Types of Cruises - South American Cruises
CRUISES IN SOUTH AMERICA
Few cruise destinations offer such incredible diversity as South America.
The tallest waterfall in the world, the Angel Falls in Venezuela, the misty ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, the Amazon River, the magnificent fjords of Chile, the Argentinean tango and the vibrant celebrations of Carnival.
Many of the world’s natural treasures – magnificent, untouched landscapes, volcanoes and waterfalls, wildlife preserves, rare ecosystems and extraordinary plants, exotic birds and animals – are to be found on South American cruises.
And from the Amazon to Antarctica, Peru to Patagonia, Buenos Aires to Brazil, there is no more enjoyable, convenient and comfortable way to explore the impressively diverse and often remote treasures of South America and the world’s most southern waters than by these types of cruises. Luckily, many cruise lines do just that.
There are the sophisticated, cosmopolitan cities of Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Valparaiso, among others, and the renowned beaches of Brazil; the extraordinary natural wonders of Patagonia, the Chilean fjords, Cape Horn and the Strait of Magellan, barely disturbed since Charles Darwin’s famous exploration in the 19th century.
The continent of Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, the Amazon River, extraordinary cultural landmarks, stunning landscapes and unique ecological diversity, flora and fauna: these are all to be found on South American cruises.
Many ships for these types of cruises are positioned in South America at the best time for cruising the southern hemisphere – with opposite seasons, that means late fall through winter for North Americans. Some offer itineraries as short as two days from ports in Brazil, to Christmas, New Year’s or Carnival holiday voyages, to circumnavigations of the continent in appealing segments of two or more weeks. From yacht-sized ships to the newest ocean liners carrying thousands of passengers, the vessels come in all sizes, offering shipboard lifestyles and character as varied as the expectations of vacationers seeking to cruise.
Many South American cruises also feature shipboard and shore side educational programs or, in some cases, special themed itineraries showcasing the cultural and natural wonders of the South American destination.
photo courtesy MSC Cruises