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South America Cruises

South America Cruises

Discover a continent of dramatic contrasts, from exciting cities to stunning fjords, lush rainforests and abundant wildlife.

The continent of South America offers a diverse range of superb cruising areas, with beautiful coastlines, vibrant cities and exotic rainforests to explore.

Cruise Collection 2024/ 2025/ 2026

Finding Cruises
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  • Caribbean mosaic, between mangroves & lagoons

    Ponant Luxury and Expedition
    Le Bellot
    Wooden Villa In Punta Gorda Neighborhood In Cienfuegos Cuba 7 Nights Cruise Only from £4321pp Belize City, Punta Sal, Cochinos Cays, Water Caye, Isla Utila, Cuero y Salado, Lívingston, Punta Gorda, Half Moon Cay, Belize City
  • Natural sanctuaries & Caribbean encounters

    Ponant Luxury and Expedition
    Le Champlain
    Honduras 9 Nights Cruise Only from £4490pp Belize City, Punta Sal National Park, Guanaja, Bay of Islands, Cochinos Cays, Cuero y Salado, Ensenada, Water Caye, Isla Utila, Placencia, Half Moon Caye, Belize City
  • Panama and Costa Rica by Sea: The Natural Wonders of Central America - with Smithsonian Journeys

    Ponant Luxury and Expedition
    Choice of Ships
    Toucan 7 Nights Cruise Only from £4610pp Colón, San Blas Islands, Fuerte Amador, Panama Canal Transit, Fuerte Amador, Darién National Park, Quepos (Puerto Quepos), Puerto Caldera
  • Patagonia to Chilean Fjords and Antarctica Northbound

    Hurtigruten Expeditions
    Roald Amundsen
    Puerto Natales, Chile 14 Nights Cruise Only from £4645pp Ushuaia, Cape Horn, Puerto Williams, Puerto Natales, Puerto Edén, Caleta Tortel, Castro, Valdivia, Valparaiso
  • 16-Night Pacific Mysteries Voyage

    Azamara
    Azamara Onward
    Bora Bora Fakarava Beach 16 Nights Cruise Only from £4649pp Callao, Hangaroa, Easter Island, Pitcairn Island, Fakarava, Moorea, Papeete, Tahiti, Moorea, Papeete, Tahiti
  • A Tropical Odyssey in Central America

    Ponant Luxury and Expedition
    Choice of Ships
    Honduras Roatan West End Village 10 Nights Cruise Only from £4960pp Belize City, Placencia, Santo Tomás de Castilla, Water Caye, Isla Utila, Roatán Island, Corn Island, Puerto Limón, Bocas del Toro, Colón
  • Amazon and Caribbean Adventure

    Viking Ocean Cruises
    Viking Sea
    Antigua 12 Nights Fly Cruise from £4990pp UK - San Juan, Antigua (St. John's), Castries, Bridgetown, At Sea, French Guiana (Iles du Salut), At Sea, Santarem, Parintins, Manaus
  • 22-Night Barbados to Brazil & Buenos Aires Voyage

    Azamara
    Azamara Quest
    Barbados Bottom Bay 22 Nights Cruise Only from £5279pp Bridgetown, Scarborough, Isle Royale, Belem, Recife, Salvador de Bahia, Buzios, Rio de Janeiro, Parati, Ilhabela, São Paulo, Montevideo, Buenos Aires
  • From Machu Picchu to the Galápagos Islands

    Hurtigruten Expeditions
    Santa Cruz II
    Gardner Bay, Galapagos 6 Nights Cruise Only from £5283pp Baltra Island (Galápagos), Mosquera Island, Punta Pitt, San Cristóbal Island, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, San Cristobal Island, South Plaza Island, Santa Fé Island, Puerto Ayora, Isla Santa Cruz, Punta Suarez, Isla Española, Gardner Bay, Española Island, North Seymour Island, El Edén Island, Baltra Island
  • In Darwin’s Footsteps (Eastern Route)

    Hurtigruten Expeditions
    Santa Cruz II
    Galapagos Sea Lions on Santa Fe Island 8 Nights Cruise Only from £5283pp Save up to 25% on 2025-26 sailings! UK - Quito (Ecuador), Baltra Island, Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve - Punta Pitt, Santa Fe - South Plaza Island, Santa Cruz Island, Española - Gardner Bay, Eden Islet - North Seymour, Baltra Island

About South America Cruises

Take a trip up the Amazon River, through magnificent rainforests teeming with wildlife and discover what makes this region so unique. We offer a range of cruises along the Amazon, on discovery, small expedition ships and luxury ships.

