Passageways to Wonder – Cape Town to Santiago

Called ‘the fairest cape in the whole circumference of the earth’ and regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful cities, Cape Town offers museums, lush parks and shops. Impressive mountains, magnificent beaches and outstanding wineries add to the attraction. Ride a cable-car to the top of famous flat-topped Table Mountain and gaze at the mosaic of towering mountains, verdant valleys and the confluence of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The historical highlight is Robben Island, once the prison holding such outstanding anti-apartheid leaders as Nelson Mandela.

Founded in 1883 by a wealthy German merchant of the same name, Luderitz offers colorful colonial architecture along the beautiful Atlantic coastline. Explore the region’s past on a tour of Kolmanskop, a ghost town that was once a bustling center of the diamond trade. The recently restored waterfront offers lovely Art Nouveau architecture, and the coastal waters are home to penguins, dolphins, sharks and seals. Enjoy local beer brewed in compliance with Germany’s strict beer purity laws, as well as local dishes and fresh seafood.

Unspoiled Walvis Bay, a natural lagoon and the only deep-sea harbor on the Namibian coast, offers something for everyone, with spectacular bird-watching being a keynote, as thousands of migrating species make their way here annually to join the local flamingoes and pelicans. “Dune 7,” at the outskirts of town, towers over the scenic bay, and offers excellent photo ops. The city is also a good starting point for a number of exciting day trips into the timeless beauty of the desert region, including off-road explorations, or fly-over dolphin and whale sighting.

Unspoiled Walvis Bay, a natural lagoon and the only deep-sea harbor on the Namibian coast, offers something for everyone, with spectacular bird-watching being a keynote, as thousands of migrating species make their way here annually to join the local flamingoes and pelicans. “Dune 7,” at the outskirts of town, towers over the scenic bay, and offers excellent photo ops. The city is also a good starting point for a number of exciting day trips into the timeless beauty of the desert region, including off-road explorations, or fly-over dolphin and whale sighting.

Jamestown is the capital of the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, located on the island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is also the historic main settlement of the island and is on its north-western coast.

There’s a little bit of Carnival celebrated here everyday. From its famous beaches to its iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio radiates an air of exuberance that is hard to find anywhere else. Make the scene on trendy Ipanema or take a cable car to the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain and enjoy the amazing views. Sway your hips to the rhythm at a samba show or enjoy the tranquility of king Dom João VI’s Botanical Gardens and verdant Tijuca Forest.

There’s a little bit of Carnival celebrated here everyday. From its famous beaches to its iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, Rio radiates an air of exuberance that is hard to find anywhere else. Make the scene on trendy Ipanema or take a cable car to the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain and enjoy the amazing views. Sway your hips to the rhythm at a samba show or enjoy the tranquility of king Dom João VI’s Botanical Gardens and verdant Tijuca Forest.

Some of Brazil’s most gorgeous beaches and exotic rainforests can be found 120 miles south of Rio de Janeiro on the Ilha Grande. Ilha Grande boasts over 200 beaches and historically was a pirates hideaway. Enjoy exploring this beautiful island hiking its trails, kayaking, snorkeling, diving to spectacular sites or simply relaxing on its gorgeous beaches. Savor the dense Atlantic forest, the birds, flowers, iguanas, monkeys and myriad wildlife found in this protected reserve. Please be advised that due to the under-developed nature of this destination, organized tours are not available.

Journey inland to vibrant São Paulo and see its modern skyscrapers and monuments, and visit the beautiful art museum. Or explore charming Santos and its extraordinary Botanical Garden including an Orchidarium with over 100 flower species and an aviary alive with macaws, toucans and parrots. Take a scenic drive to Guaruja and visit the resort town’s fascinating aquarium.

Itajaí is a port city in southeast Brazil. It’s known for surf beaches like Praia Brava and Praia do Atalaia. At Geremias Beach, Bico do Papagaio rock resembles a parrot’s head. The 1955 Blessed Sacrament Church was built in neo-Gothic and Romanesque styles. The Ethno-Archaeological Museum shows prehistoric artifacts. Set in art-nouveau Marcos Konder Palace, the Historical Museum houses items tracing the city’s past.

