South America Embarkation Cities
Gateway cities, cruise ports and the transfers between them.
Get Free Cruise QuotesWhere South America Cruises Begin and End
Most South America cruises are one-way, so you will usually fly into one city and home from another. Knowing the gateway cities — and how far each port is from its airport — makes planning much easier.
| Gateway | Cruise port | Typical voyages |
|---|---|---|
| Buenos Aires, Argentina | Port of Buenos Aires, close to the city center | Cape Horn, Antarctica scenic cruising, Atlantic coast, transatlantic |
| Santiago, Chile | San Antonio or Valparaíso on the coast | Cape Horn and Chilean fjords, Pacific coast |
| São Paulo, Brazil | Santos, on the coast below the city | Brazil summer season, transatlantic |
| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Pier Mauá, near downtown | Brazil summer season, Atlantic coast, transatlantic |
| Lima, Peru | Callao, the city’s port | Pacific coast, Panama Canal and longer voyages |
| Ushuaia, Argentina | Ushuaia, in town | Expedition voyages to Antarctica |
| Fort Lauderdale or Miami, USA | Port Everglades or PortMiami | Ocean voyages to the Amazon |
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the busiest starting point for South America voyages and deserves a stay of at least two nights. The cruise terminal is close to the center, so transfers are short. Plan time for the Recoleta and San Telmo neighborhoods, a tango show and a long steak dinner. Many itineraries begin or end with an overnight on board, which helps.
Some travelers add Iguazu Falls or a ferry day trip across the river to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay.
Santiago, San Antonio and Valparaíso
Chile’s capital is inland, so ships use coastal ports instead. Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line use San Antonio; Viking uses Valparaíso. Both are well over an hour from Santiago’s airport, so allow plenty of time on disembarkation day before an evening flight.
Valparaíso is a UNESCO World Heritage city of steep hills, murals and funiculars, and it is worth a day on its own. Santiago offers museums, Andean views and day trips to the wine valleys nearby.
Rio, Santos and Lima
Rio de Janeiro’s cruise pier is close to downtown, a short ride from Sugarloaf and Copacabana. Santos is the main port for São Paulo but sits down the coastal escarpment from the city, so transfers take time. Lima’s port of Callao is the gateway for Pacific-coast sailings and for adding Cusco and Machu Picchu before or after a cruise. See Lima and Valparaíso on our shore excursion site for tours in port.
Embarkation Questions
Is San Antonio the same as Santiago?
No. Santiago, Chile’s capital, is inland. Cruise ships use the coastal ports of San Antonio or Valparaíso, each roughly a couple of hours from Santiago by road depending on traffic. Most travelers fly into Santiago and transfer to the port.
Should I book the cruise line’s transfer?
For ports that are far from the airport, such as San Antonio, Valparaíso and Santos, a cruise-line or pre-arranged transfer removes a lot of stress. Ask your advisor to include it in the quote.
Get Help With Flights and Transfers
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