South American Discovery Cruise and Tour with Iguazu Falls - Buenos Aires to Santiago

We arrive early this morning into Buenos Aires and transfer to our hotel, where early check-in has been arranged for your convenience. Your first day is free to explore at your own pace. The ‘Paris of the South’, Buenos Aires is a city of simmering excitement and a tango heartbeat. A glimmer of its European past is barely buried under its lively Latino present. Sweeping green spaces are interspersed with grand French and Italian-style architecture, colourful street art decorates traditional neighbourhoods. You’ll be hooked on this city before you even realised it’s happened.

This morning we’ll visit some of the city’s highlights, including the leafy Plaza de Mayo lined with grand buildings such as the Government House and City Hall; you’ll step inside the Metropolitan Cathedral to see its towering ceilings, striking stained glass and marble columns. In La Boca, we’ll see the district’s famed array of colourful houses and learn about the Italian immigrant history. Finally, we’ll visit the walled cemetery of Recoleta to view the elaborate mausoleums and resting places of Argentinean luminaries, including Eva Peron. The rest of the day is free to make your own explorations.

Excursions & visits:

Guided city tour of Buenos Aires (morning)

We transfer to the airport for our flight to Iguazu Falls. The small, yet busy Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu is located at the confluence of the Iguazu and Parana Rivers. Teetering on the Brazil and Argentina border, it makes for the perfect base from which to visit Iguazu Falls. On arrival we’ll visit the Argentinean side and take a small train through the rainforest. From here, our walk takes in spectacular views from above and alongside the falls. The site is made up of a chain of hundreds of waterfalls and seeing them in person is truly unforgettable. We’ll then transfer to our hotel and the evening is free to relax.

Excursions & visits:

Tour of Iguazu Falls Argentinean side (afternoon)

Iguazu means ‘big water’, but we can’t help but think the Guarani name for this incredible natural phenomenon is a little understated. One of the planet’s most spectacular sights, the mighty Iguazu Falls are astounding. The immense power of the falls and the crashing sound of cascading water is something you’ll hear long before you arrive. We’ll continue our experience with the Brazilian side of the falls this morning, giving us the opportunity for a panoramic view of the fall’s most famous section, Devil’s Throat, which is a huge confluence of three massive falls.

Excursions & visits:

Tour of Iguazu Falls Brazilian side, including Devil’s Throat (morning)

We transfer to the airport for our flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival, we transfer to the pier to embark our ship which remains in port overnight.

Another full day in this fascinating city before we set sail this evening.

Uruguay’s capital city has a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Music, theatre and the arts are alive - and you’ll find them in the elegant old theatres and little tango bars. The city’s smaller size makes it more personable, with a distinctly ‘local’ feel. The historic downtown district is a treasure with art deco and neo-classical buildings decorating the streets, while the southeast flaunts long stretches of beach, modern high-rises, and shopping centres.

Take time to fully relax with endless sea views in every direction. Perhaps opt for a massage at the ship’s Greenhouse Spa & Salon, or you might like to continue learning about our destinations with an engaging lecture or live cooking demonstration. The evening brings an abundance of entertainment options with live music, including the popular BB King’s Blues Club.

Stepping ashore in Stanley is a little bit surreal. Proud of its British heritage, you’ll see familiar red telephone boxes and post boxes, Victorian houses and old English pubs. You’ll feel transported to an English village. If you like penguins, then a visit to the penguin rookery at Bluff Cove Lagoon is a must. King and gentoo penguins - along with other bird species of the Falklands - rule the roost here in a privately owned wildlife haven. You’ll stroll around the penguin colony, which features a scenic lagoon and white, sandy beach backdrop. It’s home to 1,000 breeding pairs of gentoo penguins. Ship to shore tender service.

Today, we’ll cruise around the very tip of South America, Cape Horn. This notorious ocean passage is often buffeted by wind and waves, creating some unusual grooved rock formations. We’ll admire these, plus dramatic granite cliffs, as we skirt the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.

