HIGHLIGHTS
- Walk the cobblestone streets in the colourful, historic centre of Salvador da Bahia
- Watch for humpback whales in the Abrolhos Archipelago
- Take in the enormity of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro
- Wander the Portuguese-influenced streets of Paraty, a former Gold Rush town
- Learn about the colourful history of this vibrant country from our on-board experts
DATES / RATES
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Oct 23, 2023 | Nov 07, 2023 | 6,769 |
7,128 |
Rates are listed per person
|
Start Date | End Date | From EUR | From USD |
Oct 23, 2023 | Nov 07, 2023 | 6,769 |
7,128 |
ITINERARY
FORTALEZA
DAY 1
Cruise into the harbour city of Fortaleza, the capital of
Ceará. Located as it is in the remote and relatively
unpopulated coastline of northeastern Brazil, you might be surprised by
Fortaleza’s size and sprawl – it’s
Brazil’s fifth-largest city. Appealing in part because of its
history, this buzzing beachside metropolis started out in 1654 as the
Dutch outpost of Shoonenbroch. Still, it was soon retaken by the
Portuguese who renamed it Fortaleza (fortress). Before you hit the
beach, you might want to tour the imposing Romano-Gothic cathedral, the
jammed-packed Central Market (near the church), the Art Nouveau-styled
José de Alencar Theatre, and the Dragão do Mar
Centre of Art & Culture. Instagrammers won’t want to
miss the photogenic Ponte dos Ingleses (English Bridge).
AT SEA
DAY 2
You can spend your day at sea enjoying the many facilities available.
Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or
relax in the jacuzzi whilst taking in incredible views along the way.
If you prefer to learn a little more about your surroundings, listen to
an informative talk or have a chat with one of our knowledgeable
on-board experts.
RECIFE
DAY 3
Disembark today in exciting Recife in the state of Pernambuco,
Brazil’s fourth-largest city and home to more than four
million inhabitants. Sprawled over several islands, it’s
located at the confluence of the Beberibe and Capibaribe rivers and has
been called (a little fancifully) the ‘Venice of
Brazil’. The city is named for the reefs just offshore that
make this city’s waters so calm and appealing here, so expect
smooth seas as you glide into the port in Recife Antigo, the old town,
located on its own island. Explore Old Recife’s sweet streets
and colourful colonial architecture – built by merchants made
wealthy by sugarcane – with coconut water in hand. Elsewhere
in the city, you could shop at the artisanal Casa de Cultura or the
massive RioMar Recife shopping centre; explore the Instituto Ricardo
Brennand and its swords and suits armour; visit the Oficina
Cerâmica Francisco Brennand; or enjoy Boa Viagem beach. On
Recife’s northern edge, just six kilometres from the city
centre lies the UNESCO World Heritage-listed 18th-century town of
Olinda with its charming harmony of buildings, chapels, gardens,
Baroque churches, convents, chapels
AT SEA
DAY 4
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world
go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of
the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle
with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible
trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books.
Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or
perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our
onboard professional photographers.
SALVADOR DA BAHIA
DAY 5
The capital of the state of Bahia. This multi-ethnic city is imbued
with a youthful energy that’s hard to resist. More than
anywhere else in Brazil, this is where Africa meets South America, and
from capoeira to Candomblé, the culture reflects a deep and
rich Afro-Brazilian heritage. Be sure to make time to explore the city
before boarding your home-from-home for the next two weeks. A visit to
Pelourinho, the historic centre with its coil of cobblestone streets
and brightly painted colonial buildings, is unmissable. Salvador was
Brazil’s first capital from 1549 to 1763, and its old town is
UNESCO-listed. Elsewhere there are myriad places to explore. Still,
lovers of the literary works by Jorge Amado, one of the
city’s favourite sons, shouldn’t miss out on
exploring his former house, now a museum, A Casa do Rio Vermelho.
ILHEUS
DAY 6
Ilhéus is a major city located in the southern coastal
region of Bahia, Brazil, 211 km south of Salvador, the state's capital.
The city was founded in 1534 as Vila de São Jorge dos
Ilhéus and is known as one of the most important tourism
centers of the northeast of Brazil.
