Buenos Aires, Argentina
Latin America's most sophisticated city, dubbed the "Paris of South America," invites you to stroll along broad, tree-lined boulevards to the picturesque Plaza San Martin. Tour the dazzling Teatro Colon, one of the world's greatest opera houses, and the tomb of Evita Peron. Perhaps you would enjoy a dinner ashore, followed by a performance of the Tango or an optional excursion into the pampas to visit an estancia (ranch) with traditional gaucho hospitality.

Cape Horn, Argentina
The southernmost point of the Americas is a gray rugged rock, enduring in a notoriously weather-beaten spot. With luck, your ship can cruise close by this rocky promontory, which has marked the passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean for centuries.

Puerto Madryn, Argentina & the Valdez Peninsula
Nestled in a protected bay on the Gulf Nuevo, this unique hamlet was founded by adventurous Welsh colonists in 1865 and has maintained Welsh as its official language. Visit the Valdez Peninsula, the only known continental breeding place for elephant seals. Also watch for sea lions, whales and exotic birds.

Ushuaia, Argentina & Tierra del Fuego
The world's southernmost city, Ushuaia overlooks Beagle Channel, named after the ship that took Charles Darwin to the bottom of the world. Founded just over one hundred years ago, this rustic town is situated amidst incredible snowcapped mountains, dramatic waterfalls, massive glaciers, and a forest known for its red foliage. Tierra del Fuego, the "Land of Fire," twelve miles to the west of Ushuaia, is known for its glacial landscape and its national park, which is a bird-watcher's paradise.

Alter do Chao, Brazil
Turning out of the muddy Amazon, you will cruise into the blue Rio Tapajos, to anchor off the village of Alter do Chao. Here you can tour the Center for Preservation of Indigenous Arts, with displays on the lifestyles of local tribes. Or cross to a white sand beach for a refreshing swim in the clear river waters.

Belem, Brazil/The Amazon Delta
Gateway to the mysterious world of the Amazon, the 371-year-old city of Our Lady of Bethlehem (now shortened to Belem) bears all the gifts of the jungle. Vendors in dug-out canoes bring tropical fish, fruit, Amazonian handicrafts and religious artifacts to Ver-O-Peso, Brazil's largest outdoor market. See the 18th century Baroque Merces Church, one of Belem's many beautiful churches.

Curua Una River, Brazil
Venturing from the main stream of the Amazon into this "black water" tributary, you’ll view the impressive plant and bird life thriving along its shores. Here too, meet the Caboclos, a riverine people of mixed Indian, European and African ancestry, who live here in the heart of the Amazon Basin.

Florianopolis, Brazil
Crowning the island of Santa Catarina, just off Brazil's southern coast, Florianopolis attracts visitors with its natural beauty, gracious bays, and no less than 42 fine beaches. Visit the traditional market, the fine historic and anthropological museums, and the three impressive forts - or admire the wood sculpture in the cathedral, a life-sized depiction of the Biblical flight into Egypt, imported from Austria!

Manaus, Brazil
A cultural outpost in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, Manaus was famous for the extravagant lifestyle and architecture of the 19th century rubber barons who made their fortunes here. The renovated opera house stands as an opulent testament to their vast wealth.

Recife, Brazil
Known as the "Venice of Brazil," lovely Recife is built on islands and connected by bridges. The tropical city is graced with churches from its Portuguese colonial past, with their frescoes and bright tiles. Browse the teeming market, spend the day at popular Boa Viagem Beach, or visit the beautiful suburb of Olinda, a perfectly intact 16th century town.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Undoubtedly the highlight of everyone's South American experience, glittering Rio is a city that enchants mind, body and soul. Radiant beaches, like Ipanema and Copacabana, stretch like bejeweled arcs around the city's perimeter. The monumental 120-foot statue of Christ the Redeemer towers over Rio atop Corcovado Mountain. Take a cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain for stunning panoramic views of the mountains, beaches and skyline. Visit world-renowned nightclubs where samba bands and disco dancers jump all night long.

Salvador da Bahia, Brazil
Salvador is a dynamic collage of diverse religious and cultural groups, colorful open-air markets, tropical flowers, majestic colonial buildings, golden-sand beaches and the bubbling sensuality of the Bahian people. Visit the Sao Francisco Chapel, whose interior is paved with gold. Sample Salvador's Afro-Brazilian cuisine, including such mouth-watering specialties as "ensopada" (seafood poached in fresh coconut milk) and "vatapa" (spicy fresh shrimp).

