South America & Antarctica

Twice-founded and once the wealthiest city in Latin America, Buenos Aires seduces with the world-class acoustics of the Teatro Colón, the ritual theatre of a wood-fire asado at a San Telmo parrilla, and the cobblestoned milongas where tango was born and where it burns still. Cross the estuary to UNESCO-listed Colonia del Sacramento or head south toward the glaciers of Patagonia. As South America's premier cruise hub for Antarctic expeditions and round-the-continent voyages, the city is most inviting from November through March.

Montevideo, Uruguay's gracious capital on the Río de la Plata, enchants with its Art Deco–lined Ciudad Vieja, the legendary Mercado del Puerto where asado and Tannat wine elevate lunch to ceremony, and a twenty-kilometer Rambla promenade perfect for unhurried afternoon strolls. Day trips to glamorous Punta del Este or UNESCO-listed Colonia del Sacramento round out the experience. The Southern Hemisphere summer — November through March — brings warm days and vibrant outdoor culture, making it the ideal season for a cruise port call.

Puerto Madryn, gateway to Patagonia's UNESCO-listed Península Valdés, offers marine wildlife encounters rivaling the Galápagos—southern right whales breaching meters from shore, elephant seal colonies, orca beach-hunting, and Magellanic penguin rookeries. Welsh-heritage afternoon teas and Patagonian lamb roasted on iron crosses over open fires define this windswept coastal city's unique cultural blend. Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Viking anchor in Golfo Nuevo to access one of the planet's greatest wildlife destinations.

Port Stanley, capital of the Falkland Islands, is a remote South Atlantic settlement where painted-roof cottages, a whalebone-arched cathedral, and nineteenth-century shipwrecks frame one of the world's finest wildlife frontiers. Visitors should not miss the king penguin colony at Volunteer Point and the extraordinary albatross rookeries of Steeple Jason Island. The austral summer months of November through March offer the mildest weather and peak wildlife activity, coinciding with the expedition cruise season that brings luxury lines through these waters.

The Antarctic Experience encompasses expedition cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula, where towering icebergs, glacier-carved channels, and vast penguin colonies create one of Earth's most profound travel encounters. Must-dos include zodiac landings at penguin rookeries, cruising the mirror-calm Lemaire Channel, and watching humpback whales feed in krill-rich waters. December and January offer near-continuous daylight, the warmest conditions, and peak wildlife activity during the austral summer.

The Antarctic Experience encompasses expedition cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula, where towering icebergs, glacier-carved channels, and vast penguin colonies create one of Earth's most profound travel encounters. Must-dos include zodiac landings at penguin rookeries, cruising the mirror-calm Lemaire Channel, and watching humpback whales feed in krill-rich waters. December and January offer near-continuous daylight, the warmest conditions, and peak wildlife activity during the austral summer.

The Antarctic Experience encompasses expedition cruising along the Antarctic Peninsula, where towering icebergs, glacier-carved channels, and vast penguin colonies create one of Earth's most profound travel encounters. Must-dos include zodiac landings at penguin rookeries, cruising the mirror-calm Lemaire Channel, and watching humpback whales feed in krill-rich waters. December and January offer near-continuous daylight, the warmest conditions, and peak wildlife activity during the austral summer.

Cape Horn is South America's southernmost headland, where the Atlantic meets the Pacific in waters that claimed over ten thousand lives during the age of sail, and a solitary Chilean lighthouse keeper endures some of Earth's most extreme conditions. Attempt a landing November through March via Seabourn or Viking — weather permitting — for the albatross memorial walk and the visceral triumph of standing at the end of the Americas in howling Antarctic wind.

Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, is a captivating blend of history, vibrant culture, and natural beauty, making it a unique port of call in Argentina. Must-do experiences include savoring local delicacies like centolla and exploring the breathtaking landscapes of nearby Los Glaciares National Park. The best time to visit is during the summer months of December to March, when the weather is mild, and the scenery is at its most stunning.

Punta Arenas is Chile's southernmost continental city and the historic gateway to the Strait of Magellan, Antarctica, and Tierra del Fuego. Visitors should not miss savouring fresh centolla king crab at a waterfront restaurant and taking a boat excursion to the Magellanic penguin colonies at Tucker Islets. The best time to visit is during the austral summer from November through March, when temperatures are mild, daylight stretches past ten in the evening, and expedition cruise schedules are at their peak.

Astoria, Oregon — the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies — sits where the Columbia River meets the Pacific, offering a compelling blend of maritime heritage, independent culinary culture, and dramatic coastal scenery. Climb the Astoria Column for sweeping river-and-ocean views, then feast on Bowpicker's legendary albacore fish and chips or Dungeness crab along the historic Riverwalk. Late spring through early autumn delivers the most agreeable weather, with July and August bringing warm days, lingering twilight, and the clearest panoramas of the Coast Range.

Puerto Chacabuco is the gateway to Chile's wildest Patagonian region, where the Northern Ice Field feeds glaciers into turquoise fjords and population density drops below one person per square kilometre. Must-dos include a boat excursion to the calving San Rafael Glacier, tasting centolla king crab, and marvelling at the raw beauty of the Aysen fjord system. Visit November through March for the mildest Southern Hemisphere summer weather.

Puerto Montt is the gateway to Chilean Patagonia, where the Pan-American Highway ends and a landscape of volcanoes, fjords, and the UNESCO-listed wooden churches of Chiloé island begins. Visit October through March via Seabourn or Viking for Osorno Volcano reflections, king crab at the Angelmó market, and the Lake District's Germanic towns that serve classical concerts with volcano-and-lake views.

San Antonio, Chile, Chile is a distinctive port city where deep cultural heritage meets authentic local atmosphere, featured on itineraries by Seabourn. Must-do experiences include walking the historic center to experience the layered architectural heritage, and seeking out the regional culinary traditions at a locally favored establishment away from the port area. The optimal time to visit is April through October, when warm weather and extended daylight create ideal conditions.