Top Places to Visit in Santiago Chile

• San Cristobal Hill
• Palacio de la Moneda
• Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts
• American Museum of Natural History
• Plaza de Armas
• Casa Colorada
• Parroquia de Santa Filomena
• Inglesia de San Agustin

1. San Cristobal Hill (formally Tupahue or "palace of the gods," today rises over 2500 feet. On the top of the hill is the "Chapel of the Immaculate Conception," and a 65 foot statue of the Virgin Mary. At the bottom of the hill are a zoo and a beautiful Japanese Garden. Also located on the summit is the Manual Foster Observatory.

2. Palacio de la Moneda is the location of the Chilean government. It was opened in 1805 as a national mint (Moneda means "coin." The Palace occupies an entire city block and has a beautiful facade.

3. The Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts began in 1880 and moved to the present location in 1910. It contains hundreds of artwork by Chilean artist, plus several pieces by South American artists. There is a lovely café and gift shop and is a lovely place to spend a morning or afternoon. By the way, admission is free on Sundays.

4. The American Museum of Natural History is a terrific museum filled with many exhibitions including Environmental Halls, Reptiles and Birds, Fossil Halls and Human Origins, to name just a few. A charming restaurant and gift shop is available and is a place where you could spend the day.

5. The Plaza de Armas is the veritable essence of Santiago and is surrounded by many historical buildings, including the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Central Post Office. There are some delicious restaurants surrounding the Plaza. It is a fantastic place to spend a couple hours just watching the people.

6. The Casa Colorada (Red House) is a Colonial house built in 1769 and houses the Museum of Santiago.

7. The Parroquia de Santa Filomena is a beautiful Church built in 1884. The church is decorated with many beautiful paintings, and the window paintings are spectacular.

8. The Inglesia de San Agustin (Church of St. Augustine) was built in 1625 and is the second oldest church in Chile. In the church is a wooden statue of Jesus Christ, called Christo de Mayo. There is a local legend that during an earthquake the crown slipped down around the neck of the statue. When they tried to push it back in place blood started flowing from the face, and the ground began to shake. The statue has remained untouched with the crown still down around the neck. A beautiful church worth the visit.

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Top Places to Visit in Lima Peru

What comes to your mind when you think of Lima Peru? The ruins of Machu Picchu? Beautiful mountains - historic buildings - Llamas running in the streets? Well, that is Lima, but much more awaits the visitor to this magnificent city. Here are just a few of places to see.

• Historic Center of Lima
• Museo de la Nacion
• Plaza Mayor
• Walls of Lima
• Cathedral of Lima
• Torre Tangle Palace
• Museo de arte Italiano

1. Lima was founded in 1535 and originally called the City of the Kings. Today the Historic Center of Lima still stands in all its wondrous beauty. Magnificent buildings surround this historic site, recognized by UNESCO as a World Historic Site.

2. The Museo de la Nacion (National Museum) is home to thousands of artifacts dealing with the entire history of Peru. The most moving exhibit is located on the sixth floor called Yuyanapaq, which means, "to remember." It is a photographic tribute to the historic struggle of the land between 1980 and 2000.

3. The Plaza Mayor is the true birthplace of Lima. The foundation of the town was laid January 18, 1535 and the city was built around this plaza and the Historic Center of Lima. The plaza is surrounded by the Government House, Cathedral of Lima, Archbishop's Palace, the Municipal Palace and the Palace of the Nation. A spectacular place to visit and not to be missed.

4. The Walls of Lima constructed in 1684 to protect the city from invaders and torn down in 1872 to expand the city. During construction in the 1980's some of the remains of the wall were discovered a today a beautiful park displays some of these ruins.

5. The foundation of the Cathedral of Lima was laid at the same time as the foundation of the city. It has been damaged several times by earthquakes. The church contains beautiful paintings, sculptures and is the burial place of the founder of Peru, Francisco Pizarro.

6. The Torre Tangle Palace is probably the most beautiful building in South America. Two outstanding carved wood balconies are on each side of the building, and the entrance is carved in stone. Currently the Ministry of Foreign Affairs occupies the property. You can book a tour through one of the local tour companies in Lima. It will be well worth the visit.

7. The Museo de arte Italiano (Italian Art Museum) was a gift of the Italian government in 1921. It contains many excellent works of art from over 125 renowned artists.

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Advantages of Small Ship Cruising, Goodbye on a Tropical Cruise?

It's been a long winter, and there have been so many demands made on your time this year, you feel washed out and more than ready to have your battery recharged.

How can you accomplish this? You have a need to be incommunicado for a week or so without phone calls, irksome texts or emails and above all leave your responsibilities in someone else's hands and completely unwind.

Your partner desperately needs some regeneration and pampering too. You've ruled out lengthy international flights with dodgy connections, and the associated accommodation hassles, this is hardly relaxing!

Then you hear a whisper about a Pacific island cruise - not just an ordinary cruise, you know the usual type, a huge floating hotel with another thousand or so shipmates - but a small luxurious island hopping cruiser that caters for just a few like-minded adventurers discovering the little-known islands and bays of sun-drenched places such as Vanuatu and the lovely island kingdom of Tonga.

Discover the advantages of small ship cruising

• The minute you step off the plane you will find yourself in a warm tropical paradise far away from the maddening crowds where you are welcomed by a friendly crew and transferred to your floating holiday hotel.

• Your classy stateroom will be ready and waiting with your own private bathroom and shower that includes a range of toiletries. With individual climate control, doors that open out on to spacious deck and views over the crystal clear waters, you definitely won't have any need for the television set and video entertainment program (but it's there anyway - just in case)!

• Dining on a small luxury cruise ship is a magnificent affair. The clean Pacific air will stimulate your appetite for the delicious gourmet meals prepared by some of the best chefs in the world who use the fresh local produce and seafood to present you with gastronomic delights, all served with a selection of fine wines; alfresco dining is usually the norm to take advantage of the balmy evenings.

• Your ship will set sail to explore some of the most idyllic little islands and coves the world has to offer. To further investigate places of interest a landing craft is provided and for the more intrepid, sea kayaks are great fun

• Try snorkeling over the coral reefs, swim at the deserted white sand beaches or take a long walk through lush tropical vegetation. The fishing in the islands can be spectacular with your chance to try for a trophy fish. Tuna, mahi mahi and wahoo are often landed and then prepared in a delicious manner by the chef

• Meet the smiling local villagers whose lifestyle is largely unspoiled by tourists who will often perform impromptu local cultural dances and ceremonies, and if you are exceptionally lucky, the chief will invite you to take kava with him

The choice is yours - to do as little or as much as you like - take part in all the onboard or water activities provided or just lie back in perfect peace on the sun-deck with a tropical fruit cocktail and dream your cares away.

These luxury cruises have a fully trained crew who are dedicated to making your holiday enjoyable and relaxing from embarkation to departure.

If this sounds like the holiday you deserve then choose an operator who has the experience in small ship cruising with an enviable safety record and dedication to customer satisfaction and service. On board the Island Passage you will discover the perfectly formed luxury travel experience with adventure cruises in New Zealand and the South Pacific designed to provide the glamour and exclusivity of luxury private motor-yacht cruising.

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