South American Discovery Cruise and Tour with Iguazu Falls - Santiago to Buenos Aires

Day 1 - UK - In flight

Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Santiago.

UK - In flight

Days 2-3 - Santiago

Energetic, sophisticated, and cosmopolitan - it’s little wonder that almost half of Chile’s population call leafy Santiago home. The streets are lined with grand architecture and the landscape is dotted with extensive green spaces. Arriving early on day 2, we’ve arranged an early check in for your convenience and the rest of the day is at leisure. On the morning of day 3 we’ll take in all the city’s best bits on a guided tour, including the colourful main avenue, Alameda, where the Chilean University and San Francisco Church are located. We’ll stroll through the central market at Plaza de Armas, then visit the National Museum of History. From San Cristobal Hill, you’ll enjoy the best panoramic views of Santiago, backed by the Andes Mountains. In the afternoon you are free to make your own discoveries in this world-class city.

Plaza San Francisco, Santiago (5-star)

Day 4 - Santiago - San Antonio

Chile is synonymous with world-renowned fine wines and we couldn’t travel all this way without stopping to learn more about the industry. Casablanca Valley is one of Chile’s most famous wine-producing areas and the families here have specialised in cultivating a few small but defining wine businesses, like the world-famous Viña William Cole. We’ll learn about the history of this winery, enjoy a guided tour of the estate and finish with a tasting in the wine shop. We’ll head onwards to Valparaiso to spend some time getting to know the city on a guided tour, which also incorporates nearby Viña del Mar - the ‘Garden City’. We then continue to San Antonio and embark our ship ready to set sail this evening.

Plaza San Francisco, Santiago (5-star)

Day 5 - At sea

Take time to fully relax with endless sea views in every direction. Perhaps opt for a massage at the ship’s Greenhouse Spa & Salon, or you might like to continue learning about our destinations with an engaging lecture or live cooking demonstration. The evening brings an abundance of entertainment options with live music, including the popular BB King’s Blues Club.

Oosterdam (4-star)

Day 6 - Puerto Montt, Chile

The capital of Los Lagos is the perfect jumping off point for the country’s glacial lakes, ominous volcanic landscapes and mountainous national parks. World-class photogenic landscapes aside, there’s an interesting mix of cultures to explore here, too. The port is also home to a 100-year-old German settlement as well as indigenous communities of Mapuche people. Perhaps take a stroll through pretty Puerto Varas, overlooking Lake Llanquihue, or opt for a taste of the local life in the nearby fishing village of Angelmó (try the catch of the day washed down with a traditional German white wine). Ship to shore tender service.

Oosterdam (4-star)

Day 7 - Puerto Chacabuco, Chile

This tiny town with just over 1,000 residents sits at the head of Aisén Fjord and is the gateway to some of Chilean Patagonia’s most beautiful sights. You could head to the provincial capital, Coihaique, or Puerto Aisén for handicraft shops and excellent restaurants. Or take a trip to the Río Simpson National Reserve, to the see the region’s natural beauty - stunning vistas, pristine waterfalls and crystal-clear canyon rivers. Ship to shore tender service.

Oosterdam (4-star)

Day 8 - Chilean Fjords cruising

The west coast of Chile is sliced by dramatic inlets lined with rugged mountains and glacier-covered valleys and extends south to the very end of the continent at Tierra del Fuego - a distance of some 1,500 kilometres. Our ship will navigate meandering paths along the many fjords and channels.

Oosterdam (4-star)

Day 9 - Sarmiento Channel cruising

One of the main channels in Patagonia, the Sarmiento Channel runs in a north-south direction, starting at the Guía Narrows and finishing at the southern edge of Victoria Pass, where it joins the Smyth Channel. The ragged coastline is cut with inlets set among snow-covered mountain ranges with all kinds of marine animals, including penguins, southern elephant seals, dolphins and orcas.

Oosterdam (4-star)

Day 10 - Strait of Magellan, Chile - Punta Arenas - Scenic Cruising

Before the Panama Canal, there was the Strait of Magellan. This cinematic channel links the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as it cuts between the mainland tip of South America and Tierra del Fuego island. The windblown city of Punta Arenas near Chile’s southernmost tip sits right on the Strait of Magellan. It’s a gateway to the spectacular landscapes of Torres del Paine National Park, but it has plenty to offer, too. It’s an urban sprawl decorated with colonial mansions. From penguin spotting on Isla Magdalena to visiting local farms or indulging in a typical Chilean surf-and-turf, there’s plenty to keep you occupied here. We’ll then continue our voyage through some of the continent’s most beautiful scenery. This evening, we cruise the Cockburn Channel, which passes coastline rich in fjords and glaciers. The Pia Fjord is particularly beautiful as dozens of waterfalls cascade down the slopes into its warm waters. You may even witness huge chunks of ice calve off Pia Glacier and plummet into the sea.

Oosterdam (4-star)

Day 11 - Glacier Alley - Ushuaia, Argentina

Glacier Alley is the last stretch leading to Argentina’s Ushuaia. The scenery here can only be described as otherworldly as each breathtaking glacier precedes the next, each flowing down from huge mountain ranges and peaks. You’ll hear the blue ice cracking as it tumbles into the channel. Keep a keen eye and you might spot penguin rookeries, humpback whales and seals. This afternoon we reach the end of the world - and it’s better than you could have imagined. Positioned at the southernmost tip of Argentina, Ushuaia is cradled between the pristine Martial Mountains. It’s surrounded by glittering glaciers, snow-capped mountains, dense forests, sparkling lakes and windswept plains spread across an archipelago of rugged islands. You’ll feel transported to a land before time. The town lends itself to its natural surroundings perfectly; there are no high rises or mega malls here. Its maze of streets are lined with low-slung buildings, all leading to its heart, the port.

