Small Ship SOUTH AMERICAN CRUISES

Central America, Colombia and Ecuador are teeming with life, rating as one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. Visitors to places like Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands will find an incredible variety of flora and fauna, including species not found anywhere else. Iconic creatures like howler monkeys, sloths, scarlet macaws and toucans can be spotted by sharp-eyed visitors to Costa Rica’s rainforests, while endangered giant Galapagos tortoises, marine iguanas, and flightless cormorants live out their lives in the Lost World of the Galapagos Islands, far from mainland continents and other species.

Go beyond the major ports big ships visit, to smaller, less-visited ports and islands off the beaten track. Places like Santa Marta, the oldest city in Colombia and the location of Tayrona National Park, a protected area with more than 58 square miles of lush vegetation and pristine beaches. Machala, the capital of the El Oro Province in Ecuador and a region known for its agriculture, specifically its production of coffee, bananas, and cacao. And Salaverry (Trujillo), Peru an area recognized for its archeological site, Chan Chan, a vast adobe complex built by the Chimu tribe.

Our immersive itineraries include overnight stays that let you explore a place in greater depth, experiencing a city’s restaurants, nightlife, and skyline as well as its daytime attractions. You can also book sightseeing tours that take you further from port. From Manta, travel to Isla Corazon, a mangrove island that’s a must-see for birders. In Lima, visit the pre-Columbian Pachacamac ruins, watch the Magic Water Circuit show, or dine in one of the world’s great food towns. Other places we stay overnight include Guayaquil, Cartagena, and Colon.

On this unique itinerary you’ll explore two of South America’s most intriguing countries in-depth, with multiple overnight stays and a once-in-a-lifetime crossing of the Panama Canal. Discover the incredible biodiversity of Ecuador, a country with more biospheres and birds than Costa Rica. Explore ancient Chan Chan where up to 60,000 Chimu once lived in a city made of clay. Sip guayusa tea as you stroll the magnificent malecón in Guayaquil, and yerba mate as you wander the historic center of Lima past buildings that were established in Pizzaro’s day. See even more South American wonders with a Cruise Tour to Machu Picchu or an optional 2-night shore excursion to the Galapagos.

The Galapagos Islands are one of the largest marine protected areas in the world, and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your visit here will take you from the mist-shrouded forest of the Santa Cruz Highlands to arid islands inhabited only by legendary Lost World creatures. A guided boat tour and a dedicated Naturalist Guide give you the best chance of spotting rarities like Galapagos penguins, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, giant tortoises and more – all castaways who evolved to thrive in this remote landscape. Don’t miss the Galapagos tortoise nursery at the Charles Darwin Research Station.

Daylight Transit of the Panama Canal

Crossing the Panama Canal is on every cruiser’s bucket list but experiencing it on a small Windstar ship is utterly unique. Appreciate the true scale of the gates as you approach them at eye level instead of looking down at them from above. Watch from close up as locomotive “mules” nudge our ship into place, sometimes high above us as we descend with the water level. And easily move from one excellent viewing platform to another to catch all the action. An onboard Canal Historian describes each fascinating stage, and on some cruises, an onboard naturalist also joins you on deck.