Cordillera & Andean Secrets 2020 (Le Soleal)

Description

From Guayaquil, set sail aboard the Le Soléal for a 14-day cruise along the coasts of Peru and Chile.

Your first stop at Salaverry will offer an opportunity to discover the ruins of Chan Chan, the largest adobe citadel of Pre-Colombian America and former capital of the Chimu kingdom.

From the port of Callao near Lima, you will be able to visit the ancient city of Cusco, discovered in 1533 by the conquistadors, as well as the famous site of Machu Picchu, the gigantic lost city, an architectural gem listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

When we drop anchor in Matarani, discover Arequipa, an old colonial city founded in 1540 in a fertile valley at the foot of the majestic El Misti volcano.

Arica, the “city of eternal spring” where the climate is temperate and sunny year round, is very popular for its beautiful beaches and its sites brimming with history. You will be captivated by this surprising city where the Inca people once lived.

Then you will visit Iquique and its exceptional historic centre inherited from the Gold Rush. Not far, you will find Humberstone, a disused mining town where the buildings now house museums listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Your cruise will end in Talcahuano, after an unforgettable journey full of cultural discoveries.

Please note: your voyage rates include Transfer + flight Concepción/Santiago

Trip Name

Cordillera & Andean Secrets 2020 (Le Soleal)

Days

Overview

Vessel Type: Luxury Small Ship Length: 142 metres Passenger Capacity: 264 Built: 2013 Sailing under the French flag, this magnificent yacht of only 132 staterooms and suites, with balconies, joined in 2013. You will be enchanted by the contemporary decor inspired by the luxury yachting world, with fluid lines and a modern colour scheme combining natural wood with shades of grey and white. A refined ambience is enhanced by the quality of the workmanship and materials: white Corian counters in the lobby contrast with the warmth of leather to recall a boat's hull, while the central scuplture of enamelled pieces takes its inspiration from the sea. In the loungebar, the carpet picks up a tennis stripe theme symbolising a certain idea of cruising, one synonomous with French elegance and a chic seaside spirit.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Day 1 GUAYAQUIL

Nicknamed the “Pearl of the Pacific”, Guayaquil is the most inhabited city in Ecuador. Founded by the conquistadors in 1535, it borders the coasts of the province of Guayas. You can stroll without any cares in the world, in the upper part of the city, next to the Las Peñas district. This Bohemian district with its colourful houses offers an impressive view of the city, if you’re courageous enough to climb the steps which separate the chapel rooms from Cerro Santa Ana lighthouse. The city is also blessed with many parks and gardens, perfect for taking a breather.

Day 2 - Day 2 AT SEA

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

Day 3 - Day 3 SALAVERRY

When your ship calls at Salaverry, this is the occasion to discover Trujillo, an elegant colonial town with brightly coloured façades, decorated with ornate wooden balconies. With its yesteryear charm, this city is also a cultural symbol of Peru, as it is home to the vestiges of the Chimú and Mochica civilizations. Chan Chan, the former capital of the Chimù kingdom is the largest adobe citadel in pre-Colombian America, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Admire the Moche pyramids, the Huaca del Sol and the Huaca de la Luna, decorated with colourful mythological frescoes.

Day 4 - Days 4 - 5 CALLAO

As the country's primary fishing and trading port, Callao is the maritime gateway to Peru. From the town centre, journey on to the capital, Lima, and wander around the Plaza Mayor (formerly Plaza de Armas), crowned with its gorgeous bronze fountain. Embellished with neo-colonial buildings such as the Government Palace or the Cathedral of Lima, the esplanade is a symbol of the city's founding by conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535. Two streets away is the Monastery of San Francisco, one of the city's best-preserved colonial structures. Further south, don't miss the superb cloisters and patios of the Casona San Marcos.

Day 5 - Day 6 PISCO

In the south of Peru, discover the small port town of Pisco, named in reference to the Quechua word Pisscu, meaning “bird”. The region is indeed renowned for its wide variety of birdlife that you can observe in the Paracas national park and in the Ballestas Islands. In addition to this exceptionally well-preserved nature, the province also boasts major historical treasures such as the archaeological site of Tambo Colorado, vestige of the Inca civilisation, the Nazca Lines, very precise traces representing geometric figures on the arid earth of the Peruvian plain, or the Candelabra, a mysterious hieroglyph sculpted into the rock by the Paracas, a pre-Inca civilisation.

Day 6 - Day 7 AT SEA

Day 7 - Day 8 MATARANI

On the southern coast of Peru, the port of Matarani is the doorway into the Arequipa region, one of the most prosperous in the country. From the city, you can get to the famous city of Arequipa, overlooked by three majestic volcanoes, the Misti, the Chacani and the Pichu Pichu. Apart from the Andean mountains, the Matarini region also houses impressive landscapes of desert, scattered with green oasis.

Day 8 - Day 9 ARICA

Located at the gateway to the Atacama desert, Arica, the Northernmost town in Chile, owes its reputation to the richness and beauty of its landscapes: long white sandy beaches edging the Pacific, millennial geoglyphs, arid valleys of the cordillera foothills, fertile altiplano and dormant volcanoes are just some of the sites that the “City of Eternal Spring” has in store for you. Let yourself be swept back in time and discover the culture, traditions and mummies of the Chinchorro people, this Indian civilisation, some 7,000 years old, which was the first in the world to develop mummification techniques.

Day 9 - Day 10 AT SEA

Day 10 - Day 11 COQUIMBO

On Chile'sﾠNorte Chico (Little North) is the port of Coquimbo where peace and harmony reign, sheltered in the inlet of the La Herradura Bay. This charming seaside town is mere minutes away from La Serena. Set off to discover this site along the Pacific Ocean and its spectacular sandy beaches. Founded in 1544, this old town has retained its beautiful colonial architecture that bears traces of Spanish and neoclassical influences. Venture deeper inland to the Elqui Valley, one of the country's largest and most spectacular. This valley was the birthplace of Gabriela Mistral, the renowned poet, and is also where Chile's famous pisco is made.

Day 11 - Day 12 AT SEA

Day 12 - Day 13 TALCAHUANO

Disembarkation.

Day 13 - Please Note:

Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

Start	End	Price From	Room Type

Inclusions

Many UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the saltpeter mining towns of Iquique, the historic centre of Arequipa from Matarani, the historic centre of Lima, Cuzco, the site of Machu Picchu, the archeological zone of Chan Chan from Salaverry.
Discover the major pre-Columbian sites and the mysterious geoglyphs.
Exceptional architectural heritage, testimony to the colonial era.
Discover Arequipa and the Santa Catalina Convent from Matarani.
Specialist lecturers aboard to share their passion for their subject and their knowledge with you.