Every question to ask before you book a South America cruise

Many cruise lines, including Holland America Line, visit Chile while sailing around South America

Coastal South America is a different world from the one travellers see inside the continent. Inaccessible beaches, remote islands, cliff-fringed steppes and deserts, and labyrinthine fjords lie along the two great littorals of the Atlantic and Pacific – and you can only really admire them from the deck of a ship.

Albatrosses, whales and orca are just the more obvious iconic species sighted while cruising in southerly latitudes of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. During landings, several national parks lie close to port cities, and extraordinary heritage sites are also within reach.

Many of the continent’s most alluring cities – Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Buenos Aires, Montevideo and Lima – are on the coast, reflecting the fact that the Spanish and Portuguese empires expanded from the edge of the land inwards.

While individual independent nations – all around two centuries old – have idiosyncrasies, each country shares a common tongue in Spanish (except for Portuguese in Brazil), but cuisine, native culture, climate and vibe vary hugely – even between ports in a single country.

In this guide: 

• Before you book
• Life on board
• Before you go

Before you book

Where can I go?

Apart from Bolivia and Paraguay, all South American nations have sea-facing coastlines. That means nine countries can be visited by ship, plus the overseas territory of French Guiana. While currently no cruise goes to all these, there are ambitious voyages that tick off five or more countries.

Many cruises go to Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Peru, and somewhat fewer to Colombia and Ecuador. Venezuela is not currently visited by cruise lines due to the ongoing economic and political crisis.

In Brazil, many popular cruises go to the thrilling cities of Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. Belém, in the north, is the gateway port for the Amazon, and a fascinating city to explore. Buenos Aires and Montevideo, on opposite sides of the Rio de la Plata, are culturally vibrant capitals.

Valparaíso and Lima are perhaps the most interesting cities on the Pacific side. Long sections of the South American coast are fairly limited in terms of inshore islands. The exceptions are the southernmost third of Chile and the island of Tierra del Fuego, which consist mainly of fjords and islands.

A few cruises visit three “Guianas” – Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana – with Devil’s Island being a highlight of the latter.

When it comes to South America, you have plenty of choices, from long voyages that make stops in the Falklands or the Antarctic Peninsula, to journeys around the Horn that cover both sides of the continent.

Valparaíso is one of the most interesting cities on the Pacific coast of South America - John W. Banagan/Getty Images

How long will I need?

If you want to see several countries, you’re going to need a couple of weeks. Distances are long, and countries like Brazil, Argentina and Chile have extensive coastlines. A week is enough to see three or four cities in Brazil. A cruise through the fjords of Tierra del Fuego, with the cruise line Australis, takes five days.

Two weeks, starting and finishing in either Buenos Aires or the Chilean capital Santiago, will allow you to see the continent’s scenic southern tip, including the Chilean fjords and Cape Horn, as well as the Falkland Islands.

With a month’s holiday, you can cruise from Florida in the US to Fortaleza in northern Brazil and then round Cape Horn to Santiago. Many round-the-world cruises visit South America.

How big are the ships?

Coast-hopping vessels plying South American routes range from the 700-passenger Azamara Quest to the 2,670-passenger Sapphire Princess, and the MSC Preziosa, which carries 4,345 passengers.

The Chilean fjords are visited by expedition ships. HX Expeditions’ Roald Amundsen carries 500 passengers, Ponant’s L’Austral carries 264 passengers. Chilean company Australis Cruises, which offers cruises exclusively around the forested fjords of Tierra del Fuego, carries around 200 passengers on its two ships.

HX Expeditions’ Roald Amundsen can cater for 500 passengers

Who should I cruise with?

The exciting range of itineraries on offer reflects the scope and scenic variety of the region.

Among the cruise lines sailing here are Oceania, Holland America Line (HAL), Celebrity Cruises, Princess Cruises, Viking, Silversea, Seabourn, HX Expeditions, Swan Hellenic and Hapag Lloyd. Some of these cruise lines, along with others, offer expedition cruises equipped for off-ship exploration in small boats, kayaks and even submarines. From Argentina, some ships continue their journey by heading south to Antarctica via the Drake Passage.

With several world cruise itineraries featuring South American ports, this is a good place to linger if you have the time. On its 65-night Grand South America Mosaic cruise in 2028, Regent Seven SeasCruises’ ship Voyager visits Antarctica, the Falklands, Uruguay, Ecuador, Peru and Chile and makes a transit of the Panama Canal.

Want to know more about choosing a ship?

Small, medium, mega: How to choose the right cruise ship

Who will my fellow passengers be?

Though South America is becoming more of a mainstream destination nowadays, the clientele is generally adventurous, and many passengers will likely have already tried cruises in the Caribbean or Mediterranean. Expect a senior age range, especially on the pricier cruises. Cruises around Patagonia tend to attract a more active, younger crowd.

