Atlantic Coast Cruises
Beaches, samba and colonial towns from Brazil to the Río de la Plata.
Get Atlantic Coast QuotesBeaches, Big Cities and Colonial Towns
The Atlantic side of South America offers a very different cruise from Patagonia: warm water, long beaches, samba and some of the continent’s liveliest cities. It is sailed both by international ships on longer voyages and by ships based in Brazil for the local summer.
The coast divides naturally into two parts. In Brazil, ships call at Rio de Janeiro, Santos (for São Paulo), Búzios, Ilhabela, Salvador and, farther north, Recife and Fortaleza. Farther south, the Río de la Plata region links Buenos Aires with Montevideo and the Uruguayan resort of Punta del Este. Many Cape Horn voyages begin with this stretch, and transatlantic repositioning voyages often end or begin here.
Highlights Along the Coast
Colonial Brazil
Salvador’s historic Pelourinho district and small colonial towns along the coast preserve centuries of Portuguese and African heritage.
Montevideo & Punta del Este
Uruguay pairs a relaxed capital with a glamorous beach resort, both easy to explore on foot or by short tour.
Montevideo shore tours →
Iguazu Falls
Not a port, but a popular add-on before or after a cruise from Buenos Aires or Rio, reached by a short domestic flight.
Brazil’s Summer Cruise Season
Each southern summer, a group of ships is based in Brazil for short and mid-length cruises, mostly from Santos and Rio de Janeiro. For 2026–27, the industry association CLIA Brasil lists eight ships in the season, which runs from October 31, 2026 to April 9, 2027. MSC Cruises and Costa are the main lines, and a new Spanish operator is joining them.
These cruises are designed and priced mainly for Brazilian and Argentine travelers. Announcements, entertainment and dining reflect that, which many visitors enjoy as part of the experience. If you would prefer an English-first ship, look at the international lines sailing the coast on longer voyages instead.
Combining the Coast With Other Routes
- Cape Horn add-on: the Atlantic coast from Buenos Aires to Puerto Madryn forms the first days of most Cape Horn voyages.
- Transatlantic repositioning: ships moving between Europe and South America each season sail between Lisbon or the Mediterranean and Brazil or Buenos Aires, often calling in Cape Verde.
- Carnival: Rio’s Carnival falls in February or March. Some international voyages schedule a Rio overnight to coincide, and these sell out early.
Choosing between a local-season ship and an international voyage
The two kinds of Atlantic coast cruise feel quite different. Brazil-based ships sail short, lively trips of three to eight nights, with mostly Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking guests, late dinners and a party atmosphere around the pool. International voyages are longer, call at fewer beach resorts and more historic cities, and are run in English with North American and European guests. Neither is better; it depends on whether you want to cruise like a local or see the continent on a longer journey.
For tours in each coastal port, see our Atlantic coast and River Plate guide, with pages for Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Buenos Aires.
Cruise the Atlantic Coast
Tell us whether you want Brazil’s beaches, the River Plate cities or a long voyage that includes both. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will send free quotes.
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