Past and present thrive side by side in Seattle, and you'll see it all on this tour of the best that Seattle has to offer. Circle the Seattle Center campus on your way to the Space Needle, where you'll soar to the top by elevator for an unforgettable vista of the Emerald City. From here, you'll head over through newly renovated Belltown to the Pike Place Market, the West Coast's largest and oldest open-air farmers market. Here you’ll have the opportunity to browse the hundreds of curio shops and local artisan stalls. Don't forget to check out the 'Flying Fish', one of the more famous vendors at the Market. Then you will be treated to a scenic drive through the city to view Seattle's sports stadiums, and then discover the historic flavor of Pioneer Square, Seattle's birthplace dating back to 1852. Pass the International District and tour through the downtown core and shopping district en route to the airport.

Perfect for those with late flights, this tour allows you to see the absolute highlights of Buenos Aires before spending the afternoon watching gauchos at a working ranch and then transferring to the airport to fly home. After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a leisurely drive through Buenos Aires, taking in landmarks such as the oldest neighborhood San Talmo. You will also see Plaza de Mayo, arguably the country’s most famous square. Its name refers to the revolution that began nearby in May 1810 and led to Argentina’s independence from Spain. Some of the surrounding buildings are just as celebrated, including the salmon-colored executive mansion known as Casa Rosado and the glorious Metropolitan Cathedral. Then, it’s on to the neighborhood La Boca, where you will meander along El Caminito, a street full of expressive brightly colored buildings. Some claim the tango originated here around 1870, and tango dancers are often seen performing impromptu in the streets. Continuing on into the countryside, you will spend nearly four hours at an estancia that evokes the spirit of traditional ranching. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed with traditional empanadas and a glass of wine or juice before enjoying a hearty barbeque of grass-fed Argentine beef that has been grilled to perfection. To enhance the experience, there will be a folkloric performance and gauchos will show off their prodigious skills as horsemen by riding at breakneck speed during a ring race. Following your gaucho experience, you will transfer to the Ezeiza International Airport for the flight home. Arrival time at the airport will be approximately 5:00 p.m.

Soaring mountains, islands and a historic lighthouse are the perfect backdrop for a scenic wildlife cruise on this southernmost tip of South America. Your narrated trip takes you into the Beagle Channel, past Bird Island, where many species of birds gather, including a colony of cormorants. Cruise around Sea Wolves Island, a rocky outcrop that is home to seals and sea lions. The catamaran cruises close to the shore, offering you some great photo opportunities.

The land portion of this tour takes you through Tierra del Fuego National Park. From the rugged peaks, pristine lakes and ancient forests of the Andes to the glacier-draped shores of the famed Beagle Channel, the world's southernmost national park offers picture postcard scenes. Photo stops are made along the way, including one at the milestone marker for the End of the World (fin del mundo).

Observe the abundant wildlife in the naturally beautiful Patagonian steppe, highlighted by a leisurely walk among a large colony of Magellanic penguins.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for an immensely scenic drive along the New Gulf and on to rugged Punta Ninfas on the Patagonian steppe. The vegetation here is shrubby, wind-blown and an ideal wildlife habitat. Gray fox, llama-like guanacas and various species of seabirds, including oystercatchers and albatrosses, are found in this dry landscape.

Even so, penguins are the star attractions in this part of Patagonian, as you will discover from your base at El Pedral Lodge. Perched on a cliff, the lodge was built in 1904 and some of the period furnishing still remain, including the mahogany dining table.

From here, you will head to a nearby Magellanic penguin rookery for an extended walk among these highly social birds. If you hear the penguins braying like donkeys, it is simply the way they seek mates.

You can expect to see the penguins tottering about, tending to their young, interacting with each other, and perhaps hunting small fish just offshore. A group of penguins floating in the ocean is called a raft; a group on land is sometimes called a waddle because of their awkward walk.

Lunch at the lodge follows, after which you will return to the pier.

Hop aboard the hemisphere's first transcontinental railroad and see the Panama Canal from the comfort of a deluxe 1938 vintage car. During your journey you’ll travel across the isthmus and see Gatun Lake. Then, visit Agua Clara Locks Observation Center (Expansion Locks) for an up close look at this engineering marvel.

