With 11 Brazilian ports on its fall cruise calendar, luxe Crystal Cruises has set dozens of cool ways to explore the country’s hot culture, culinary arts, and landscape.

Sugar Loaf, samba, and snorkeling may be most famous, but guests can take in such varied Crystal Adventures as:

*  Learning the secrets of making Moqueca, a traditional Brazilian seafood stew, from a local instructor in Rio de Janeiro.
*  4x4-ing to swim in waterfalls and lagoons otherwise only accessible by foot, followed by cachaça- tasting at a local Paraty distillery.
*  Reveling in the charms of Buzios, an old fishing village known as Brazil’s St-Tropez, via foot, land trolley or ocean schooner. (Brigitte Bardot famously fell in love with this charming old fishing village!)
*  Strolling the cobblestone walkways of Paraty’s pedestrian-only historic core, an UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its beautifully preserved colonial architecture.
*  Sampling multiple varieties of caipirinhas while sailing along beaches and an ecological preserve in Ilha Grande, local forró and samba band in the background.
*  Attending a private, Crystal clergy-led Mass at the base of Rio’s famous Corcovado: Christ the Redeemer statue.
*  Marveling at the magic of capoeira, an African-Brazilian mix of martial arts and dance, in Natal.
*  Hiking through the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest to a hidden waterfall, in Ilha Grande.

Crystal begins its South American cruise season with a 16-day, November 23, Miami-to-Rio voyage, followed by a 12-day, December 9, Rio-to-Buenos Aires sailing. To savor more South America, as well as Crystal’s delicious, award-winning experience, travelers can combine the two voyages for an additional 5% savings. In all, Crystal Symphony’s Brazilian calls include Belém, Fortaleza, Natal (maiden call), Maceió, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro (overnight), Buzios, Ilha Grande, Paraty, Santos/São Paulo, and Rio Grande du Sol. Depending on the departure, the cruises also include ports in the Caribbean, Uruguay and Argentina.

“Our itineraries are designed to showcase the many flavors of Brazil,” says John Stoll, vice president of land and port operations. “On the December cruise, Rio and São Paulo may be familiar star destinations, while Buzios is a less familiar delight. What makes this cruise itinerary even more unique is that we stay in Buzios into the night because of its wonderful evening café scene.”

All-inclusive fares start at $3,990 and $3,555 per person, for November 23 and December 9’s voyages, respectively. Travelers can save 5% off cruise fares when combining the two cruises. Travelers also have a choice of Crystal Getaways carved from each voyage: 12 days starting November 27 from Barbados to Rio de Janeiro, or seven days starting December 14 from Santos to Buenos Aires.

Crystal Cruises’ passion for creating unique luxury experiences both on land and at sea have helped earn the company top ratings from international travelers for two decades.