2 Cruises, 14 Days Inland: Our Secret to the Perfect South America Trip
Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.
Creator's Key Takeaways
We built a cruise sandwich. We took an Azamara cruise to Argentina, spent 14 days crossing the continent with Firebird Tours, and then linked it perfectly to an Oceania cruise in Peru to sail home.
We walked off the ship. There was a guy standing there with uh our name on a sign, and he he took us to the hotel. And uh everything worked out great.
We used Cruise Plumb to look at the west coast of South America for cruises starting or stopping there that would be heading north.
Our price was $12,904 for this 2-week trip. I want to break this down so you know exactly what all that included for us.
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Stop flying home after your cruise (if you have time of course!) We turned a one-way sailing into the ultimate South America loop by building a "Cruise Sandwich." We saw Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Mendoza & Santiago and then cruised home from Lima, Peru north to San Diego, California. Here is the exact itinerary, tips & tricks for success, “how to do it” review and our cost breakdown for the entire trip. Most people book a South America cruise, see a few ports, and fly home exhausted. But the best parts of the continent—like Iguazu Falls and Mendoza's wine country—are hundreds of miles inland. You really can't see them properly from a ship port. In this video, we show you how to link two different cruises (Azamara and Oceania) with a 14-day land adventure to create the perfect trip. We break down the logistics that scare most travelers: • How we handled luggage weight limits on local airlines (without paying $800 in shipping fees). • Why we chose Premium Economy over Economy • How we used Firebird Tours to make the land transfers feel as safe and seamless as a ship excursion. • The "Safety Buffer" strategy for arriving in Lima before the second cruise. 📍 The "Meat" of the Sandwich (Itinerary & Stops): • The Top Bun: Azamara Quest (Brazil to Buenos Aires) • Stop 1: Buenos Aires, Argentina (2 Days) - Highlights: Recoleta Cemetery, La Boca • Stop 2: Iguazu Falls (1 Day) - Highlight: Devil’s Throat & private tour • Stop 3: Mendoza, Argentina (2 Days) - Wineries Visited: (Alta Vista, Benegas, Casarena & Terrazas de Los Andes) • Stop 4: Santiago & Valparaiso, Chile (2 Days) - Highlights: Valparaiso and Matetic Winery • The Bottom Bun: Oceania Vista (Lima to San Diego) Mentioned in this video: • Logistics Partner: Firebird Tours (Private transfers & guides) • Flight Hack: Aerolineas Argentinas Premium Economy (bigger baggage allowance, faster immigration, comfy ride plus flight meals) • Cruise Search Tool: CruisePlum • Hotels: 474 Buenos Aires Hotel (Theater District), Mercure Iguazu Hotel Iru, Villagio • Hotel Boutique Mendoza, Regal Pacific Hotel Santiago, Jose Antonio Deluxe Lima Timestamps: 0:00 - The "Cruise Sandwich" Strategy (Don't Fly Home!) 0:47 – Top Bun: Azamara Pursuit to Buenos Aires 1:32 – Buenos Aires Exploration 6:11 – Bags $800 Discussion! 7:51 - Iguazu Falls Full Day Tour & Tips 10:04 - Mendoza: 4 Wineries & The Andes Crossing 12:35 - Santiago & Valparaiso: Santiago, Valparaiso & Casablanca Wine Country 17:30 - The Lima Cruise "Safety Buffer" Rule 18:48 – Bottom Bun: Boarding the Oceania Vista 18:50 – Tips & Tools for South America 21:25 - How to Build Your Own Sandwich with www.Cruiseplum.com 22:21 – Costs Breakdown #southamericacruise #retirementtravel #retiredtravel #altavista #benegas #terrazadelasandes #casarena #valparaiso #viñadelmar #mendozaargentina #iguazuwaterfalls #iguazufalls #santiagodechile #oceaniacruises #azamara #hollandamerica #vikingcruises #princesscruiseship Stop flying home after your cruise! We turned a one-way sailing into the ultimate South America loop by building a "Cruise Sandwich." This video details how to combine inland South American attractions with cruises by creating a "cruise sandwich." It shows the logistics of a 14-day land tour between an azamara cruise in Argentina and an oceania cruises departing from Peru, offering essential cruise tips and travel tips for a smoother experience. Enjoy our experiences aboard the Azamara Quest!