South America Cruise - from Panama City - 118321

Manta is the most important town in the province of Manabí. The name originates from the Manta culture, which dates back to the year 500. The town has undergone a dynamic development in the fields of industry, trade and tourism. It produces primarily coffee, cocoa and tuna. Not far from the town is Montecristi, where nearly the entire population is involved in the production of Panama hats. Sights include: the museum, which exhibits mostly pre-Columbian art; the Indio market selling hand-made items.

The port of Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador. It is also the economic centre of the country and has the largest port. The historic landmark of the city is the "Rotonda", which overlooks the garden promenade "Paseo de las Colonias". There are other attractions very close by, such as the government building and the town hall. In the North of the city, visitors can view the old fortress "La Planchada". Other sights include: Santo Domingo church in the "Las Peñas" residential area, the "Museo Municipal", numerous beaches not far from the city.

The port of Guayaquil is the largest city in Ecuador. It is also the economic centre of the country and has the largest port. The historic landmark of the city is the "Rotonda", which overlooks the garden promenade "Paseo de las Colonias". There are other attractions very close by, such as the government building and the town hall. In the North of the city, visitors can view the old fortress "La Planchada". Other sights include: Santo Domingo church in the "Las Peñas" residential area, the "Museo Municipal", numerous beaches not far from the city.

Salaverry at the foot of the Andes has retained the charm of a colonial city with its old churches, colonial houses and balconies and backyards decorated with flowers. In front of the cathedral at the Plaza de Armas is a sculpture commemorating the liberation of Peru. There are many mansions that tourists can visit, such as the 'House of Emancipation', where Peru's independence from Spain was declared. From Salaverry visitors can take trips to the legendary Inca sites of Cuzco and Machu Picchu. There are many ruins dating from the time of the Incas, including the Coricancha, the second temple of the sun. Churches such as La Merced and the San Francisco Belén de los Reves monastery dating from the 17th century, as well as the Santa Clara and San Blas monasteries result in an impressive mixture of Spanish and native Indian architecture.

Callao is a suburb of Lima, the capital of Peru. Callao is the main transportation hub of South America, with one of the largest ports in this Southern Hemisphere. Lima is also the largest city in the country, in western Peru on the Pacific coast. Lima's old town, with its streets laid out like a chessboard, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. The city is a mixture of Colonial-style buildings and modern architecture. The "Plaza de Armas" is the real highlight. This is where the cathedral, the presidential palace and many important churches, such as the Iglesia San Francisco, the Iglesia la Merced and the Iglesia Santo Domingo. At the corner of the Plaza is an equestrian monument honouring the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, who founded Lima in January 1535, in order to focus the reign over the conquered kingdom of the Incas here. The San Francisco monastery with its catacombs, which is close to the Plazuela San Francisco, is also worth seeing. A trip to the Plaza de Mayo, throbbing with hundreds of traders and the shopping street Calle Union are also well worth a visit. Other sights include: the Museo de la Nacion, the "Museo de Oro" and the Miraflores and Barranco districts.

The most northerly town in Chile is located by the sea and serves as the starting point for tours of the Andes uplands to Putre and the National Parks "Las Vicuñas" and "Lauca" and to the sites of ancient Incan settlements. In 1883, following the "Salpeter war" (1879-1883), the city was ceded by Bolivia to Chile, causing Bolivia to lose its access to the Pacific.