Pacific Latin America — Ancient Wonders and National Parks Small Ship Cruise

Begin your adventure in this vibrant hilltop city 

Your expedition ship awaits you in Valparaíso, the 'Jewel of the Pacific'. Built on steep hillsides overlooking the ocean, it's well worth spending time in this UNESCO-listed city.  

Filled with attractions, the city is an exhilarating maze of winding alleyways, colourful houses, and mercados packed with local produce. Why not take it all in on a funicular ride up to Cerro Alegre and Concepción.   

If you’d like to explore more of Valparaíso, you can join one of our optional Pre-Programmes.  After picking up your expedition jacket and meeting your Expedition Team, find your cabin and explore the ship, before enjoying the first of many delicious meals on board as we set sail. 

Explore the 'City of Churches' and Serena Beach     

Docking at the port of Coquimbo, we’ll head to Chile’s second oldest city, La Serena.  

La Serena is blessed with beautiful sandy beaches all along Avenida del Mar and beyond. Bursting with Neo-colonial architecture, there are around 30 carefully restored stone churches to discover, and you can visit the Archaeological Museum to marvel at the pre-Columbian artifacts.  

Take a stroll through the city's manicured public gardens, like the Japanese-inspired Jardín del Corazón, or shop for handicrafts at La Recova market. Down the discreet lane of Patio Colonial near Balmaceda you’ll find relaxed cafés and eateries. Before boarding the ship, leave some time to explore Coquimbo.

Relax and get ready for adventure

Enjoy the serenity of this day at sea. Relax and admire the scenery from the Observation Deck or inside in the Explorer Lounge & Bar.  

Throughout your journey, your Expedition Team will share their extensive knowledge of the region with you. Join them in the Science Centre for lectures on topics like pre-Columbian history, the geology of the surrounding mountains and islands, and local folklore. Out on deck, they can help you spot seabirds and identify their species. 

Discover the history of UNESCO-listed saltpetre mining towns 

Our cruise continues to bustling Iquique, a flat city of promenades lined with palm trees.  

We’ll visit the abandoned, UNESCO-listed saltpetre mining towns of Santa Laura or Humberstone in the arid Atacama Desert. Back in Iquique, explore this smart ocean-side city on foot, or just pull up a chair in a café and watch the people.   

While you’re there, enjoy a delicious coffee or a traditional mango sour and chumbeque, a beloved regional sweet. Pay a visit to La Esmeralda, a 19th century four-masted corvette that has historical significance. 

Get to know Arica's history and try some local food

Arica experiences a constant desert climate and is classed as one of the driest cities in the world. No wonder the city is popular with sunbathers and surfers.  

On the lively streets Calle 21 de Mayo and Bolognesi you can try local treats and visit the El Agro market. Take a 15-minute hike up the remarkable El Morro cliff for glorious views, or visit San Marcos Cathedral, designed by Gustave Eiffel. 

You can see mummies and learn about Chinchorro culture at the archaeological museum, or stretch your legs on a trek along Playa Corazones or while exploring the caves of Anzota. 

Go with the flow ... the Humboldt Current     

As we head further north towards Peru, we'll sail through an area of the ocean dominated by the Humboldt Current. The cold-water flow creates conditions that sustain an incredible abundance of marine life, including vast shoals of anchovies, mackerel and sardines. Your Expedition Team will tell you more about the Humboldt Current’s importance to the marine ecosystem. 

You’ll have plenty of time for leisure as we spend the day at sea. You could relax in the heated infinity pool, go for a run on the outdoor track while taking in the stunning views and stimulating breeze out on deck. 

Discover extraordinary wildlife and ancient mysteries 

Among Peru's most notable attractions are the Nazca Lines and the Ballestas Islands, and both are accessible from Paracas.  

Known as El Chaco, the town has an array of restaurants along the main shorefront where you can enjoy traditional jalea – fried seafood with salsa criolla and yuca root. Just offshore are the wildlife-rich Ballestas Islands. On a boat tour there you can look out for Humboldt Penguins, turtles, pelicans, sea lions, Inca Terns and humpback whales.   

Otherwise, explore the Paracas National Reserve, with its otherworldly yellow sand dunes and red beaches, or fly over the mysterious Nazca Lines etched into the Peruvian coastal desert – an experience that’s on many people’s bucket list. 

Explore Peru’s historic capital  

Lima's historic centre is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's a jewel of Spanish-era architecture, from colonial churches and monasteries to elegant mansions. Going further back in time, you can learn more about the city’s pre-Hispanic heritage at the ruins of the pyramid Huaca Pucllana. 

 Known as the food capital of South America, Lima has everything from gourmet restaurants to unmissable street food. We recommend trying Peru's national dish ceviche, which is fish marinated in lime juice, onion and chilli. 

Be awed by Trujillo's ancient kingdoms  

Salaverry is the gateway port to Peru’s third largest city, and some fascinating archaeological sites. Colourful Trujillo boasts a Baroque cathedral, colonial churches and Neoclassical mansions, as well as one of the longest mosaic murals in the world. 

Nearby, the vast ancient ruins of the Chimú city of Chan Chan date back to at least 900 CE. On the other side of Trujillo, the mysterious Moche pyramids of the Sun and the Moon predate even that. 

