Panama Canal & the Americas

Arrive at Santiago airport, where you will meet your Viking Representative and transfer to your hotel. After check-in and lunch, relax or start to explore the city on your own. You may choose to take the funicular to the top of San Cristóbal Hill, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the city set against the backdrop of the Andes Mountains. Your Viking Tour Director is available to help you plan your time in Santiago so you can make the most of your visit. (L)

After breakfast, board your flight to Calama. Upon arrival, travel to your hotel in the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama. After check-in, embark on a scenic drive to the Atacama Salt Flats, where you will visit the intriguing Valley of the Moon, a lunar-looking landscape in the middle of the Salt Mountain Range where the elements have eroded the rocks into bizarre formations. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel’s restaurant, followed by an astronomy tour. (B, L, D)

Today, visit the stunning Rainbow Valley and observe million-year-old rock formations that dot the colorful landscape and lend the valley its apt sobriquet. After lunch, travel to the Los Flamencos National Reserve at Laguna Chaxa. The bright blue pools here attract a colony of flamingos, while the mountain-rimmed landscape is awe-inspiring. Return to your hotel, where you will enjoy dinner in its restaurant. (B, L, D)

Depart this morning for a high-altitude plateau visit to the Tatio Geysers, a collection of more than 70 geysers with pools, then glimpse local life in the tiny village of Machuca. After lunch, set out on a guided hike along the Quebrada de Guatín, known for its cardons, or giant cacti, which can grow to heights of more than 30 feet. Learn about the local ecosystem as you walk, admiring the striking high-desert scenery. This evening, enjoy dinner at your hotel’s restaurant. (B, L, D)

This morning, transfer to the airport for your flight to Santiago. Upon arrival, meet your Viking Representative and head to your hotel. After check-in, join a guided tour of the city and lunch. Stroll the charming streets of the Old Town, visiting the cathedral and the Plaza de Armas. Admire the eclectic mix of architectural styles, then enjoy sweeping views of the city on a panoramic drive through its hillside neighborhoods. This evening, enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers. (B, L, D)

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and embark on a tour of the historic Santa Rita Vineyard, established in 1880. Explore the 35-hectare estate and its subterranean cellars. After lunch, transfer to your awaiting ship to being your cruise. (B, L)

After disembarking your ship, you will be greeted by your Viking host and assisted to your hotel . Afterward, you are free to explore on your own or get to know the city by joining one of the optional excursions on offer. Journey through the neighborhoods of Brooklyn or call at Chinatown and Little Italy to gain insight into the multitude of cultures that co-exist and thrive in New York City.

Enjoy another day to explore New York at your own pace, perhaps joining an optional excursion to visit the Museum of Modern Art before its doors open to the public. Try a slice of New York cheesecake or a real New York–style pizza, or head to Central Park to visit the famous zoo. This evening, you may choose to join an optional excursion to see the lights of the city from the Empire State Building’s top deck. (B)

On your final day, you will transfer by motor coach to the airport. (B)