Find your cruise
Compare the route, departure port and ship. Select a cruise to see its ports on the map.
85 matching itineraries
6-Night Southern Caribbean
Grandeur of the Seas · 6 nights
From Cartagena
Balneario Camboriu, Buenos Aires, Santos, Balneario Camboriu
MSC Meraviglia · 6 nights
From Balneário Camboriú
Santos, Balneario Camboriu, Buenos Aires, Santos
MSC Meraviglia · 6 nights
From Santos
Paranagua, Itajai, Ilhabela, Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Paranagua
MSC Musica · 6 nights
From Paranaguá
Itajai, Ilhabela, Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Paranagua, Itajai
MSC Musica · 6 nights
From Itajaí
Rio de Janeiro, Paranaguá, Itajai, Santos (Sao Paulo)
MSC Musica · 6 nights
From Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Paranagua, Itajai, Ilhabela, Rio de Janeiro
MSC Musica · 6 nights
From Rio de Janeiro
Santos (Sao Paulo), Rio de Janeiro, Paranaguá
MSC Musica · 6 nights
From Santos
Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina
MSC Seaview · 6 nights
From Balneário Camboriú
Santos, Rio de Janeiro, Buzios, Salvador, Maceio
MSC Virtuosa · 6 nights
From Santos
Salvador, Ilha Grande, Santos, Buzios, Salvador
MSC Virtuosa · 6 nights
From Salvador
Santos, Buzios, Salvador, Ilha Grande, Santos
MSC Virtuosa · 6 nights
From Santos
Start with the part of South America you actually want to see
Compare the actual ports, scenic cruising days, sea days and embarkation city before comparing ships. A beach-and-city sailing on the Atlantic coast has a different pace, climate and packing list from a voyage around the southern tip of the continent.
Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay
Atlantic-coast routes combine Brazilian beaches and cities with calls such as Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Punta del Este. Some stay within Brazil; others cross borders. Check overnight calls and time ashore if city exploring matters most.
Patagonia, Cape Horn and the Chilean fjords
Southern voyages can connect Argentina and Chile via Ushuaia, Punta Arenas and scenic passages through fjords and glacier country. Cape Horn and some glacier or channel entries are scenic cruising rather than days ashore. Compare those days separately from port calls, and allow for changing weather.
The Pacific coast
Routes along Chile and Peru, sometimes continuing to Ecuador, pair coastal calls with access to inland cities. Callao serves Lima; San Antonio and Valparaíso are coastal gateways for Santiago. Check transfer distances before planning the day. Galápagos expedition itineraries are a distinct trip to compare separately.
Longer voyages and Antarctic extensions
Repositioning voyages may connect South America with Europe or North America and include many sea days. Some southern itineraries continue toward Antarctica or other South Atlantic islands. Antarctica is a separate continent: scenic cruising there and an expedition with planned landings offer different experiences. Check the route and landing arrangements rather than relying on the voyage title.
Find your port
Open a port guide for day plans, arrival advice, transport, practical information and tours.
