I'd like to take a cruise from Rio de Janeiro around Cape Horn to Valparaiso, Chile, or the reverse. When, in your opinion, is the best time of year? I would want to visit Iguazu Falls along the way, which is available as a shore excursion. Holland America offers this cruise in Feb.-March, and I think Nov. and also Dec. I'd be traveling alone.

Any comments on the pros and cons of the time of year would be helpful.
Thank you.

We did that cruise including Antarctica in January which was perfect as far as weather goes. Iguazu falls was very hot however but it was certainly worth it - incredible!!! WE flew to Buenos Aires a few days ahead and did Iguazu on our own (used a travel agent who specializes in that area) We spent one night on the Argentinian side and one on the Brazilian side then flew to Rio for the cruise. It worked out so well and the cost of doing that was no more than the ships excursion but gave us more time and flexibility.

If you want to see the penguins and their babies end of December through end of January is the best. Extremes of temperatures are guaranteed.

Thank you for the information; I think I'll have to stay a few nights somewhere before embarking, because after a long flight, don't think I can manage the lifeboat drill onboard ship!

I'm now searching for a January cruise; how extreme is the weather? Will I need gloves and scarf? An umbrella?

Januray is their summer ... but around the Cape Horn, it would be still cool though, sort of like summer in far north Alaska. If you are on the biat, open deck, ship is moving, wind chill, I would say yes to scarf and gloves.

We were in the Southern most point out of Ushuaia the 3rd week of January and we didn't need a jacket. The only place we needed scarf and gloves was in Antarctica the rest was very pleasant. If you get a chance to take the narrow guage railway in Ushuaia to Tierra de Fuego you should definitely do it. They have a little post office there where they will stamp a little passport for you - they made great gifts for kids and stamp collectors. It is a really pretty and interesting ride. You don't have to do it as a ships tour they sell tickets on the street by the ships dock. I must say it was a highlight. If Puerto Madryn is one of your ports it is the best place for penguins. Punta Arenas is also good for penguins. A good windbreaker with sweater underneath is best as we found the penguin viewing areas were extremely windy as opposed to cold. By the way Holland America has January sailings on the Veendam next year.

I am looking for a female travel companion to do the Holland America cruise that encircules South America. If not all of it, at least to the Amazon and Antarctica.

Would you be interested in a travel partner to cruise to/from a U.S. port, into the Amazon and include also Antarctica. Could start in Ft. Lauderdale and end in Chile (or reverse)..

Thank you for the offer, Msbister, but after careful consideration,

I'd like to do this trip alone. It will be my first since losing my husband. My travel agent told me about the "single supplement."

We did this cruise in January including Antartica several years ago. I think began January 9 in Chile. The time was great and would do again. A light jacket was nice the further south we went and on deck in Antarctica the gloves, scarf, warmer jacket were comfortable.