Before your cruise

South America and Cape Horn

Rio, Montevideo, Buenos Aires and the fjords of Chile. Every ship has its own ports, so pick the countries on your ticket.

Say: Bom dia (bohng JEE-ah), Good morningobrigado / obrigada (oh-bree-GAH-doo / oh-bree-GAH-dah), thank you (by tradition a man says obrigado and a woman says obrigada)
Try: Feijoada, Farofa, Cheese bread
See: Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, Iguaçu Falls
Money: Brazilian real (BRL)
Good to know: Check if you need a visa. As of 2026, British visitors can stay up to 90 days without a visa, and their passport must be valid for at least 6 months after arrival. Since 10 April 2025, citizens of the United States, Canada and Australia need an e-visa, applied for online before travel. Check the rules for your passport before you book.

Say: Buenos días (BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs), Good morning, hellogracias (GRAH-syahs), thank you
Try: Asado, Chivito, Choripán
See: The Historic Quarter of Colonia del Sacramento, The Fray Bentos Industrial Landscape, The Church of Christ the Worker, Atlántida
Money: Uruguayan peso (UYU)
Good to know: Remember the seasons are reversed. Uruguay is in the Southern Hemisphere: summer runs from December to March and winter from June to September. Winters are mild but can feel chilly and damp in the wind. Lifeguards work on the beaches from December to March: watch the flags (green is safe, yellow means caution, red means danger) and beware of strong currents.

Say: Buenos días (BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs), Good morning, helloGracias, estoy bien (GRAH-syahs, ehs-TOY byehn), Thank you, I'm fine (no more for me)
Try: Asado, Chimichurri, Empanadas
See: The Iguazú Falls, The Perito Moreno Glacier, Aconcagua
Money: Argentine peso (ARS)
Good to know: Remember the seasons are reversed. Argentina is in the Southern Hemisphere, so summer is December to February and winter is June to August. Patagonia is best visited from about October to April; the north is pleasant in winter. Pack for wind in Patagonia at any time of year.

Say: Buenos días (BWEH-nohs DEE-ahs), Good morning, helloGracias (GRAH-syahs), Thank you
Try: Empanada de pino, Pastel de choclo, Cazuela
See: The moai of Rapa Nui National Park, The Historic Quarter of Valparaíso, The Church of San Francisco, Castro
Money: Chilean peso (CLP)
Good to know: Remember the seasons are reversed. Chile is in the Southern Hemisphere, so summer is from December to March and winter from June to August. Chilean families take their holidays from December to early March. Ski resorts in the Andes open from about June to October.