South America 2009 - (Page 31) Chilean Fjords and Darwin Channel (scenic cruising) Falkland Sound (scenic cruising) Fjords more spectacular than those in Norway or Alaska? See them here along the southern coastline of Chile, a lacy 1,000-mile maze of virgin-forested islands, glistening glaciers and steepsided fjords. Coquimbo (La Serena), Chile The Sound lies between West and East Falkland, two grassy, windswept islands with plenty of livestock and very few people. Enjoy the scenery as you pass by the green-roofed buildings of Port Howard, population 28. Fortaleza, Brazil Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica (scenic cruising) Stroll the streets and notice the intricate woodwork detailing on houses and shops. Shop for lapis lazuli and pottery in the handicraft market. Or travel to the fertile Elqui Valley to experience abundant vineyards and some of the clearest skies on earth. Sample shore excursions: A Taste of Chile: Pisco Distillery; A Visit to Tabali Vineyards. Corinto, Nicaragua Jangadeiros (fishermen aboard log rafts with triangular sails) skim this port’s green waters as they have for centuries. In the city, artisans hand-craft gossamer pieces of heirloom lace. Sample shore excursions: Fortaleza Highlights; Maranguape and Cachaca Museum. Fuerte Amador (Panama City), Panama So primitive, so pristine is this uninhabited stretch of shoreline that Costa Rica has declared it a national treasure. In the dense rain forests, 100 different kinds of trees exist on a single acre, and more bird species nest here than in the U.S. and Canada combined. Greenwich, Half Moon, Livingston and Deception Islands (scenic cruising) Maiden port of call for 2009. From Corinto visit the city of León, home of Central America’s largest cathedral, or stroll through Darío Park with its monument to Rubén Darío, a famed Nicaraguan poet. Also here: the Ruins of León, a UNESCO Site. Cumberland Bay, South Georgia Energetic crossroads of commerce and your source for that tropic essential, the famed Panama hat. Sample shore excursions: The Panama Railway; The Shaping of Panama; Discover the Emberá Indian Culture. General San Martín, Peru Don’t be deceived: Deception Island is really the crescent-shaped caldera of a volcano active enough to heat Antarctic waters to bathwater temperatures. Your ship will sail right into the crater, where several colonies of chinstrap penguins make their home. More surprises await at Half Moon Island where whales are often seen; Livingston Island, home of huge elephant seals; and Greenwich Island, where fur seals and a large colony of gentoo penguins enliven the glacier-rimmed harbor. Albatrosses glide along sheer glaciated cliffs while elephant seals lounge in the coastal tussock grass and colorful king penguins pair up for breeding. Devil’s Island, French Guiana Named after the great Peruvian liberator, this “collector’s port” offers access to Pisco, where you may visit textiles, ceramics and mummies at the Paracas Museum. The Paracas Peninsula is also home to rich marine and birdlife. Sample shore excursions: Ballestas Island Wildlife Sanctuary Cruise; The Route of Pisco; Tambo Colorado & Paracas Museum. LE FT TO RIGH T Devil’s Island, notorious for the convict settlements built there in 1852, is also home to France’s satellite launching base and a breathtaking population of wildlife. Discover murals depicting convicts’ lives in the tiny church, or explore the old prisoners’ quarters. Feel your soul stir to the sounds of tango. Shop for artisan crafts in the market at Alter do chão, Brazil. casa rosada, Buenos Aires. www.hollandamerica.com 31 ports of call http://www.hollandamerica.com
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