Travel by 4x4 to a remote beachside nature preserve to observe and walk among a colony of King penguins, Gentoo penguins and Magellanic penguins. After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a scenic two and one-half hour’s drive north to Johnson’s Harbour and then on to Volunteer Point via a 4x4 vehicle. Along the way, you may spot remnants of the 1982 Falklands War, the result of the Argentine invasion of the British-owned islands. Still, it is the natural beauty and abundant wildlife of this rugged landscape that are most impressive. Birds in particular are the attraction at Volunteer Point, a nature preserve that supports the largest concentration of King penguins in the islands. Volunteer Point is also home to a multitude of Gentoo penguins, Magellanic penguins and dozens of other avian species. As you walk along the beach, you will observe these birds interacting in their native habitat. At up to three feet tall, king penguins look regal even waddling about. Their size and bright orange coloring on their heads and beaks make them easy to distinguish from the other penguins. Gentoo penguins are smaller and sport white feather caps, while Magellanic penguins feature two distinct black stripes across their chests and often bray like donkeys. You may also see ruddy-headed geese, black-throated finches and peregrine falcons, which can reach speeds of up to 200 miles per mile. Before rejoining your vehicle and traveling back to Stanley, you will be provided a boxed lunch.

Experience Uruguay’s energetic capital like a local by browsing two popular markets and relaxing along La Rambla, the popular promenade that runs along the coast. Near the pier, you will find the Montevideo Agricultural Market, a National Heritage site affectionately known as MAM. The locals mostly come for the extraordinary fruits and vegetables, and many of the vendors will offer samples that will be indicative of Montevideo’s cuisine. You can also expect to be offered samples at the Ferrando Market, a much newer attraction packed with fine restaurants and shops selling gourmet products. Like MAM, it is an excellent venue for people-watching. Another candid glimpse at local life awaits you along La Rambla, the popular promenade that follows the coast. A favorite of walkers, runners and bicyclists, La Rambla is probably the ultimate place to take in the local life. To really live like a Uruguayan, try mate, a traditional caffeinated drink that is a national obsession.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Browse two markets, one a National Heritage site, the other known for gourmet products.
• Sample a variety of fresh produce and unusual dishes and treats at the markets.
• Enjoy a slice of life by walking along La Rambla, Montevideo’s coastal promenade.

See the marquee attractions of Buzios in air-conditioned comfort on this enlightening driving tour through the downtown and along the most scenic beaches.

Depart from the pier and begin a leisurely drive through Buzios, an exuberant city beautifully situated on a beach-blessed peninsula. Once a small fishing village, Buzios gained instant international fame after Brigitte Bardot vacationed there in the 1960s. Her visit was so influential that the townspeople erected a statue of the French actress sitting on a suitcase gazing out to sea. Thanks to Bardot, Buzios soon became known as the St.-Tropez of Brazil, an appropriate nickname because of the wonderful beaches.

You will pause at several of the most picturesque beaches for photos, and depending on the conditions you may see windsurfers cutting across the waves. There is truly a beach to suit everyone, as there are several sheltered beaches to the north and livelier ones elsewhere.

Still, the most vibrant area of Buzios is its main thoroughfare, cobblestoned Rua das Pedras, which follows the shoreline. You will enjoy free time here for clothes shopping in the boutiques, browsing the art galleries, having your photo taken at the Bardot statue, or enjoying a snack in one of the seaside cafés. Of course, seafood is abundant, especially dishes featuring fresh-caught shrimp.

Following your free time, you will rejoin your minibus and return to the pier.

See the architectural landmarks that have become icons in Buenos Aires, and then watch an authentic tango performance while dining on traditional Argentine cuisine.

After departing from the pier, you will head to Recoleta & Palermo to drive around these unique residential neighborhoods while learning about the Porteño's lifestyle from your local guide.

Next, you will visit Plaza de Mayo, arguably the country’s most famous square. Its name refers to the revolution that began nearby in May 1810 and led to Argentina’s independence from Spain. Some of the surrounding buildings are just as celebrated, including the salmon-colored executive mansion known as Casa Rosado. You will also see the glorious Metropolitan Cathedral, which is adorned with frescoes and elaborate artwork.

