South America Cruise Ports
It is home to many natural wonders including the Iguazu Falls, the Amazon River and Rainforest as well as the Andes mountain range plus it is home to popular tourist cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.
From a cruising point of view, it is a continent that has often been overlooked by many lines but over the past decade or so, it has really started to see an upturn in ships, lines and itineraries heading there to where it is now the case that the chances are your favourite line will offer the chance to visit the continent.
In this guide, we take you through the countries in South America you can visit on a cruise and give you links to follow for more information on the ports available in those countries.
Cruises To South America
Cruise Holidays in South America
If you want to visit South America on a cruise holiday, the great news it that you can do just that with many lines offering to chance to visit the region from ports in the USA but the bulk of itineraries, start and end on the continent, including the chance to circumnavigate the entire continent.
South America is also the launch pad for cruises heading down to Antarctica, with Buenos Aires a popular embarkation port for larger ships heading there and Ushuaia the popular choice for expedition cruise ships heading to the southern continent.
South America Cruise Guide
Here is our guide to where you can visit on a cruise to or from South America, with the majority of countries in the continent offering the chance to visit their on a cruise holiday.
Popular South American Ports
Whilst there is a wide range of cruise ports you can visit on the continent, there are a few that stand out as the most popular including both Ushuaia and Buenos Aires in Argentina, Montevideo in Uruguay, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil and Punta Arenas in Chile.
South America Cruise Countries
Here are all of the countries in the region that allow you to visit there on a cruise holiday.
Argentina is arguably the leading cruise port on the continent, especially when it comes to the southern part of it, as it not only has one of the biggest turnaround ports for cruise ships in its capital city of Buenos Aires, but it also has one of the busiest cruise ports for expedition cruise ships at the port of Ushuaia.
It also has a few ports of call outside of those and some of the best scenic cruising opportunities on the continent in the Tierra del Fuego.
Brazil is a vast country that offers one of the most diverse ranges of cruise ports including major cities, seaside holiday resorts, rainforest getaways and even river cruises along the mighty Amazon.
The country is a blend of cultures, ethnicities and beliefs all held together by the spirit of samba and the religion of football.
Chile offers a couple of the highlights of a South American cruise including heading around the infamous Cape Horn and sailing through the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, but it isn’t just its natural beauty that draws cruise ships.
Chile is also home to a major turnaround port in the region close to its capital city of Santiago and it is also home to Easter Island.
Colombian cruise ports feature on a wide range of itineraries including those sailing around the Caribbean, around Central America and for cruises sailing through the Panama Canal.
There are some cruise ports on the Ecuadorian mainland, which are usually visited more by smaller cruise ships but in the main, it is the countries ownership of the Galapagos Islands that see’s most people head there for a cruise, at it is the starting point for all adventures in the wildlife wonderland.
Port Callao, close to the capital city of Lima, is the country’s leading turnaround cruise port as well as the main port of call in the country, although there are a few more options for those sailing on smaller ships if you want to try and find Paddington!
Uruguay may be one of the smallest countries in the region, but it is one of the busiest when it comes to cruise ships movements, with the vast majority heading to its capital city of Montevideo.
Punta del Este is another popular option and offers a more relaxed and laid back experience for visitors.
South American Dependent Territories
There are a number of countries that are thought of as been part of the continent, but they are also part of other nations far from South America.
The Falkland Islands is a little bit of the United Kingdom in South America and whilst there are plenty of similarities between its capital city and other UK cities, Stanley does offer the chance to see Penguins up close in the wild and you don’t get that in Wakefield!
When it comes to French Guiana, there is one place cruise ships head to and that is Devils Island- a former penal colony that has been given back to nature.
Expedition ships heading down to Antarctica will often also stop in either South Georgia or the South Sandwich Islands where visitors can get up close to its stunning scenery and meet its local residents- penguins and seals.
Popular Cruise Lines
Lot’s of cruise liens now sailing in South America, with Silversea Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn Cruises leading the way in terms of the number of itineraries offered.
South America
Location: Western Hemisphere / The Americas
Main Cities: Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo, Buenos Aires
Currency: Multiple
Language: Multiple (Spanish, Portuguese, English, French and Dutch most widely spoken)
Demonym(s): South American
Top Ports: Buenos Aires, Punta Arena, Ushuaia, Rio de Janeiro, Montevideo
South America is a place full of incredible culture, wildlife no where else on earth, incredible scenery, bustling cities and iconic landmarks that makes it a popular choice of peoples travel bucket lists, but that wanderlust used to difficult to scratch.
Thankfully, the continent is now really starting to open up to tourists and one of the best ways to explore as much of it as possible to head there on a cruise ship- something else that is getting easier and easier to achieve.
Best Time To Visit South America
The best time to visit South America is during the northern hemisphere winter, between October and March as it is then when the continent has its own better weather and the widest range of ships and lines sailing there.
South American Cruises From The UK
If you want to visit the continent directly from the UK, you may think it is not possible but there are a few itineraries that offer cruises the chance to do just that, including some round trips, although most are repositioning routes.
South American Cruises From Southampton
If you do want to sail from these shores, the most likely port offering an itinerary is to choose a sailing from the UK’s leading cruse port of Southampton.
Here at CruiseHols.co.uk we bring you all of the information you will ever need to choose the right cruise destination for you and your family.
Our destination guides include everything from ports to attractions and excursion to the positives and negatives of the destination.
