South America: Coasts & Cultures - 2022

Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to Argentina. Or, depart earlier for an exhilarating pre-trip extension to Santiago and Chilean Wine Country.

Today you’ll land in Buenos Aires. If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, you’ll be met at the airport by a representative who will assist you with the transfer to your hotel. After check-in, join your Cruise Director for an orientation walk around the hotel. Tonight, get into the spirit of your cruisetour with a Welcome Dinner featuring a private tango show.

Included Feature:

• Buenos Aires orientation walk

• Dinner with private tango performance

The richly cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires feels a lot like Europe — graced with splendid architecture and a hint of glamour. But its spirit is distinctly Argentine.

A city tour reveals its most magnificent sites. Visit the Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada, La Boca (a neighborhood full of colorfully painted homes), and the neoclassical Catedral Metropolitana, the church home of Pope Francis. No Buenos Aires visit is complete without a visit to the famous Café Tortoni, and we’ll lunch in this institution today. Founded in 1858 by an enigmatic Frenchman, the café’s European ambience, intricate moldings, and marble-topped counters have lured artists and scholars alike for more than 150 years.

Included Feature:

• Buenos Aires city tour 

• Lunch at Café Tortoni

Today you will be introduced to Argentina’s rich polo culture. The country is known for its champion polo players, and you’ll learn about the sport’s rich history and tradition during an excursion to an estancia (ranch) in the Argentinean Pampas, the vast lowland plains. At a renowned polo ranch, you’ll learn about the sport and horses, and witness some impressive horsemanship during a private exhibition of two chukkers. You’ll also enjoy a delicious barbecue lunch. After, embark the Ocean Explorer and set off for your next destination:

Included Features:

• Full-day Argentinean polo heritage tour

• Learn about mate and gaúcho during your tour

This morning you’ll arrive in Montevideo, consistently ranked at the top of “quality of life” lists among Latin American cities. Get acquainted with the vibrant and sophisticated cultural capital on a far-reaching city tour that takes in the major monuments, parks, and gardens. At Independence Square, begin a walking tour that features the cathedral, City Hall, the Government House, and the renowned Teatro Solís. Then, drive along the celebrated 18 de Julio Avenue, stopping to view the Legislative Palace, built with 52 types of local marble and 12 different kinds of wood. Continue to El Prado, an elegant neighborhood of sprawling botanical gardens and colonial mansions. At the Plaza Virgilio, enjoy sweeping views of the city.

Spend the remainder of the day exploring on your own. Perhaps you’ll walk to Plaza Cagancha and make a stop at Mercado de los Artesanos, or Craftsmen Market, to pick out a souvenir amid the swirl of local art and handcrafted goods. Alternatively, your onboard Concierge may help you set up a tour catered to your interests. This evening, be delighted by a dance show on board!

Included Feature:

• Half-day Montevideo city tour by coach

• Evening onboard entertainment: local dance show

Visit the oldest city in Uruguay today, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Colonia del Sacramento, spread on a small peninsula on the Río de la Plata. A rich Spanish and Portuguese past whispers from its remarkably preserved colonial buildings. As you stroll its cobbled streets, stop to view the Matriz Church; the Calle de los Suspiros, or Street of Sighs, named for its breathtaking historic authenticity; the Puerta del Campo city gate; and the Plaza Mayor 25 de Mayo.

Included Feature:

• Full-day excursion to Colonia del Sacramento

Often compared to Miami and Cannes for its resort style and well-heeled visitors, Punta del Este is the jewel of Uruguay at the wide mouth of Río de la Plata. Head into this posh resort town and set out on a scenic panoramic tour through tiny residential neighborhoods and past stunning beaches. Stop to visit Casapueblo, the self-built curvilinear home and studio of the late artist Carlos Páez Vilaró perched on a cliffside overlooking the Atlantic. A picturesque coastal road leads you back to the pier.

Included Feature:

• Scenic tour of Punta del Este

• Arriving and departing Punta del Este will offer some great views of the area’s islands and picturesque beaches

The indulgent amenities of the Ocean Explorer are yours as you continue your expedition north along Brazil’s Costa Verde, or Green Coast. Perhaps you’ll treat yourself to the spa. And you’re sure to find the observation lounge the ideal spot for reflection and for looking for seabirds as you ply the waters of the Atlantic.

Scenic Sailing:

• Be on the lookout for seabirds and shorebirds that may approach the Ocean Explorer as it sails into the South Atlantic

Cultural Discovery:

• Onboard lecture

Dock this morning in one of Brazil’s most important maritime ports and host to what some believe is the longest uninterrupted beach in world, Praia do Cassino, at about 160 miles long. The city was founded by the Portuguese in 1737; this gem is often overlooked by cruise lines. And that’s a shame, as you’ll discover during a city tour. On your walking tour, admire some of its elegant historic buildings, including the neoclassical Customs House and the Baroque Cathedral São Pedro. At the Museum of Sacred Art in the Chapel of San Francisco, view a collection left by the Jesuits, the area’s first European settlers. At Praça Tamandaré, admire some of the city’s beloved public sculptures. A stop at the Oceanographic Museum rounds out your enriching tour.

This afternoon, enjoy another fascinating lecture on board.

Included Feature:

• Half-day Rio Grande city tour

Treat yourself to more of your ship’s amenities as you cruise Brazil’s lush coast. Take advantage of this time to read a book from our library or enjoy a soothing massage at the spa. The time is yours! As you approach Uruguay, our onboard lecturer continues to astonish you, while our chefs will keep surprising you with their culinary expertise.