Laid-back Montevideo is home to nearly half of Uruguay’s population. The relatively small capital is the nation’s only major city, yet visitors do not come here in search of the hustle and bustle of a large metropolis. It is said that Montevideanos themselves travel to Buenos Aires and São Paulo when they crave big city excitement. As Uruguay’s cultural, political and economical center, the city boasts a good number of monuments, museums and impressive architecture.

Rivaling Madrid or Paris for sophistication and culture, the tree-lined boulevards of fashionable Buenos Aires are home to superb restaurants, art galleries, museums, the magnificent Teatro de Colon and the brightly colored houses of La Boca barrio. As the sun sets, Recoleta awakens and the passionate melodies of the tango rise from the milangas along San Telmo’s cobbled streets. Few cities in South America share the ambiance, lifestyle and amenities that make Buenos Aires so endearing.

Rivaling Madrid or Paris for sophistication and culture, the tree-lined boulevards of fashionable Buenos Aires are home to superb restaurants, art galleries, museums, the magnificent Teatro de Colon and the brightly colored houses of La Boca barrio. As the sun sets, Recoleta awakens and the passionate melodies of the tango rise from the milangas along San Telmo’s cobbled streets. Few cities in South America share the ambiance, lifestyle and amenities that make Buenos Aires so endearing.

Spend the day enjoying this beautiful, chic beach resort, its marinas, museums and fascinating shops. Or venture into the equally picturesque countryside and visit a cattle station. Take a trip to Sea Wolves Island and view a colony of endangered sea lions and seals. Visit the 18th-century city of Maldonado with its many enchanting buildings, cathedral and lovely museum. Look for fine leather goods, jewelry and artwork. Excellent beef and seafood highlight the menus here.

Located about 480 miles northeast of Cape Horn, the Falklands Islands are the most easily accessible sub-Antarctic islands. The English navigator, John Davis, aboard the Desire made the first confirmed sighting of the Islands in 1592. The Falklands have been a disputed area between Great Britain and Argentina. Argentina invaded and occupied the islands in April 1982, spurring a British counter-invasion that June. With all the charm of a rural English village, Stanley is characterized by its bright rooftops, red telephone boxes, shops, and local pubs. Nearby is the Grave Cove penguin colony.

Here at the bottom of the world, mountains and sea come together like in no other place in America. Considered to be the world’s southernmost city (though that is up for a heated debate), Ushuaia is the capital of the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego. The town itself has an interesting museum and a variety of shops selling everything from souvenirs to duty-free luxury items.

Punta Arenas or ‘Sandy Point,’ is the most prominent settlement on the Strait of Magellan and the capital of Chile’s Magallanes y la Antártica Chilena Region. Founded in 1848, Punta Arenas was originally a remote military garrison and penal colony. Today, it is the charming gateway for a number of exhilarating experiences viewing the awesome majesty of Torres del Paine with its soaring peaks and rugged beauty .

There is an old Chilean proverb that states, “If you are in a hurry in Patagonia, you are wasting your time.” In Puerto Chacabuco, a Chilean town in the Aysen commune, time passes at the leisurely pace of nature’s cycles. The gorgeously landscaped town is a small, isolated settlement situated along the wild-west fjordland coast. Patagonian ice sheets fall into the sea and the area provides a chance to view Black Necked Swans and the endangered Giant Condor.

The first German colonists arrived to this area in 1852, and have remained to the present day, a small but influential percentage of the 130,000 inhabitants. The town spreads along a narrow seaboard and climbs the slopes enclosing it to the north. Since 1985, the city has experienced considerable growth and development, fueled by more than 30 salmon farms, in addition to forestry, fishing industries and service companies. A gateway to Chile’s picturesque lakes and spectacular indigo mountains.