Valparaiso to Fuerte Amador (Panama City)

Valparaíso climbs a crescent of 45 hills creating a maze of alleys, winding streets, connecting stairs and funicular railways. Chile’s main seaport, and accompanying business center, lies in a narrow belt of flatland at the foot of hills. Explore its rich culture and history to understand how ingenuity has transformed this abrupt stretch of coastline into one of the world’s most picturesque and famous port cities.

As both a gateway to other interesting places and a destination unto itself, Coquimbo is one of Chile’s gems. Even the town’s name hints at its allure, as “Coquimbo” is derived from a native Diaguita word meaning “place of calm waters.” These days, and even as far back as the 16th century when Coquimbo was popular with pirates and privateers such as Sir Francis Drake, the town is bustling with activity. It serves not only as a commercial center for the export of the region’s fish and fruit, but also as a launching point for trips to the resort town of La Serena and to the Elqui Valley, a spot famous for its clear atmospheric conditions and Tololo Observatory.

Iquique is a coastal city in northern Chile, to the west of the Atacama Desert. A prosperous saltpeter mining town in the 19th century, today it’s a popular holiday destination with a tax-free port area, Pacific beaches and a seafront casino. In its historic district, an iconic 19th-century clock tower stands in Arturo Prat Square, the city’s main plaza.

Lima is called the City of Kings, but a more appropriate nickname might be the City of Museums. Over 20 museums can keep you busy for hours, if not days. One museum displays pottery and textiles from Perus ancient civilizations; another exhibits 55,000 ceramic pieces; still another is a morbid yet fascinating Museum of the Inquisition. Headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition for nearly three centuries, the building features not just the expected dungeons, but also a beautiful columned façade and carved mahogany ceiling. Limas streets are something of a museum in and of themselves. Mansions in the colonial district are adorned by ornate balconies. Churches are gorgeous and historic. The monastery at the church of San Francisco, for example, has a room of paintings by Pieter Paul Rubens and Van Dyck.

The port of Salaverry leads the way to Trujillo, Peru’s second largest city. The area is an archaeological treasure trove thanks to two pre-Inca civilizations: the Mochicas, who erected two pyramids, the Sun Temple and the Moon Temple; and the Chimu, whose adobe city of Chan Chan is now excavated. Later occupied by Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, the colonial flavor of Trujillo is still very much evident in the architecture of its old churches and historic mansions.

Lapped by the azure waters of Ecuador’s Pacific coast, Manta brims with pretty beaches and a vibrant coastal culture of fishing, diving, snorkeling and kitesurfing. Seaside bars and restaurants beckon with local delicacies and stunning ocean views. Pacoche Reserve, a habitat for howler monkeys, is a hot spot for nature lovers. Fans of the Panama hat, recognized by UNESCO as an item of Intangible Cultural Heritage, can visit its birthplace in Montecristi, where the hat is still woven by hand.