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Paradise and Legends - Puerto Montt to Tahiti
MS Hanseatic - March 5-25, 2012
Voyage HAN1204
Nowhere can you feel as close to paradise as in the realm of the islands in the South Pacific.
Discoverers, researchers and adventurers surrendered to the magic of this remote world.
Accompany us on their trails to the mystic Easter Island, to paradisiacal idylls and mysterious
cultures. With the Zodiacs, you will explore the most secret places in the turquoise blue
ocean. Discover the South Seas where dream and reality merge to become one.
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| Valparaiso, the "Gateway to the Pacific" The
stunningly beautiful old district of Valparaiso is a UNESCO World
Cultural Heritage Site. The colourful colonial-style facades earned this
historic trading centre the name "little San Francisco" way back in the 19th
century. Chile's cultural centre stretches over a range of hills along a
picturesque bay. Go on an excursion to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar*, a
stylish seaside resort, and discover the attractive port city in true style by
rack railway with a breathtaking panorama awaiting you at the end of the line.
The wine region around Valparaiso* invites connoisseurs to go exploring
- at one of the wine-growing estates in the Casablanca Valley, you can satisfy
yourself that Chilean wines are amongst the best in the world. |
The Lonely Beauty of Robinson Crusoe Island
Robinson Crusoe Island, remote, wild and romantic, is where Alexander
Selkirk, the model for the character of the same name in the novel, was marooned in
1705. You will be impressed by jagged coastal formations on the one hand and lush
green mountain landscapes with their dense growth of trees, ferns and grasses on
the other. Over 100 endemic plant species grow in this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The fact that you will be going ashore on a Friday of all days is an amazing
coincidence. |
The Secrets of Easter Island
Easter Island has been guarded by the
mystical Moai for over a thousand years. Thanks to these stone giants, the Rapa Nui
National Park has been declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. You will get
very close to these witnesses of Polynesian culture on an island tour with beach
barbecue* and also see the "birthplace" of the Moai at the foot of the Rano
Raraku volcano. Another mystery on Rapa Nui is the secret of the birdman*,
which you will discover on your visit to the imposing Ranu Kau crater lake and at
the ceremonial site of Orongo. This was the setting of the birdman ritual performed
for the last time in 1866, when the island tribes fought for dominance for the
year. |
Pitcairn, a Hideaway in Paradise
Have your camera ready when you
explore the idyllic coast of the untouched atoll of Ducie Island from the
Zodiac, weather permitting. Innumerable magical sights worth taking photographs of
await you. On Pitcairn, the only inhabited island of the archipelago, you
will come across the descendents of the "Bounty" mutineers in person: the bible and
anchor of the legendary ship are still in existence. The language of the island
inhabitants is most remarkable: a mixture of English and Tahitian from the 18th
century. On Mangareva, you will find rare treasures of quite a different
kind. The very clear water of its lagoon is traditionally used for pearl
cultivation and is an ideal snorkelling area which the Zodiacs will take you to.
French missionaries were very active in this region in the 19th century as
evidenced to this day by numerous churches, such as the cathedral Saint Michel
built in 1848, the alter of which is a feast for the eyes with its pearls and
mother-of-pearl decoration. |
French Polynesia, the Island Jewels of the "Grande Nation"
At the
heart of French Polynesia lies the largest archipelago in the world, the Tuamotu
Islands. They include the pastel-coloured idyll of Makemo. Famous for its
black pearls, the island reveals its beauty from every angle: from the lofty
heights of the new island lighthouse to the protected unspoilt underwater world of
its whale sanctuary. The welcoming ceremony on the neighbouring island of
Fakarava, where you will be greeted with music and dancing, is as cheerful
as the colours of the South Seas. On a walk through this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve,
you will come across rare kingfishers, Tuamotu palms and other representatives of
an extraordinary flora and fauna. Is it possible to find a more beautiful place?
Only answer this question after you have discovered Moorea on a Jeep trip*,
where the views over bays and sea vie with the deep green tropical island landscape
for your attention. As does the marine fauna of Moorea, the unbelievable variety of
which can be seen on a lagoon trip*: over 500 species of coral fish as well
as octopus, echinoderms and crustaceans await you when snorkelling. After your
arrival on Tahiti and a further night in paradise, you will return home full
of memories. The South Seas will remain with you forever. |
* These arrangements are not included in the cruise price. The shore activities
listed here are in the planning stage and are subject to changes.
** Depending on the flight schedule, a change to the travel arrangements from the
cruise arrival point may be necessary.
A change in itinerary may become necessary on this expedition. The captain will
decide on the best possible alternatives depending on local conditions. |
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Each month our cruise experts select great itineraries that will be sailing within the next
6-8 months.
Check back next month to see what itineraries have been added to our 'top picks' list.
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