I recently embarked on a 14-day cruise along the South American coast. My journey took me from Valparaíso, Chile to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Along the way, I explored stunning landscapes and encountered diverse wildlife.
The cruise offered a unique chance to see remote parts of South America. I visited Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, and sailed through the Beagle Channel. I also saw a massive penguin colony in Patagonia. While the trip had some ups and downs, it was an unforgettable experience overall.
Key Takeaways
- The cruise offered views of diverse South American landscapes and wildlife
- Some excursions and ports had logistical challenges
- Despite issues, the trip provided access to unique destinations
My Adventure on the Beagle Channel
Reaching Ushuaia
I arrived in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. The view was stunning. I woke up to see the beautiful Beagle Channel right outside my window. Words can’t capture how amazing it felt. Ushuaia is famous as a starting point for Antarctic trips, but I wasn’t going there this time. Instead, I planned to explore the nearby Andes Mountains.
Trip to the Mountains
I booked a short tour with the cruise ship’s excursion team. We went on a quick 25-minute hike to see a small creek and a beaver’s nest. I learned that there are more beavers than people in this area! The tour company, SC Canal, did a great job. Our guides Franco, Christian, and Laura were excellent. If you’re ever in Ushuaia without a cruise, I’d suggest booking with them.
Taking in the Views
The scenery around Ushuaia was breathtaking. I knew right away that I wanted to come back someday. The mountains, the water, and the untouched nature were unlike anything I’d seen before. Even though we only had about 6 hours in port, I got a taste of the area’s beauty. It made me excited to see more of South America’s natural wonders.
Wildlife Encounters
Magellanic Penguins at Punta Tombo
I visited one of the biggest penguin colonies in the world, just a couple hours from Puerto Madryn. This place is famous for its huge group of Magellanic penguins – over a million of them nest here! I was a bit skeptical at first, but seeing it in person was truly special. The penguins were so close to the walking path. We had to stop whenever they crossed in front of us. It was amazing to be among so many penguins.
The only downside was the limited time we had. Our cruise excursion only gave us about 1.5 hours at the colony before we had to head back to the ship. I wish we could have stayed longer, but even that short visit was worth the trip.
Sea Lions in Uruguay
My experience seeing sea lions in Uruguay didn’t go as planned. Our original tour in Punta del Este got cancelled last minute due to technical issues. We tried to find another tour at the port, but ended up getting scammed. The new tour took us to the wrong island where sea lions weren’t allowed.
Ironically, when we got back to port and walked toward the beach, we saw sea lions lounging right next to the fish market! It was frustrating that our tour didn’t work out, but at least we got to see some sea lions in the end.
These wildlife encounters were highlights of my South American cruise, even with some bumps along the way. Seeing so many penguins up close was unforgettable. And while the sea lion tour was a bust, spotting them unexpectedly by the port was a nice surprise.
Exploring Local Excursions
Celebrity Team Trips
I joined a Celebrity team excursion to explore the Andes near Ushuaia. We took a short 25-minute hike to see a creek and beaver nests. It was amazing to learn that there are more beavers than people in the area!
Our guides Franco, Christian, and Laura were fantastic. If you’re in Ushuaia without a cruise, I highly recommend booking with SC Canal. They made the day really special.
In Puerto Madryn, I visited one of South America’s largest penguin colonies. Over a million Magellanic penguins nest there. I was skeptical at first, but it truly was incredible. The penguins walked so close to us on the paths!
Cruise Challenges and Planning
Limited Time at Ports
I faced some issues with the short stops at each port during my South American cruise. In Ushuaia, we only had about 6 hours to explore. This tight schedule made it hard to see everything I wanted. For example, I couldn’t visit Antarctica from there, even though it’s a popular jumping-off point.
At other stops, like Puerto Madryn, we had to rush. We drove 2 hours to see the penguin colony, but only got 1.5 hours there before heading back to the ship. It felt rushed and I wished for more time.
Port Problems and Wrong Info
Some ports lacked good facilities for cruise ships. This made getting on and off the boat harder. In a few places, we had to use small boats to reach shore, which took extra time.
I also ran into issues with excursion info. In Punta del Este, my sea lion tour got cancelled last minute due to technical problems. When I tried to book another tour at the port, I got scammed. They took me to the wrong place with no sea lions.
These problems made the trip less enjoyable than typical Caribbean or European cruises. But I still got to see amazing places that would be hard to visit without a cruise. Even with the ups and downs, I’m glad I went.
My Thoughts on the South American Cruise
How It Stacks Up to Caribbean and European Trips
I found the South American cruise very different from typical Caribbean or European voyages. The ports were less developed, often requiring tender boats to reach shore. This made getting on and off the ship more time-consuming. Some excursions had issues too, with cancellations or misleading information. But the stunning landscapes and unique wildlife made up for these hassles.
Good and Bad Parts of the Journey
The cruise had amazing highs and frustrating lows. Waking up to breathtaking views of the Beagle Channel was unforgettable. Seeing vast penguin colonies in Argentina was a highlight. But short port stops meant rushing through destinations. In Uruguay, a cancelled excursion and getting tricked by a tour operator left a sour taste. Still, I loved experiencing so many places in just two weeks.
Was the Trip Worth It?
Despite some downsides, I’m glad I took this cruise. It let me see remote parts of South America I couldn’t easily visit otherwise. The natural beauty blew me away. While the issues with excursions and port facilities were annoying, the chance to see penguins, sea lions, and stunning scenery made up for it. For anyone seeking adventure over a typical relaxing cruise, it’s worth considering.
Final Thoughts
My South American cruise was a mix of breathtaking sights and some bumps along the way. I loved seeing penguins up close in Argentina and waking up to stunning views in the Beagle Channel. The trip let me visit many places quickly, which was great.
But there were issues too. Some excursions got canceled or didn’t match what was promised. We often felt rushed at ports, with little time to explore. A few ports lacked good facilities for cruise ships.
Even with these problems, I’m glad I went. I saw amazing landscapes and wildlife I couldn’t have seen any other way. The cruise opened my eyes to South America’s beauty.
For anyone thinking about a similar trip, just know it might not be as smooth as cruising in Europe or the Caribbean. But if you’re up for an adventure and want to see a lot in a short time, it can be worth it.