Then, it’s on to the neighborhood La Boca to view El Caminito, a street that is an open-air museum of sorts full of brightly colored buildings. Some claim the tango originated here around 1870, and tango dancers are often seen performing impromptu in the streets.

Later, you will watch a professional tango performance at La Ventana Tango House in the historical San Telmo neighborhood. It’s a fabulous setting to see a live show of the country’s most acclaimed and passionate dance while savoring a traditional Argentine lunch. After the performance, you will return to the pier.

Drive off road in a 4x4 vehicle to several colonies of penguins, where you will have time to photograph them and observe their fascinating behavior. After departing from the pier, you will set off on an exhilarating ride in a 4x4 vehicle, the last 12 miles or so off road. Upon arriving at Port Louis Farm, a member of the family that owns the property will accompany your small group to Seal Bay.

Your first stop will be at a colony of Rockhopper penguins. These birds are easy to identify by their spiky yellow and black head feathers. Unlike most penguins that waddle, Rockhoppers bound along the rocky shoreline. They are among the world’s smallest penguins and amusing to watch in their natural habitat.

Continuing on, you will drive through the shallow waters of Swan Pond, where lunch will be set up on the beach. While dining, you can expect to see all sorts of indigenous birds such as oyster catchers, grebes and kelp geese.

You might also see sea lions and a variety of penguins, including Magellanic penguins. They are named for Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan because the birds were spotted on his attempt to circumnavigate the world in 1520.

You will also pause for photos at a nearby colony of Gentoo penguins. These charismatic birds have red-orange beaks and peach-colored feet, so they clearly stand out against the coastal rocks. Being streamlined with strong flippers, Gentoos are the world’s fastest diving birds.

Enjoy an entertaining, purely Argentine experience by dining on traditional dishes at a parrilla and then tango dancing at a milonga dance hall. Parrillas are Argentine restaurants that specialize in traditional dishes cooked over hot-coal grills and are exceptionally popular venues among the local porteños, who know the best places to dine. The menu will depend on which parrilla is chosen, which seasonal ingredients are freshest, and the chefs’ flair for presenting dishes rarely found elsewhere. Following dinner, you will head to a milonga, a dance hall where the locals express their passion for tango and show off their moves. The tango is said to have originated in Buenos Aires, so there is no better venue for a milonga, especially with a live orchestra of enthusiastic tango musicians to enhance the moment. Whether you are a seasoned tango dancer or just looking for a fun, authentic experience, you are welcome to join the dancing.

Escape the urban sprawl of Buenos Aires just like a local by riding the train to a beautiful river delta where you will enjoy a leisurely cruise. Taking the train is an excellent way to experience the culture, as you will mingle with the general public as if you were a porteño, the name for a resident of Buenos Aires. The massive Tigre Delta is a weekend retreat for affluent porteños, and you can expect to be mesmerized by the natural beauty and canals that form a network of forested islands. As you cruise through the green wonderland, you will notice that many of the riverside homes have a British flair. There are mock Tudors, Victorian mansions and even British-style gardens that reflect England’s influence and ties with Buenos Aires. Along the way, you will stop at Fruit Harbor, a bustling market where you can expect to find fruit, alpaca woolen clothing and home furnishings.

HIGHLIGHTS:
• Hop on board a train to the Tigre Delta and mingle with the locals.
• Marvel at the river delta’s natural beauty, a reason the affluent have weekend retreats there.
• Notice the British design of most of the homes while cruising through the river delta.
• Stop at a riverside market with surprisingly sophisticated merchandise.

Experience the wonders of the Panama Canal on this spectacular partial canal transit. Arriving in Panama City, you will disembark the ship and take a short transfer by coach to the La Playita dock where you will board a spacious ferry and begin your unforgettable tour of the Panama Canal. The first lock you will pass through is the Miraflores Locks, where your ship will be raised the first 56 feet and enter Miraflores Lake. From here, you will transit through the Pedro Miguel Locks, where you will be raised the second 28 feet and enter Gatun Lake, once the largest man-made lake in the world. Crossing the Continental Divide at this point, you will continue to Gaillard Cut. The Gaillard (or Culebra) Cut, was the most challenging section of the canal to build. As you pass through the Cut, you'll see the continuing excavation that keeps this passage open to marine traffic. Enjoy a buffet lunch aboard the ferry before your fascinating tour of the Canal ends in the small village of Gamboa. While not large, Gamboa is home to the headquarters of the Panama Canal dredging division and some of the largest floating cranes in the world. After leaving your ferry, board a waiting motorcoach for the just over 1-hour drive back to the ship at Amador. Each tour participant will receive a certificate that commemorates their crossing of the Canal.

