02/09/2024
South American adventures part 2
From Montevideo to Guayaquil
On the magical route of South America, from Montevideo to Guayaquil, diverse landscapes and cultures unfold before us. Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage. Buenos Aires, Argentina's sparkling metropolis, home to tango and elegant architecture. Guayaquil, Ecuador's largest city, enriches the trip with modern promenades and cultural attractions. During the journey of the Victoria Majestic, the diversity and natural beauty of the continent will leave us with unforgettable memories
Montevido- Uruguay
Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, is the first stop of our trip. The city is famous for its historical buildings, friendly people and rich cultural life. Let's see what we should visit:
- Ciudad Vieja: the oldest quarter of the city, its narrow streets, colonial buildings and the famous Mercado del Puerto offer a special atmosphere
- Ramba del Montevideo: the city's coastal promenade, which is more than 13 km long
- Teatro solis: the most important theater in Uruguay, which opened in 1856. The imposing building offers operas and various performances to those interested
- Palacio Salvo: Montevideo's iconic skyscraper, once the tallest building in Latin America. The 26-meter tower was completed in 1928 and is still one of the city's most significant attractions today.
- Matriz Church (Catedral Metropolitana) is the most important Catholic church, one of the oldest and most important religious sites in the city
Buenos Aires- Argentina
Tips for traveling to Buenos Aires. You may have heard that the city is dangerous... In reality, it's not that dangerous, although the big train stations should be avoided when the sun goes down. Since Buenos Aires is very big it is difficult to choose what to see in general.
- Plaza de Mayo: the most important and oldest square in Buenos Aires, the scene of the most significant political/social events that characterized the history of the entire country
- Avenida 9 de Julio: one of the longest streets in the world. It owes its name to the day when Argentina won its independence from Spanish colonialism (July 9, 1816).
o Obelisk: a 67-meter-high structure built for the 100th anniversary of the city's founding
o Teatro Colon: one of the largest opera houses in the world
o Palacio Barolo: the famous building whose architecture is inspired by Dante's Divine Comedy
- Avenida Florida: the classic shopping street
Argentine tango is an authentic and artistic expression of a hospitable and passionate people.
Buenos Aires' popular neighborhoods are so rich in different attractions that they almost seem like small, separate cities, each with something valuable to say, yet all echoing the same magical tango. The interesting thing about Argentine tango lies in the step-by-step improvisation.
Puerto Madryn- Argentina
The tourism slogan of this coastal city, famous for its whales and penguins, is related to contact with nature.
Puero Madryn is a large city with full real estate development, its own industry, and most importantly, an animal welfare policy that makes it unique.
Our first stop is El Doradilló beach, because this is where we can come into contact with whales for the first time, it's incredible to be on the beach and see the giants of nature from only 15 meters away
The Valdés peninsula, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is where the whale-watching boats depart from.
Punta Cuevs is a historical park named because it was the first Welsh settlement in Argentine Patagonia after the sailing ship Mimosa came ashore in 1865
Stanley - Falkland Islands
Run the world's southernmost marathon in and around the streets of Stanley. The climbs, the wind and the danger of bad weather make this one of the toughest marathon courses in the world. However, the reward is plenty of fresh clean air, beautiful surroundings and a friendly welcome.
But if you're wondering what the 7 wonders of the Falkland Islands are, here are the results
- King penguin: the superstar of the penguin world, King Penguins are the largest of the penguin species found on the Falkland Islands
- Rockhopper penguin: the punks of the penguin world
- Sea lion: the South American sea lion is a beautiful and highly intelligent creature that rests on beaches covered with seaweed
- Lion Seal Island: a national nature reserve and the island's sheer beauty and solitude make it a paradise for wildlife and visitors
- Elephant seal: these mammals are such a wonderful and terrifying sight. More than 2,000 seals can live on Sea Lion Island
- Black-eyed albatross: more than 70% of the world's black-eyed albatross breed on the islands
- Whalebone: built in 1933 from the jawbones of two blue whales to commemorate the 100th anniversary of continuous British rule in the Falkland Islands, the whalebone is an iconic symbol of Stanley
Get to know Chile, this special country, in the light of the facts.
- the longest country in the world, the Chilean coastline is 6,435 km long and also one of the narrowest in the world, with a width of just over 200 km
- Monte Verde is the oldest known human habitation in the Americas.
- Chile is the world's fifth largest wine exporter
- more than half of the country's plants and animals cannot be found anywhere else on Earth.
- Chile has the world's driest desert, the Atamaca Desert
- 4000-year-old trees also live in the southern part of Chile.
