From the Shores of Morocco to Patagonia: Part I

Day 1 CASABLANCA, MOROCCO | EMBARK

Arrive in Casablanca and transfer to the pier to embark Corinthian II. (D)

Day 2 AT SEA

Day 3 LAAYOUNE, WESTERN SAHARA

From the port of El Marsa, drive inland across Saharan dunes to reach Laayoune, the main city in Morocco’s Western Sahara. Explore the Spanish-Saharan architecture of the city’s old district; the Museum of Traditional Arts; and the Artisans Center’s craft workshops. After visiting a nearby oasis, where you will enjoy an elaborate Saharan tea show, end the day with a drive in the dunes. (B, L, D)

Days 4-5 AT SEA

(B, L, D)

Day 6 SANTO ANTÃO, Cape Verde Islands

Arrive in the rugged Cape Verde Islands, an isolated archipelago in the Atlantic, discovered by European mariners and explorers in the 15th century. Strategically positioned in the old Atlantic sailing route, the islands were of major importance in the slave trade between Europe and the New World. Land at Santo Antão island, whose piercing volcanic peaks and canyons are one of the world’s great landscape panoramas. Travel from Porto Novo to Ribeira Grande, a drive that will reveal the island’s unforgettable landscape, to visit its capital. (B, L, D)

Day 7 SÃO VICENTE

Call at São Vicente. Spend the day enjoying the island’s striking mountain scenery and relaxing on its beautiful beaches. (B, L, D)

Days 8-11 AT SEA

(B, L, D)

Day 12 RECIFE | OLINDA | RECIFE, Brazil

Call at the port of Recife, founded by the Dutch in 1637. Tour the town’s principal monuments, including the Convent of St. Francis, with beautiful Portuguese tiles, and the adjoining Golden Chapel. Continue to historic Olinda, the old capital of Pernambuco and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. (B, L, D)

Day 13 AT SEA

(B, L, D)

Day 14 SALVADOR

Founded by the Portuguese in 1549 on the magnificent Bahia de Todos Los Santos—and Brazil’s former capital—Salvador remains one of the country’s highlights. The city’s historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, contains some of the most important colonial architecture in the Americas. Spend the morning on a walking tour of the old Pelourinho district, a maze of streets and elegant squares lined with pastel mansions, imposing churches, artists’ workshops, and antique shops. This afternoon, visit the Museum of Bahian Art, housed in a mansion formerly owned by the Goes Calmon family, and see its exhibits of colonial arts and works of modern Bahian artists. (B, L, D)

Days 15-16 AT SEA

(B, L, D)

Days 17-18 RIO DE JANEIRO

Beautifully situated between lush mountains and the sea, Rio—the Cidade Maravilhosa (“Marvelous City”)—is undoubtedly one of the world’s most impressive metropolises. Take the cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Peak, where breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding bay await you at the summit. Then board the funicular for a ride up Corcovado Peak, crowned by the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer, which overlooks Rio and the sea. The ride leads through the beautiful Parque Nacional de Tijuca, a lush tropical forest with numerous species of flowers, trees, and birds. (B, L, D)