Lima’s UNESCO treasures  

Your adventure starts in Lima, ‘The City of Kings.’

With an exciting cocktail of cosmopolitan cool and ancient heritage, Lima is the perfect place to begin your adventure. See colorful murals, bustling cafés, and contemporary art museums in the bright, bohemian area of Barranco.

Lima’s historical center is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a jewel of Spanish architecture, with colonial-era churches and monasteries and elegant mansions. You can also see Lima’s Inca heritage in the ruins of the Huaca Pucllana and Huaca Huallamarca ceremonial pyramids.

Known as the food capital of South America, you have a range of choices at your fingertips, from specialty restaurants to can’t-miss street food. We recommend trying ceviche, Peru’s national dish. It is fresh fish marinated in lime juice, onion, and chili.

Visit the Sillustani tombs

Fly to Juliaca and visit the Sillustani tombs

Your day starts with a flight to Juliaca. Once there, we will take you on a guided tour of the Sillustani tombs, a pre-Inca burial place overlooking Lake Umayo.

The tombs (also called chullas) are tower-like structures built by the ancient Colla people, some as tall as 39 feet and big enough to hold entire families. Enjoy a picnic lunch by the shores of the lake in this peaceful and mysterious place.

After exploring this archeological marvel, continue to your hotel in Puno, on the banks of Lake Titicaca. This will be your home for the next two nights.

Uru community at Lake Titicaca

See handwoven islands in South America’s largest lake

The sheer beauty of Lake Titicaca will amaze you. Visit the rural community of Llachón, which has spectacular views over the lake. Enjoy a guided kayaking tour on the peaceful, deep blue waters. You will also join a guided walk before joining a local family for a traditional lunch.

Then we will take a boat tour to reach the Uro people on their floating islands, which shimmer golden in the sun. These otherworldly aquatic villages are woven from the reeds that grow in the lake.

At the end of the day, relax and reflect at your hotel in Puno.

Altiplano Path

Cross the awe-inspiring Andean Plateau

Enjoy an unforgettable journey across the northern Andean Plateau, or the Altiplano, as it’s known in Spanish.

The Altiplano is one of the world’s largest and highest plateaus, sitting over 12,000 ft above sea level. The vast plain extends into Bolivia, northern Peru, and southern Chile. During this full day of adventure, you’ll pass through breathtaking scenery and be awed by the imposing Andes.

Look out for the famous Pucara bulls perched on rooftops, enjoy lunch by the ancient rock formations of Tinajani, watch for wild llamas and alpacas on La Raya Pass, and marvel at the 15th-century Raqch’i archeological complex.

Your journey ends with a comfortable overnight stay in Cusco.

Mystical Machu Picchu 

Explore the ‘Lost City of the Incas’

Start your day with a transfer to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley. Then we board the deluxe Hiram Bingham train to Machu Picchu, enjoying brunch while the breathtaking Andean scenery rolls past.

Estimated to have been built around 1450, Machu Picchu was abandoned during the Spanish conquest. It was hidden by jungle for centuries, rediscovered only in 1911. The Incas left no written records, so mystery surrounds this magnificent stronghold. Enjoy the trails around the ruins, admire the precise Inca stonework, and meet some of the friendly resident llamas.

After the day’s adventures are done, we head back to Cusco for another relaxing overnight stay.

Imperial Cusco

Explore the center of the Inca Empire.

Before catching your flight to Lima, you’ll enjoy a guided tour of Cusco, the so-called ‘Imperial City’ and archeological capital of South America.

You can admire some of the finest examples of Inca architecture, as well as the Santo Domingo church, built over the Inca temple of Koricancha, and the Sacsayhuamán fortress, a 15th-century ceremonial compound featuring panoramic views of the city. Other tour highlights include a stop at the main square to admire the stunning cathedral that dates back to the Spanish colonial era.

Then, you’ll transfer to the airport and fly to Lima to meet your ship and begin your expedition cruise.

Trujillo and Chan Chan

Discover Trujillo’s ancient kingdoms

Salaverry is the gateway port to Peru’s third-largest city, along with some fascinating archeological sites. Colorful 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. On the other side of Trujillo, the mysterious Moche pyramids of the Sun and the Moon are from even further back in history.

Back on the ship, there will be a traditional Peruvian dance performance for you to enjoy.

Science and leisure

Relaxation, research – or a bit of both

Your Pacific coast cruise continues as we head toward Ecuador. Soak up the scenery on deck, read a book by a window, and enjoy the onboard facilities.

The Expedition Team will continue their lectures in the Science Center, sharing insights on topics such as Indigenous communities and cultures, local geology, and pre-Columbian history.

Back on deck, they’ll help you identify the seabirds that like to follow our ship. Our onboard photographer will also be on hand with tips on snapping great pictures of birds in flight – along with other expedition highlights.

Made in Montecristi

Discover the birthplace of Panama hats in... Ecuador?

We’ll dock at the port of Manta and visit the town of Montecristi. Known for its handicrafts, you can buy a stylish, genuine Panama hat here, expertly handwoven from the leaves of the jipijapa tree.

Wander around this interesting town and take a look at the imposing white church, or take in the colorful street art and murals. Returning to Manta, we’ll stop at the archeological museum.

Bountiful Puerto López

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.  

Relax at sea

Serenity at sea

It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to seek Neptune’s blessing. That’s just what we’ll do in a traditional – and somewhat quirky – ceremony as we cross the Equator in the early morning.

Enjoy onboard adventures as we spend the day cruising to Colombia. Go on deck and scan for wildlife – whales can often be seen in these waters. You can find the Expedition Team in the Science Center.

While you’re there, ask about the Citizen Science projects we’re running. 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, stargazing from the deck is a lovely way to end your day.

Afro-Colombian culture

Music, dancing, and rainforest walks at Bahía Solano

Your day in Bahía Solano begins with a walk around town hosted by members of the local Afro-Colombian community.

Students will greet you with a traditional song and later perform unique Afro-Colombian music and dance. In between, they’ll tell you about the town and their culture.

Consider taking a hike through a tropical rainforest in the botanical gardens. At this 170-acre reserve, you can enjoy a guided walk and learn about the local flora and fauna, along with the important conservation projects launched to protect it.

Travel through the Panama Canal

Navigate one of the world’s greatest engineering feats

Early in the morning, we’ll enter the Panama Canal, an impressive and complex network of ingenious locks stretching 50 miles through natural and man-made waterways. Weather permitting, our Expedition Team will invite you on deck and tell the story of this ambitious project.

Halfway through our transit, we’ll enter the Gatun Lake section, which is one of the world’s largest artificial lakes and is surrounded by verdant rainforest. Keep an eye out for crocodiles, alligators, monkeys, and even sloths.

After around twelve hours, we’ll emerge into the Pacific, having passed from one great ocean to another.

Disembarking in Colón

Bright city lights amid a lush rainforest landscape

Your South American expedition cruise ends in Colón, which stands beside the portal to the Panama Canal on the Atlantic coast. It’s a bustling cosmopolitan center with hot springs, a thriving handicraft industry, and wonderful local restaurants.

Your cruise may have come to an end, but not necessarily your adventure. If you’re hungry for more, join an optional Post-Program.

Whatever’s next for you, we wish you a safe onward journey and look forward to seeing you on your next adventure.