- the world's largest swimming pool is located in Chile. It is 1000 meters long, 20 hectares in area and 115 feet deep. This giant pool contains 66 million gallons of seawater.
- After Norway, Chile is the second largest producer of salmon in the world
- Chile is a favorable place for astronomical observations
Read about Chile here: https://victoria.cruises/blog/let-s-explore-chile-together.php.php
And here https://victoria.cruises/blog/most-charming-small-towns-in-chile.php
Punta Arenas- Chile
Originally a penal colony, it grew up during the California Gold Rush thanks to its prime location by the sea. Today, Punta Arenas is an urban metropolis. What is worth seeing in the city:
- Magellan monument: which pays tribute to the 400th anniversary of Ferdinand Magellan's voyage (he discovered the Strait of Magellan in 1520)
- Maritime Museum: which includes a replica ship and details the voyage of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and the rescue of his crew from Elephant Island
- City cemetery: worth a walk and reveals the city's colorful immigrant past
Puerto Montt- Chile
Feel the beautiful sea breeze and contemplate the vastness of the Pacific Ocean while sitting in front of the ocean. Discover salmon farming and rich gastronomy. Taste the delicacies of the sea in Angelmó Bay. Enjoy a variety of restaurants, some of which overlook Tenglo Island and Calbuco Volcano.
Angelmo Bay: which awakens your senses, the colors, flavors and aromas of one of Chile's most famous markets welcome you. Take advantage of the varied gastronomic menu, the main character of which is fish and seafood. Enjoy chili cuisine, a rich blend of ancient traditions and indigenous ingredients with European influences. Accompany your culinary journey with white, red and sparkling wines, all of excellent quality.
Let's try the national drink of Chile, pisco: which is made from lemon juice, ice, sugar and beaten egg whites
Valparaiso-Chile
a colorful city near Santiago de Chile that has attracted writers, poets, musicians and painters since time immemorial. Walking the streets of Valpariso is not an easy task. Most of its attractions are located at the top of the hills, and to make walking around the city a little easier and more convenient for the locals, since 1883, many cable cars and funiculars have been built into Valparaiso. Almost all of the more than 40 hills surrounding the city have cable cars
Let's visit the house of Pablo Neruda, the most famous Chilean poet and writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Let's taste the world's best ice cream at Emporio la Rosa. The ice cream parlor boasts a bright pink sign that says "you're in one of the 25 best ice cream parlors in the world" so that's reason enough to grab a cone with 1 or three scoops
Antofagasta- Chile
Antofagasta, known to Chileans as the Pearl of the North, is a port city whose main attraction is the natural monument La Portada. Another important attraction is the ruins of Huanchaca, an old silver foundry with thick walls made of reddish andesite.
Travel through the fertile valleys between the mountain range and the sea and experience new flavors and aromas while tasting the world's best wine
Let yourself be enchanted by the unique flavors of Chilean cuisine, from the sea to the mountain range, with spices inherited from the ancestors
Discover the secrets of Chilean wine and beer, and explore the local flavors - read our blog https://blog.victoria.cruises/chile-the-secret-of-both-wine-and-beer/
Callao/Lima - Peru
Callao, a colorful neighborhood on the northwest edge of Lima, is quickly gaining a reputation as the center of urban art in Peru. Where else in the world is there a waiting list for street graffiti? Local youth and South America's leading street artists alike are eager for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make their mark on the barrio's historic streets.
The eye-catching graffiti art not only colored the streets, but also attracted him to shoot Pepsi-Cola commercials. In return, these large multinational companies sponsored additional art workshops in the local community, giving the people a better living space.
Iconic food of Peru:
- causa: the potato, this humble root comes from Peru. The country boasts nearly 3,000 varieties, in all shapes, sizes and subtle flavors. Causa features tuna or chicken with silky smooth mashed potatoes and a layer of vegetables, often layered with avocado
Guayaquil - Ecuador
The largest and most populous city in Ecuador, the country's most important port. After several founding attempts, it was finally established in 1547 under the name "Santiago de Guayaquila" as a shipyard and commercial port at the service of the Spanish crown. The main tourist attraction is Macecon 2000, a 2.5 km long river promenade surrounded by gardens, monuments, shops and restaurants.
Let's visit Santay Island, where you have to cross the 850-meter-long pedestrian bridge over the Guayas River. The island is home to more than 100 species of birds that live among mangroves in the island's tropical forest.
The trip from Montevideo to Guayaquil aboard the Victoria Majestic provided unforgettable experiences. During the trip, we will discover the diverse culture, natural beauty and historical sites of South America. Each stop along the way holds new and exciting experiences to make your journey memorable
Author: VCL Team
02/09/2024
