Aboard Silver Ray with Silversea Cruises
Cruise Overview
When people discuss great South American cities, Lima is often overlooked.
But Peru's capital can hold its own against its neighbors.
It has an oceanfront setting, colonial-era splendor, sophisticated dining, and nonstop nightlife.It's true that the city—clogged with traffic and choked with fumes—doesn't make a good first impression, especially since the airport is in an industrial neighborhood.
But wander around the regal edifices surrounding the Plaza de Armas, among the gnarled olive trees of San Isidro's Parque El Olivar, or along the winding lanes in the coastal community of Barranco, and you'll find yourself charmed.In 1535 Francisco Pizarro found the perfect place for the capital of Spain's colonial empire.
On a natural port, the so-called Ciudad de los Reyes (City of Kings) allowed Spain to ship home all the gold the conquistador plundered from the Inca.
Lima served as the capital of Spain's South American empire for 300 years, and it's safe to say that no other colonial city enjoyed such power and prestige during this period.When Peru declared its independence from Spain in 1821, the declaration was read in the square that Pizarro had so carefully designed.
Many of the colonial-era buildings around the Plaza de Armas are standing today.
Walk a few blocks in any direction for churches and elegant houses that reveal just how wealthy this city once was.
But the poor state of most buildings attests to the fact that the country's wealthy families have moved to neighborhoods to the south over the past century.The walls that surrounded the city were demolished in 1870, making way for unprecedented growth.
A former hacienda became the graceful residential neighborhood of San Isidro.
In the early 1920s the construction of tree-lined Avenida Arequipa heralded the development of neighborhoods such as bustling Miraflores and bohemian Barranco.Almost a third of the country's population of 29 million lives in the metropolitan area, many of them in relatively poor conos: newer neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city.
Most residents of those neighborhoods moved there from mountain villages during the political violence and poverty that marked the 1980s and ’90s, when crime increased dramatically.
During the past decade the country has enjoyed peace and steady economic growth, which have been accompanied by many improvements and refurbishment in the city.
Residents who used to steer clear of the historic center now stroll along its streets.
And many travelers who once would have avoided the city altogether now plan to spend a day here and end up staying two or three.
Lending its name to the clear brandy that is Peru's favorite tipple and a source of fierce national pride, the coastal town of Pisco and its surroundings hold a special place in the national psyche.
It's the point where the Argentinean hero General San Martín landed with his troops to fight for Peru's freedom from Spanish rule.
It's the city from which pisco was first exported, and it's also an important seaport that had its heyday during the 1920s, when guano (bird droppings used as fertilizer) from the nearby Islas Ballestas were worth nearly as much as gold.Modern-day Pisco shows little evidence of its celebrated past.
Instead, what you'll find is a city struggling to get back on its feet after the disaster of August 2007, when a magnitude 8 earthquake shook the town for three minutes.
Disregard for planning permission, illegal building extensions, and the use of adobe (mud brick) as the main building material had left a vast number of Pisco's buildings unable to withstand the quake, and hundreds of lives were lost as homes, churches, and hospitals collapsed during the tremor.Most travelers now base themselves in Paracas, just a few kilometers down the coast.
For travelers wishing to assist in Pisco's recovery, there are numerous opportunities to volunteer.
Organizations active in the area vary over time, but a good place to start looking for current opportunities is www.idealist.org.
Even those without the time to volunteer should know that every nuevo sol spent in local businesses is contributing to rebuilding the region's economy.
Arica boasts that it is "the land of the eternal spring," but its temperate climate and beaches are not the only reason to visit this small city.
Relax for an hour or two on the Plaza 21 de Mayo.
Walk to the pier and watch the pelicans and sea lions trail the fishing boats as the afternoon's catch comes in.
Walk to the top of the Morro and imagine battles of days gone by, or wonder at the magnitude of modern shipping as Chilean goods leave the port below by container ship.Arica is gaining notice for its great surfing conditions, and in 2009 hosted the Rusty Arica Pro Surf Challenge, a qualifying event to the world series of surf.
But Peru's capital can hold its own against its neighbors.
It has an oceanfront setting, colonial-era splendor, sophisticated dining, and nonstop nightlife.It's true that the city—clogged with traffic and choked with fumes—doesn't make a good first impression, especially since the airport is in an industrial neighborhood.
But wander around the regal edifices surrounding the Plaza de Armas, among the gnarled olive trees of San Isidro's Parque El Olivar, or along the winding lanes in the coastal community of Barranco, and you'll find yourself charmed.In 1535 Francisco Pizarro found the perfect place for the capital of Spain's colonial empire.