You’ll board your transportation for a short drive to Colon and board this unique train. Reminiscent of the golden age of railway travel, the passenger cars feature luxurious wood paneling, tables, carpeted floors, air conditioning, large windows and open-air viewing decks. You’ll ride in a restored executive rail car with booth seating on one side and rows of two seats with small tables on the other. Your car has a restroom and shares a small open-air observation deck with the dome car and glass dome viewing area.

You’ll leave the Colon station on an approximately one-hour train ride to the Pacific terminus of the Panama Canal, passing Gatun Lake and the dense rainforest. During your railroad journey, your guide will provide commentary on the railroad, history and the canal, as you enjoy a light snack and beverage. Upon arrival in Panama City, you’ll transfer to the Agua Clara Locks Observation Center (Expansion Locks) where you’ll have the opportunity for a close up view.

Following your Iguazu Falls adventure, you will fly back to Buenos Aires and transfer to your hotel booked through NCL or independently within 8 mile radius. Guests who depart from Buenos Aires on the day of the tour cannot participate as they will not make it on time to connect with any international fight. This is an overnight tour and hotel is not included. Fly to a national park on the border of Argentina and Brazil and behold the staggering power and beauty of Iguazú Falls by walking along trails and cat walks that give you extraordinary views of this amazing natural wonder. After departing from the pier, you will transfer to the airport in Buenos Aires and fly directly to Iguazu, which lies inland near Iguazú National Park. The falls were discovered in 1541 by Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and established in 1984 as a Natural World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Situated in Iguazú National Park, the falls are shared by both Brazil and Argentina. The massive cascade is made up of 275 separate waterfalls that thunder down sheer cliffs in a majestic display of nature’s power. The falls are nearly twice as high and three times as wide as Niagara Falls, a fact not lost on Eleanor Roosevelt who reportedly said, “Poor Niagara,” when she beheld roaring Iguazu. You will observe this staggeringly beautiful, natural phenomenon by walking a path either above or below the falls. Both trails are extraordinary in their own way. The surrounding rainforest is equally impressive, as it is home to about 2,000 plant species and 400 bird species, including toucans, parrots and peregrine falcons.

Begin with a scenic drive to Central Station for an unforgettable trip on the Tierra del Fuego Southern Railway, Train to the End of the World. This railway uses the original narrow-gauge line that was part of the small train for prisoners that ran until 1947.

Upon arrival at the Park Station, board your coach for a drive through Tierra del Fuego National Park to Lapataia Bay, marking the end of the road which is 2,010 miles from Buenos Aires. Here, a catamaran awaits you for your return to the ship via the Beagle Channel. En route, you will see the historic lighthouse, Les Eclaireurs, as well as Seal Island, Isla de los Lobos and Island of the Birds, whose names clearly express the rich wildlife you can view from the deck on your journey back to the ship.

Discover Punta Tombo, home to the world’s largest nesting colony of Magellanic penguins and a place that attracts wildlife researchers and conservationists from around the world.

This is the largest penguin nesting ground in continental South America and from September through April this vast rookery and breeding area hosts hundreds of thousands of Magellanic penguins. With two nurturing parents foraging at sea and taking turns with their care, chicks thrive and start fledging in January.

Magellanic penguins mate with the same partner year after year and live approximately 25 years. Males reclaim the burrow from the previous year and wait to reconnect with their mates. You’ll have time to walk among the thousands of nests and marvel at this wonder of nature and these unforgettable birds. A boxed lunch is provided.

OVERVIEW

See the Panama Canal’s newest, most innovative set of locks and enjoy a panoramic tour of the surrounding area. The Agua Clara locks were built to provide an alternative lane for ships that are too long and too wide to pass through the canal’s original locks. The guide will explain their complex operation in easy-to-understand terms so you can truly appreciate this marvel of engineering. You will also learn some the fascinating history of the land bordering the canal, an area known as the Canal Zone until Panama assumed control of it in 1999. The Amador Islands that you will see just offshore are manmade with rock excavated from the canal when it was dug. Driving through Panama City will present a glimpse into its pre-canal history, as the oldest section was founded in 1519. For centuries, it was the starting point for pack animals to carry cargo across the isthmus to the Caribbean Sea.

