Africa Cruises Alaska Cruises Antarctica Cruises Arctic Cruises Asia Cruises Caribbean Cruises Central America Cruises European Cruises Galapagos Cruises Mediterranean Cruises North America Cruises South America Cruises South Pacific Cruises South & Central
America Tours

E-mail a friend Gift Registry Family Travel Supplement Press Kit Employment Opportunities Question about a cruise? Technical Question? Are you a travel agent?

Adventure Life VOYAGES
800-344-6118 (Toll-free)
406-541-2677 (International)
406-541-2676 (Fax)
E-mail us
1655 S 3rd St. W, Ste 1
Missoula MT, 59801 USA

Ship:  Clelia II

Itinerary:  Panama Canal to Easter Island

click to enlarge
  Wander Quitos historic streets during your South America expedition voyage

 cabins & deck plans  |  additional itineraries |  cancellation policy | Testimonials

NOTHING SATISFIES OUR DESIRE FOR ADVENTURE AND DISCOVERY LIKE AN EPIC SEA VOYAGE.

For seekers of uncommon sightings, bewitching islands, and dramatically scenic wilderness, very few destinations match the allure of South America’s Pacific coastline and Easter Island, where glorious ancient cities, brightly festooned fauna, mysterious monuments, and amazingly impressive scenery await to be discovered.

Aboard the 100-guest Clelia II, a ship that is uniquely fit for long voyages, given its spacious all-suite accommodations and attractive facilities, we will transit the historic Panama Canal and then sail along the coast of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Here we will explore colonial cities, including Quito, renowned for its architecture and its impressive setting in the Andes, as well as the cities and monuments of civilizations that flourished in this part of the continent before the arrival of the Europeans in the 16th century.

Our last visit in Peru is at the mysterious Nazca Lines. From here, Clelia II will cross the blue Pacific to Easter Island, staying in port for four days, giving us ample opportunity to leisurely and comprehensively explore this fabled isle and its renowned monumental sculptures. Who were the people who created the sculptures and how and from where did they arrive at the island? Did they sail from the coast of Peru or from the west? These are some of the questions our expert study leaders will probe.

Considering the incredible variety of sights, experiences, and study themes offered by our itinerary, South America’s Ancient Civilizations and Easter Island promises to deliver an unforgettable travel adventure.

Day 1 : Arrive Panama City, Panama

Fly from the U.S. to Panama City, Panama’s cosmopolitan capital. Founded in 1519 by the Spanish as their first city on the Pacific coast of the Americas, Panama City is strategically sited near the Pacific side of the Panama Canal. On arrival, transfer to the Hotel InterContinental Miramar.

Day 2 : Panama City / Colon / Embark

Explore some of Panama’s attractions during a choice of excursions. One tour will visit sites around Panama City, including Casco Viejo, Panama City’s historic quarter, where narrow cobbled streets are lined with historic buildings; the Metropolitano National Park, a protected wilderness just a short drive away from the city’s center; the Reina Torres de Araúz Anthropological Museum, with its displays of pre-Columbian artifacts; and the Miraflores Locks Visitor Center. Alternatively, explore the Soberania National Park, a pristine rain forest along the eastern side of the canal that is home to a rich wildlife, including 500 species of birds, howler and capuchin monkeys, toucans, and others; or visit the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, a biological reserve located on Barro Colorado Island in Gatun Lake. All excursions will end in Colón, on Panama’s Caribbean coast, where we will embark on Clelia II. Overnight aboard docked in Colón.

Day 3 : Transit of the Panama Canal

In the morning, Clelia II transits the historic Panama Canal, one of the world’s most important waterways, passing from Gatun Lake on the Atlantic side to Panama Bay on the Pacific. The scenery and mechanics of the transit are utterly absorbing, with the ship being raised and lowered a total of 85 feet. Bird-watchers and naturalists will find the changes in flora and fauna especially fascinating as Clelia II travels from the humid forest of the Atlantic to the dry forest of the Pacific.

Day 4 : At Sea

Cruise in the Gulf of Panama.

