Which side of South America

[marky63]

We are consider two SA cruises. One leaving Fl through canal and down the west side of SA (Maybe Celebrity). The other our of Fl down east side and up Amazon (small Princess Ship). We have been to the canal before but not the full transit. Any advice or points to consider would be appricated. looking at about 13-15 days.

[paul929207]

We took the Pacific Princess up from Fort Lauderdale to Manaus (and back). It was wonderful

[ScottishMaid]

Both would be great. We have been 4 times to South America with Holland America, including twice to the Amazon, twice down the west coast and twice through the canal.

I would choose by cruise cost and airfare and be ready to go again next year.

[marky63]

Thanks for the input. Not sure i will make it back. if you had to choose what would do?

[ScottishMaid]

Amazon: Probably need a visa for Brazil and yellow fever shot/ certificate and possibly malaria pills, depending on medical advice. Would you go one way and get Princess air back?

If you have been to the Canal area before the Amazon is something different to see. You are on a wide river, fast flowing and flooded in March. Manaus is an amazing large city in the jungle. See as many ports as possible: Santarem, Paratins, Boca de Valeria, Alter do Chao, Macapa. Some of these places are changing/ will change fast as Brazil's economy grows. They are building a large bridge over the river at Manaus

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/29/manaus-bridge-amazon-rainforest

 

West coast: Manta and Guayaquil Ecuador are pretty modern. Salaverry/ Trujillo Peru has wonderful pre Inca ruins to see. Lima is a huge city to see, with good museums and Spanish colonial architecture.

All these places are relatively cool temperatures and you are on the ocean.

Assume you'd get off at Valparaiso and take the long flight back from Santiago?

[Taxguy77]

A number of years ago we went from Miami, through the canal, and down the west coast to Valpariaiso. Excellent trip. Our trip was more interesting for us, as DW is Peruvian and we spent the day in Lima with relatives and friends. The ship also stopped at a city in Chile where DW had lived with cousins for a few months and remembered many places.

 

We have friends who took the east coast to the Amazon, and said it was mostly a fast run down and back, not enough ports.

[marky63]

We'd fly back from either cruise or fly down and take cruise from SA to US. We'd love to see Iguazu Falls but i dont see that on any of the itineraries we are considering. I hate to miss it if it is a "must see". I think this will be our only trip

[dabear]

The easiest way to see Igusau Falls is to fly there from Buenos Aires and it can be done up and back in 1 long day. We did it and arranged to have a guide pick us up at the airport, guide us through the park and return us to the airport. It is a must see! PS we've been on both sides of SA, although the w side was land based with a visit to Machu Pichu, also a not to be missed experience if you have the time. For cruising, I would say the east side should be better.

Edited February 8, 2012 by dabear

[marky63]

We are also considering a trip around the horn in the mix. So it would be Fl through canal down west side no falls, trip from Fl up amazon round trip, or around the horn with falls on pre-cruise. We don't know what to do. Help appricateed.

[marky63]

We did the Amazon in 2012 and are considering a trip around the horn. Any ports that are must stops?

[NancyIL]

We did the Amazon in 2012 and are considering a trip around the horn. Any ports that are must stops?

 

I suggest you start a new thread to ask that question.

[4774Papa]

We did Celebrity Infinity repositioning cruise from FLL through the Panama Canal down the West Coast of SA to Valparaiso.

It was great. We would not have been interested in going up the Amazon.

 

We also did Around the Horn from Buenos Aires to Valpo in January. It was wonderful.

 

Her are my reviews of both.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=248878

 

 

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=94024