Cruising in South America

The recent devasating earthquake in Chile has brought that country, and much of South America under closer scrutiny lately. To most North Americans, the continent is quite exotic and fairly unknown.

While most South America cruises tend to be lengthy—if you have trouble adjusting to travel due to the negative effects of jet lag, South America voyages are ideal—you often travel in the same time zone as your hometown when visiting countries there. Not having to overcome jet lag means you can hit the ground running and get the most out of your vacation from the moment your plane lands.

Research is high on my list of things to do when preparing for a cruise to foreign ports. Guidebooks are naturally a good place to start, as is the Internet. However, one of the best sources of information is someone who's already been there. In my case, I began my research for a cruise to South America in my own kitchen by interviewing my husband. Mel, who traveled extensively throughout South America for over a decade. To give me a start, Mel compiled some Tips for South America Cruise Travel.

Whether you choose to discover South America on a cruise along the Atlantic, Pacific, or both coasts, plan to spend some time before or after your cruise meeting the locals and sampling the beach, cuisine, and nightlife of South America's treasures. BrazilMax, an award-winning online travel guide to South America's largest country focuses on what they call roots tourism–eco, cultural, historical, rural, adventure, business, etc. Their aim is to help travelers plan their trips and better understand Brazilian society and culture.

Easily one of the world's most recognizable landmarks, Christo Redentor (pictured above) is an icon to the warmth of Brazil.