PORTO SEGURO
DAY 7
The resort town of Porto Seguro – your port of call
– is one of southern Bahia’s most popular
destinations for homegrown travellers who visit to relax on the
area’s superb beaches. This heavyweight tourist town is also
a big-hitter historically: this is where a European first
‘discovered’ Brazil. Portuguese nobleman Pedro
Álvares Cabral and his fleet, on its way to India, landed on
what he called ‘True Cross Island’ in April 1500.
The Discovery Memorial (Memorial da Epopéia do
Descobrimento) makes this momentous event. The town’s
historic core – Cidade Alta – with its numerous
churches has been protected by the National Historic and Artistic
Heritage Institute (IPHAN) since 1973, and it’s worth a
visit. Having explored Porto Seguro, you might opt to turn your
attention to nearby Arraial d’Ajuda, a deliciously languid
former fishing village turned boho holiday hotspot. Sitting atop a
bluff overlooking a picturesque stretch of the Discovery Coast, Arraial
d’Ajuda came to light in the 1970s, and it’s been
enticing stylish travellers with its considerable charm and quirky
shops ever since.
ABROLHOS ARCHIPELAGO
DAY 8
Observing marine life in its natural habitat is high on the wish lists
of many wildlife enthusiasts, and today you will have that opportunity
as you explore the Abrolhos Archipelago. This archipelago is made up of
five islands that sit within the Abrolhos Marine National Park, located
off the coast of Bahia state. Considered to be the most biodiverse area
in the South Atlantic, this reserve contains one of the
world’s most extensive coral reefs. It’s home to at
least 28 different species of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish that
are threatened with extinction. It’s a breeding site for
humpback whales and is home to colonies of leatherback and loggerhead
sea turtles. Enjoy diving and snorkelling today in this unique
environment that Charles Darwin once explored. Only one of the islands
– Siriba – can be visited and as you walk here, you
might see masked and brown boobies, frigatebirds, red-billed
tropicbirds, sooty terns and brown noddies, all of which nest here.
AT SEA
DAY 9
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world
go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of
the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle
with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible
trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books.
Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or
perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our
onboard professional photographers.
RIO DE JANEIRO
DAY 10
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s second most populated city, is
coastal cool brought to life. Located along a stretch of famous
Atlantic coastline, around Guanabara Bay, and surrounded by tropical
forest-covered peaks, ridges and hills, the city was originally founded
in 1565 by the Portuguese. It was the colonial capital from 1763, the
capital of the independent country from 1822 until 1960 when it moved
to the brand-new city of Brasília. Still, it continued to
symbolise Brazil to the rest of the world and remained the
country’s cultural capital. From museums to markets, beaches
to churches, favelas to festivals, you’ll spend the next two
days getting to know the Cidade maravilhosa. Where to even start? You
can’t visit Rio without gaping at the scenery. After all, as
the local’s say, on the eighth day, God created Rio. Head to
the Sugarloaf Mountain or the art-deco statue of Christ the Redeemer on
Corcovado Mountain in the Tijuca Forest national park for the
world-famous views. Enjoy digging deeper into Rio today at some of the
city’s cultural hotspots. The Santiago Calatrava-designed
Museum of Tomorrow’s exterior is impressive, so take time to
stroll around the reflection pool that gives visitors the impression
the museum is floating. The dynamic Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR) is just
across the plaza. Take the elevator to the sixth floor for the views
and start from the top down. UNESCO-listed Valongo Wharf,
Rio’s ‘slave harbour’ was the most
significant arrival point for slaves in Brazil. Nearly a million slaves
from West and Central Africa landed here. Only rediscovered due to
preparations for the 2016 Olympics, this unique memorial is the
“most important physical trace” of the devastating
trade on the American continent, according to UNESCO. You
can’t visit Rio without seeing some of starchitect Oscar
Niemeyer’s work. Located in nearby Niterói, the
Niterói Contemporary Art Museum opened in 1996 and is
considered one of the last great buildings by the Brazilian Modernist.
End your stay in Rio with a visit to famous Copacabana. It might seem
cliched, but it’s still a must. Copacabana is arguably the
best urban beach in the world. Soak up the good-time vibes with a
caipirinha in hand bought from a beachside quiosque (kiosk).