Oosterdam (4-star)

Day 12 - Cruising Cape Horn

Today we’ll sail one of the most notorious ocean passages in the world. For centuries, Cape Horn, where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans violently crash together, evoked dread in the heart of sailors. Our journey today around the cape at the very bottom of the Tierra is shaped by capricious weather, as powerful winds and shallow water can produce waves that reach as high as 30 metres.

Oosterdam (4-star)

Day 13 - Port Stanley, Falkland Islands

Stepping ashore in Stanley is a little bit surreal. Proud of its British heritage, you’ll see familiar red telephone boxes and post boxes, Victorian houses and old English pubs. You’ll feel transported to an English village. If you like penguins, then a visit to the penguin rookery at Bluff Cove Lagoon is a must. King and gentoo penguins - along with other bird species of the Falklands - rule the roost here in a privately owned wildlife haven. You’ll stroll around the penguin colony, which features a scenic lagoon and white, sandy beach backdrop. It’s home to 1,000 breeding pairs of gentoo penguins. Ship to shore tender service.

Oosterdam (4-star)

Days 14-15 - At sea

Two full days at sea to relax and enjoy all the ship’s amenities.

Oosterdam (4-star)

Day 16 - Montevideo, Uruguay

While Uruguay’s capital city might not have quite the prestige of Buenos Aires, it does have a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere. Here, music, theatre and the arts are alive - and you’ll find them in the elegant old theatres and little tango bars. The city’s smaller size makes it more personable and you’ll find there is a distinctly ‘local’ feel. The historic downtown district is a treasure with art deco and neo-classical buildings decorating the streets, while the southeast flaunts long stretches of beach, modern high-rises, and shopping centres.

Oosterdam (4-star)

Day 17 - Buenos Aires (overnight)

We arrive in the ‘Paris of the South’, Buenos Aires, a city of simmering excitement and a tango heartbeat. A glimmer of its European past is barely buried under its lively Latino present. Sweeping green spaces are interspersed with grand French and Italian-style architecture, colourful street art decorates traditional neighbourhoods. You’ll be hooked on this city before you even realised it’s happened. We’ll be docked in port tonight, so you’ll have the whole day and evening to explore.

Pulitzer Hotel, Buenos Aires (4-star)

Day 18 - Buenos Aires, Argentina

After disembarking this morning, a guided tour will visit some of the city’s highlights, including the leafy Plaza de Mayo lined with grand buildings such as the Government House and City Hall; you’ll step inside the Metropolitan Cathedral to see its towering ceilings, striking stained glass and marble columns. In La Boca, we’ll see the district’s famed array of colourful houses and learn about the Italian immigrant history. Finally, we’ll visit the walled cemetery of Recoleta to view the elaborate mausoleums and resting places of Argentinean luminaries, including Eva Peron. Later, we transfer to our hotel and this evening there is an optional excursion to one of the city’s famous Tango Houses for dinner and a show.

Recanto Cataratas Thermas Resort & Convention, Iguazu Falls (4-star)

Day 19 - Buenos Aires - Iguazu Falls

We transfer to the airport for our short flight to Iguazu Falls. The small, yet busy Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu is located at the confluence of the Iguazu and Parana Rivers. Teetering on the Brazil and Argentina border, it makes for the perfect base from which to visit Iguazu Falls. On arrival transfer to our hotel and have free time to relax.

Recanto Cataratas Thermas Resort & Convention, Iguazu Falls (4-star)

Day 20 - Iguazu Falls

Iguazu means ‘big water’, but we can’t help but think the Guarani name for this incredible natural phenomenon is a little understated. One of the planet’s most spectacular sights, the mighty Iguazu Falls are astounding. The immense power of the falls can be felt in the thick rainforest air as you approach; or perhaps that’s the crashing sound of the cascading water, which you’ll hear long before you arrive. We’ll experience the Brazilian and Argentinian sides of the falls today. Visiting the Brazilian side first gives us the opportunity for a panoramic view of the fall’s most famous section, Devil’s Throat, which is a huge confluence of three massive falls. We’ll then cross over to the Argentinian side and take a small train through the rainforest. From here, our walk takes in spectacular views from above and alongside the falls. The site is made up of a chain of hundreds of waterfalls and seeing them in person is truly unforgettable. This evening there is an optional excursion to enjoy a folklore shore and barbecue dinner.

Windsor Excelsior, Rio de Janeiro (4-star)

Days 21-22 - Iguazu - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

We transfer to the airport for the short flight to Rio de Janeiro. On arrival we transfer to our hotel on Copacabana Beach. The rest of the day is at leisure. On day 22 we’ll get to know Rio on a guided tour. We’ll wend our way up through the forests of Corcovado Mountain aboard a cogwheel train. At the top, Christ the Redeemer keeps watch over the city below. To stand beside such as iconic landmark evokes some powerful emotions in many. Next we ascend Sugarloaf Mountain in a glass cable car to enjoy the view of Christ the Redeemer from afar. Then we’ll shimmy along the streets of the downtown area where the city’s samba soundtrack hums. We’ll see the highlight landmarks and some of the city’s finest architecture, like the Candelaria church and Carioca aqueduct. After all of that, you’ll still have time to feel the sand between your toes and sip a zingy caipirinha at Copacabana.

Windsor Excelsior, Rio de Janeiro (4-star)

Day 23 - Rio de Janeiro - In flight

We transfer to the airport for the return flight home.

Rio de Janeiro - In flight

Day 24 - UK

Upon arrival, your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.

UK