Enjoy some relaxation, research – or a bit of both      

Your Pacific coast cruise continues towards Ecuador. As we sail, you might want to soak up the scenery from the hot tubs or panoramic sauna, or indulge yourself in a spa treatment in the onboard wellness centre.   By this stage of your journey, you’ll have made friends with your fellow explorers, finding that you have interests and a passion for nature in common. You can spend time chatting with them in the Explorer Lounge & Bar, perhaps recalling the best bits of your expedition cruise so far.  Of course, the Expedition Team will continue to deliver insightful lectures in the Science Centre, and you can delve into the books in the onboard library if you want to learn more about a particular subject.   

Go wild in Machalilla

Machalilla National Park is a truly special place. With its beautiful dry forests and protected wetlands, this stretch of coastline is home to more than 270 bird and 81 mammal species.  

If conditions allow, we’ll anchor off the long sandy beach at the fishing village of Puerto López, using our small expedition boats to land. 

The park is also something of an outdoor museum of pre-Columbian history, thanks to the ancient Machalilla culture that used to thrive here. We'll visit the Agua Blanca archaeological site, taking in spectacular scenery along the way. 

Discover the birthplace of Panama hats ... in Ecuador 

Manta is a lively port city with a long history of fishing that has brought the city prosperity. You'll find wild shrimp, black clams, and red snapper at many local restaurants. Manta is most famous for its tuna, which we recommend trying in the encebollado broth. 

Head to lively Playa el Murciélago for the shops and eateries of Malecón Escénico, or learn about pre-Columbian civilisation at the Museo Municipal Etnográfico Cancebí. 

Montecristi is also nearby. Known for its handicrafts, you can buy a stylish genuine Panama hat here, expertly handwoven using the leaves of the jipijapa tree. 

Enjoy a quirky seafaring tradition

As our expedition cruise continues towards Panama, you'll have time to enjoy more lectures from the Expedition Team and brush up on your photography or art skills. You can also take samples gathered on our cruise to analyse under the microscope in the Science Centre. 

As we cross the Equator, you can seek Neptune's blessing in a short ceremony. Don't be shy, it's an old seafaring tradition! 

Experience nature pure and wild 

Our adventure continues to Cébaco, a hidden gem of an island. The only way to get to this island is by sea, but with no regular ferries, it's almost untouched and the only human settlement is the small village of El Jobo in the north. 

Wind your way around miles of pristine beaches, like Playa Grande to the south, with its soft white sands and coconut trees. Or hike through rainforest trails and enjoy the peace while looking out for wildlife. 

 The Gulf of Montijo, surrounding the island, is a nationally protected marine zone. You can enjoy exceptional snorkelling here, spotting colourful fish among the coral reefs. 

Go on a rainforest adventure

Today, we reach Costa Rica. Relaxed and blissful Golfito is the gateway to Piedras Blancas National Park, with its roaring waterfalls. Follow the rainforest trails through the wildlife refuge to the park. Look out toucans, macaws, blue morpho butterflies, anteaters, sloths and mantled howler monkeys. 

The calm waters here are perfect for kayaking through the mangroves towards isolated beaches, or you can join a walk through the town. Enjoy views from the marinas and see anglers heading out in pursuit of the prized Pacific sailfish. 

Discover beautiful Manuel Antonio National Park 

Further up the coast, our next port of call is Quepos. Visit pretty Marina Pez Vela, and there are various water sports available at the mile-long Playa Espadilla.  

 Quepos is something of a paradise for people who love nature and the ocean. Many come here to enjoy marine pursuits, trek in the nearby rainforest, or just to laze on the mile-long beach Playa Espadilla. 

The port is the gateway to nearby Manuel Antonio National Park, ranked one of the most beautiful national parks in the world by Forbes magazine. The park boasts impressive views of mountains, mangroves, lagoons, beaches, and tropical forest, and is home to a plethora of wildlife.   

Following the breathtaking Perezoso trail, you can hope to spot Scarlet Macaws, toucans, hawks, sloths, iguanas, armadillos and up to four species of monkey.  

Visit a wildlife refuge in a paradise setting 

Today, we sail to the southern Nicoya Peninsula, where monkeys, exotic birds, deer, iguanas and more thrive in the lush green forests and mangroves.  

On our small expedition boats, you’ll head ashore to visit the Curú Wildlife Refuge. Set amongst tropical forest, white sand beaches and protected bays, you can wander the meandering trails and learn more about local conservation. A successful sustainable development programme, the refuge works to reintroduce key species and preserve fragile habitats like coral reefs.  

Get out on the water to fully appreciate this breathtaking setting. Explore the turquoise sea by kayak or SUP, or simply jump in for a swim.  

Onwards from Puntarenas

Your expedition cruise comes to an end in Puntarenas, a thin strip of land jutting into the Pacific.  

If you have time before your onward journey, the palm-tree-lined Paseo de los Turistas makes for a pleasant stroll. There are also restaurants, food stalls and vendors for any last-minute souvenir shopping. And if you’d like to indulge your sweet tooth, we recommend batidos fruit smoothies or churchills which is a combination of fruit, shaved ice, syrup and ice cream. 

If you're not ready to end your adventures just yet, why not join one of our optional Post-Programmes.  

Itineraries are subject to change.