Positioned at the southernmost tip of Argentina, Ushuaia is cradled among the pristine Martial Mountains. It’s surrounded by glaciers, snow-capped mountains, dense forests, lakes and windswept plains spread across an archipelago of rugged islands. The town lends itself to its natural surroundings perfectly; there are no high rises or mega malls here. Its maze of streets are lined with low-slung buildings, all leading to its heart, the port. From here, we’ll cruise along the Beagle Channel, a scenic and wonderfully calm strait. You might spot some interesting wildlife as we pass Isla de los Lobos (Sea Lion Island) and Isla de los Pájaros (Bird Island). Finally, we’ll enter Glacier Alley, where the ice flows down from huge mountain ranges. You’ll hear the blue ice cracking as it tumbles into the channel. Keep a keen eye and you might spot penguin rookeries, humpback whales and seals.

The Strait of Magellan links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as it cuts between the mainland tip of South America and the islands of Tierra del Fuego. This cinematic channel was the passage of choice for transport until 1914, when the Panama Canal shortened the distance by thousands of miles. Spend some time sitting on your balcony contemplating what those first explorers must have thought when sailing along this majestic stretch, passing impressive glacial and mountain scenery.

This windblown city near Chile’s southernmost tip is a gateway to the spectacular landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park. The city itself has plenty to offer, too, with its beautiful colonial mansions. From penguin spotting on Isla Magdalena to visiting local farms or indulging in a typical Chilean surf-and-turf, there’s plenty to keep you busy here.

Today, we’ll continue our voyage through some of the continent’s most beautiful scenery. We’ll sail the Cockburn Channel, which passes coastline rich in fjords and glaciers. The Pia Fjord is particularly beautiful as dozens of waterfalls cascade down the slopes into its warm waters. You may even witness huge chunks of ice calve off Pia Glacier and plummet into the sea.

Another chance to enjoy the photo-worthy landscapes of the Strait of Magellan, keeping eyes peeled for colonies of Magellanic penguins, pods of humpback whales and schools of Commerson’s and Peale’s dolphins.

The capital of Los Lagos is the perfect jumping off point for the country’s glacial lakes, ominous volcanic landscapes and mountainous national parks. World-class photogenic landscapes aside, there’s an interesting mix of cultures to explore here, too. The port is also home to a 100-year-old German settlement as well as indigenous communities of Mapuche people. Perhaps take a stroll through pretty Puerto Varas, overlooking Lake Llanquihue, or opt for a taste of the local life in the nearby fishing village of Angelmó (try the catch of the day washed down with a traditional German white wine). Ship to shore tender service.

A final full day at sea to relax and enjoy all the ship’s amenities.

We disembark in San Antonio this morning and head to Valparaiso to spend some time getting to know the city on a guided tour, which also incorporates nearby Viña del Mar - the ‘Garden City’. Chile is synonymous with world-renowned fine wines and we couldn’t travel all this way without stopping to learn more about the industry. Casablanca Valley is one of Chile’s most famous wine-producing areas and the families here have specialised in cultivating a few small but defining wine businesses, like the world-famous Viña William Cole. We’ll learn about the history of this winery, enjoy a guided tour of the estate and finish with a tasting in the wine shop. We then continue to Santiago and check into our hotel.

Excursions & visits:

Guided city tour of Valparaiso and Viña del Mar (morning)
Wine tasting at William Cole vineyard (afternoon)

Energetic, sophisticated, and cosmopolitan - it’s little wonder that almost half of Chile’s population call leafy Santiago home. The streets are lined with grand architecture and the landscape is dotted with extensive green spaces. We’ll take in all the city’s best bits on our guided tour this morning, including the colourful main avenue, Alameda, where the Chilean University and San Francisco Church are located; stroll through the central market at Plaza de Armas; then visit the National Museum of History. From San Cristobal Hill, you’ll enjoy the best panoramic views of Santiago, backed by the Andes Mountains. The rest of the afternoon is left for you to make your own discoveries in this world-class city.

Excursions & visits:

Guided city tour of Santiago (morning)

The morning is free for you to spend as you please before we transfer to the airport for the return flights home.

Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.