An Extended Journey to the Sunny Caribbean and Golden California

Gently breeze into the vibrant capital of Barbados. Steeped in fascinating history, with architecture to match, uncover the wonderfully laid-back West Indian ambiance. Embrace the slow Bajan rhythm of this welcoming island; surf, snorkel and try spotting turtles in balmy azure waters. Explore subterranean Harrison’s Cave, Jacobean St Nicholas Abbey and zipline high above bountiful tropical flora. Then return to restore on pastel pink sands at palm-studded beaches, where you’ll discover cocktail hour is endless, and measures of rum are copious.

Soak up the ultimate wellbeing experience at a real life “Nature Island.” Oxygenate in lush rainforests, revive under waterfalls, convene in thermal sprint waters, and detox in volcanic mud baths. Trek Morne Trois Pintons National Park, a UNESCO jewel with the Mother Nature’s rarest flora and fauna. Stir-up true Caribbean soul food; taste callaloo soup; sip spiced rum; and learn how herbs can heal. To cap it all, you can even snorkel in the bubbles of uber-healthy Champagne Reef.

Embrace a slice of Europe immersed in Caribbean heat. Wander through Scharlooweg’s pastel colonial architecture, delightful museums and a thriving art scene. Roam glorious beaches with hidden caves, snorkel with turtles and dive through spectacular reefs. Learn how to cook Creole cuisine, walk the town’s sun-kissed waterways, explore the prickly Hato Plains and then re-hydrate in ripe aloe plantations. As the heat of the day subsides, drop into trendy eclectic lounges, where friendly locals welcome and the legendary blue curacao cocktail awaits.

Walk into a techo-colour dream of sorbet-hued buildings in Oranjestad, where a Papiamento Indian past mingles with the trendy Dutch present. Slide into a submarine and descend along coral-crusted walls to see the magnificence of the ocean depths. Marvel at a landscape rugged and wild with wind-bent Divi Divi trees, kilometres of powder-white beaches and sandy deserts where cacti thrive under a luminescent sun. And don’t miss the Natural Bridge, formed by waves crashing on coral rock. Aruba is an island blessed.

Sparkle in this jewel of the Caribbean; the cultured and very colourful Cartagena. Saunter or ride by Segway through a maze of cobbled streets for historic architecture, bougainvillea-dripping plazas, old churches and chic eateries where you’ll discover a blend of Caribbean cool and Colombian sophistication. Learn new cooking techniques with a personal chef, birdwatch at the National Aviary, visit botanical gardens, take a cycle tour or head to Turbaco. Roam offshore to Islas Del Rosario for magnificent beaches and snorkelling through colourful coral reefs. And as the sun sets over the ancient city walls, prepare for an intoxicating nightlife scene - in no time you’ll be sipping moreish mojitos, nodding to reggaeton and - once really in the spirit - gyrating to the salsa.

Sparkle in this jewel of the Caribbean; the cultured and very colourful Cartagena. Saunter or ride by Segway through a maze of cobbled streets for historic architecture, bougainvillea-dripping plazas, old churches and chic eateries where you’ll discover a blend of Caribbean cool and Colombian sophistication. Learn new cooking techniques with a personal chef, birdwatch at the National Aviary, visit botanical gardens, take a cycle tour or head to Turbaco. Roam offshore to Islas Del Rosario for magnificent beaches and snorkelling through colourful coral reefs. And as the sun sets over the ancient city walls, prepare for an intoxicating nightlife scene - in no time you’ll be sipping moreish mojitos, nodding to reggaeton and - once really in the spirit - gyrating to the salsa.

Welcome to your reprieve from the 21st century. Slip beyond the bounds of the city and step into a primordial paradise that is 100% committed to wildlife preservation. Board a narrow-gauge railway, monster truck, tree-top tram, or quiet kayak to delve deeply into a ecological bio-sphere of surreality: howler monkeys call out in Cahuita National park; stealth jaguars and pumas prowl throughout Tortuguero; gentle sea cows and turtles curiously raise their heads in palm-fringed rivers. Pura vida, the good life, continues with yoga on the beach, hiking wondrous in cacao farms or in the convivial kitchen on a Master Chef. Live well, vivir bien.

Framed by two oceans connected by the singular Panama Canal (the 7th Wonder of the Modern World) this vibrant and dynamic urban centre is truly a city on the world’s stage of commerce and ecology. Sleek skyscrapers are surrounded by pristine nature. Soberanía National Park protects a bounty of flora and fauna minutes from downtown. Casco Antiguo, the cobblestoned colonial centre, is a lovely labyrinth of churches, palaces, and plazas lined with cafes and the best champagne rooftop bars in the city. A UNESCO creative hub for gastronomy, it is home to a vibrant and diverse food scene led by world-class chefs. An incredible cultural crossroads sure to connect you to the uncommon.

Framed by two oceans connected by the singular Panama Canal (the 7th Wonder of the Modern World) this vibrant and dynamic urban centre is truly a city on the world’s stage of commerce and ecology. Sleek skyscrapers are surrounded by pristine nature. Soberanía National Park protects a bounty of flora and fauna minutes from downtown. Casco Antiguo, the cobblestoned colonial centre, is a lovely labyrinth of churches, palaces, and plazas lined with cafes and the best champagne rooftop bars in the city. A UNESCO creative hub for gastronomy, it is home to a vibrant and diverse food scene led by world-class chefs. An incredible cultural crossroads sure to connect you to the uncommon.

