From Lima (Callao) to Valparaíso · South America & Antarctica · 5 nights
Sleek and stylish, Le Boréal, Le Soléal, L’Austral and Le Lyrial are wonderful small ships that blend luxury and intimacy with a discreet elegance and tasteful décor.
These chic sisters are amongst the most stylish ships at sea,
with muted natural tones, minimalist interiors and playful splashes
of colour. The accommodation is flexible, with the option to
combine staterooms and create expansive suites, while the
restaurants deliver the sort of outstanding gastronomic experience
that you would expect from a French flag cruise line.
Peru's underrated capital enjoys a fine setting on the Pacific coast, and the handsome colonial-era buildings surrounding the Plaza de Armas give clues to Lima's distinguished history. For three centuries this was the capital of the Spanish Americas, when the city grew rich on the back of plundered Inca gold. Modern Lima can be a little hectic, the roads often clogged with traffic, but the historic centre has an undeniable charm to it, and in recent years a clutch of innovative restaurants have helped to put Peruvian cuisine on the map.
Characterful, colourful and a little chaotic, the port city of Valparaíso is scattered across 45 vertiginous hills. Thanks to this difficult topography the city streets are punctuated by steep staircases and funicular elevators, and energetic explorers will be rewarded with wonderful views of the pastel hued buildings that hug the slopes.
