Travel guides: Central & South America
Our original travel guides cover the best things to do & see in port
From the archive. Published September 21, 2016. Ships, prices and port details may have changed since.
Cruiseable's editorial team has written the following guides to help travelers prepare for your time on shore during your cruise travels. Use them to prepare for your visit to a foreign city or port. Save bookmarked pages to your My Planner page. 
Central America
Belize
Region: Central America
Though best known as a world-class snorkeling and diving location, Belize also offers spectacular natural attractions and the authenticity of a genuine Caribbean getaway. Nestled between Mexico and Guatemala on the Caribbean coast of Central America, Belize is one of the few remaining unspoiled places on earth. ... See more
Costa Rica (Puntarenas)
Puntarenas, Costa Rica, travel guide
Region: Central America / Port in: Costa Rica
Simply put, Puntarenas is an eco-tourist’s paradise. The capital and largest city in the Puntarenas province of Costa Rica, Puntarenas sits on a long, narrow peninsula that juts out into the Nicoya Gulf, only about four blocks at its widest ... See more
Honduras (Roatan)
Region: Central America
Roatan, the largest of the Bay Islands, lies about 35 miles off the coast of mainland Honduras. Just 32 miles long and three miles across at its widest point, Roatan is an island dedicated to the senses, with palm trees, shimmery sand beaches and the second largest barrier reef in the world off its shores. ... See more
Panama (Panama, Colón, Panama Canal)
Region: Central America
Tourism is a rapidly growing industry in Panama, attracting more than 1 million visitors every year. Yet Panama is still somewhat undeveloped for travelers, especially compared to its neighbor Costa Rica, ... See more
Region: Central America / Port in: Panama
Colón is located at the Caribbean Sea coast of Panama, right in front of the Panama Canal, and it's best known as the gateway to the Miraflores Locks, where visitors can watch the Panama Canal, one of the world's greatest feats of engineering, in action. This multicultural town has about 200,000 inhabitants and serves as ... See more
Region: Central America
The sweeping human drama behind the 50-mile Panama Canal is a fascinating chapter of history best appreciated by those who have done some homework before arrival. But equally as captivating is the scenery — deep green rainforest teeming with exotic ... See more
South America
Argentina (Buenos Aires)
Region: South America / Port in: Argentina
Buenos Aires is sometimes described as “The Paris of South America.” Offering elegant architecture, exquisite cuisine, a legendary frenzied nightlife and fashionable shopping in designer ... See more
Brazil (Rio de Janeiro)
Region: South America / Port in: Brazil
Brazil's key tourist destination is positioned within a spectacularly wild natural landscape. This seductive city is easy to visualize: flamboyant Carnival parades, beaches packed with locals in micro bikinis, the mountaintop statue of Christ the Redeemer with his outstretched arms and the rhythm of the samba ... See more
Colombia (Cartagena)
Region: South America / Port in: Colombia
Cartagena is the jewel of Colombia — a true vacation paradise on the shores of the Caribbean Sea that invites visitors to revel in its scenic and cultural splendor. The city is divided into several regions, each with its own unique character and charm. ... See more
Cruiseable's travel guides
Talk to a cruise specialist
Found the one? Let us plan it.
Tell us the ship, the dates and who is coming. A partner travel agent comes back with real fares and cabins, at no cost to you.