Miami → Miami (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.

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.