Miami → San Juan (9 nights)

Welcome to Miami and the sweep of South Beach - backdrop to every iconic Miami movie, and forefront of Latin American culture. Stroll through pastel-hued geometric buildings in the art deco district, to graffiti mural masterpieces at Wynwood Walls. Watch Latino life unfold in Little Havana - the heartbeat of this great city - where walk-up windows sell café cortadito, sweet sugarcane juice, hatuey beer and guava ice-cream. Watch passionate locals discuss politics, play dominoes and smoke cigars. Shimmy at a salsa class, shop designer boutiques and race marlin and sharks by speedboat. Then slow your pace to uncover rare and endangered species at the Everglades National Park outdoor oasis. You’ll find the Miami dream is real – and it’s not just Cuban heels that will give you a spring in your step.

The queen of the “Silver Coast”, Puerto Plata is treasured for her soaring cloud-shrouded peaks and stunning shining beaches. Once famously plundered by pirates — you too can storm the 16th-century Fortaleza San Felipe fort — now is coveted by modern-day aficionados seeking her bounty of aged rum, robust cigars, and rich chocolate. Adventurers can soar to the top of the Pico Isabel de Torres 793 mt (2,602 ft), dare to off-road to the Waterfalls of Damajagua, or kite-surf, catamaran, and zip-line over the ocean. Pro tip: save time for a buzzy beach club to chill with coconut-fused libations.

Mango-scented reveries on flour-soft beaches. Tinkling ice cubes in rummy cocktails. Rainbow marine life in crystalline coral gardens. Welcome to Catalina Island, an earthly paradise where trails meander through fragrant forests and merengue rhythms drift on the breeze. Fortune awaits in the sunken wreckage of Captain Kidd’s ship, home of silent sponges and sentinel seahorses, an underwater kingdom awaiting discovery.

Still quiet and still Eden-like, the eco-friendly ethos of Saint Croix keeps the largest US Virgin Island in a rare state of underdeveloped bliss. Protected reefs, rum distilleries, frangipani trees, cacti and beautiful beaches. Breathe in the fresh air and discover music, offbeat shops, Dutch forts, and the shady escape of lush botanical gardens. Let your soul sing amid the breathtaking beauty of Buck Island Reef National Monument, which National Geographic calls “one of the world's best beaches”. Stroll Frederiksted and sister city Christiansted, which still bear witness to the seven ruling flags that have flown over the island whilst the hillsides still pulse with the spirit of indigenous Carib and Taino peoples.

Savour a fusion of heritage in sparkly St Thomas. Roam a flawless Capital teeming with local culture, smart boutiques, American hallmarks, streets bearing Danish names, and former hideouts for the notorious pirates of Blackbeard and Bluebeard. Climb up to historic landmarks, catch the cable car for serious views and savour the Frenchtown quarter famed for its restaurants. Ferry to scenic conservatory of St. John, float around diamond-sand beaches with limpid blue waters and venture on forested yomps through rugged hilltops. Dreamy Caribbean warmth soaked in Danish roots and American influence - this USVI is a curious culture clash with plenty of personality.

Anchored in San Juan Bay, an inky palette washes the sky and an enchanted evening begins. Stars peep through our ebony ceiling and a feast of finest fare begins. Champagne corks pop and glasses chime as we toast new beginnings and gorge on merry cheer, while San Juan erupts in an incandescent display of fireworks to welcome the New Year.

Anchored in San Juan Bay, an inky palette washes the sky and an enchanted evening begins. Stars peep through our ebony ceiling and a feast of finest fare begins. Champagne corks pop and glasses chime as we toast new beginnings and gorge on merry cheer, while San Juan erupts in an incandescent display of fireworks to welcome the New Year.

Named for a Dutch pirate who once encamped here, Jost Van Dyke is a petite jewel with a bounty of lush landscapes and beautiful beaches. Hike (or water taxi) to Bubbly Pool, a natural jacuzzi created as waves at high tide crash through a crevasse. Kick back on the powder-fine sands of White Bay, swimming the turquoise shallows, finding zen at the floating spa or succumbing to the infamous Painkiller, the dark rum and coconut cocktail created in the 1970s at the Soggy Dollar Bar, polestar of the cheerful island vibe.

Explore the oldest US city for a dose of Caribbean history, slice of Spanish culture and twist of American dream. Roam historic Old San Juan alleyways to glimpse centuries-old forts and colourful colonial buildings. Learn how to move, as locals sashay out the salsa to rhythmic reggae beats. Shop the boho streets or glamorous boutiques for artisan goods, decadent designers and hand-rolled cigars. Experience world-class surfing, explore a tropical rainforest, attend a private rum cocktail tasting and polish off empanadas. Then retire to one of the beautiful beaches to soak up crystal clear waters and, perhaps, one last rum cocktail.