A Journey Through River Plate Elegance & Brazil’s White Shores

Every neighbourhood moves to a different rhythm in Buenos Aires. Recoleta's grand boulevards and marble mausoleums give way to the elegant palaces and European architecture of Retiro and Montserrat. Find street art and football fever in La Boca's colourful Caminito, and settle into vibrant parrillas (steakhouses) and late-night wine bars in Palermo.

In the afternoon, wander the cobbles of San Telmo, where tango drifts across leafy plazas, or explore the revitalised red-brick warehouses of the city's former docklands in Puerto Madero.

Less audacious and more laid-back than its Argentine neighbour, the Uruguayan capital radiates an easy charm. Narrow streets of Ciudad Vieja lead towards the historic Puerta de la Ciudadela and the wide-open space of Plaza Independencia, where the soaring tower of Palacio Salvo is said to evoke Dante's The Divine Comedy in architectural form. Uruguayan steak sizzles over the parrillas beneath the wrought-iron arches of Mercado del Puerto, while unhurried evenings on the waterfront see locals gather for yerba mate at sunset.

With more time to reflect, rejuvenate, and embrace the Ocean State of Mind, days at sea with Explora Journeys invite moments of unhurried exploration. Against a backdrop of endless blue, indulge in a varied programme of wellness, dining and entertainment, enriching the mind and indulging the senses, designed to satisfy even the most curious of minds. These moments at sea offer a rare chance to disconnect from the outside world and reconnect with yourself and your loved ones. With so many onboard experiences, each day at sea is unique and memorable.

A wall of gleaming skyscrapers rises between the lush hillsides of southern Santa Catarina and the Atlantic Ocean at Central Beach, Balneário Camboriú's waterside playground. This ultra-modern enclave blends high-rise urban energy with tropical scenery and a distinctly Brazilian flavour. Take in the contrast and sweeping views from the Cristo Luz monument, or ride the Unipraias Cable Car over a swathe of Atlantic Forest, pausing for mountain trails and viewpoints high above the ocean, before descending over the canopy to Laranjeiras Beach.

From the Itiberê River, colourful colonial buildings, cobbled squares and the whitewashed façade of Nossa Senhora do Rosário Church unfold across Paranaguá's historic centre, the gateway to Paraná's riches. Discover indigenous heritage and Caiçara culture at the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology before exploring the unspoiled shores of Ilha do Mel (Honey Island). Fringed by sandy beaches, coastal caves and laid-back fishing villages, the car-free ecological reserve invites unhurried days of hiking, surfing or doing nothing at all.

Time slows among the castaway beaches and primordial hillsides of Ilha Grande, a protected island hideaway where nature reigns. Snorkel in clear waters or moor up in secluded coves where palm trees droop over giant boulders and marmosets leap between branches. On land, hike to hidden rainforest waterfalls and historical ruins; grab a caipirinha from a beach bar in Vila do Abraão; or doze in the shade on the white sands of Lopes Mendes Beach, where the jungle meets the sea.

Cariocas live life to a different rhythm. If you want to keep up, you need to tune in. Start early on the golden sands of Ipanema and Copacabana, where joggers and sea-swimmers greet the sun, before lunch in the trendy tables of Botafogo and Leblon. Wander the cobbled streets of Santa Teresa; explore mansions and botanic gardens in Cosmo Velho; take the cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain; and ride the rails to the top of Corcovado, where Christ the Redeemer welcomes all with outstretched arms.