Miami → Miami (18 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.

Clasped between the Dominican Republic mainland and the jungle-draped hillsides of the Samaná Peninsula, little Cayo Levantado is a jade droplet in sapphire seas. Tread softly across ivory-white sands before crossing the crystalline waters of Samaná Bay towards unscripted adventures. To the north, a primordial world of rainforests, waterfalls and secret coves, where hiking trails thread through lush forests to soul-stirring viewpoints. Travel south to paddle pristine mangroves serenaded by a symphony of birdsong or cruise to powder-soft beaches where coconut groves spill down to cerulean shores. Colourful clapboard houses outshone only by the radiance of bougainvillaea and hibiscus provide the backdrop for fresh fish feasts and rum punch sunsets.

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.

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.

Slip into a tranquil, tropical paradise of sparkling waters, coral reefs and powder white beaches. Switch off and slowly shop, swim, snorkel and sip within the peace of sand, sea and sky. Sink into a beachside boulder-forming pool at The Baths, admire spectacular villas scattered on the Great Mountain, sit back on a safari bus ride or sunbathe aboard a catamaran. Prepare to be mesmerised by this softly lit, sun-drenched heaven.

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.

Reggae rhythms and Caribbean spices drift through the air in laid-back Ocho Rios, where time is measured in rosy dawns and tangerine sunsets. Browse below the palms on forest-fringed beaches or climb up into the mountainous interior, where old plantations offer a glimpse into the island’s colonial past. Find positive vibrations in the village of Nine Mile, where Nesta ‘Bob’ Marley strummed his first guitar and now rests in a marble Mausoleum. The cooling mists and forest pools of Dunn’s River Falls carry the imagination to lofty heights, while the Green Grotto Caves plunge into a subterranean world of labyrinthine caverns and honeycomb stalactites, historical hideout for indigenous Arawak and stealthy smugglers.

A fringe of shaggy mountains surrounds the wild jungle home of this Mayan empire, where art masterpieces are untouched and in harmony with nature. A stunning shade of crimson still paints the faces of fearsome gods glaring from towering ancient temples in Quiriguá, a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. Hike to a nature preserve where hundreds of species of birds sip from cool waters fed by sparkling waterfalls. An imposing 1600’s stone citadel begs a visit to see how the Spanish thwarted thieving pirates. Prepare to be dazzled by rows of colourful embroidery, beadwork, and handwoven textiles at the lively town market whilst the nutty fragrance and rich flavour of local coffee pairs perfectly with some of the most exquisite chocolate in the world.

Submerged beneath Caribbean waves, the Bonacca Ridge mountains peek above the surface to form spellbinding Roatán and her Bay Island siblings. Bejewelled reefs and an anthology of marine life beckon snorkellers and scuba divers to the pristine underwater world, where rainbow coral and whale sharks cruise the currents. Colourful Garifuna culture blooms in energetic dance and traditional food, while island spirit is bottled at the Roatan Rum Company. Go fast or slow with hiking and fishing trips, paddle boarding or glass-bottomed boat rides. Tune into the tropics in mangrove forests and jungle eco-parks, where sleepy sloths slumber and bright-feathered macaws screech through the branches or pad across silky soft sands on the finest beaches in Central America.

Beguiling Belize fuses diverse culture with an intriguing history. Touch upon spectacular wildlife, underwater wonders, idyllic beaches and ancient Mayan ruins. Call in at the world’s first jaguar reserve, take a jungle tour, head into the Tiger Cave, seek out The Swing Bridge or dip into a chocolate farm. Snooze under thatch, glide through the vibrant Belize Barrier Reef and mingle with locals to uncover nature’s medicinal tonics. And unwind in a pristine Caribbean caye, courtesy of the aptly named Hummingbird Highway.

Key West might end at Florida’s most southern point, but here is the start of real laid-back life. Nearer Cuba than Miami, this last in line of small coral reefed islands is famed for history, culture, fishing, cuisine, and candy-coloured homes. Surf, snorkel, shop by appointment and attend a private seafood tasting. Hop aboard the Old Town Trolley tour, visit Hemingway’s quirky former house, study over 50 different butterflies at the Butterfly & Nature Conservatory and watch leggy flamingos strut their stuff. Key West is not just a deep tan Floridan beach town, it’s a way of life, with the only rule being to come as you please.

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.