Discover fascinating Chile and Argentina with a trip to Patagonia and discover the Chilean Fjords and Andes, and the stunning beauty of the Tierra del Fuego National Park in Argentina.

Explore the highlights of Brazil including golden beaches and the magnificent cities of Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, or take a trip to Peru and the spectacular Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu.

Explore the unique Galapagos archipelago with its abundance of rare wildlife and breathtaking scenery, with choice of land tours in Ecuador or Peru.

Macaws, RainforestMacaws, Rainforest

South America Highlights

Arica

Called 'the city of the eternal spring' for its mild climate and fertile land, Arica duty-free port is overlooked by the cliff of Morro de Arica and is a world-famous centre of surfing, known for the famous 'El Gringo' wave. In town is an archaeological museum, and the Pueblo Artesanal market selling handicrafts. Visits may be offered to Chungara Lake, one of the highest in the world, situated in Lauca National Park.

Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital of Argentina. Shuttle buses take visitors from its busy port to the city centre half a mile away. Near historic Plaza de Mayo, Calle Florida is the main shopping street, a good place to buy cheap leather goods, jewellery and designer clothes. Buenos Aires has many good cafes and tango bars, where you can see the dance being performed. Eva Peron's grave can be found in the picturesque Recoleta Cemetery.

Buenos Aires (Argentina)Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Callao

The port of Callao is close to Peru's capital, Lima, and its chief attraction is the beaches of the La Punta area, and the offshore Isla El Fronton and Cavinzas, served by local boats and home to sea lions and sea birds. Above Puerto del Callao is the Fortress of Real Felipe and the restaurants of Malecon Figueredo. Callao is the gateway to Lima and the pre-Incan pyramids of Pachamac.

Callao (Peru)Callao (Peru)

Caracas

The capital of Venezuela, Caracas, is a bustling city with a skyline of skyscrapers backed by mountains. There are some remnants of its colonial past, including the Pantheon, 17th-century Plaza San Jacinto, and Plaza Bolivar at the heart of the old town where there is one of several memorials to Simon Bolivar. Parque Central houses museums and cinemas, and from the 52nd floor balcony there are panoramic views of the city and the hillside shantytowns.

Fortaleza

Skyscrapers and hi-rise buildings line the long bay of Fortaleza, the fifth-largest city in Brazil.. The city has an large, grey cathedral, built in 1939 and a four-storey market selling local handicrafts and clothing. The older market of Feirinha da Beira-Mar is close to the beach, and along Beura-mar Avenye are kiosks selling seafood, sushi and traditional specialities.

Iles du Salut

One of these small islands was once a penal colony where Dreyfus was held, and famous as the setting for the novel and film, 'Papillon'. The prison was shut down in 1953, and the islands are now a popular tourist destination.

Iles du Salut (French Guiana)Iles du Salut (French Guiana)

Kingstown

St Vincent is a good place to spot humpback and sperm whales and schools of dolphins. For a dip, Owia Salt Pond on the north-eastern coast is sheltered by volcanic rocks. Places of interest include the Vermont Nature Trail, winding past exotic flora through rainforest. The island has a 1200-meter-high volcano, La Soufriere, and lush botanical gardens in Kingstown which have a descendant of the breadfruit tree planted by Captain Bligh.

La Guaira

La Guaira is Venezuela's main port, with a variety of colonial buildings protected by World Heritage status. These include San Juan de Dios Cathedral, the colonnaded Pasaj Urrutia, and the forts of El Vigia and La Polvora. The area suffered damage by mudslides in 1999 and much of the city is in a poor state of repair.

Manaus

The thriving city of Manaus on the Amazon River is a mixture of high-rise and 19th-century buildings, rising from the jungle. The elegant and colourful Palacio Rio Negro was renovated in the 1980's, and contains works by Brazilian artists and fine furniture. Other buildings of note include the magnificent Teatro Amazonas, and the Mercado Municipal, built in Gothic style with stained-glass windows, and housing a busy food market.