Day 5 : Cali, Colombia

Founded in 1540 at the head of a beautiful bay, Buenaventura is Colombia’s main Pacific port. Travel inland to Cali, one of the country’s most vibrant and prosperous cities. Visit Cali’s colonial section (the city was founded in 1536), including the church and monastery of San Francisco; La Merced, Cali’s oldest church, and its adjoining museums housing colonial art and archaeological objects; and the Calima Museum, with its exhibits of pre-Columbian gold and pottery. Alternatively, explore the coast north of Buenaventura, an unspoiled area of jungle and pristine beaches. Near the mouth of the San Juan River is the small fishing village of Juanchaco, where we may spot humpback whales and dolphins.

Day 6 : At Sea / Manta, Ecuador

Cruise along the coast of Ecuador. Arrive in Manta, Ecuador’s second largest port, late in the afternoon.

Day 7 : Manta / Quito / Manta

Disembark in the morning for a full-day air excursion (about 30 minutes flight) to Quito, Ecuador’s capital, famed for its location at the foot of a volcano high in the Andes and for its magnificent colonial architecture, which has earned Quito status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the city’s charming cobbled streets that lead to picturesque plazas and historic buildings. Return to the ship early in the evening.

Day 8 : At Sea

Relax aboard as Clelia II cruises along the coast of Peru.

Day 9 : Salverry / Chan Chan / Salaverry, Peru

From Salaverry, an excursion leads to Chan Chan, the capital of the pre- Columbian Chimu culture, which occupied the Peruvian coast around Rujillo from A.D.1000 to 1470. The largest adobe city in the world, Chan Chan was divided into nine ciudadellas (or little cities). Enclosed within the city’s walls are the remains of temples, palaces, houses, and workshops, many still decorated with designs of fish, birds, and various geometric patterns that have been molded into the mud walls. We will also have time to explore the colonial center of Trujillo, a city founded by the Spanish in 1534.

***OPTIONAL TWO-NIGHT EXCURSION TO CUZCO AND MACHU PICCHU***
For those interested, there will be an opportunity to optionally take a two-night excursion to Cuzco, the center of the Inca Empire, and Machu Picchu, the Inca site dramatically situated on top of towering mountains. Fly from Trujillo to Cuzco the morning of October 21st and rejoin the ship in Callao on October 23rd.

Day 10 : Chimbote / Sechín / Chimbote

From the fishing port of Chimbote drive south along the coastal road to Sechín, one of the most important ancient sites in coastal Peru. A temple-palace of the Chavín-Sechín culture (c. 1500 – 300 B.C.), the square temple is completely covered with a mural of carved stone monoliths depicting a battle. The nearby Max Uhle Museum displays artifacts excavated at the site.

Day 11 : Callao / Lima / Callao

Arrive in Callao to spend the day exploring Lima, the sprawling capital of Peru, founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535, subsequently becoming the major city of Spanish South America. Visit the city’s historical center, including the Plaza de Armas, a UNESCO World Heritage site, fronted by several colonial buildings; and the superb National Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology, with its artifacts representing all of Peru’s major ancient cultures. Also visit the Gold Museum, the great private collection of Miguel Mujica Gallo, which houses pre-Columbian gold, silver, and bronze objects and other artifacts. Alternatively, explore two important ancient sites near Lima, Pachacámac: the largest Peruvian coastal city and ceremonial center before the arrival of the Spaniards, and the reconstructed pre-Inca villa of Puruchuco.

Day 12 : San Martin / Paracas / Ballestas Islands / San Martin

Call at the port of San Martin, our gateway to the Paracas peninsula, a national reserve created to protect one of South America’s most important marine ecosystems. The area is home to large numbers of marine birds and mammals. Paracas was also a necropolis of the Nazca culture, where over 400 mummies were excavated, each wrapped in fine textiles, for which the Nazca culture was renowned. Explore the peninsula, including the Julio Tello Museum, which houses many of the textiles and other objects excavated at the necropolis, and also take an excursion to the nearby Ballestas Islands, which are home to thousands of seabirds and other wildlife.

Day 13 : San Nicolas / Nazca / San Nicolas

After calling in San Nicolas, travel to Nazca, named for the ancient Nazca culture that inhabited the region from around A.D.200 to 800. Here we board small aircraft for an air excursion over the celebrated Nazca Lines, immense designs drawn in the desert by the Nazca or another early culture. While no one knows their true meaning, they are believed by some to be a type of astronomical calendar used for agricultural purposes. Among the shapes visible from the air are a gigantic lizard, a monkey, and a condor with outstretched wings, as well as simpler geometric figures.