HIGHLIGHTS

• View the Aqua Clara locks and learn about their cutting-edge engineering.
• See the attractions in the surrounding area, which Panama didn’t govern until 1999.
• Drive through Panama City for an understanding of its past and vision for the future.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Past and present thrive side by side in Seattle, and on this tour you'll see the best that Seattle has to offer. Begin with a brief scenic drive of Seattle as you head directly to the best view in the Pacific Northwest, the Sky View Observatory, the tallest building is Seattle! You'll then be elevated 902 feet above street level for unmatched 360-degree panoramic views of the Emerald City (Seattle), the Great Wheel, the Space Needle, the majestic Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker plus beautiful islands, bays, and mountain ranges beyond. All time spent at the Sky View Observatory before 10am is exclusive for guests participating on this excursion.Continue your scenic drive as you pass by the Seattle Mariners and Seattle Seahawks sports stadiums, the historic Pioneer Square (Seattle's birthplace dating back to 1852), the International District, Seattle’s downtown core and shopping district before circling the Seattle Center Campus and arriving at the Space Needle for a photo stop.From here, you'll head over through newly renovated Belltown to the Pike Place Market, America’s largest and oldest open-air farmer’s market. Here you’ll have the opportunity to browse the hundreds of curio shops and local artisan stalls. Don't forget to check out the Pike Place Fish Market, home of the 'Flying Fish', one of the more famous vendors at the Market.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy the ultimate view of Seattle and beyond from the soaring Sky View Observatory.
• Drive through historical neighborhoods as the guide describes landmark after landmark.
• Spend free time browsing the seemingly endless stalls in Pike Place Market.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Travel inland to explore the most captivating attractions in and around Antigua Guatemala, the country’s capital during colonial times. In the outlying village of San Juan del Obispo a nun will welcome you to the Bishop’s Palace, including its baroque-style gold-gilded chapel, a private area that is typically off-limits. You will see the process of how they prepare artisanal chocolate and you can taste a little cup of chocolate. In the heart of Antiqua Guatemala, you will find a stunnig collection of colonial buildings that UNESCO declared the town a World Heritage Site. Be sure to notice the Spanish Renaissance-inspired grid layout of cobblestone streets, another reason for the UNESCO recognition. While meandering about, you will pass through leafy Plaza Mayor, see the unusual 18th-century Fountain of the Sirens and browse a museum devoted to jade, which is still cut and polished using traditional methods similar to those developed thousands of years ago. A traditional Guatemalan lunch follows at a restaurant that is also a plant nursery.

HIGHLIGHTS

• A nun will welcome you during your visit to the Bishop’s Palace in the village of San Juan del Obispo.
• Walk through Guatemala’s original capital, a treasure-trove of colonial buildings.
• Gain insight into why UNESCO declared Antigua Guatemala a World Heritage Site.
• Browse a jade museum and dine on traditional Guatemalan cuisine at a leafy restaurant.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Located at Land's end, where the Pacific Ocean merges into the Sea of Cortes, the area surrounding Cabo is perfect for Sailing adventures. Board one of our specially designed, wide berth sailboats and begin your day of Ocean exploration. Head out to the famous Arch and Sea Lion colony and enjoy delicious snacks onboard. Then cruise to a secluded bay, where the captain will drop anchor so you can dive into the depths of the blue waters. Snorkel in the bay, searching for corals, star fish and tropical sea life or try your hand at Stand up paddle boarding, all included in the tour. Back onboard, sit back and relax while being served a mouthwatering lunch, including, shrimp, guacamole, fresh Cesar salads, pastas, fresh fruit and pastries. Accompanied by an unlimited open bar, enjoy a refreshing cocktail or ice cold beer as the staff hoist up the sails. Enjoy the thrills and excitement of sailing in the bay, passing by the homes of the rich and famous and the stunning coastline. Search for wildlife such as turtles, dolphins and manta rays, and if lucky, in the winter months, you may see Humpback whales breaching in the ocean. The top tour in Cabo!