BRAZIL, URUGUAY & ABOARD NEW BOUTIQUE EXPEDITION VESSEL

Trace the southeastern coast of on a captivating cruise that spans three countries, eight ports and one coral-fringed atoll. Cruise aboard your über-elegant ship first along the shoreline of , where one of the most vibrant on the planet, the Atlantic biome, hugs the seaboard. This verdant is home to Salvador, , , Santos and Itajaí – all of which you’ll explore. Offshore, experience the of the Abrolhos Archipelago, a humpback whale hotspot. Venture from gigantic Brazil to South America’s second-smallest country, Uruguay. Enjoy visiting its affable, unaffected capital city, Montevideo, ITINERARY before moving onto the other side of the River Plate to your final destination: Argentina’s Buenos Aires. Queen of the Plate, the DAY 1, SALVADOR DA Paris of the South, Tangopolis – Buenos Aires’ romantic Your 14-day cruise aboard über-elegant Vega II begins today in Salvador, the monikers reveal this pampas-encircled city’s passion, rhythm capital of the state of Bahia. This multi-ethnic city is imbued with a youthful and romance. You’ll quickly understand why B.A. is South energy that’s hard to resist. More than anywhere else in Brazil, this is where meets South America, and from capoeira to Candomblé, the culture America’s leading city destination. reflects a deep and rich Afro-Brazilian heritage. Be sure to make time to explore the city before boarding your home-from-home for the next two weeks. A visit to Pelourinho, the historic centre with its coil of cobblestone streets and brightly painted colonial buildings, is unmissable. Salvador was Brazil’s first capital from 1549 to 1763, and its old town is UNESCO-listed. Elsewhere there are myriad places to explore. Still, lovers of the literary works by Jorge Amado, one of the city’s favourite sons, shouldn’t miss out on exploring his former house, now a museum, A Casa do Rio Vermelho.

DAY 2, The resort town of Porto Seguro – your port of call – is one of southern Bahia’s most popular destinations for homegrown travellers who visit to relax on the area’s superb beaches. This heavyweight tourist town is also a big-hitter historically: this is where a European first ‘discovered’ Brazil. Portuguese nobleman Pedro Álvares Cabral and his fleet, on its way to India, landed on what he called ‘True Cross Island’ in April 1500. The Discovery Memorial (Memorial da Epopéia do Descobrimento) makes this momentous event. The town’s historic core – Cidade Alta – with its numerous churches has been

