Go Local - Explore Montevideo Like a Local
Montevideo, Uruguay
Duration 4 hrs
- Adult from: £102,18 GBP
- Child from: £102,18 GBP
From | Message | Reservation # | Date | |
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Norwegian Communications Centre | Norwegian Communications Centre Don’t Lose Your Reservation! | 25422881 | Apr 1, 2014 | |
Norwegian Communications Centre | Norwegian Communications Centre Reserve your dining now | 25422881 | Apr 1, 2014 | |
Norwegian Communications Centre | Norwegian Communications Centre Don’t Lose Your Reservation! | 25422881 | Apr 1, 2014 | |
Norwegian Communications Centre | Norwegian Communications Centre Don’t Lose Your Reservation! | 25422881 | Apr 1, 2014 |
*Terms & Conditions
Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings.
Duration 4 hrs
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.
Duration 7 hrs
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.
Duration 2 hrs
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.
Duration 6 hrs
Escape the urban sprawl of Buenos Aires just like a local to a beautiful river delta where you will enjoy a leisurely cruise. 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. 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.
Duration 2 hrs
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.
Duration 7 1/2 hrs
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.
Duration 2 1/2 hrs
Buzio's beaches, nestled between peaks, are mostly small and isolated, with calm, clean waters. Its breathtaking views are a sight not to be missed! Of course, the climate in Buzios is a testament to "Mother Nature" and blessed with a wonderful year-round summer.
Board a Bahian style saveiro (the name given to this typical boat that looks like a schooner), for a leisurely cruise in the green waters of Buzios. The cruise time is approximately 2.5 hours, and will include stops for swimming, snorkeling and beachcombing.
The tour will pass by famous beaches and islands such as; Ossos, Azeda, Azedinha, João Fernandes, João Fernandinho, Ilha Branca, Tartaruga, Virgem, Amores, Canto, Ilha do Caboclo e Armação. During the cruise, a stop will be made at Ilha Feia and Praia da Tartaruga for swimming and snorkeling.
The schooner is equipped with restroom facilities, and some refreshments will be available - mineral water, soft drinks, and of course the traditional Brazilian drink - Caipirinha.
Duration 4 1/2 hrs
Observe the bountiful wildlife in Tierra del Fuego while cruising the Beagle Channel in a catamaran that will take you to islands full of seabirds, sea lions and Magellanic penguins.
After departing from the pier, you will soon board a catamaran and sail into Beagle Channel, the strait that separates Argentina from Chile. The waterway is named for the HMS Beagle, in which Charles Darwin explored the area in 1833-1834.
Islands dot the channel and the rocky coast is wild and wonderful with forests to the water’s edge and the southern Andes in the far distance. Few places on earth are so pristine and unaffected by what little civilization there is.
Seabirds are abundant in most every direction. You may spot black-capped albatrosses, flocks of seagulls and grayish skuas, an aggressive bird that often attacks other birds in mid-air to steal the fish they have caught.
Approaching Sea Lions’ Island, you will see dozens of the namesake mammals clustered on the rocks. The males are typically twice the size of the females and weigh nearly 800 pounds. While pausing for photos at nearby Bird Island, you will notice that the main inhabitants are Imperial Cormorants and Magellanic Cormorants.
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is another photo-worthy site, as is the colony of Magellanic penguins on Martillo Island. These highly social birds will often come up to the catamaran as they hunt for cuttlefish and squid. It’s the perfect opportunity for a close up shot, after which you will return to the pier.
Duration 5 hrs
Admire the architectural landmarks in downtown Montevideo and then enjoy a sampling of local wines while watching a culturally significant dance performance.
After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive in the heart of downtown, passing architectural gems such as the Solis Theatre, Uruguay’s oldest theater. Nearby, you will pause for photos of Independence Square, where a statue of General José Gervasio Artigas, the father of Uruguay, stands by his mausoleum.
Another photo stop awaits you at the Legislative Palace. This glorious neo-classical building was constructed nearly 100 years ago with more than 50 types of marble.
You will also pass through the Obelisk of Montevideo, which celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the country’s first constitution, Batlle Park, a lovely urban greenscape named for Jose Batlle y Ordóñez, a former president of Uruguay. Here, you will see Centenario Stadium, site of the first World Cup soccer championship, and photo stop at “La Carreta,” a bronze sculpture that depicts the area’s 19th-century oxcart drivers.
Then, head for the district of Cuchilla Pereira called “ The Wine Land “, about 20 minutes away from the city downtown area to Bodega Spinoglio, a real winery full of history funded in 1898. Following a tour of the grounds and old machinery museum, you will be treated to a tasting of national wines and delicious local snacks.