A tropical inlet surrounded by rainforest on Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast, Quepos is one of the best places in the world to immerse yourself in waterfalls and wonders where the rainforest meets the sea. Renowned as the gateway to Manuel Antonio National Park (which recently received an Elite-level Certificate of Sustainable Tourism) where mangroves, lagoons, and virgin beaches shelter howler, white-faced and squirrel monkeys. Off-shore waters teem with whales, dolphin, blue marlin, and swordfish. In-land jungles offer hikes to Nauyaca waterfall, 360 species of brightly feathered birds, zip-lining and canyoning, or walking the Baru River to hear the quietude of nature. As prized as quaint Quepos is for eco-adventure, its beaches rank among the top 25 in the world, too.

Known for its beautiful breaking waves, this laid-back port is favoured by surfers, sun-seekers, and savvy celebrities craving a low-key, tropical getaway – albeit one with nightlife that pops until dawn. The world’s second-largest statue of Jesus, Cristo de la Misericordia, Christ of Mercy, towers above the town. A stroll along the lanes of the village leads to colourful murals of native sea creatures. Nearby natural wonders abound in Lake Nicaragua: the lovely colonial Granada as well as the Island of Ometepe with its twin volcanoes, Maderas and Concepcion, and the stunningly beautiful Mombacho Volcano Nature Reserve, which has one of the last cloud and dwarf forests in the world. Tranquillity in the tropics.

From time immemorial, this region has witnessed cultural, geographical, and political upheaval. Its position adjacent to fertile lowlands that run the length of the gorgeous black shoreline made it a strategic home to ancient civilisations. Pre-Olmec carved stone heads, the massive “fat gods”, are preserved nearby. Spanish conquistadors valued it as a gateway between the Americas. Just beyond, volcanoes strike boldly from the landscape where the Spanish crowned Antigua the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala. Now a UNESCO-protected village filled with breath-taking scenery – Spanish Baroque-influenced architecture, brightly-coloured colonial buildings, and a lovely central square. Positioned in pursuit of purpose.

Hugging the cerulean Banderas Bay, Puerto Vallarta is a stunning resort city set against the rugged Sierra Madres and the powerful Ameca River. The indigenous Aztatlan lived in this paradise when the Spanish arrived in the 1500s and chronicled the area’s natural beauty still home to birds, humpback whales, and dolphins. Now, bordered by the busiest malecón (waterfront esplanade) in all of Mexico, restaurants and nightclubs go from dusk until dawn. From there, cobblestone streets climb up the hills to reveal galleries, boutiques, and cafés. The perfect place to toast the sunset and Mexico’s natural beauty teeming with life.

At the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula, a massive outcropping of volcanic rock, known as The Arch, is the beacon of welcome to this arid region of golden beaches and rugged mountains. Aboriginal inhabitants, the Pericú, flourished with the bounty of the sea. The waters still brim with so much biodiversity, Jacques Cousteau called it “the aquarium of the world”. Deep-sea fishing and scuba diving are as popular below the surface as sunbathing and celebrity sightings are above. World-class golf is set on some of the sport’s most cinematic courses whilst deep-sea fishing catches weigh-in amongst the sports more massive. Tour agave farms to taste tequila or stroll art galleries with wine, you will discover Cabo is a muse that tempts you to return again and again.

San Diego exudes a beachy-chic, active, effortless elegance. Renowned for its idyllic climate, pristine beaches, and charming neighbourhoods. The Gas Lamp Quarter, where Wild West outlaws like Wyatt Earp once roamed, will steal your heart with theatre, art, and music. Little Italy, once home to generations of Italian seafaring families, now alive with cosy cafés and wine bars. Stunning Balboa Park, with its gorgeous gardens, impressive museums, and its richly historic El Prado District (listed on the National Registry of Historic Places), is rimmed with gardens and architectural gems from the early 1900s. Coastal La Jolla, one of the most popular beach destinations in California, is rich for kayaking, biking and wine strolls. You’ll agree with Forbes magazine that this is the “coolest city by the sea”.

San Diego exudes a beachy-chic, active, effortless elegance. Renowned for its idyllic climate, pristine beaches, and charming neighbourhoods. The Gas Lamp Quarter, where Wild West outlaws like Wyatt Earp once roamed, will steal your heart with theatre, art, and music. Little Italy, once home to generations of Italian seafaring families, now alive with cosy cafés and wine bars. Stunning Balboa Park, with its gorgeous gardens, impressive museums, and its richly historic El Prado District (listed on the National Registry of Historic Places), is rimmed with gardens and architectural gems from the early 1900s. Coastal La Jolla, one of the most popular beach destinations in California, is rich for kayaking, biking and wine strolls. You’ll agree with Forbes magazine that this is the “coolest city by the sea”.

Surrounded by ocean, mountains, forest, and desert, gilded with crystal-clear light and the rich diversity of people, LA glows with a heavenly quality. A blend of neighbourhoods each radiating with their own distinct vibe and character: Beverly Hills with its legendary shopping along Rodeo Drive; Hollywood with its movie studios; and Bel Air with its stately mansions. Relive the glory days of Tinseltown in downtown landmarks. Discover museums that hold illuminating works of Shakespeare, Thoreau and one of 12 surviving original Guttenberg Bibles. Then feel the creative firmament of mother nature at Santa Monica and Malibu Beaches. Truly, the stars have aligned to create such a legendary galaxy of sites.

Surrounded by ocean, mountains, forest, and desert, gilded with crystal-clear light and the rich diversity of people, LA glows with a heavenly quality. A blend of neighbourhoods each radiating with their own distinct vibe and character: Beverly Hills with its legendary shopping along Rodeo Drive; Hollywood with its movie studios; and Bel Air with its stately mansions. Relive the glory days of Tinseltown in downtown landmarks. Discover museums that hold illuminating works of Shakespeare, Thoreau and one of 12 surviving original Guttenberg Bibles. Then feel the creative firmament of mother nature at Santa Monica and Malibu Beaches. Truly, the stars have aligned to create such a legendary galaxy of sites.