Cultural Discovery:

• Onboard lecture

One of Brazil’s most popular resort towns welcomes you today. Brazilians from all over the country come to Camboriú for the beaches, the lively culture, the mouthwatering seafood, and the vistas of steep slopes draping down to the sea. To get a bird’s-eye view of it all, you’ll embark on an ecological tour and board the city’s famous teleférico, or cable car, to the Atlantic Forest Station. Take a walk into these magnificent hilltop woods with an interpretive guide and ample opportunities to take in stunning panoramas. Your cable car continues to Laranjeiras Beach. Feel free to bring your suit along; there are changing rooms there if you’d like to go for a swim.

More Brazilian history and culture stimulates your mind and your curiosity during an onboard lecture this afternoon. In the evening, enjoy another divine meal prepared by your chef.

Included Feature:

• Camboriú city tour

• As you approach Camboriú, you’ll enjoy views of this popular beach resort and its hilly landscape

Today, enjoy a glimpse of one of Brazil’s major urban centers. Built on the prosperity of the coffee industry, today Santos is home to the largest beachfront garden in the world. A city tour reveals its cosmopolitan air and rich history. Visit the Coffee Museum, located in a former palace. Stop by the Museum of the Santos Football Club, proud to have called Pelé its star player for 18 years. And explore the Aquário Municipal de Santos, Brazil's oldest aquarium.

Another onboard lecture today uncovers more of the region’s fascinating history and rich culture.

Included Feature:

• Santos city tour

• As you cruise into Santos, enjoy views of its skyline and bustling port

Step back in time today when you explore Paraty, a remarkably preserved Portuguese colonial town along Brazil’s lush, green coastal corridor, and a new UNESCO World Heritage Site (along with Ilha Grande). Once a port for the export of gold to the Old World, Paraty enjoys a stunning setting surrounded by tropical islands and soaring mountains. Your walking tour along narrow cobbled lanes leads you into its heart. Admire original 18th-century architectural gems, including the 1722 Santa Rita de Cássia Church and the colonial mansion that hosts the House of Culture, which provides a fascinating chronicle of the town’s role in Brazil’s past. Pause to peruse charming boutiques and art galleries as you explore, perhaps meeting some artists in residence.

As you sail on to your next destination after lunch on board, gain more insight into Brazil’s fertile coast during a lecture from one of our onboard experts.

Included Feature:

• Walking tour of Paraty

• Observe local artists and craftsmen at work in local art galleries

• Grab your camera and GoPro during your afternoon departure — in addition to views of the coastline, its colonial architecture and lush vegetation, you’ll be delighted by the seabirds that approach the Ocean Explorer!

Arrive this morning on the lush shores of Ilha Grande, or Big Island, the largest of a breathtaking archipelago of 360 islands dotting the Bay of Kings. Along with Paraty, Ilha Grande was named a new UNESCO World Heritage Site for 2019. Once home to a prison and leprosarium, this largely unspoiled paradise — free of vehicles and other signs of civilization — is today ringed by sand beaches and blanketed in Atlantic forest and palms. You’ll join your guide for a walk into Abraão Village, stopping at the San Sebastian church. Then, follow the footpaths into the woodlands of the state park, hearing tales of the island’s buccaneer days and its once-prosperous coffee and sugar barons as you pass through the ruins of what was once a leprosarium and then the Cândido Mendes high-security prison, before it closed in 1994. Keep your eyes and ears open for howler monkeys, sloths, and countless birds. There’ll be time for a refreshing swim at Black Beach in the natural pools of an aqueduct.

After lunch, learn what cultural and historic treasures await during an onboard lecture. Enjoy the afternoon poolside or pampering yourself with a spa treatment. Dinner tonight is on board, featuring a festive Brazilian show.

Included Feature:

• Walking tour of Ilha Grande

• Visit the former Cândido Mendes high-security prison
• Evening onboard entertainment: Brazilian cultural show

After breakfast this morning, you’ll say goodbye to the Ocean Explorer when you disembark in Rio de Janeiro.

You’ll see Rio’s iconic sites up close today. Ascend to the spectacular Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Mountain. The 125-foot soapstone figure has an arm span of 98 feet. Then, visit the Metropolitan Cathedral of Rio de Janeiro and admire its modernist design inspired by Mayan pyramids. Head from the sacred to the footloose when you next visit Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, celebrated in song and frequented by the city’s carefree partygoers. Enjoy lunch at one of Rio's local cafés — Confeitaria Colombo. The old-style café — set in a cavernous ballroom crowned with a stunning stained-glass ceiling — has been serving delicious meals and decadent desserts to local cariocas for over 120 years.

After, you’ll check into your hotel just in time for an afternoon and evening at leisure.

Included Features:

• Visit Christ the Redeemer
• Cog train ride up Corcovado Mountain

• Lunch at Confeitaria Colombo, a 120-year-old local café

For the four states (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Bahia, and Pernambuco) that go big in Carnival, samba is much more than music. It’s culture, heritage, dance, and history. This morning, you’ll go behind the scenes as you learn about the beloved samba and even try out a few steps! Your afternoon is free to discover more of Rio on your own. Perhaps you'll explore the city's proliferation of street art, from the largest spray-paint mural in the world on Olympic Boulevard to the multicolored mosaic of Escadaria Selarón (Selaron Steps). Or, marvel at both the exteriors and the inner riches of landmarks such as the Museum of Tomorrow and the National Library of Brazil — the largest library in Latin America and 7th largest in the world. Tonight, toast to your journey with a Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant.

Included Feature:

• Behind-the-scenes samba tour

Cultural Discovery: 

• Try on a samba costume and learn a few samba steps during your tour

Today, you’ll board your return flight home to the U.S., or begin your optional post-trip extension to Iguassu Falls.