While cruises can take you to all seven continents, there's one fascinating land mass that doesn't always get the credit it deserves when it comes to traveling by ship: South America. This nature-blessed continent is home to a dozen countries known for their massive mountain peaks, glacier-lined fjords, dramatic deserts, roaring waterfalls, and the world's largest rainforest. Luckily, both ocean cruise lines and river cruise lines continue to expand their sailings in South America, creating multiple ways to cruise and explore its natural beauty.
Of course, the world's fourth-largest continent also bursts with vibrant music and cuisine — think tango and samba as well as ceviche and dulce de leche — in addition to ancient cultural landmarks such as Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines. And cities? Depending on the itinerary, you can people-watch on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, stroll the boulevards of Buenos Aires, savor Lima's award-winning food scene, or enjoy Cartagena's stunning historical architecture.
Are you a nature lover? Head to the Galapagos Islands, accessible via flights from Ecuador, or remote southern Patagonia, home to condors, guanaco, penguins, and whales. The Amazon, meanwhile, is the place to spy on pink river dolphins, slithering anacondas, raucous howler monkeys, and, yes, toothy piranha.
Read on for a look at nine of our favorite ways to cruise South America — including classic ocean sailings, adventurous expedition voyages, and intimate river journeys.
Book a Multi-Country Ocean Cruise
If you're a cruise traditionalist, you can enjoy a sampler of South American countries — typically Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil — on a semi-circumnavigation ocean voyage that begins in the Atlantic (in Rio or Buenos Aires), cruises around Cape Horn and through the Chilean fjords, and ends along the Pacific (in Valparaiso or Lima) or vice versa. Alternatively, some longer itineraries sail round-trip from Miami or Fort Lauderdale. Premium and luxury cruise lines are known for offering these cruises, but several mainstream lines also do so.
Many sailings visit top cities along both coasts as well as spectacularly scenic ports in southern Patagonia. So, whether you're interested in arts and culture or nature's wonders, a South America cruise offers plenty of both.
Offered by: Azamara, Crystal, Holland America, Oceania, Princess, Regent, Seabourn, Silversea, and Viking
Cruise season: November to March
Affordably Explore Argentina, the Falklands, and Antarctica
You don't have to book a luxury expedition cruise — and spend upwards of $12,000 per person — to see some of the most remote areas of South America, and even get a glimpse of Antarctica. Mainstream cruise lines offer more budget-friendly South America itineraries, often round-trip from Buenos Aires, that call on Ushuaia in Patagonia, sail around Cape Horn, and cross the Drake Passage for a few days of scenic cruising around Paradise Bay and Elephant Island in the South Shetland Islands, before calling on Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands. The one caveat is that you will not go ashore while exploring islands along the Antarctic Peninsula, but you may see penguins, seals, and other marine life as well as seabirds from your ship.
Offered by: Azamara, Celebrity, Holland America, Oceania, and Princess
Cruise season: December to February
Take a Scenic Voyage Through the Chilean Fjords
Chilean Patagonia is home to a network of fjords offering access to some of South America's most beautiful places. So if you've dreamed of being surrounded by massive glaciers, gushing waterfalls, and dramatic volcanic peaks while watching scurrying penguins and soaring birds of prey, multiple cruise lines — from luxury brands to mainstream cruise lines to small-ship expedition companies — offer itineraries that focus solely on this region or pass through it on longer sailings. Port calls include Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, and Puerto Chacabuco, and there's usually also several days of scenic sailing within the sheltered fjords.
Offered by: Azamara, Holland America, HX (Hurtigruten), Lindblad Expeditions, Oceania, Ponant, Princess, Regent, Scenic, Seabourn, Silversea, and Viking
Cruise season: December to March
Enjoy a Panama Canal Transit
This time-tested itinerary remains popular with cruisers who want to experience some history while also enjoying a tropical Caribbean vibe. A Panama Canal transit that cuts through the thin isthmus linking North and South America combines what may be a bucket-list experience for many frequent cruisers with a diverse array of port calls. These can include one of the charming, Dutch-owned ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao), the UNESCO World Heritage Site-listed old city of Cartagena in Colombia, the rainforests of Costa Rica and Guatemala, and the buzzy resort enclave of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Most cruise lines offer Panama Canal transits, although they do fall into three distinct categories. The first are one-off repositioning cruises, generally in spring and fall when cruise lines move ships that have spent the winter in the Caribbean through the Panama Canal to the Pacific Ocean for summer cruising in Alaska, and vice versa in the fall. The second are traditional Panama Canal transits with an itinerary that begins in Miami or Fort Lauderdale, transits the canal, and ends in San Diego or Los Angeles (or vice versa). The third are partial canal transits that cruise round-trip from Miami or Fort Lauderdale and visit several Caribbean islands and Cartagena, in addition to cruising half the canal and turning around in Gatun Lake.