How mobile do I need to be?

South American cities are not as well-equipped for wheelchair users as those in Europe and North America. Some cruise companies offer bus-based excursions, which makes mobility less of an issue.

For nature and wildlife-focused cruises, which often take passengers ashore by Zodiac, a level of fitness may be required.

When should I go?

The main cruising season for South America is from November to April, coinciding with the southern hemisphere’s summer. This attracts travellers keen to escape the northern winter, allows for longer days in the non-tropical Southern Cone, and also means the southern oceans are less likely to be stormy.

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Life on board

What does a typical day look like?

This is a region where shore trips and touring take priority. On days when the ship is anchored or moored, cruises tend to arrange landings and excursions after breakfast, returning either before lunch or before evening drinks and dinner. Excursions sometimes depart in the afternoon, too.

Because of the long distances between major ports, there are typically several sailing or “sea” days. These are more relaxed, with passengers attending lectures, using the library and maybe the spa facilities. Most ships also serve afternoon tea on sailing days.

Many cruises in South America, like on board MSC Seaview, have sea days to enjoy the facilities - Ivan Sarfatti/MSC

Will there be lectures?

Expedition and nature-oriented cruises in particular invite guest speakers on board and/or put on lectures hosted by their own guides who are experts in fields such as ornithology, whales, geology and glaciation.

Are there gyms and spas?

Even small vessels usually have a sauna, a couple of hot tubs and maybe a small gym. Larger ships can have indoor and outdoor swimming pools and may offer yoga and other fitness classes. There might also be a dedicated jogging track.

What are excursions like?

South American excursions are often the highlight of a cruise, and the array of experiences is diverse. In Buenos Aires, you might get to see tango dancers perform. In Rio de Janeiro, you can ride in a cable-car to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain or visit the city’s iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.

In Santiago, Chile, you can go wine tasting, while on the Amazon, there are night walks into the jungle. Cooking classes, visits to ancient ruins and historic cities and Zodiac rides to glaciers are all classic excursions offered on South America cruises.

Sugar Loaf Mountain is a popular place to visit on an excursion in Rio de Janeiro - JohnnyGreig/Getty Images

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Is there any entertainment on board?

On smaller vessels, there are usually documentary films related to the destination, and passengers will spend time at the bar, swapping stories before dinner. Theatre shows, live music and quizzes are typically offered on larger cruise ships.

How much should I tip?

Tipping is not mandatory; however, most lines will suggest a recommended amount per day. Some luxury, fully all-inclusive lines include tipping in the cruise fare.

Will there be Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi will be available (but not on Australis cruises) and costs will vary.

Can I cruise solo?

Most ships, and especially the larger ones, have rooms allocated for solo travellers, or offer single-berth cabins. Ask about discounts. Closer to departure, HX Expeditions occasionally removes the solo supplement, and supplements can be as low as 25 per cent. Oceania Cruises offers a reduced solo supplement on some cruises.

Do I need to fly to the ship?

The majority of South America cruises begin with a long-haul flight to a city such as Buenos Aires or Salvador to join the ship. A handful of voyages sail from Southampton or a European port such as Hamburg, but you may need to fly back. P&O Cruises, Cunard and Fred Olsen sail from Southampton to South America.

Fred Olsen runs itineraries that sail from Southampton to South America

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Before you go

Should I add Antarctica?

Ushuaia in Argentina is a prominent gateway for Antarctic expeditions. If you’re this far south and have the luxury of time, why not?

Across the Beagle Channel, Puerto Williams in Chile is a tiny port town that has ambitions to compete with Ushuaia. Silversea, which has based its Antarctic expedition ships there since 2022, is building a 150-room hotel as a pre-Antarctica base. The Cormorant at 55 South, scheduled to open in October 2026, is set to be the world’s southernmost hotel.

Some sailboat Antarctica cruises, such as Victory Cruises’ Santa Maria Australis, also embark at Puerto Williams.

Can I visit Machu Picchu?

South America’s most popular archaeological site involves a one-hour and 20-minute flight from Lima to Cusco, followed by a lengthy train transfer.

The best way to visit is to add it to a cruise that begins or ends in Lima (Callao port). Peruvian Amazon cruises often involve a stopover in Lima before or after; some Galapagos cruise itineraries include land tours to Lima and Machu Picchu.

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About our expert

Chris Moss

Chris has been writing about South and Central America for The Telegraph for two decades. A former resident of Buenos Aires, he led tours to Argentina and Chile. Chris has visited every country in Latin America and taken cruises through the Chilean fjords, to the Falklands and into the Peruvian Amazon.

Chris Moss, Telegraph Travel’s South America expert

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