61 ports
- Alter do Chão (Amazon River)Open port guide →
- Angra dos ReisOpen port guide →
- AntofagastaOpen port guide →
- AricaOpen port guide →
- Balneário CamboriúOpen port guide →
- BarranquillaOpen port guide →
- Boca da ValériaOpen port guide →
- Buenos AiresOpen port guide →
- BúziosOpen port guide →
- CalamarOpen port guide →
- CallaoOpen port guide →
- CartagenaOpen port guide →
- Castro (Chiloé)Open port guide →
- Coquimbo (La Serena)Open port guide →
- Devil's Island (Îles du Salut)Open port guide →
- FlorianópolisOpen port guide →
- FortalezaOpen port guide →
- General San Martín (Pisco)Open port guide →
- GuayaquilOpen port guide →
- Hanga Roa (Easter Island)Open port guide →
- Icoaraci (Belém)Open port guide →
- Ilha GrandeOpen port guide →
- IlhabelaOpen port guide →
- IlhéusOpen port guide →
- IquiqueOpen port guide →
- ItajaíOpen port guide →
- MacapáOpen port guide →
- MaceióOpen port guide →
- MaganguéOpen port guide →
- MahatesOpen port guide →
- ManausOpen port guide →
- MantaOpen port guide →
- MontevideoOpen port guide →
- ParanaguáOpen port guide →
- ParatyOpen port guide →
- ParintinsOpen port guide →
- PiscoOpen port guide →
- Port StanleyOpen port guide →
- Porto BeloOpen port guide →
- Puerto ChacabucoOpen port guide →
- Puerto MadrynOpen port guide →
- Puerto MonttOpen port guide →
- Punta ArenasOpen port guide →
- Punta del EsteOpen port guide →
- RecifeOpen port guide →
- Rio de JaneiroOpen port guide →
- Rio GrandeOpen port guide →
- Robinson Crusoe Island (San Juan Bautista)Open port guide →
- SabanagrandeOpen port guide →
- SalaverryOpen port guide →
- SalvadorOpen port guide →
- San AndrésOpen port guide →
- San Antonio (Santiago)Open port guide →
- Santa Bárbara de PintoOpen port guide →
- Santa Cruz de MompoxOpen port guide →
- Santa MartaOpen port guide →
- SantaremOpen port guide →
- SantosOpen port guide →
- Sao Francisco Do SulOpen port guide →
- UshuaiaOpen port guide →
- ValparaísoOpen port guide →
South America departure ports
Buenos Aires, Santos and Rio de Janeiro are Atlantic gateways; San Antonio and Valparaíso serve Chile’s Pacific coast. Many longer voyages are one-way. Compare flights into both ends of the route, transfer distances and pre- or post-cruise hotel nights. A Santiago departure label refers to an inland city, so confirm the coastal embarkation port.
Balneário Camboriú · Barranquilla · Buenos Aires · Callao · Cartagena · Itajaí · Maceió · Paranaguá · Punta Arenas · Rio de Janeiro · Salvador · Santos · Ushuaia · Valparaíso
Distances matter more than they look on the itinerary
Separate scenic cruising from days when you can go ashore. Fjords, glaciers and Cape Horn may be viewed from the ship, while tender calls and weather can change the usable time in port. Lima and Santiago require transfers from their coastal ports; major inland trips belong in a separate land extension. Use the port guides to compare terminal location and realistic outing times.
Then choose the ship
Once the route works, compare ship size, space per passenger, crew ratios, dining, pools and what the fare actually includes.
Where do South America cruises go?
Atlantic-coast sailings link Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Southern routes explore Patagonia, Cape Horn and the Chilean fjords, while Pacific-coast voyages visit Chile, Peru and sometimes Ecuador. Longer voyages can connect these regions with other continents.
When should I cruise South America?
Patagonia and Cape Horn sailings generally focus on the Southern Hemisphere spring and summer. Brazil and the northern Pacific coast have different climates, so choose dates for the actual route rather than treating the whole continent as one season.
How long are South America cruises?
Regional Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay cruises can be about a week, while voyages around Cape Horn often take two weeks or more. Repositioning and multi-region itineraries can be much longer. Compare port days, scenic cruising and sea days in the day-by-day schedule.
Where do South America cruises depart from?
Common starting points include Buenos Aires, Santos and Rio de Janeiro on the Atlantic side, and San Antonio or Valparaíso on the Chilean coast. Ushuaia is also a gateway for Antarctic expeditions. Check the actual embarkation port: Santiago is inland, so a sailing marketed from Santiago requires a coastal transfer.
Does a South America cruise include Antarctica?
Usually it does not. Antarctica is a separate continent, although some voyages departing South America continue there. Check whether an itinerary offers scenic cruising only or an expedition with planned landings, and whether it crosses the Drake Passage. Landings and routes depend on conditions.
Can I explore South America cruise ports independently?
Some city calls suit independent exploring, but terminal location, tendering and travel time vary. Callao is the port for Lima, and Chilean embarkation ports are separate from Santiago. Distant inland sights may require a pre- or post-cruise stay rather than a normal port day.