Grand Turk is the capital of the Turks and Caicos, a collection of sleepy and spectacularly beautiful coral islands to the east of the Bahamas. The pristine white sands and turquoise waters are the main attraction, and the extensive barrier reef makes this a popular destination for divers in the know.

Downtown Miami is a destination in its own right, with a host of world class galleries, but it's still Miami Beach that draws the biggest crowds. The Art Deco district around South Beach is very much back in vogue, with new restaurants, bars and luxury developments sprouting up all over the place.

The gabled houses of Willemstad lend an undeniably Dutch feel to the capital of little Curaçao, with a splash of Caribbean colour thrown in. The island itself is not your typical lush tropical paradise - the landscape is characterised instead by thorny shrubs and cacti - but there are some fantastic beaches and quaint little villages.

Situated on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Santa Marta is the oldest surviving Spanish colonial city in South America. The modern city lacks some of the charm of nearby Cartagena, but tourism has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, with a number of ambitious regeneration projects and a host of new restaurants and bars.

Situated on a peculiarly shaped peninsula on the Gulf of Nicoya, Puntarenas is a popular weekend beach destination for residents of Costa Rica’s capital, San José. The port itself is not pretty, but the beachfront Paseo de los Turistas is a nice place to relax with a drink or enjoy a seafood lunch.

Puerto Quetzal is the jumping off point for exploring the fascinating interior of Guatemala, and the highlight of this intriguing country has to be UNESCO-listed Antigua. This colourful colonial town, 90 minutes from the port, enjoys a spectacular setting against a backdrop of volcanoes, and is well worth the trip.

Chiapas is Mexico’s southernmost state, and this busy commercial port is situated close to the border with Guatemala. The nearest town, Tapachula, doesn’t have a lot going for it, but nearby attractions include beaches, coffee plantations and the impressive pre-Hispanic ruins of Izapa.

Huatulco, on the Pacific coast of Oaxaca, was developed for tourism with a low-rise, eco-friendly approach, a far cry from the likes of Cancún or Acapulco. Four of Huatulco’s nine beautiful bays have been designated as ecological reserves, and there are several villages showcasing traditional Mexican crafts.

The sister towns of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo sit at the tip of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula. The towns themselves are mostly given over to luxury hotels and boisterous nightlife, but the surrounding landscape is characterised by arid arroyos, bristly cacti and rocky coastal outcrops.