Offered by: Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, Lindblad Expeditions, Norwegian, Oceania, Princess, Regent, Royal Caribbean, Seabourn, Silversea, Windstar, and Viking
Cruise season: Generally December to March, with repositioning cruises in April/May and October/November
Explore the Peruvian Amazon on a River Cruise
If truly getting away from it all is top of mind for you, consider an intimate luxury river cruise on the Peruvian Amazon. This is the perfect way to experience the remote tributaries of this mighty river as you set sail on a 30-to-40-guest river vessel from the jungle city of Iquitos on three-, four-, and seven-night itineraries. You'll enjoy safari-like explorations on smaller skiff boats with guides who have a keen eye for the birds, monkeys, and other wildlife that inhabit the region. You'll also visit indigenous villages and savor five-star dining inspired by both Peruvian and international cuisines.
Offered by: Aqua Expeditions, Delfin Amazon Cruises, and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
Cruise season: High-water season (best for access to hidden creeks and lakes) is December to May, and low-water season (best for guided jungle trekking) is June to November.
Cruise Coastal Brazil and/or Venture Up the Amazon
An Amazon alternative if you prefer a larger ocean ship is an itinerary that cruises coastal Brazil, many of which also sail up the Amazon River to Manaus. While Rio de Janeiro, with its world-famous Copacabana Beach, Christ the Redeemer statue, and landmark Sugar Loaf mountain, is a top draw, visits to coastal cities such Fortaleza and Salvador da Bahia, beach-fringed Ilha Grande, and Amazon River ports such as Santarem and Boca da Valeria, allow you to immerse yourself in Brazilian culture and nature.
Offered by: Azamara, Explora Journeys, Holland America, Lindblad Expeditions, MSC Cruises, Oceania, Princess, Regent, Scenic, Seabourn, Silversea, and Viking
Cruise season: November to March
Experience an Expedition-Level Luxury Adventure
The introduction of luxury expedition-class ships carrying just 200 to 400 guests over the past decade has, if your budget allows, made comfortably exploring the most remote places in South America easy. Vessels such as Viking Polaris, Seabourn Venture, and Scenic Eclipse pair exciting excursions via Zodiac, high-speed special-operations boat, helicopter, and even submersible with five-star accommodations and elevated culinary programs. In South America, you'll find in-depth itineraries that explore Patagonia (often along with Antarctica), the Chilean fjords, the Brazilian Amazon, and the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
Offered by: HX (Hurtigruten), Ponant, Scenic, Seabourn, Silversea, and Viking
Cruise season: November to March
Spot Amazing Wildlife on a Galapagos Voyage
Located about 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador and reached via a flight from the city of Guayaquil, the Galapagos Islands are the holy grail for nature-lovers. Its 19 islands — which include San Cristobal, Bartolome, Isabela, Fernandina, and Floreana — are home to around 10,000 species of plants and animals, the most famous of which are blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, giant tortoises, sea lions, and penguins. All ships that cruise here carry fewer than 100 guests and employ expert naturalist guides for an experience that's exciting, exclusive, and educational.
Offered by: Celebrity, HX (Hurtigruten), Lindblad Expeditions, and Silversea
Cruise season: Year-round, with the warmer, slightly rainy season lasting from December to May (preferred for wildlife activity and calmer seas), and the cooler dry season from June to November
Savor a Serene Sojourn on Colombia's Magdalena River
The latest way to explore South America on a cruise is aboard one of AmaWaterways' two newest river vessels, the 60-guest AmaMagdalena and AmaMelodia, which offer seven-night voyages on Colombia's Magdalena River, which flows into the Caribbean Sea. The ship cruises from Cartagena to Barranquilla (or vice versa), giving guests a chance to explore the music, dance, cuisine, and coffee culture of Colombia while enjoying the upscale onboard amenities and service for which the river-cruise company (which also has ships in Europe, Asia, and Egypt) is known.
Offered by: AmaWaterways
Cruise season: Year-round