South America Cruises 2021

Tear yourself away from Malecón promenade’s shops and visit the town of Montecristi - birthplace of the Panama hat. In nearby Parque Nacional Machalilla, you’ll find nesting seabirds and cloud forests.

Glimpse the vanished culture of the Mayans at Old Belize, or meander through the rainforest to caves of stalactites. See pumas, tapirs and kinkajous (honey bears) at the world-famous zoo.

Man-made marvels await you at the Atlantic end of the Panama Canal. Arm yourself with a camera and check out the astounding feat of engineering known as the Gatún Locks.

The canal is a marvel of engineering, but the area is also a sanctuary for sloths, eagles, ocelots and toucans, thanks to a lush rainforest environment and tropical temperatures.

Grab the opportunity to see Tikal, one of Central America’s best known Mayan ruins. Try tuna or marlin fishing at Iztapa, then get your daily caffeine fix at a working coffee plantation.

Home to the world's second-largest coral reef, Roatán is teeming with colourful marine life and exciting locals. Explore underwater wonders, beautiful beaches or kick back at a seaside restaurant.

Nestled at the tip of the 1,250km long Baja Peninsula lies one of Mexico’s premier attractions. A must-play is the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature course winding through dramatic beachheads.

Best known for its tropical jungles, idyllic beaches and translucent lagoons, Costa Maya is a dream destination for outdoor recreation. You'll find everything from snorkelling to jungle treks.

The ‘Island of Swallows’ is as rich in Mayan culture as in wildlife. Glass-clear waters around coral reefs offer you a world-class encounter with majestic eagle rays.

With mild weather year-round due to its inlet location off of the Pacific Ocean, Ensenada is celebrated as a popular location for yachting, sport fishing and surfing, as well as migrating whales.

The resort town of Huatulco can be found in the Mexican state of Oaxaca and it home to a number of bays a beautiful white sand beaches.

A traditional Mexican village inhabited by genuinely warm people, Puerto Vallarta features beautiful beaches, boutique shopping and some of the most picturesque and challenging golf courses in the Western Hemisphere.

In the Paris of South America, you’ll find the oldest barrio - San Telmo. Try the tango and the chorizo sausage. Visit an estancia (ranch) to see cowboy horsemanship at its best.

Step into the pages of National Geographic. Three-ton elephant seal bulls bask on the shoreline, sea lion and penguin colonies abound, and the Southern Right Whale’s breeding grounds are just offshore.

The Land of Fire is hard to beat. Board the aptly named ‘End of the World Train’ on a scenic 12km adventure to the pristine Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego.

Countless natural coves once made Buzios the perfect hub for pirates. Hundreds of years later, Brazil's own St. Tropez is just as fashionable today. There are more than 20 beaches in Buzios.

138 miles from São Paulo is the tropical island of Ilhabela: one of Brazil's most beautiful havens. Hidden coves, virgin beaches and offshore wrecks make it a dream destination for relaxing.

Visitors are lured by the sultry energy of Rio, with its seductive samba beat and miles of romantic coastline. Explore the 125-foot Christ the Redeemer statue or the nearby rainforests of Tijuca.

In cosmopolitan São Paulo, take a stroll in Ibirapuera Park, wander the busy pedestrian streets of the old downtown, or peruse the chic boutiques along the Avenida Paulista.

Arica is an oasis bordered by desert and valleys fed by snowmelt from the Andes. Visit the Plaza Colón, Eiffel's Cathedral of San Marcos, or the archaeology museum in the Azapa Valley.

From the port of San Antonio you can reach Santiago de Chile. A hub of Chilean culture, you'll won't be short of sights to see in Santiago, with many museums, theatres, and restaurants to discover.

Tierra del Fuego, Land of Fire, is the most isolated place in the Americas, and Cape Horn is its southernmost point. These cliffs and windswept shores have a stark and rugged beauty.

These are some of the most magnificent fjords in the world. As your eyes take in the jagged walls of mammoth glaciers, you may be rewarded with an Andean condor sighting.

The city of La Serena in Chile is the capital of the Coquimbo region and close to the natural port of Coquimbo, be sure to take a trip to one of the idyllic local beaches.

Journey through the breath-taking mountain passes of Chile’s Lake District, among the shoulders of snow-capped volcanoes like Orsono. Soak in the hot springs of Parque Nacional Puyehue, then haggle over ponchos.

Ski while looking out to the ocean in the southernmost point on the contiguous South American continent, Punta Arenas. It’s also home to colonies of sea lions and Magellan penguins.

You’ll navigate this strait, named after the ambitious Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan. It’s the only available crossing between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, with the exception of the Panama Canal.

Great seafood and gracious Spanish-era buildings abound in equal measure in this sun-blessed haven on the shores of the Sea of Cortez. Don’t miss the 300-year-old fort.

Costa Rica has been an advocate of conservation in its undeveloped areas and tourist destinations for years. Puerto Limón grants visitors rare exposure to virgin rain forests and bird sanctuaries.

Located along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, volcanic Puntarenas is a great place to see native wildlife such as the scarlet macaw and the capuchin monkey.

If you’re a birder or photographer – or aspiring to be either – the Falklands delivers. See if you can spot a flightless Steamer Duck and visit the museum chronicling the 1982 Argentinian invasion. 

They may not be as famous as Machu Picchu, but the great pre-Colombian ruins of Huaca Pucllana have a big advantage – they’re right in the middle of this city.

Travel through San Martin to discover the peaceful valley town of Pisco, which sustained pre-Columbian societies for thousands of years. It’s a haven for wildlife, so don’t forget your camera.

Visit the Ciudad Vieja district and see how the Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French and British left their imprint on the old city. At Harbour Market, try meat roasted over an open-air grill.

Glorious beaches and a vibrant café scene make this the St Tropez of South America. A must-see is Casapueblo at Punta Ballena (Whale Point). The landmark hotel took 36 years to build.