Days 14-18 : At Sea

Relax aboard, attend lectures, and enjoy Clelia II’s facilities as the ship cruises the Pacific en route to Easter Island.

Day 19 : Sala-y-Gomez, Chile

Situated near Easter Island, the uninhabited islet of Sala-y-Gomez abounds in bird life. Take a Zodiac excursion in search of masked boobies, red-tailed tropicbirds, brown and blue-grey noddies, and the great frigate birds.

Days 20-21 : Easter Island

Few of the world’s archaeological treasures are so shrouded in mystery as the moai, the massive and brooding carved figures of Easter Island. Archaeologists and historians continue to debate how humans first arrived on this island, a tiny speck some 1,200 miles from the nearest inhabited island. What motivated the inhabitants to carve and set up hundreds of moai? Our five days on Easter Island (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), will allow us to explore this unique island and all its important sites thoroughly and leisurely and also to meet its hospitable people and learn about their culture and traditions. Among the visits we will make are to the Rano Raraku, the hard basalt quarry where the moai were carved and where some 200 sculptures in various states of completion are still scattered about; Anakena Beach, said to be the landing site of Hoto Matua, the legendary first settler of Easter Island; and the site of the Orongo Ceremonial Village, famous for its petroglyphs of the ancient birdmen and for its spectacular sweeping views. Also learn about the enigmatic civilization of Easter Island at the excellent local museum.

Day 22 : Disembark / Fly Santiago, Chile

Disembark at Easter Island and Santiago, Chile. Overnight at the Hotel Grand Hyatt Santiago.

Day 23 : Return Home

Morning tour of Santiago before transferring to the airport for return flights home.

Ship Description: Clelia II

click to enlarge
  Clelia II

To be launched in early 2009, after extensive refurbishment, redecoration and other improvements, the all-suite Clelia II will offer the finest in small-ship cruise travel. This private yacht-like cruise ship accommodates only 100 guests in 50 suites, each of which affords ocean views, measures 215 square feet or more and is appointed with a sitting area or separate living room, twin or queen-size beds, spacious closets, air conditioning.

Clelia II complies with the latest international and U.S. Coast Guard safety regulations and is outfitted with the most current navigational and communications technology as well as with retractable fin stabilizers for smooth sailing, an ice-strengthened hull and a fleet of Zodiacs. Clelia II is staffed by 60 European officers and crew. Taken together with her limited guest capacity, excellence of design, craftsmanship and material, Clelia II's spaciousness and intimate ambiance combine to make her ideal for distinctive cultural and expedition voyages.

Category E Deluxe suites on Ariadne and Leto decks with windows and sitting area. 215 sq. feet. Suites 342-345, 428, 429, 433.	Category D Deluxe suites on Ariadne Deck with windows, sitting area, mini-bar, VCR/DVD/CD player, color TV, marble appointed bathroom with spacious shower . 215 sq. feet. 334-335.
Category C Deluxe suites on Athena deck with three portholes, sitting area, mini-bar, VCR/DVD/CD player, color TV, marble appointed bathroom with spacious shower. 275 sq. feet. Suites 246-252.	Category B Deluxe suites on Ariadne deck with window, sitting area, mini-bar, VCR/DVD/CD player, color TV, marble appointed bathroom with spacious shower. 225 square feet. Suites 336-341.
Category A Deluxe suites on Leto deck with window, sitting area, mini-bar, VCR/DVD/CD player, color TV, marble appointed bathroom with spacious shower. 235 square feet. Suites 420-427, 430-431.	Category AA Deluxe suites on Leto deck with forward and side windows, sitting area, mini-bar, VCR/DVD/CD player, color TV, marble appointed bathroom with spacious shower. 285 square feet. Suites 505-506.
Category VS Deluxe Veranda suites on Cleo deck with private balcony, sitting area, mini-bar, VCR/DVD/CD player, color TV, marble appointed bathroom with spacious shower. 245 sq. feet. Suites 507-518.	Category PHS Deluxe Penthouse suites on Phoebe deck with private balcony , sitting area, mini-bar, VCR/DVD/CD player, color TV, marble appointed bathroom with spacious shower. 260 sq. feet. Suites 601-604.