PARATY
DAY 11
Hidden behind a curtain of rainforest – the lush Mata
Atlântica – the tiny coastal town of Paraty is a
joy to explore. Arrive at the pink and red harbour and disembark to
explore the charming village, which was the centre of a gold rush in
the 18th century. Stroll around the cobblestoned streets of the
historical centre, recognised as a National Historic Site by IPHAN
since 1966. It’s dotted with artisanal shops and independent
galleries and lined with white-washed buildings made distinctive by
their brightly coloured doors, jambs and latticework. The
mustard-yellow, 17th-century Our Lady of the Remedies church, is
located in Paraty’s main square and is purported to have been
financed by pirate treasure. If you wish to venture beyond the town,
the Serra da Bocaina National Park is chock full of tumbling waterfalls
and a ‘Gold Trail’; or the Saco do
Mamanguá fjord is a picturesque snorkel-friendly paradise.
ILHABELA
DAY 12
PORTO BELO
DAY 13
The seafront town of Porto Belo lies at the base of a peninsula dotted
with beaches, bays, and coves, and it has a great reputation among
Argentine and Paraguayan tourists for its natural beauty, and water
sports. The Praia Bombas and Praia Bombalinhas are the most popular,
but word is that Mariscal may be less crowded and quieter. The town is
set of a peninsula cradling an emerald-green bay, which gives the
region its nickname of the Emerald Coast.
AT SEA
DAY 14-15
Today as you sail, you’ll bask in the endless comforts of
your ship. From the deck, marvel at the dramatic sea views. Relax with
a nurturing facial treatment or massage in the spa or delve into the
ship’s learning resources. Or, simply take refuge in your
cabin and enjoy the opportunity to rest.
BUENOS AIRES
DAY 16
We might just have saved the best until last. Disembark in Buenos
Aires, the capital and largest city of Argentina. This gracefully
elegant and attractive city is wedged between the Río de la
Plata and fabled Pampas. Known as ‘the Paris of the
South’, it’s known for its belle époque
grandeur rooted in European influences, and contemporary cosmopolitan
verve fuelled by passionately creative Portenos, as residents are
called. Delve straight into the city’s history at the famous
Recoleta Cemetery, where presidents, generals, poets and captains of
industry rest in some 6,400 above-ground mausoleums. The Duarte Family
crypt is Eva Perón’s final resting place. Observe
as locals lay flowers for Evita. Near the necropolis, you’ll
find one of the city’s oldest cafes, La Biela. Pop in for a
drink to toast to your 14-day cruise; you’ll be in good
company. Afterwards, be sure to visit a parrilla (steakhouse) leaving
room for dulce de leche and time to watch some tango. Today is the
final day of your exploration of South America’s coastline.
Having overnighted aboard the SH Vega, say ‘hasta
luego’ to your chic ship and its excellent crew. If time
allows before you begin your journey home, continue your Buenos Aires
experience in Plaza de Mayo, which is lined with the Casa Rosada, the
Cabildo and the main cathedral and centred around the Piramid de Mayo,
a white obelisk built to commemorate the first anniversary of
Argentina’s independence from Spain. If you didn’t
delve into the city’s irresistibly vivacious cultural scene
yesterday, today is the day. Explore the National Museum of Decorative
Arts – it’s a testimony to the lives of Argentinian
high society at the start of the 20th century. From there, visit the
sleek and modern Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires (Malba),
which makes a big statement. Hit a high cultural note, at the
city’s famed opera house, Teatro Colón, where a
tour will reveal its grandeur.
(Click image to view Ship details)
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Group return transfers from the airport to the cruise port (via our included accommodation where applicable)
- One night pre-cruise accommodation with breakfast in a 4/5-star hotel or onboard
- All meals onboard
- Onboard accommodation in a stateroom selected category
- 24-hour room service
- Coffee, tea, soft drinks and selected alcoholic beverages available 24-hours per day
- Lecture programmes by our experienced expedition team and guest speakers
- One selected shore excursion/expedition activities per port of call
- Branded Swan Hellenic expedition parka and use of rubber boots in Polar Regions
- Standard WiFi
- Onboard gratuities & port taxes