Swan Hellenic has unveiled full details of its new nine-night cultural expedition from Chile to Peru. It begins on March 30, 2026. The voyage departs Valparaíso aboard the luxury boutique expedition ship SH Vega. The voyage of a lifetime concludes in Callao, near Lima. This South American journey promises an unforgettable blend of culture, adventure, and discovery.
Adding a rare dimension to the cruise, two leading scientists from the SETI Institute will join guests throughout the voyage. Dr. James De Buizer, an astronomer and former Assistant Director of NASA’s SOFIA project, and Dr. Thomas Esposito, a planetary scientist who leads NASA-funded Unistellar programs, will share their expertise through lectures, guided stargazing sessions, and personal discussions.
Dr. De Buizer is now a Research Scientist at the Carl Sagan Center for Research at the SETI Institute. Together, the pair will help guests explore the cosmos and Chile’s world-famous night skies in extraordinary detail.
The expedition’s itinerary spans some of South America’s most spectacular landscapes. Highlights include the Limarí Valley, with its ancient petroglyphs, and Antofagasta’s salt flats and turquoise lagoons. Guests will visit Arica, home to an Eiffel-designed cathedral and the world’s oldest mummies, before travelling to Arequipa, known for its volcanic-white architecture and Inca heritage. The voyage concludes with a call to the Ballestas Islands, a wildlife paradise teeming with sea lions, penguins, fur seals, and over 1,500 marine bird species.
Optional adventurous excursions elevate this journey even further. Guests can fly over the Nazca Lines, explore pre-Inca fortresses, join indigenous Pachamama ceremonies, or spend two days in the Atacama Desert, renowned for the clearest skies on Earth.
Expert-led lectures
Onboard, guests can attend five captivating expert-led lectures.
Dr. Esposito’s sessions include Planet Family Portraits: Photographing Young Solar Systems, Cosmic Cataclysms: Things That Go BOOM! in the Night, and Planetary Defence to Planet Discovery: Citizen Astronomy in Action.
Dr. De Buizer will present Is Anybody Out There? The History of the Search for Civilized Life in the Universe and Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe from Chile, explaining why the country hosts over half of the world’s major astronomical observatories.
Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito described the voyage as “a jewel in the crown” of the 2026 South America season. “Guests will explore some of the most captivating destinations on Earth, guided by world-class scientists and expert local guides,” he said. “With Dr. De Buizer onboard, stargazing reaches an entirely new level.”
This exceptional itinerary fuses history, wildlife, and the wonders of the night sky, offering an unparalleled expedition for curious travellers. Full details and a downloadable brochure are available now on the Swan Hellenic website.