Curacao - Buenos Aires Caribbean islands and Brazil: island dreams, the magic of the Amazon and a spirited lifestyle

Curaçao is a culturally rich Caribbean island with the UNESCO-listed Willemstad waterfront, whose colorful Dutch colonial buildings are among the most photographed in the hemisphere. Must-dos include crossing the Queen Emma pontoon bridge, visiting the Kura Hulanda slavery museum, and tasting keshi yená cheese dish and genuine Curaçao liqueur. Year-round warmth near 28°C and a position below the hurricane belt make it a reliable destination.

Tobago is a lush Caribbean island boasting the Western Hemisphere's oldest protected rainforest, pristine uncrowded beaches, and world-class diving where manta rays glide over spectacular coral formations. Visit during the dry season from January through May for the best conditions to explore its beaches, hike the ancient Main Ridge Forest Reserve, and sample legendary curried crab.

Ile Royale, French Guiana, delivers South America's irresistible combination of dramatic landscapes, vibrant culture, and extraordinary biodiversity. Essential experiences include exploring local markets, tasting the distinctive regional cuisine, and venturing into the surrounding natural environments. Best visited year-round, though the drier months from May to October tend to offer the most comfortable conditions. Cruise lines including Azamara feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Belem is the Amazon's Atlantic gateway, a city of 1.5 million at the mouth of the world's mightiest river, where the extraordinary Ver-o-Peso market, mouth-numbing tacaca soup, and colonial-era grandeur create Brazil's most distinctive regional culture. Must-dos include the Ver-o-Peso market at dawn, tasting tacaca and acai in its original unsweetened form, and the Cirio de Nazare procession in October. Visit July through December for drier weather.

Natal is a sun-blessed beach city at the northeastern tip of Brazil, closer to Africa than to Rio, where dramatic dune systems, warm turquoise waters, and the flavours of ginga com tapioca define the quintessential northeastern coast experience. Must-dos include buggy rides across the Genipabu dunes, snorkelling at the Maracajau reef pools, and tasting camarao na moranga. Visit September through February for dry season sunshine.

Trancoso is a former Jesuit mission village on Bahia's coast that has become one of Brazil's most coveted beach destinations, centered on the iconic Quadrado—a grass-carpeted village green lined with colorful houses overlooking the sea. Must-do experiences include swimming in the natural coral pools at Praia do Espelho, dining by candlelight on the Quadrado with Bahian moqueca fish stew, and exploring the kilometers of pristine coastline. September through March provides the driest and warmest conditions, with the week between Christmas and New Year offering Trancoso at its most glamorous and vibrant.

Rio de Janeiro is Brazil's spectacular coastal metropolis, where granite peaks plunge into Atlantic beaches and imperial history meets vibrant Afro-Brazilian culture. Visitors should not miss the panoramic ascent of Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car and a traditional Saturday feijoada feast at a local boteco. The best season for cruise visits is October through March, when southern hemisphere summer brings warm temperatures and the city pulses with pre-Carnival energy, though the shoulder months of September and April offer pleasant weather with thinner crowds.

Punta del Este is Uruguay's most glamorous coastal resort, a slender peninsula between the Río de la Plata estuary and the open Atlantic, renowned for pristine beaches, world-class *asado* dining, and the iconic *La Mano* sculpture. Visitors should not miss a wood-fired feast at a traditional *parrilla* and a day trip to the UNESCO-listed cobblestone streets of Colonia del Sacramento. The best season to visit is December through March, when the Southern Hemisphere summer brings warm temperatures, vibrant cultural events, and the full energy of South America's most elegant seaside retreat.

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.

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.