Back to grid

Best cruise destinations in South America

Back to grid
Buenos Aires
Where Tango and Culture Thrive
8.1
The Teatro Colón opera house opened in 1908 and seats about 2,500 people. Cruise ships dock near the Puerto Madero waterfront, a short taxi ride from the centre. Many cruises call next at Montevideo across the River Plate in Uruguay. San Telmo has tango shows and a Sunday antiques market.
Highlights:
  • 🎭 Tour the grand Teatro Colón and admire its opulence
  • 🎨 Stroll through colorful Caminito Street in La Boca
  • 💃 Watch a passionate tango performance in San Telmo
Rio de Janeiro
The heartbeat of Brazil's coast
8.1
On New Year's Eve, crowds in white gather on Copacabana to honour Iemanjá, the sea goddess. Ships dock at Pier Mauá beside the Museum of Tomorrow. Cable cars reach Sugarloaf in two stages, with views over Guanabara Bay. Christ the Redeemer has stood on Corcovado mountain since 1931.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the iconic sands of Copacabana Beach
  • ✝️ Stand before Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain
  • 🚠 Take the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain for breathtaking views
São Paulo
A vibrant mix of culture and cuisine
8.0
At about 2,500 feet above sea level, the city is cooler than Rio and the coast. Santos, about 45 miles away by road, is where cruise ships dock. The Liberdade district has Japanese lanterns, food stalls and a street fair at weekends. MASP on Avenida Paulista has works by Van Gogh and Renoir.
Highlights:
  • 🎨 Admire street art at colorful Beco do Batman
  • 🌳 Relax in vast green Ibirapuera Park with museums
  • 🚶‍♀️ Walk vibrant Paulista Avenue, heart of São Paulo
Ushuaia
End of the World Adventures
7.0
The Beagle Channel port is the starting point for many Antarctic cruises across the Drake Passage. The End of the World Train once carried prisoners to cut logs and now carries tourists. Short boat trips pass sea lions, cormorants and Les Éclaireurs Lighthouse. At 55 degrees south, summer days last until after 10 pm.
Highlights:
  • 🥾 Hike to Laguna Esmeralda surrounded by snow-capped peaks
  • 🚂 Take the End of the World Train to Tierra del Fuego National Park
  • 🚢 Cruise through the Beagle Channel and spot sea lions
Cartagena
Walled city of Caribbean color
7.2
After English sea raider Francis Drake attacked in 1586, Spain began building stone walls around the old town. Locals and visitors stroll the top of the walls at sunset. UNESCO listed the port and its forts as World Heritage in 1984. Cruise ships dock a short taxi ride from the old city.
Highlights:
  • 🍉 Photograph the vibrant Palenqueras fruit vendors
  • 🛡️ Explore Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas fortress
  • 🏰 Walk the historic Walled City and soak in colors
Galapagos Islands
The Wildlife Paradise of Ecuador
8.5
The islands lie on the equator about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador. Park rules limit ships to 100 passengers so landings stay small. Sea lions, blue-footed boobies and giant tortoises show little fear of people. Darwin visited in 1835 and noticed differences among the islands' mockingbirds.
Highlights:
  • 🦩 Walk among blue-footed boobies on North Seymour Island
  • 🐢 Spot giant tortoises roaming freely in the highlands
  • 🐢 Snorkel with sea lions and turtles at Isla Lobos
Iquitos
Amazon’s gateway to jungle adventures
8.4
High water from December to May floods the forest, so skiffs glide between the trees. The city has no road link to the rest of Peru. Cruises head to Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve, a huge protected flooded forest. Pink river dolphins surface near the boats and sloths hang in riverside trees.
Highlights:
  • 🍴 Stroll through San Pedro Market, taste quinoa empanadas
  • 🗿 Explore Sacsayhuamán ruins, trace Inca stonework
  • 🏔️ Climb Machu Picchu sunrise, capture the misty peaks
Patagonia
Untamed Beauty at the End of the World
8.3
The name Patagonia comes from Magellan's 1520 voyage along this coast. Ships call at Puerto Madryn near Península Valdés, where southern right whales gather from June to December. Punta Tombo has one of the largest Magellanic penguin colonies, active from September to March. Many routes continue south around Cape Horn to Ushuaia.
Highlights:
  • 🐧 Explore the diverse wildlife on Peninsula Valdés
  • ❄️ Witness the massive Perito Moreno Glacier up close
  • 🥾 Hike the legendary trails of Torres del Paine National Park
Falkland Islands
Untouched wilderness with abundant wildlife
8.6
Wind whips across white sand beaches at Volunteer Point, where king penguins gather. Ships stop off Stanley and passengers ride small tender boats ashore. Christ Church Cathedral in Stanley has an arch made from whale jawbones. Five penguin species breed on the islands, including gentoo and rockhopper.
Highlights:
  • ⚓ Stroll along Stanley Harbour and visit the museum
  • 🎖️ Take a battlefield tour of the 1982 conflict sites
  • 🐧 Watch king penguins at Volunteer Point
Feedback