Swan Hellenic has just announced full details of its exceptional 9-night Chile to Peru cultural expedition cruise, departing Valparaiso for Calao on March 30, 2026, aboard the luxury boutique expedition ship SH Vega. This includes the revelation that the cruise will be accompanied by not one but two leading scientists from the world-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 for this cruise as a professional astronomer, former aeronaut and the final Assistant Director of NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA), the world’s largest flying astronomical observatory. Jim is currently a Research Scientist at the Carl Sagan Center for Research at the SETI Institute.
Both scientists will take part in life aboard, delivering lectures, socializing with guests and accompanying them on in-depth expeditions ashore in the Swan Hellenic tradition, bringing real insights into the very special night skies they will be privileged to see.
The itinerary is no less special, being packed with discovery opportunities that start from the Limari Valley’s ancient rock carvings, followed by the moonscape salt flats and spectacular turquoise lagoons of Antofagasta’s desert wilderness. Arica is next in all its rich variety, from the elegant Eiffel-designed cathedral to its Chinchorro ancient mummies – the oldest in the world, not to mention the awe-inspiring nearby desert landscapes, famous for the tallest sand dunes in the world.
The voyage will be equally rich in wonderful wildlife, with opportunities to sight the splendid Chilean flamingo and Andean condor among others. Further highlights include the colonial city of Arequipa, famed for its white volcanic rock buildings, 16th-century citadel convent of Santa Catalina, and nearby Inca ceremonial sites. Then there are the exquisite Ballestas Islands – known as Peru’s Mini Galapagos – where countless caves shelter up to 1,500 species of marine birds, which populate the islands alongside sea lions, penguins and fur seals thanks to the cold Humboldt current that flows up from Antarctica along the West Coast of South America to the Equator.
The many expedition options include a flight over the famous Nazca lines with their fascinating giant geoglyphs, and an extraordinary two-day overland tour to explore the Atacama Desert’s Moon Valley. This will take guests to visit a pre-Inca fortress, witness an indigenous Pachamama ritual at sunset, and then look up at the breathtakingly clear night sky for an unforgettable stargazing experience.
And that brings us back to the very distinctive aspect at the heart of this cultural expedition cruise. It won’t just explore land and sea, but also the skies, with Chile’s being the cleanest and clearest in the world. Informing and enriching their many stargazing opportunities, guests will be able to participate in five lectures by the renowned SETI Scientists on board. Special guided stargazing sessions will also be organized on the purpose-designed Deck 9, where minimal light pollution offers spectacular starry night observation.
Dr. Tom Esposito will be delivering three revealing talks: “Planet Family Portraits: Photographing Young Solar Systems”, “Cosmic Cataclysms: Things That Go BOOM! in the Night” and “Planetary Defence to Planet Discovery: Citizen Astronomy in Action”. While Dr Jim De Buizer will be giving two lectures: “Is Anybody Out There? The History of the Search for Civilized Life in the Universe” and “Exploring the Mysteries of the Universe from Chile”.
The latter will of course be tailored to this exclusive cultural expedition cruise, exploring what makes Chile such an extraordinary place for astronomical science, explaining why it will be home to more than 50% of the world’s astronomical telescopes by 2030, reviewing the unique observatories located there, and highlighting some of the exciting discoveries about our Universe they have enabled.
Swan Hellenic CEO Andrea Zito commented: “This amazing voyage is a jewel in the crown of our 2026 South America season, taking guests in calm comfort to explore some of the most fascinating and hauntingly beautiful places on earth. All in the company of expert guides and world-class scientists, while also offering adventure sport opportunities and stays in vibrant modern cities. We are particularly proud to be welcoming astronomer Dr De Buizer on board to bring our guests world-class stargazing experiences during this exceptional cultural expedition cruise.”
Complete information on this cruise in available on a dedicated page of the Swan Hellenic Website.
While a full color brochure can be downloaded here.
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