Swan Hellenic has announced all the details of its exceptional 9-night cultural expedition cruise between Chile and Peru, departing from Valparaíso for Callao on March 30, 2026, aboard the luxurious boutique expedition ship SH Vega. Among the highlights is the participation of two leading scientists from the renowned SETI Institute: Dr. Thomas Esposito and Dr. James De Buizer.
Tom leads two NASA-funded programs in collaboration with the Unistellar Network, while Jim is a very special guest on this trip. He is a professional astronomer, former aeronaut, and was the assistant deputy director of NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), the world's largest airborne astronomical observatory. Jim is currently a research scientist at the Carl Sagan Center for Research at the SETI Institute.
Both scientists will actively participate in life on board, giving lectures, interacting with passengers and accompanying them on shore excursions, following Swan Hellenic's tradition of providing in-depth and authentic knowledge of the destinations and, in this case, the night skies they will be able to contemplate during the voyage.
The itinerary begins in the Limarí Valley with its ancient rock carvings, followed by the desert landscapes, salt flats, and turquoise lagoons of Antofagasta. Then, Arica offers a unique blend of history and nature, from its Eiffel-designed cathedral to the ancient Chinchorro mummies—the oldest in the world—and its breathtaking desert landscapes, home to some of the tallest sand dunes on the planet.
The trip will also be a privileged experience for wildlife lovers, with opportunities to observe Chilean flamingos, Andean condors, and many other species. Highlights include the colonial city of Arequipa, famous for its white volcanic stone buildings, the 16th-century Santa Catalina Monastery, and nearby Inca ceremonial sites. Later, travelers will visit the Ballestas Islands, known as Peru's "Mini Galapagos," where hundreds of caves shelter up to 1,500 species of seabirds, as well as sea lions, penguins, and fur seals, thanks to the cold Humboldt Current that flows from Antarctica to the equator along the western coast of South America.
Among the highlights are a flight over the famous Nazca Lines and an unforgettable two-day land expedition to the Atacama Desert, to visit a pre-Inca fortress, take part in an indigenous Pachamama ritual at sunset and enjoy a night of stargazing under one of the clearest skies in the world.
This cultural expedition cruise will explore not only the land and sea, but also the sky, as Chile boasts some of the clearest and most transparent skies on the planet. Passengers will attend five lectures given by scientists from the SETI Institute, as well as participate in guided stargazing sessions on Deck 9, designed to minimize light pollution and offer an unparalleled astronomical experience.
Dr. Thomas Esposito will deliver three fascinating talks. Dr. James De Buizer, for his part, will present two lectures, one of which will be specially adapted for this cruise, explaining why Chile is one of the most extraordinary places in the world for astronomy, how it will become home to more than 50% of the planet's astronomical telescopes by 2030, and reviewing the unique observatories located there and the groundbreaking discoveries they have made possible.
Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito commented: “This amazing voyage is a jewel of our 2026 South American season, taking guests in comfort and tranquility to explore some of the most fascinating and beautiful places on the planet. All of this is in the company of expert guides and world-class scientists, with opportunities for active tourism and stays in modern, vibrant cities. We are especially proud to have astronomer Dr. De Buizer on board, who will provide our passengers with world-class stargazing experiences during this exceptional cultural expedition cruise.”
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