Cultures of South America – Pacific Coast Expedition
Explore four Latin American countries from Chile to Panama, uncovering ancient pyramids, beautiful national reserves and delicious local foods.
16-day expedition cruise from Valparaíso to Colón with the Atacama Desert and the tropical forests of Ecuador and Colombia
Ancient sites and vibrant cities
From UNESCO-listed Valparaíso, you’ll journey to pretty La Serena and the sun-soaked delights of Iquique and Arica. In Paracas, you can visit the biodiverse Ballestas Islands before enjoying a guided tour of history-soaked Lima and discovering the ruins of ancient kingdoms in Trujillo.
Through the Panama Canal
You’ll discover colourful Puerto Bolívar and explore the home of the Panama hat in Montecristi. Crossing the Equator, you’ll experience vibrant Afro-Colombian culture in Bahía Solano, before heading through the famed Panama Canal from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea.
Key Expedition Details
Itinerary
Your adventure at a glance. Daily highlights, included activities, and optional extras to make it unforgettable.
Begin your adventure in this vibrant hilltop city
Your expedition ship MS Fram 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 intriguing, impressions, the city is an exhilarating maze of winding alleyways and barrios, 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, locate 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 classical architecture, there are around 30 carefully restored stone churches to discover, and you can visit the Archaeological Museum to marvel at the pre-colonial 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, relaxing and admiring the scenery from the Observation Deck or inside in the Explorer Lounge & Bar.
Throughout your journey, your Expedition Team will be presenting lectures in the Science Center to share their extensive knowledge of the region with you. Topics could include periods of pre-Columbian history, the geology of the surrounding mountains and islands, the folklore of local communities, and so on. But not all lectures are confined to indoors. If the ship attracts seabirds who come to fly alongside us, the Expedition Team might also help you spot and identify them out on deck.
Discover the history of UNESCO-listed Humberstone
Our cruise continues to bustling Iquique, a flat city of promenades lined with palm trees.
We’ll visit the abandoned saltpetre mining towns of Santa Laura and UNESCO-listed 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, unusual for a place by the sea. 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 peruse 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 sail further north towards Peru, we'll sail through the Humboldt Current. The cold-water climate here 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 running track, and take in the stunning views and stimulating breezes 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 today’s boat tour, look out for Humboldt Penguins, turtles, pelicans, sea lions, Inca Terns and humpback whales as you cruise around the islands.
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.
Immerse yourself in Peru’s historic capital
Lima's historical 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, 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, Trujillo, 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 Mochican pyramids of the Sun and the Moon pre-date even that.
Back on the ship, there will be a performance of traditional Peruvian dances.
Enjoy some relaxation, research – or a bit of both
Your Pacific coast cruise continues as we head towards Ecuador. As we sail, you might want to soak up the scenery on deck, read a book by a window or just enjoy the onboard facilities.
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 Center, and you can delve into the books in the onboard library if you want to learn more about a particular subject.
Sample life in a typical Pacific Coast fishing village
With its long sandy beaches, Puerto López is a small town centred on fishing. Sat in an arched bay, people come here to go on whale-watching trips and visit the nearby Machalilla National Park.
Take time to stroll along the street that runs beside the beach and discover its low-key restaurants and cafes. This is the perfect place to sit back and soak up the unhurried vibe of this Pacific coast fishing community.
Discover the birthplace of Panama hats ... in Ecuador
We’ll dock at the port of Manta and set foot on South American soil as we visit the town of Montecristi. Known for its handicrafts, you can buy a stylish genuine Panama hat here, expertly handwoven using the leaves of the jipijapa tree.
Wander around this smart town and take a look at the imposing white church, or take in the colourful street art and murals. Returning to Manta, we’ll pay a visit to the archaeological museum.
Serenity at sea
It's not every day that you get the opportunity to seek Neptune's blessing. We'll do just that in a traditional – and somewhat fun – ceremony as we cross the Equator in the early morning.
Your day cruising to Colombia can be filled with onboard adventure. Go out on deck and look out for wildlife – whales can often be seen in these waters. Your Expedition Team can be found in the Science Center.
While you’re there, why not find out about the Citizen Science projects we’re running. Or if you’d simply like to relax and enjoy the journey, try out a hot tub or settle into the comfort of the Explorer Lounge & Bar and watch the world pass by. Later, a spot of stargazing from the deck is a lovely way to wind up your day.
Music, dancing and rainforest walks at Bahía Solano
Your day in Bahía Solano begins with a town walk hosted by members of the local Afro-Colombian community.
You'll be greeted by students with a traditional song and, later, with a performance of their unique Afro-Colombian music and dance. In between, they’ll tell you about the town and their culture.
Why not hike through tropical rainforest at the botanical gardens. At this 170-acre reserve, you can enjoy a guided walk where you’ll learn about the local flora and fauna, and important conservations projects to protect it.
Navigate one of the world's greatest engineering feats
Early in the morning we'll enter the Panama Canal, a complex network of huge, ingenious locks stretching 50 miles through natural and man-made waterways. If weather conditions allow, the Expedition Team will invite you out on deck and tell the story of this ambitious project.
Halfway through our transit, we'll enter the Gatun Lake section, which is surrounded by verdant rainforest and is one of the world's largest artificial lakes. Keep an eye out for crocodiles, alligators, monkeys and even sloths.
After around twelve hours, we'll emerge into the Atlantic, passing from one great ocean to another.
Bright city lights amid a lush rainforest landscape
Your South American expedition cruise concludes in Colón, which stands beside the portal to the Panama Canal on the Atlantic coast. It's a bustling cosmopolitan centre with hot springs, a thriving handicraft scene and wonderful local restaurants.
If you’d like to explore more ofPanama, you can join one of our optional Pre-Programmes.
Whatever’s next for you, we wish you a safe onward journey and look forward to seeing you on your next adventure.
Included activities & excursions
These activities are included with your trip. Dates and times will be confirmed closer to departure, you’ll just need to reserve your spot after booking.
What else is included?
Optional extras
Enhance your journey with optional extras. Some activities are only bookable onboard and can’t be reserved online or by phone. Subject to availability.
Our South America ship
Get a taste of what life is like on board the ships that sail on this itinerary