To enhance your enjoyment, you will watch a performance that recreates the era in which the tango emerged in the Rio de la Plata. Dancers and Singers will make you feel you are being transported back in time and that are part of the Uruguayan history of the late 1800’s. After this uniquely Uruguayan experience, you will return to the pier.
Duration 4 1/2 hrs
Revel in the luxurious side of Buenos Aires by visiting treasured landmarks such as the Colon Theatre, the upscale Palermo neighborhood, and an extraordinary museum.
After departing from the pier, you will head to Recoleta Cemetery; the final resting place for Argentina’s wealthy and powerful. It holds thousands of grandiose mausoleums containing the remains of generals, sports figures and politicians. Argentina’s former first lady Eva Peron, more affectionately known as Evita, is the most famous figure interred here.
Next, you will tour the elegant Colon Theatre, an opera house and Belle Epoque landmark. While the original theater opened in 1857, the present theater opened in grand style in 1908 with a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” and remains one of the world’s most important stages. Enrico Caruso, Luciano Pavarotti, and Mikhail Baryshnikov have all performed here, and the interior is breathtaking.
More gorgeous architecture awaits you in tree-lined Palermo, the largest neighborhood in Buenos Aires. Many of the residences are absolutely magnificent, and the streets are wonderfully inviting. Fashionable boutiques, trendy cafés and verdant parks are abundant.
Nearby, you will visit the National Museum of Decorative Arts, where you explore on your own. Exhibitions showcase items ranging from European tapestries to a complete dining room inspired by the Palace of Versailles.
Once a private residence, the museum building is as extraordinary as its collection of art. Don’t miss the Great Hall, a room that evokes 16th-century Tudor design. After visiting, you will return to the pier via a route along exclusive Alvear Avenue.
Duration 4 hrs
Enjoy an enlightening overview of Buenos Aires by visiting landmarks ranging from its most politically important square to its most characteristic neighborhoods.
After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive at Plaza de Mayo, arguably the most famous square in Argentina. 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. President Juan Peron and his wife Eva, more affectionately known as Evita, delivered numerous speeches from the balcony of Casa Rosado, the executive mansion. 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.
While La Boca is a working class neighborhood, Barrio Norte is the most affluent. That becomes immediately apparent as you drive through it.
Later, on the way back to the pier, you will drive through leafy Palermo, the city’s largest neighborhood. Depending on the route, you may pass the zoo and botanical garden, while enjoying a candid look at daily life in Buenos Aires.
Duration 3 hrs
Explore on foot the Portuguese-founded island of Ilha Grande, a bio-diverse wonderland that was once notorious as a pirate refuge, leper colony and Alcatraz-style prison.
Departing from the pier on foot, you will soon be immersed in Ilha Grande State Park, a biological reserve established in 1971. Along the way, a guide will discuss the park’s flora and fauna, which includes colorful parrots, exotic hummingbirds and stout capybaras, the world’s largest rodent. Because the entire island is protected environmentally, it boasts one of South America’s most diverse ecosystems. Unfortunately, many of the animals are endangered.
After pausing at the lovely San Sebastian church, you learn about Ihla Grande’s infamous past as an entry point for African slaves. Later, the island supported a leper colony and a political prison. The prison, known as the “devil’s cauldron,” is now in ruins. The guardhouse still stands though, and you will have the opportunity to take a photo there.
Another photo opportunity awaits you at Black Beach, a beautiful stretch of sand that is black because it contains so much dark quartz. You will also have a bit of free time to stroll along the shore of Preta Beach before following a trail to Ilha Grande’s old aqueduct, a beautiful structure partially covered with tropical vines. If you desire, you might then take a refreshing dip in a nearby lake before walking back to the pier.
*Prices vary by ship and sail date. See Terms & Conditions
NCL makes arrangements for Guests for shore excursions solely for the convenience of the Guest; NCL does not act on behalf of or supervise the parties or persons who own, furnish, or operate such excursions, and the same are provided by independent contractors. NCL assumes no responsibility for, nor guarantees the performance of, any such excursion provider, and Guests acknowledge that NCL shall not be liable for losses or injuries arising from the acts or omissions of such provider.
Participation in activities and excursions may involve physical exertion, and may be potentially hazardous or dangerous. It is the responsibility of each individual to determine whether you are capable of engaging in any activity. Participation in any activity or excursion is at your own risk.
Photographs are for illustration purposes only used to represent the excursion experience and may not accurately depict the excursion, location, or activity indicated.