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Tour Code: SHR
Tour Length: 23 days
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SOUTH AMERICA EXPLORER
Day 1 - Board your overnight flight to South America. Day 2 - Arrival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Welcome to South America's largest and most populous country. Rooms are ready for immediate check-in so you can refresh. The balance of your day is free to enjoy your hotel's amenities. Tonight meet your Tour Director and fellow traveling companions for a WELCOME DINNER. (D)
Day 3 - Rio De Janeiro. (Wed.) Today is dedicated to touring the sites of Rio. Begin with a visit to the statue of Christ the redeemer crowning CORCOVADO MOUNTAIN, a rounded peak rising 2,300 feet from the bay below. Take the scenic cog railway ride to its top, where a 360-degree panorama affords sweeping views. From here proceed to bustling downtown Rio. View the Sambodromo and visit the CATHEDRAL. This evening it's off to a churrascaria for a feast of barbecued meats marinated and roasted over charcoal in true Brazilian style. Then, experience a SAMBA SHOW, where the sheer vitality of this country explodes in a colorful extravaganza. (B,D) Day 4 - Rio de Janeiro (Embarkation). After time at leisure to explore on your own today, transfer to the dock and Board Holland America's MS Rotterdam for your cruise around South America. Time to explore the ship, your home for the next two weeks. During your cruise adventure, you will have the freedom to choose from the many amenities on board. Ship departs at 5 p.m. (B,L,D) Day 5 - Cruising: At Sea. (B,L,D) Day 6 - Cruising: At Sea. (B,L,D) Day 7 - Cruising: Montevideo, Uruguay. Montevideo is a city that was strongly influenced by European culture and still honors many colonial customs like long lunches, siestas, and high tea. In fact, Montevideo has been ranked as the city in Latin America with the highest quality of life. While here, opt to visit nearby Colonia del Sacramento, the oldest city in Uruguay and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Arrive Montevideo at 8 a.m.; depart at 6 p.m. (B,L,D) Day 8 - Cruising: Buenos Aires, Argentina. Welcome to the "Paris of South America." You have two days to meander through the city's beautiful boulevards and past its many outdoor cafés. Maybe explore the colorful La Boca district and site of the city's first port; or see San Telmo's famous late-colonial buildings; and don - t miss the ornate Colon Opera House and the Cemetery of the Recoleta, burial site of Eva Peron. Arrive Buenos Aires at 6 a.m. (B,L,D) Day 9 - Cruising: Buenos Aires, Argentina. Another day to explore the sights of Buenos Aires before departing this evening at 9 p.m. (B,L,D) Day 10 - Cruising: At Sea. (B,L,D) Day 11 - Cruising: At Sea. (B,L,D) Day 12 - Cruising: Stanley, Falkland Islands. Dock in Britain but under the Southern Cross today. Explore the vast moorlands and sheep ranches, visit the pubs, see the red phone booths, and enjoy a "cuppa tea." Plus a chance to see penguins of every type: gentoo, Magellanic, king. Arrive Stanley at 9 a.m.; depart at 4 p.m. (B,L,D) Day 13 - Cruising: Cape Horn. Cruise around the southern tip of South America that marks the northern boundary of the Drake Passage. For many years it was a major milestone on the clipper route, by which sailing ships carried trade around the world until the Panama Canal opened in 1914. (B,L,D) Day 14 - Cruising: Ushuaia, Argentina. Arrive at the southernmost town in the world, where dominating peaks loom on three sides and the fourth opens to Beagle Channel, where sea lions bellow and king crabs rule. Perhaps venture into Tierra Del Fuego National Park today. Arrive Ushuaia at 7 a.m.; depart at 3 p.m. (B,L,D) Day 15 - Cruising: Strait of Magellan & Punta Arenas, Chile. Arrive at the remote town of Punta Arenas, the perfect starting spot for Patagonian explorations. After reboarding the ship, cruise to where the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans converge - the Strait of Magellan, named by Ferdinand Magellan around 1520. Views of Chile from the strait include stunning vistas and landscapes, tiny coves, and picturesque inlets. Arrive Punta Arenas at 7 a.m.; depart at 8 p.m. (B,L,D) Day 16 - Cruising: Amalia Glacier & Canal Sarmiento. Pass the blue and white Amalia Glacier, keeping an eye out for the penguins and seabirds who call the glacier home. Next sail past the west side of the Sarmiento Canal and you - ll see Madre de Dios Island with its towering limestone peaks. (B,L,D) Day 17 - Cruising: Darwin Channel & Chilean Fjords. Today, see fjords more spectacular than those in Norway or Alaska! Along the southern coastline of Chile is a 1,000-mile maze of virgin-forested islands, glistening glaciers, and more fjords than in all of Scandinavia. (B,L,D) Day 18 - Cruising: Puerto Montt. Arrive in Puerto Montt in Chilean Patagonia, gateway to the scenic Lake District. Perhaps take an excursion to see the pine forests, icy lakes, Bavarian hamlets, and luminous snowcapped volcanoes. Or walk along a busy waterfront brimming with fishing vessels and seafood stalls. Arrive in Puerto Montt at 7 a.m.; depart at 5 p.m. (B,L,D) Day 19 - Cruising: At Sea. Day 20 - Disembark in Santiago - Viña del Mar - Valparaiso. Disembark in Valparaiso, a picturesque seaport that has long been an inspiration for poets and artists. Next, visit Viña del Mar, a modern resort renowned for its lovely gardens, originally founded in 1874 as a weekend retreat and garden residence for the wealthy elite from Santiago. A short drive through the rolling hills of Chile's Curacavi Valley leads to Santiago. Located in the center of the country and perched between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, Santiago has evolved as the country's political, commercial, and cultural capital. Step back into the 16th century as your Local Guide traces the city's history and heritage. Start at La Moneda, the official Government Palace, and nearby SAN CRISTOBAL HILL with its landmark statue of the Virgin Mary. After visiting the PRE-COLOMBIAN ART MUSEUM, your tour ends at the Plaza de Armas, the main square, with a visit to the 18th-century CATHEDRAL. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. Ship arrives Valparaiso at 8 a.m. (B) Day 21 - Santiago. The day is free for independent activities. You may want to take advantage of an optional excursion to the beautiful coastal region west of Santiago. Drive through the undulating hills of Chile's wine country to the historic port of Valparaiso, and continue along the coast to nearby Viña del Mar. This chic seaside resort with palm tree-lined avenues and lovely villas truly deserves the sobriquet "Pearl of the Pacific." Tonight, a special FAREWELL DINNER to celebrate a great touring adventure. (B,D) Day 22 - Santiago-Homebound Flight. Enjoy a full free day to catch up on last-minute souvenir shopping. Your homebound flight departs late this evening. (B) Day 23 - An early morning arrival is ideal for making homebound connections. |
