27-DAY HISTORIC SEA OF CORTEZ & PANAMA CANAL

San Diego is a coastal Southern Californian city located in the SW corner of the United States. Founded in 1769, it is the oldest town in California and has an enchanting natural beauty and a pleasant, mild, climate with plenty of sunshine, which defines the city. Though it’s big, and growing fast, San Diego manages to ‘hang on to’ a resort feel, even amid the skyscrapers and brick facades of its revamped downtown. Read more about San Diego, USA

Cabo San Lucas, or just Cabo, is an interesting destination that captures the essence of the Baja Peninsula Mexico. Once a base for pirate vessels waiting to pounce on Spanish treasure ships, today with its many resorts, championship golf courses, world-class dining, and amazing outdoor activities, it is a great tourist attraction. Future plans include an artificial island to sit in the bay, complete with restaurants and bars. Read more about Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

La Paz, ‘peace’ in Spanish, is located on the coast of the Sea of Cortez on the southern end of the long Baja Peninsula in Mexico. The city has one of the highest standards of living in Mexico. It is a centre for commerce and marine biology. Read more about La Paz, Mexico

Loreto, the first Spanish settlement of the Baja California peninsula, is located on the coast of the indigo hued Gulf of California (Sea of Cortez). The attractive malecón is ideal for evening strolls, lined on one side by shops, eateries and hotels. The luxurious Las Flores Spa and Boutique in the historic heart of Loreto is appealing to many, especially as it is the best place in town for shopping. Read more about Loreto, Mexico

Guaymas is a port city and a municipality in the Mexican state of Sonora, 390km south of the border with USA. It stands on a small bay on the Gulf of California, near the mouth of the Río Yaqui. It is a port city for ships to many places in the world, as well as being a major naval port for the Mexican military and having an industrial zone. Read more about Guaymas, Mexico

Topolobampo is a port on the eastern side of the Gulf of California, in the State of Sinaloa, NW Mexico. It is a terminus for the ferry to La Paz in Baja California Sur; and close to the city of Los Mochis, with its terminal for the Chihuahua-Pacific Railway that traverses the Copper Canyon, “the most scenic railroad trip on the continent.” The region is home to a unique and rich ecosystem. In addition to a wide range of endemic creatures, it hosts many migratory species, such as the humpback whale, California gray whale, manta ray, and leatherback sea turtle. Read more about Topolobampo, Mexico

Mazatlan in Mexico is situated across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula. Today’s Mazatlan is one of Mexico’s most alluring and inviting beach destinations. The Plazuela Machado, located in Centro Historico, serves as the cultural hub of the city featuring open air restaurants, pageants, public art exhibits, and a weekly craft fair. Read more about Mazatlan, Mexico

Puerto Vallarta is located on the Western Pacific coast of Mexico, and renowned for its beaches and its vibrant centre of art. Surrounded by the impressive mountains of the Sierra Madre and the sparkling waters of Banderas Bay, it is always waiting to offer visitors the very best choices. Initially made popular by Movie stars such as Liz Taylor and others as a great place to have a holiday home, visitors soon followed. Read more about Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Ensenada, about 100 km south of the US/Mexican border at Tijuana, is just far enough from the border to offer a more authentic Mexican experience than the eight border towns. Ensenada is one of the oldest municipalities in Baja California, and one of the largest in the world by land area. Situated on the beautiful island-studded Bay (Bahia) of Los Angeles, it offers aquatic activities such as windsurfing, kayaking and whale-watching. Read more about Ensenada, Mexico

San Diego is a coastal Southern Californian city located in the SW corner of the United States. Founded in 1769, it is the oldest town in California and has an enchanting natural beauty and a pleasant, mild, climate with plenty of sunshine, which defines the city. Though it’s big, and growing fast, San Diego manages to ‘hang on to’ a resort feel, even amid the skyscrapers and brick facades of its revamped downtown. Read more about San Diego, USA