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within ) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com protected by the National Historic and Artistic Heritage Institute (IPHAN) since Tijuca Forest for the world-famous views. 1973, and it’s worth a visit. Having explored Porto Seguro, you might opt to turn your attention to nearby Arraial d’Ajuda, a deliciously languid former DAY 6, RIO DE JANEIRO fishing village turned boho holiday hotspot. Sitting atop a bluff overlooking a picturesque stretch of the Discovery Coast, Arraial d’Ajuda came to light in the Enjoy digging deeper into Rio today at some of the city’s cultural hotspots. The 1970s, and it’s been enticing stylish travellers with its considerable charm Santiago Calatrava-designed Museum of Tomorrow’s exterior is impressive, so and quirky shops ever since. take time to stroll around the reflection pool that gives visitors the impression the museum is floating. The dynamic Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR) is just DAY 3, ABROLHOS ARCHIPELAGO across the plaza. Take the elevator to the sixth floor for the views and start from the top down. UNESCO-listed , Rio’s ‘slave harbour’ was Observing marine life in its natural habitat is high on the wish lists of many the most significant arrival point for slaves in Brazil. Nearly a million slaves wildlife enthusiasts, and today you will have that opportunity as you explore from West and Central Africa landed here. Only rediscovered due to the Abrolhos Archipelago. This archipelago is made up of five islands that sit preparations for the 2016 Olympics, this unique memorial is the “most within the Abrolhos Marine National Park, located off the coast of Bahia state. important physical trace” of the devastating trade on the American , Considered to be the most biodiverse area in the South Atlantic, this reserve according to UNESCO. You can’t visit Rio without seeing some of starchitect contains one of the world’s most extensive coral reefs. It’s home to at least 28 Oscar Niemeyer’s work. Located in nearby Niterói, the Niterói Contemporary different species of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish that are threatened with Art Museum opened in 1996 and is considered one of the last great buildings . It’s a breeding site for humpback whales and is home to colonies by the Brazilian Modernist. End your stay in Rio with a visit to famous of leatherback and loggerhead sea turtles. Enjoy diving and snorkelling today Copacabana. It might seem cliched, but it’s still a must. Copacabana is in this unique environment that Charles Darwin once explored. Only one of the arguably the best urban beach in the world. Soak up the good-time vibes with islands – Siriba – can be visited and as you walk here, you might see masked a caipirinha in hand bought from a beachside quiosque (kiosk). and brown boobies, frigatebirds, red-billed tropicbirds, sooty terns and brown noddies, all of which nest here. DAY 7, PARATY DAY 4, AT SEA Hidden behind a curtain of – the lush Mata Atlântica – the tiny coastal town of Paraty is a joy to explore. Arrive at the pink and red harbour Relish in the beauty of being at sea today. Cruising itself is the very definition and disembark to explore the charming village, which was the centre of a gold of leisure, and you’ll love this lazy, laissez-faire-type of day. Enjoy the soothing rush in the 18th century. Stroll around the cobblestoned streets of the motion of the waves. Breathe deeply while keeping a keen eye out for marine historical centre, recognised as a National Historic Site by IPHAN since 1966. life. Be nurtured by the soul-nourishing powers of the ever-changing colours of It’s dotted with artisanal shops and independent galleries and lined with the South Atlantic as you sail towards Rio de Janeiro – your next port of call. white-washed buildings made distinctive by their brightly coloured doors, jambs and latticework. The mustard-yellow, 17th-century Our Lady of the DAY 5, RIO DE JANEIRO Remedies church, is located in Paraty’s main square and is purported to have been financed by pirate treasure. If you wish to venture beyond the town, the Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s second most populated city, is coastal cool brought to Serra da Bocaina National Park is chock full of tumbling waterfalls and a ‘Gold life. Located along a stretch of famous Atlantic coastline, around Guanabara Trail’; or the Saco do Mamanguá fjord is a picturesque snorkel-friendly Bay, and surrounded by tropical forest-covered peaks, ridges and hills, the city paradise. was originally founded in 1565 by the Portuguese. It was the colonial capital from 1763, the capital of the independent country from 1822 until 1960 DAY 8, SANTOS when it moved to the brand-new city of Brasília. Still, it continued to symbolise Brazil to the rest of the world and remained the country’s cultural capital. From Dock today in Santos, ’s largest port and the closest cruise port museums to markets, beaches to churches, favelas to festivals, you’ll spend for the powerhouse that is . Your options are numerous today: the next two days getting to know the Cidade maravilhosa. Where to even whether you’re exploring its long beach gardens, the coffee or football start? You can’t visit Rio without gaping at the scenery. After all, as the local’s museum, usually off-the-tourist-radar Santos delivers more than sunny vibes say, on the eighth day, God created Rio. Head to the Sugarloaf Mountain or and a coffee buzz. Founded in 1546, Santos grew into a major port on the the art-deco statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain in the back of the black gold boom. The city’s dedicated coffee museum is housed