Manaus (Brazil)Manaus (Brazil)

Montevideo

Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay, where the port is a mile from the city centre and its mixture of high-rise buildings and Art Deco and colonial architecture. The historic Ciudad Vieja quarter is being restored, with brightly-painted buildings housing cafes, small guest houses and galleries. Montevideo has a strong urban culture of tango bars, theatres, clubs and music. Other highlights include the Palacio Legislatvio and the Museo Del Gauch, tracing the history of Uruguayan gaucho.

Montevideo (Uruguay)Montevideo (Uruguay)

Parintins

Parintins is a small city populated by Amazonian Indians, situated on Tupinambarana Island. The harbour is next to a flea market selling wood carvings, paintings and lace, and a colourful floating market. Close by is Parintins' Cathedral. Visitors are often welcomed by Bumbas Dancers, as seen in the annual June Bois Bumbas Festival. Further west, there are sandy beaches at Alter de Chao, and water buffaloes, herons and iguanos are often seen on the river-bank at Guajara.

Punta Arenas

Puntarenas is the largest city in the Central Pacific and a major cruise ship port, giving access to numerous National Parks and Biosphere Reserves in wildlife-rich Costa Rica. It also has a large fishing fleet and visitors can enjoy local specialities in its seafood restaurants. The city has a Scarlet Macaw Sanctuary, and next to the beach is the tree-lined promenade of Paseo de los Turistas with views across the scenic Nicoya Peninsula.

Punta Arenas (Chile)Punta Arenas (Chile)

Rio de Janeiro

The city's most famous sights face each other across Guanabara Bay, the location of Rio de Janeiro's port. Opposite the pinnacle of Sugarloaf Mountain is the huge Statue of Christ looking down from the top of 2400-foot Corcovado hill. On its slopes is the large urban forest of Tijuca, and down below the famous Ipanema and Copocabana beaches. The city has wonderful beaches, and dance halls, bars, boutiques and pavement cafes.

Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

Salvador

Salvador was formerly the capital of Brazil and is its oldest city, divided into the picturesque old town area of Pelourinho on top of the cliffs and the beachside region of Cidade Baixa, which are joined by the Lacerda Elevator. Salvador is generally thought to be typical of old Brazil, and has an old fort, brightly-painted colonial buildings, artisan workshops and restaurants. Crafts and souvenirs are on sale in Cidade Baixa at Modelo Market.

Santa Marta

The long sandy beaches of Santa Marta make it a favourite holiday destination for Columbians. The Museo del Oro is housed in the grand colonial mansion of Casa de la Aduana and exhibits include Indian artefacts, pottery and gold. Santa Marta was where the South American hero, Simon Bolivar died, and his home is now a museum. The 18th-century cathedral and San Fernando Fort are other attractions, whilst further afield are nature reserves and small fishing towns.

Santarem

Santarem sits at the confluence of the Amazon and Tapajos rivers and began life as a community of indigenous Tapajos Indians. With only one road connecting it to civilization, today it is the stepping-off point for exploring the Amazon rainforest, where locals have the opportunity to sell their crafts to tourists.

Santos

The very busy container port of Santos handles the majority of Brazilian exports. The town has a Coffee Museum and otherwise is famous for the Santos Football Club where Pele once played. Santos is the gateway to the city of Sao Paulo.

Ushuaia

Situated on the shores of the vast Beagle Channel, Ushuaia is the world's most southerly city, situated in the Argentinian provice of Tierra del Fuego. It is overlooked by Mount Martial to the west and by Mounts Olivia and Cinco Hermanos to the east, and is the departure point for cruises to the Antarctic and the Falkland Islands. There are a number of museums in the town tracing the maritime and military history of the area.

Ushuaia (Argentina)Ushuaia (Argentina)

Valparaiso

Valparaiso is divided into two areas by steep hills which are connected by 30 funiculars. The city has a faded charm, with winding roads, down-at-heel mansions and hillside shantytowns, earning parts of Valparaiso World Heritage Status in 2003. It has some notable buildings and areas, including the Astoreca building, Prat Pier, the Sea Museum Quarter and Plaza La Matriz.

Valparaiso (Chile)Valparaiso (Chile)