Puerto Vallarta is located on the Western Pacific coast of Mexico, and renowned for its beaches and its vibrant centre of art. Surrounded by the impressive mountains of the Sierra Madre and the sparkling waters of Banderas Bay, it is always waiting to offer visitors the very best choices. Initially made popular by Movie stars such as Liz Taylor and others as a great place to have a holiday home, visitors soon followed. Read more about Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Huatulco with its nine bays with 36 beaches - many of which are accessible only by boat - is a tourist development centred on the town La Crucecita in Mexico. With the help of local guides and businesses one can explore the beaches and bays in relative privacy, or dive to see tropical fish and coral. The entire area has a ‘small town’ feel about it and is rarely crowded. Read more about Huatulco, Mexico

Puerto Chiapas lies on the Pacific coast in southern Mexico. Built in 1975, it has served to promote tourism in this area. It is a small port town that handles the export of agricultural products grown in the region, an area of rich green lowlands and foothills. Read more about Puerto Chiapas, Mexico

Puerto Quetzal is a city on the Pacific Ocean in the south of Guatemala in Central America. While the city offers family fun, upscale restaurants and markets, it mainly serves as a tourist's gateway to the inland attractions of the unique ecosystems and remains from the Maya civilisation. Many visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Antigua, about two hours away, and on the trip are amazed by the green tropical vegetation of the beautiful tropical lowlands, as well as the views of active volcanoes. Read more about Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

Fuerte Amador (Fort Amador, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, is part of an artificial peninsula jutting out into the Pacific from Balboa, which connects four small islands to the mainland. On the west side of Fuerte Amador is the Pacific entrance to the Canal, and on the east side is Panama Bay facing Panama City. The surrounding ocean is always filled with vessels patiently awaiting their turn to transverse the Canal, while on the skyline a few kilometres to the north are the skyscrapers of Panama City. Read more about Fuerte Amador, Panama

Fuerte Amador (Fort Amador, located at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, is part of an artificial peninsula jutting out into the Pacific from Balboa, which connects four small islands to the mainland. On the west side of Fuerte Amador is the Pacific entrance to the Canal, and on the east side is Panama Bay facing Panama City. The surrounding ocean is always filled with vessels patiently awaiting their turn to transverse the Canal, while on the skyline a few kilometres to the north are the skyscrapers of Panama City. Read more about Fuerte Amador, Panama

Named one of the seven modern wonders of the world by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Panama Canal is a 77 km ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1903 to 1914, nearly 850,000 vessels have passed through the canal. Interestingly, the 8-10 hour journey from the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east is one from SE to NW. Read more about Panama Canal, Panama

Named one of the seven modern wonders of the world by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Panama Canal is a 77 km ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1903 to 1914, nearly 850,000 vessels have passed through the canal. Interestingly, the 8-10 hour journey from the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east is one from SE to NW. Read more about Panama Canal, Panama

Named one of the seven modern wonders of the world by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Panama Canal is a 77 km ship canal in Panama that joins the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and is a key conduit for international maritime trade. Built from 1903 to 1914, nearly 850,000 vessels have passed through the canal. Interestingly, the 8-10 hour journey from the Pacific Ocean in the west and the Atlantic Ocean in the east is one from SE to NW. Read more about Panama Canal, Panama

Cartagena is a large beach resort city on the northern coast of Colombia in the Caribbean Coast Region. While in recent years many new skyscrapers have been constructed, Cartagena's colonial walled city with its amazing architecture, such as The Vaults that were originally built as dungeons and from the top of which the Caribbean Sea is visible. There is also the Castillo de San Felipe, a fortress built in 1657 by the Spanish for protection against pirates. Read more about Cartagena, Colombia

Half Moon Cay is a protected bay located on a private island about 1160 km south of Nassau, in the archipelago of the Bahamas. Visiting ships anchor in the cay and tender passengers to the pier. This exceptional cruise destination offers miles of crescent-shaped beaches dotted with coconut palms and surrounded by pristine blue waters. Read more about Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Miami, located on the Atlantic coast at the southern tip of Florida, where outdoor sports are open all seasons and dress is casual, is a melting pot of cultures. Miami and Miami Beach are in effect two distinctly different cities, as Miami Beach is almost exclusively tourist orientated, while Miami is a cosmopolitan city with a distinctly Latin American flavour. Don’t miss the South Beach section where fashion designer Gianni Versace lived and died that is one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in the world. Read more about Miami, USA