Santos, Brazil
Santos is the port for Sao Paulo, the largest city in South America and the economic heart and soul of Brazil. Originally built as a Jesuit mission in the 1500's, the city's towering skyscrapers and a bustling population of 11 million now lend it the air of a subtropical New York.

Puerto Montt, Chile & the Lake District
Evocative of Switzerland, Chile's lake district is noted for its pristine, almost Alpine scenery and bracing climate. Visit Lake Llanquihue (pronounced "Yankee-way"), and explore the rugged coastline leading to Ensenada. Marvel at a Fuji-like volcano, Mount Osorno, which rises to a height of 8,500 feet. View the rushing falls and turbulent rapids of Petrohue and cruise the blue-green waters of placid Lake Todos Los Santos. Taste Chilean country specialties and enjoy folklore entertainment at a rustic hosteria.

Punta Arenas, Chile
Located within the Straits of Magellan, Punta Arenas is proud of being a frontier whaling town. Conveying the flavor of a Northern European seaport, mansions show that some early settlers made fortunes here. Tour the scenic landscapes of Patagonia, with its myriad of wildlife and breathtaking views. Or fly in a chartered airplane over the White Continent of Antarctica.

Valparaiso, Santiago, Chile
Valparaiso, the port city for Santiago, is a charming resort with a sundial made entirely of flowers. Steep hills rise to make the surroundings an amphitheater, with wharves and business quarters at the base and residential neighborhoods above. Visit Cerro Castillo, a Spanish colonial mansion on the former site of Collao Fort. Contrast the architecture with the baronial English Tudor Building which houses the Naval Museum.

Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Named for the emerald quality of its luxuriant vegetation, this provincial capital is a favorite of beach-lovers and birdwatchers. Good buys can be found in handicrafts and filigreed gold jewelry.

Guayaquil/Quito, Ecuador
Guayaquil is a port for Quito, the beautiful capital of Ecuador. As you stroll the cobbled streets of the city called "Queen of the Andes," rich legacies of art, history and magnificent Spanish colonial architecture surround you. Or, experience the natural Eden of the fabled Galapagos, Darwin's living laboratory, on a special land tour.

Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, United Kingdom
Port Stanley is the only town on the Falkland Islands, and though it has little more than 1,200 residents, it contains half of the islands' population. On the other hand there are 700,000 sheep, and a wonderful assortment of sea birds and elephant seals. Though subject to the British Queen, Argentinean claims to the "Islas Malvinas" caused war in 1982.

Devil's Island, French Guiana
The most notorious of the three Salvation Islands, Devil's Island functioned for generations as a French penal colony. Once known as the "Dry Guillotine" because so many prisoners died there, the island today seems haunted by the spirits of former prisoners. Henri Charriere, better known as "Papillon," claimed to be the only prisoner ever to escape the Island.

Callao/Lima, Peru, Cuzco & Macchu Picchu
Callao is your port of entry to the glittering, elegant city of Lima, the darling of Peru. Founded by Pizarro and the Conquistadors, the capital city today offers priceless collections ranging from the Museum of Gold to the Museum of Anthropology and Archeology. Pizarro's remains can be found in the Cathedral, built in 1746. From Lima, you can also take a tour to Machu Picchu, the mysterious lost city of the Incas high in the Andes, or to Cuzco, the capital of the Incan Empire.

Salavery/Trujillo, Peru
This is the port for Trujillo, the "Lordly City," whose elegant mansions and churches reflect the aristocracy of the Spanish colonial era. Here you may opt for a thrilling excursion to Chan-Chan, an immense and magnificent enclave that since A.D. 1300 has been the center of the sophisticated Chim culture.

Montevideo, Uruguay
This charming capital city, with its broad boulevards and beautiful parks, will entice you to explore the coastline. You'll also want to visit the Parque Batille y Ordonez, honoring the Father of Uruguay, and to see La Carreta—The Oxcart—a monument sculpted by Bellini.

Puerto Ordaz/Orinoco River, Venezuela
Located 180 miles upriver, Puerto Ordaz is a growing metropolis on the Orinoco River. From here you can take an optional flight-seeing excursion over Angel Falls and visit the jungle camp of Canaima in Canaima National Park. Located in a spectacular natural setting, Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world—15 times higher than Niagara Falls—where the rushing torrent falls 3,200 feet in a matter of seconds. The Falls were named after American aviator and explorer Jimmy Angel who reported their existence in 1935.