo boasts several small glaciers of its own.

The Smyth Channel is another of the spectacular waterways threading the maze of islands off the coast of extreme southern Chile. At its northern end, it briefly parallels the Sarmiento Channel, then veers southward opening into the Strait of Magellan.

The Strait of Magellan is a 350-mile/570 km channel separating the mainland of South America from the large Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego and connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The Meeting of Waters.

The southernmost town on earth, surrounded by spectacular snow-capped mountains, waterways and the Tierra del Fuego National Park, this small town in Argentina is the gateway to some stunning locations.

Yendegaia, Chile