On a natural port, the so-called Ciudad de los Reyes (City of Kings) allowed Spain to ship home all the gold the conquistador plundered from the Inca.
Lima served as the capital of Spain's South American empire for 300 years, and it's safe to say that no other colonial city enjoyed such power and prestige during this period.When Peru declared its independence from Spain in 1821, the declaration was read in the square that Pizarro had so carefully designed.
Many of the colonial-era buildings around the Plaza de Armas are standing today.
Walk a few blocks in any direction for churches and elegant houses that reveal just how wealthy this city once was.
But the poor state of most buildings attests to the fact that the country's wealthy families have moved to neighborhoods to the south over the past century.The walls that surrounded the city were demolished in 1870, making way for unprecedented growth.
A former hacienda became the graceful residential neighborhood of San Isidro.
In the early 1920s the construction of tree-lined Avenida Arequipa heralded the development of neighborhoods such as bustling Miraflores and bohemian Barranco.Almost a third of the country's population of 29 million lives in the metropolitan area, many of them in relatively poor conos: newer neighborhoods on the outskirts of the city.
Most residents of those neighborhoods moved there from mountain villages during the political violence and poverty that marked the 1980s and ’90s, when crime increased dramatically.
During the past decade the country has enjoyed peace and steady economic growth, which have been accompanied by many improvements and refurbishment in the city.
Residents who used to steer clear of the historic center now stroll along its streets.
And many travelers who once would have avoided the city altogether now plan to spend a day here and end up staying two or three.
Lending its name to the clear brandy that is Peru's favorite tipple and a source of fierce national pride, the coastal town of Pisco and its surroundings hold a special place in the national psyche.
It's the point where the Argentinean hero General San Martín landed with his troops to fight for Peru's freedom from Spanish rule.
It's the city from which pisco was first exported, and it's also an important seaport that had its heyday during the 1920s, when guano (bird droppings used as fertilizer) from the nearby Islas Ballestas were worth nearly as much as gold.Modern-day Pisco shows little evidence of its celebrated past.
Instead, what you'll find is a city struggling to get back on its feet after the disaster of August 2007, when a magnitude 8 earthquake shook the town for three minutes.
Disregard for planning permission, illegal building extensions, and the use of adobe (mud brick) as the main building material had left a vast number of Pisco's buildings unable to withstand the quake, and hundreds of lives were lost as homes, churches, and hospitals collapsed during the tremor.Most travelers now base themselves in Paracas, just a few kilometers down the coast.
For travelers wishing to assist in Pisco's recovery, there are numerous opportunities to volunteer.
Organizations active in the area vary over time, but a good place to start looking for current opportunities is www.idealist.org.
Even those without the time to volunteer should know that every nuevo sol spent in local businesses is contributing to rebuilding the region's economy.
Arica boasts that it is "the land of the eternal spring," but its temperate climate and beaches are not the only reason to visit this small city.
Relax for an hour or two on the Plaza 21 de Mayo.
Walk to the pier and watch the pelicans and sea lions trail the fishing boats as the afternoon's catch comes in.
Walk to the top of the Morro and imagine battles of days gone by, or wonder at the magnitude of modern shipping as Chilean goods leave the port below by container ship.Arica is gaining notice for its great surfing conditions, and in 2009 hosted the Rusty Arica Pro Surf Challenge, a qualifying event to the world series of surf.
Cruise Itinerary
Aboard Silver Ray
Launch Year: 2024 Length: 244 Width: 30 Currency: USD Capacity: 728 Crew Count: 556 Deck Count: Cabin Count: 363
Set sail from summer 2024 aboard the second Nova Class ship Silver Ray
Get ready for Silver Ray. Silversea’s second Nova Class ship arrives in summer 2024 and promises guests seamless destination connection. Silver Ray mirrors every aspect of her sister ship, Silver Nova, including a pioneering, asymmetrical design and extraordinary use of glass in both public areas and in suite for uninterrupted views wherever you are! What’s more, Silver Ray is one of the most spacious ships ever built, offering an exceptionally high space-to-guest ratio yet remaining nimble enough to offer purity in movement, as her name suggests. She is truly our ray of light.
Silver Ray preserves all our trademarks and delivers a new way of luxury cruising. Her revolutionary horizontal design ensures outstanding public areas, which fuse seamlessly together. Silver Ray will introduce a brand new selection of superb, spacious suites, many of which promise offer a 270˚ view from sea to sky. Eight restaurants and an unprecedented choice of bars complete the experience, offering delicious drinking and dining at any time of the day.
Silver Ray Facilities
Silver Ray Includes
Cabin Details
