CHILE CRUISES
CHILE CRUISE PORTS AND CITIES
| Easter Island | La Serena | Puerto Montt | Punta Arenas |
| Santiago |
Easter Island Cruise
Puzzle out the Mystery of the Giant Stone monoliths on Your Easter Island Cruise, Chile
Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is a remote place. This 64-square-mile volcanic island lies some 2,000 miles from Tahiti and the coast of South America. The giant stone monoliths of Easter Island have fascinated and puzzled Westerners since the Dutch seaman Roggeven first made landfall there on Easter Sunday, 1722. And the mystery of Easter Island's first settlers remains just that—a mystery. Most anthropologists believe the island was settled as part of the great wave of Polynesian emigration, since the first inhabitants arrived in 400-700 BC. In addition to erecting the great Moai, the society of Rapa Nui possessed considerable masonry skills, on par with those found in the Inca Empire of South America. Today, Easter Island has a population of approximately 3,400, although it is believed that the society that produced the great stone Moai no longer exist.
La Serena Cruise
A Totally Turtle Cruise to La Serena (Coquimbo), Chile
Located in the Coquimbo region of Chile, La Serena is a charming port city that boasts some beautiful neo-colonial buildings and a graceful cathedral built in 1844. Located in the transition zone between Chile's austere Atacama Desert and its central valley, La Serena has become a popular holiday resort town. Explore the Plaza de Armas and its neighbouring vineyards and quaint villages. The lush Elqui valley is a centre for grapes, papaya and cherimoya, as well as many of Chile's pisco (white brandy) distilleries. La Recova is an artisan's marketplace featuring copper and silver jewellery, glass works and ceramics. Discover Enchantment Valley a fascinating array of petro glyphs that range from stone engravings to painted figures.
Puerto Montt Cruise
Puerto Montt, Chile, Cruise Gateway to Chile's Magnificent Lake District
Here, snow-capped volcanoes gaze down on alpine valleys nestled among low hills. Glaciers carved out this terrain, leaving the jewel-like lakes in their wake. The Lake District was a magnet for German immigrants, and their legacy can be seen today in the manicured rose gardens of Puerto Varas, the "German Villages" like Frutillar, and the gabled homes with elaborate balconies of Puerto Montt. Despite a population of more than 130,000, Puerto Montt retains the feel of a small town. For a simple introduction to the city, walk along the waterfront road to the fishing port of Angelmo and browse the local artisans' stalls, then tuck into a snack in one of the small cafés along the way.
Punta Arenas Cruise
Punta Arenas in Chile is the Cruise Gateway to Chilean Patagonia, a Maze of Fjords, Rivers, Steppes and Mountains
Punta Arenas lies atop rolling hills, looking out over the Strait of Magellan. In the days before the Panama Canal, this was a major port as ships plied the waters of Cape Horn. Punta Arenas remains a prosperous town today, thanks to its rich natural resources.
Santiago Cruise
Cruise to Santiago (Valparaiso) in Chile and Ride on a National Treasure
Founded in 1536, Valparaíso is Chile's oldest city. It is also the gateway to Chile's central valley and the capital of Santiago. With a population of over five million people, Santiago sprawls at the feet of the snow-capped Andes. At the top of the Cerro Polanco Funicular cable car, declared a national treasure in 1976, appreciate views of the city's cruise harbour and its surrounding 42 hills. Take our free city tour included in our special South American Cruise package or for sun and relaxation, spend time on the beach at Chile's popular seaside resort of Viña Del Mar and the Santiago's weekend getaway. Concha y Toro Winery is an internationally recognized winery and producer of America's second most popular imported wine.
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