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com in a grand building from the 1920s. Sports fans will love visiting Pelé and DAY 12, MONTEVIDEO Neymar’s former club Santos Futebol Clube and its excellent museum. For those who don’t mind more of an expedition, the megacity of São Paulo is 70 Continue your exploration of the city today. Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the city kilometres inland. With its world-class arts and food scene, must-visit from the observation deck of the Intendencia Municipal de Montevideo. Keen destinations in Sampa, as it’s known, include: MASP (Museu de Arte the São shoppers might like to browse the stalls in the Mercado de los Artesanos on Paulo), the Avenida Paulista, the Pinacoteca art museum, the cathedral, and Sarandí Street or visit the food market at Mercado Agrícola or the port market, the Pátio do Colégio, where the Jesuits founded the city in 1554. Mercado Del Puerto. Or you could opt to begin in the Plaza Independencia. It’s home to a 17-metre bronze statue of Uruguay’s founding father, José Gervasio DAY 9, ITAJAÍ Artigas, and On the east side of the square, is 26-storey Palacio Salvo, the continent’s tallest building when it opened in 1927. Art lovers can view the Brazil possesses some 7,500 kilometres of continuous coastline, continue artworks of Uruguayan painters in the Blanes Museum. Or if you want more, your exploration of it today. Arrive in Itajaí, a seaport in the southern state of Uruguay’s most extensive collection is housed at the unmissable Museo Santa Catarina – one of the smallest and wealthiest in Brazil. It’s Nacional de Artes Visuales. Other recommended cultural experiences include situated on the right bank of the mouth of the Itajaí-Açu river and is part of the the excellent Museo del Carnaval; Museo del Fútbol; the former home of Vale do Itajaí or Vale Europeu (‘European Valley’) region. A little piece of architect Julio Vilamajó, now a delightful museum; or the superb Museo del Deutschland in South America, the city and broader area reveals the acute Gaucho in the Palacio Heber. influence of thousands of German migrants that settled in the area in the 1800s. Explore the town today to spot Teutonic architectural touches. Itajaí is DAY 13 & DAY 14, BUENOS AIRES also famed for its beaches. There’s a Brazilian expression “é minha Praia” (“that’s my beach”) –it’s equivalent to the English idiom “just my cup of tea”. We might just have saved the best until last. Disembark in Buenos Aires, the Find your beach today from strips of sand including Molhe, Atalaia, Geremias, capital and largest city of Argentina. This gracefully elegant and attractive city Cabeçudas, Morcego, Brava and Solidão. is wedged between the Río de la Plata and fabled Pampas. Known as ‘the Paris of the South’, it’s known for its belle époque grandeur rooted in DAY 10, AT SEA European influences, and contemporary cosmopolitan verve fuelled by passionately creative Portenos, as residents are called. Delve straight into the As you cruise southwards to your next port of call in Uruguay, spend the day city’s history at the famous Recoleta Cemetery, where presidents, generals, savouring your ship’s amenities. Indulge in a relaxing spa treatment, hit the poets and captains of industry rest in some 6,400 above-ground running machine or weights in the gym, listen to an enriching lecture, watch a mausoleums. The Duarte Family crypt is Eva Perón’s final resting place. documentary, or gaze at the passing ocean. It’s your day to enjoy your way. Observe as locals lay flowers for Evita. Near the necropolis, you’ll find one of the city’s oldest cafes, La Biela. Pop in for a drink to toast to your 14-day DAY 11, MONTEVIDEO cruise; you’ll be in good company. Afterwards, be sure to visit a parrilla (steakhouse) leaving room for dulce de leche and time to watch some tango. Arrive in Uruguay. Barely-known by the majority of travellers, this progressive Today is the final day of your exploration of South America’s coastline. Having little country has been emerging from its larger neighbours’ shadow over the overnighted aboard Vega II, say ‘hasta luego’ to your chic ship and its past decade. Disembark today in the enchanting capital, Montevideo. Located excellent crew. If time allows before you begin your journey home, continue on the opposite side of the Río de la Plata to Buenos Aires, it’s languidly your Buenos Aires experience in Plaza de Mayo, which is lined with the Casa authentic, and you’ll rarely find it crowded. Prepare to be charmed by the Rosada, the Cabildo and the main cathedral and centred around the Piramid timeless fin-de-siècle architecture, leafy plazas, sandy beaches (some of the de Mayo, a white obelisk built to commemorate the first anniversary of best in South America) and promenades where laid-back residents stroll. Argentina’s independence from Spain. If you didn’t delve into the city’s Montevideo is also a city that every bookworm should visit: it’s home to many irresistibly vivacious cultural scene yesterday, today is the day. Explore the renowned writers including Mario Benedetti, Juan Carlos Onetti, and Cristina National Museum of Decorative Arts – it’s a testimony to the lives of Peri Rossi. Often referred to as the ‘Athens of the Rio de la Plata’, Montevideo Argentinian high society at the start of the 20th century. From there, visit the thrums with a bookish appeal, it’s the cradle of Gaucho literature and the only sleek and modern Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires (Malba), which UNESCO City of Literature in Latin America. Make room in your suitcase for a makes a big statement. Hit a high cultural note, at the city’s famed opera souvenir tome. house, Teatro Colón, where a tour will reveal its grandeur.

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com Please Note: Itineraries are subject to change.

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com YOUR SHIP: VEGA

YOUR SHIP: Vega

VESSEL TYPE: Luxury Expedition / Cruise Ship

LENGTH: 115 metres

PASSENGER CAPACITY: 152

BUILT/REFURBISHED: 2020-2021-2022

Our brand new ship has been designed to journey to off the beaten path destinations and remote polar regions in style and comfort. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible. Sophisticated Elegance. We know how important outdoor space is, so our spacious, relaxing public spaces provide wide open, unobstructed views throughout the ship. The destination will always be in view. Your Wellbeing. The safety & happiness of our guests is paramount to our 120-strong crew on board as well as our passionate expedition team who'll be serving up thrilling shore excursions and lasting memories. Cabin Types. Our 76 cabins including 6 suites have all the amenities you will need to feel comfortable including dressing gowns, hairdryers, personal safes and minibars. Our stylish cabins all have desks, a dressing area and comfy seating. En suite bathrooms all feature glass-enclosed rain showers.

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com INSIDE YOUR SHIP

Balcony. From Oceanview

Premium Suite Suite

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com PRICING

03-Nov-2022 to 16-Nov-2022 Oceanview 14246 AUD pp Balcony. From 15663 AUD pp Suite 20314 AUD pp Premium Suite 23228 AUD pp

0800 945 3327 (within New Zealand) | +64 (0) 3 365 1355 | 1800 107 715 (within Australia) [email protected] | wildearth-travel.com