Chile Cruise from Valparaíso to Papeete — 23 Days

Valparaiso-Santiago, Chile

Valparaíso is Chile’s most characterful port, a steep-sided city rising above the Pacific in a mosaic of color. Ride a historic funicular into the hills, where murals, stairways and bright houses reward unhurried exploration. In the UNESCO-listed historic quarter, grand 19th-century architecture recalls the era when ships rounded Cape Horn. Visit La Sebastiana, poet Pablo Neruda’s house, then return to the waterfront for fresh seafood and broad Pacific views.

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Robinson Crusoe Island Chile, Chile

Some 670 kilometres off Chile’s coast, Robinson Crusoe Island rewards travellers who value remoteness over resort comforts. At San Juan Bautista, the island’s small settlement, fishing boats and steep green hills frame daily life. Trails cross native forest, where the endemic Juan Fernández firecrown may appear. Alexander Selkirk’s years of isolation here helped inspire Daniel Defoe’s famous castaway. Expect a rugged visit shaped by sea conditions, limited services, and extraordinary isolation.

At Sea (At Sea)

Easter Island Chile, Chile

Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, rises from the Pacific nearly 3,700 kilometres west of mainland Chile. The island’s history commands attention: hundreds of monumental moai stand across a volcanic landscape shaped by Polynesian culture. At Rano Raraku, the quarry where many figures were carved, unfinished statues remain in the hillside. Ahu Tongariki gathers 15 restored moai beneath open skies. Rano Kau’s crater and Orongo’s ceremonial village reveal another chapter in Rapa Nui history.

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Pitcairn Island

Few ports feel as remote as Pitcairn, a volcanic island in the South Pacific with no airport. Most visitors arrive by ship, and landing depends on sea conditions. Adamstown, the island’s only settlement, is home to descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Walk its steep lanes, visit the small museum, and experience island life shaped by isolation, self-reliance, and the ocean.

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Gambier Islands

At the southeastern edge of French Polynesia, the Gambier Islands reward travelers willing to venture beyond the familiar Society Islands. Mangareva, the largest island, rises above a broad lagoon edged by smaller islands and coral reefs. In Rikitea, 19th-century St. Michael’s Cathedral recalls the archipelago’s Catholic history. Black pearls are still cultivated in these remote waters. Allow time for quiet beaches, clear shallows, and the archipelago’s unhurried pace.

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Fatu Hiva Island

Fatu Hiva, in the southern Marquesas, has no airport; most visitors arrive by sea. Ships approach Hanavave through steep volcanic cliffs, opening onto the celebrated Bay of Virgins. In Omoa, artisans make tapa from the bark of paper mulberry and breadfruit trees. Beyond the villages, tropical forest, waterfalls and the rugged road between Omoa and Hanavave invite exploration. Come for living craft and landscapes few travelers reach.

Hiva Oa Island

Hiva Oa shows the Marquesas at their most dramatic, with green ridges, deep valleys and volcanic cliffs. Atuona, the island’s principal village, offers a starting point for exploring its layered history. Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel are buried at Calvary Cemetery above the village. At Puamau, the Iipona archaeological site preserves imposing stone tiki and evidence of Marquesan culture. Go inland for an encounter with an island where art, history and landscape remain closely connected.

At Sea (At Sea)

Fakarava Atoll Tuamotus

Fakarava is a vast coral atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago, where a narrow ribbon of land encloses a luminous lagoon. It is part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, recognized for its reefs, lagoons and fragile island ecosystems. At Garuae and Tumakohua passes, strong currents draw divers to schools of fish and gray reef sharks. On land, Rotoava offers a quiet glimpse of Tuamotu life, far from resort crowds.

Moorea Island

Moorea’s jagged volcanic peaks rise above a lagoon so clear that the reef appears close enough to touch. A short ferry ride from Tahiti, this Society Islands destination offers a quieter, greener counterpoint to Papeete. Follow the coast past pineapple fields and small villages. Then climb to Belvedere Lookout for broad views of Cook’s and Opunohu bays. Swim, snorkel or take a lagoon cruise; Moorea rewards unhurried exploration as much as adventure.

Papeete

Papeete is French Polynesia’s lively capital, set on Tahiti’s northwest coast beneath green volcanic peaks. Its waterfront, central market and shaded streets offer a vivid introduction to island life. Browse the Marché de Papeete for vanilla, pareos and tropical fruit, then pause over poisson cru, Tahiti’s lime-and-coconut-marinated fish. Beyond town, black-sand beaches and waterfalls await, while ferry links make Moorea an easy day trip. Papeete rewards a few hours on foot—and a longer look at Tahiti.