Observe the abundant wildlife in the naturally beautiful Patagonian steppe, highlighted by a leisurely walk among a large colony of Magellanic penguins.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for an immensely scenic drive along the New Gulf and on to rugged Punta Ninfas on the Patagonian steppe. The vegetation here is shrubby, wind-blown and an ideal wildlife habitat. Gray fox, llama-like guanacas and various species of seabirds, including oystercatchers and albatrosses, are found in this dry landscape.

Even so, penguins are the star attractions in this part of Patagonian, as you will discover from your base at El Pedral Lodge. Perched on a cliff, the lodge was built in 1904 and some of the period furnishing still remain, including the mahogany dining table.

From here, you will head to a nearby Magellanic penguin rookery for an extended walk among these highly social birds. If you hear the penguins braying like donkeys, it is simply the way they seek mates.

You can expect to see the penguins tottering about, tending to their young, interacting with each other, and perhaps hunting small fish just offshore. A group of penguins floating in the ocean is called a raft; a group on land is sometimes called a waddle because of their awkward walk.

Later, you will walk through a ravine where you can observe fossils from the Cenozoic Era, estimated to be at least 30 million years old. Lunch at the lodge follows, after which you will return to the pier.

Buzios is a wonderful resort town that boasts a wealth of inviting beaches and the Buzios Trolley is the perfect way to get acquainted with this idyllic peninsula.

It's a short walk from the tender pier to join your Trolley where once aboard, you will set off on a leisurely tour that includes seeing 12 beaches and 2 belvederes. The Trolley is completely open, providing unobstructed views and allowing you to drink in the invigorating pure air and feel the refreshing ocean breezes. As you travel along the coast, you will pass an amazing stretch of golden sand beaches, each highlighting the reasons why Buzios is becoming a sought-after destination.

Your delightful Trolley navigation of Buzios includes 5 photo stops and a drive through the downtown area. Along the way, complimentary bottled water will be served. After approximately 2-hours, you will find yourself back at the tender pier where your tour concludes.

Boarding your mini-coach at the pier, you'll commence a 40-minute drive to fascinating Panama City. Panama City is located at the entrance of the Panama Canal and is an exciting city with a colorful history. The city today combines a rich collection of both modern and colonial architecture, historical monuments, and tree-shaded boulevards.

Your tour of the city begins by viewing highlights of the part of the city that is referred to as Old Panama, and which was founded in 1519 by Pedro Arias Davila and later destroyed by Captain Henry Morgan. Old Panama City was the first city of the Pacific Coast of the Americas and played a major role in the conquering of South America. In later years, it was the place where gold was sent to Portobelo and then on to Spain.

Following your tour of Old Panama, you will make your way to what is known as Casco Antiguo or Colonial Panama. This area of the city was founded in 1673 after the original capital was left in ruins following Captain Henry Morgan's attack two years earlier and features some lovely French and Spanish architecture. Several points of interest in the city are the Cathedral, the National Theater, and Las Bovedas.

Following your tour of Panama City's most notable sights, you will make the return transfer back to Amador and your waiting ship.

San Antonio, commune and the capital of the San Antonio Province in the Valparaíso Region. It is the hub of the fishing area that spans the Chilean coast from Rocas de Santo Domingo to Cartagena. Its port is the largest in terms of freight handled and the busiest in the western coast of South America.

Continue through the central valley, crossing the coastal range on a two hour scenic journey to Santiago. En route, stop at the El Molino Ranch (a horse breeding farm) where you can experience a typical Chilean snack of Empanadas with local wine.

Arrival in Santiago and city tour that includes the most important highlights of historic and modern Santiago, including La Moneda (Presidential Palace). Then we continue towards the Plaza de Armas with the Cathedral. Continue through the newer residential areas of the city including a visit to one of the lookouts located half way up San Cristobal Hill for a breathtaking view of Santiago. Visit of the Los Domínicos handicraft town showing local craft. Time for shopping. You’ll enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant just before your tour ends at the airport.