South American

Best 2 South American cruise ports to experience
1. Rio de Janeiro
Popular with cruisers...

• Striking panoramic views of Rio from the Christ the Redeemer Statue and Sugar Loaf Mountain
  
• Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches
• Pulsating nightlife
• Gemstone shopping
• And, of course, the annual Carnival

Read my Carnival in Rio and Rio Panoramic Views pages.

2. Buenos Aires
Popular with cruisers...

• Puerto Madero restaurant and nightlife district
• La Boca neighborhood (home of the Tango and colorful buildings)
• Buenos Aires shopping areas

Best excursions beyond your port of call
Helpful pointers

• Amazon
  Manaus is the chief cruise port on the Amazon River. Unfortunately, it's an urban center (million-plus population). To appreciate the raw Amazon, you must take excursions into the hinterland. Read my Amazon Cruises guide.
• Antarctica
  Large cruise ships sailing to Antarctica do not make landings on that continent. For landings, you need to sail a small cruise ship. Read my Antarctica Cruises guide.
• Chilean Fjords & Lake District
  Puerto Montt is the main gateway cruise port for this area that is blessed with beautiful fjords, lakes and snow-capped volcanoes.
• Galapagos Islands
  First, you need to fly to the islands from the Ecuador mainland (from Guayaquil or Lima). You then transfer to a small Galapagos cruise ship or yacht. Read my Galapagos Cruises guide.
• Iguacu Falls / Iguazu Falls
  These stunning falls straddle the Argentine-Brazilian border. Most visitors fly in from Buenos Aires or Rio. Read my Iquacu Falls and Iquazu Falls pages.
• Machu Picchu
  Your cruise ship docks in Callao near Lima. You fly to Cuzco, then take a train to the Inca ruins Machu Picchu. Read my Macchu Picchu page.
• Tierra del Fuego
  This striking national park has wonderful mountain vistas. To get there, fly in from Puerto Arenas (or Ushuaia or Santiago).

When to go
Seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are the opposite of those in the Northern Hemisphere.

February is the best month of all.

Overrated South American cruise destinations
Many cruisers are disappointed with these:
Cape Horn
Taking an "Around the Cape" cruise sounds exciting, but this historic landmark is visually mundane. Also, most cruise ships don't get that close to Cape Horn. Moreover, you risk experiencing in the infamous Straits of Magellan dreary skies, chilly temperatures, strong winds, and rough seas, even in the summertime.

Falkland Islands
While a visit to remarkable South Georgia Islands is worth the long open-sea sailing time, the one to the Falkland Islands is not. The capital port city Stanley is lackluster. And, with the exception of the penguin colonies, the Falkland Islands fall short in tourism appeal.

More South American cruise tips & insights
Cruise lines
You have a wide choice. Ships in all three quality categories - luxury, upmarket, and mainstream - sail South America.

Climate variation
Expect a variety of climates. South America stretches about 7500 kilometers (4700 miles) from the tropical Caribbean to its cold southernmost point.

Safety advice
Both Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro have unsafe slums. However, popular tourist streets in those cities are relatively safe, especially during busy hours. But it's wise to remain alert for pickpockets and purse snatchers.