Cruise Itinerary

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. North of San Antonio lie the picturesque old port and university town of Valparaíso and the colorful seaside resort of Viña del Mar. In between the coast and the capital are valleys filled with some of Chile’s most famous wineries, all inviting you to come and taste.

Puerto Montt is an urban oasis surrounded by the breathtaking volcanoes, glacial lakes, and parks for which the Chilean Lake District is known. As the region’s commercial hub, Puerto Montt offers the perfect blend of shopping, sightseeing, and history that elevates any South American cruise itinerary. Start with a trip to the Angelmo Harbor Market to enjoy the ocean breeze and peruse stalls selling everything from freshly caught fish to rainbow-hued alpaca wool goods sure to keep you warm during those chilly days at sea. For a taste of local flavor, try cancato—a famous Chilean favorite dish made of fish, chorizo, tomato, and cheese. After your meal, take a boat across the Tenglo Channel to Tenglo Island, where you’ll be treated to fantastic views of Osorno—a snow-capped volcano known as one of the most active in all of the southern Chilean Andes.

The wild and beautiful Aysén District of Chile lies south of Chiloe and Puerto Montt. Here vertiginous cliffs plumed with waterfalls plunge into immense river valleys against the snowy backdrop of the Southern Andes. Puerto Chacabuco is your gateway to the region's scenic wonders, from the gorges and forests of Río Simpson National Preserve to the fjords and islands composing the coastlines of Northwest Patagonia. Puerto Chacabuco is a popular gateway for Northwest Patagonia. The port serves as a ferry hub connecting Puerto Montt and the Island of Chiloe.

Laguna San Rafael National Park is in Patagonia on southern Chile’s Pacific coast. It’s known for the San Rafael Glacier, part of the Northern Patagonian Ice Field. San Rafael Lake has floating blocks of ice that have broken off from the glacier. The park is home to a variety of wildlife including marine otters, sea lions, black-necked swans and condors. The Andean peak Mount San Valentín towers above the park.

Punta Arenas stands on the Strait of Magellan, close to the southern tip of South America. There is a real frontier town feel here amidst the grand and mountainous scenery of Chilean Patagonia. Also well remembered here is explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Indeed, a statue of him stands in Plaza Muñoz Gamero, and rubbing the toe of one of the figures around the pedestal is said to bring good luck and calm waters for your onward voyage. Within the Museo Nao Victoria you can stand before a replica of his galleon that successfully sailed around the globe.

Magellan called it Tierra del Fuego, "the Land of Fire," having seen flames rising from the darkened islands. For over three centuries, the name struck fear in the hearts of mariners. Howling headwinds, mountainous seas and rocky coastlines spelled a sudden end to many voyages. Today, Ushuaia, a former Argentine penal colony, serves as your gateway to this wilderness where snow-capped mountains plummet to the icy waters of the Beagle Channel. In the late 19th century, Reverend Thomas Bridges spent years working with local tribes, compiling a dictionary of their Yaghan tongue. The work outlived the Yaghan: by the beginning of the 20th century, they had succumbed to disease.

The world's southernmost capital, Stanley is located in the Falklands archipelago, which consists of two main islands, East and West Falkland, along with smaller islands nearby. Stanley is proud of its British heritage, evidenced everywhere from its red telephone boxes to its pubs. The Falklands were first claimed by the English in 1765; over the centuries the Crown has had to abandon, reclaim and defend these far-flung islands from invading nations—including an Argentine foray in 1982. During the early years of their colonization, the Falklands were used as a base for ships hunting sperm whales for oil, followed by those hunting seals for fur. Today in this remote British territory, fishing and tourism are what drive the economy.

Montevideo exudes European charm and elegance, with broad boulevards, fountains, stately squares, and irresistible sidewalk cafes. The city maintains a low-key atmosphere despite its position as Uruguay’s commercial and political hub, and there are few skyscrapers on the horizon, though there are some surprising contrasts – an Art Nouveau pedestrian mall, Art Deco Centenary Stadium, and an American Embassy designed by I.M. Pei. Most of the nation’s countryside is farm or ranchland, and the life of the cowboy, or gaucho, is part of the local lore. Take a peak at the Gaucho Museum, or visit an estancia, and see them in action.

Welcome to elegant, cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, with its European colonial architecture and colorful mix of cultures. Each district has its own style: enjoy Palermo with its mansions and parks; shop in the chic boutiques of Soho and Hollywood; and soak up the Italian flavor of La Boca where tango dancers and artists display their talents for passersby. Then top it all off with an Argentine steak, perfectly grilled over a fire of glowing coals, and washed down with an excellent glass of Malbec.

Welcome to elegant, cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, with its European colonial architecture and colorful mix of cultures. Each district has its own style: enjoy Palermo with its mansions and parks; shop in the chic boutiques of Soho and Hollywood; and soak up the Italian flavor of La Boca where tango dancers and artists display their talents for passersby. Then top it all off with an Argentine steak, perfectly grilled over a fire of glowing coals, and washed down with an excellent glass of Malbec.