With an area of 6,890,000 square miles and bordered by the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and the Caribbean Sea, the South American coastline seems almost endless. As the continent is composed of over a dozen unique countries all offering exotic climate, terrain, and cultures, South America is an attractive cruising destination. From dry deserts to tropical rain forests to even cold mountainous air originating from the Andes, South American climate is not constant everywhere. Sailing along the Pacific Coast introduces a sailor to popular port cities in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.

After leaving behind the adventures of the Caribbean and carefully navigating your boat compass southwards, the first popular sailing destination is Colombia. Particularly, it is the coastal city of Cartagena de Indias that is considered to be one of the most attractive cities in South America. This colonial city is rich with history, architecture, and shopping opportunities. Its climate is constant with warm and humid temperatures. This destination also offers various outdoor opportunities including water sports, parks and ecological trips, and an exciting night life. With plenty of museums, walking tours, and other attractions available, sailors and their families will always find entertainment in Cartagena de Indias.

Sailing just southwest of Colombia brings one to the Ecuadorian coast which reaches from the Andes to the Pacific. Although smaller in size, Ecuador possesses diversity in climate and in its current renewal process. This diversity is illustrated in the city of Guayaquil which lies on the western bank of the Guayas River. Home to the largest shipping port on the Pacific Coast of the continent, Guayaquil is also home to almost 3 million people. Offering hot and humid temperatures throughout the year, Guayaquil is very much similar to Cartagena in its climate. In an attempt to restore the city from past fires, Guayaquil is going through gradual renovation that aims to supply various opportunities for tourists to enjoy themselves. However, history is still preserved in the colonial district of “Las Peñas”, in its various museums, and in the botanical gardens. While it continues it rejuvenation, Guayaquil will be a fascinating new destination to dock at in the coming years.

About 150 miles from Peru’s capital of Lima, lies Paracas also known as “The Galapagos of Peru". This sailing destination is made up of 700,000 acres of rugged shoreline, desert, and mountains. Paracas is the epitome of an eclectic vacation spot as it offers all different attractions including wildlife, spas, and museums documenting Pre-Incan history. For sailors vacationing with their children, the National Reserve may be the way to go as it houses several various types of wildlife such as sea lions, birds, and much more. Sailors seeking relaxation visit the Spa of Paracas which provides pleasant and sunny beaches just a few miles from the city. Whether a sailor is looking to spend family time exploring wildlife or looking to be at ease on the sandy beaches, Paracas is one sailing destination no sailor should miss out on.

Closing in on the Pacific Coast of South America is Chile with almost 2,700 miles of coastline. Since Chile spans across 2,700 miles, the country’s climate and temperatures differ drastically depending on the location. With this said, the country’s climate is diverse with desert, subtropical, and tundra conditions so it is best to dress appropriately with Harken apparel. Cruising to Patagonia or Cape Horn, sailors also dock at Puerto Montt, a port city in southern Chile. The city also acts as a transport center to Lake District and the island of Chiloé. Similar to the others, Puerto Montt has numerous attractions such as museums, national parks, and day trips to near islands. Sailors choose this city to dock at because of it entertainment and its proximity to other islands such as Cape Horn.

The Pacific Coast of South America offers the best sailing vacation destinations in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, and Chile. Marked with rich and exotic history, architecture, recreational activities, shopping, and food, sailors and their families can fully enjoy their vacation with these South American cities.

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 4th, 2010 at 3:48 pm and is filed under qualifing Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.