Hidden gems of Yucatan, such as Tulum, Akumal, Chetumal, Chichen Itza and Merida, offer an authentic taste of Mexico. Akumal and more Caribbean-style Chetumal, near the Belize border, deliver delectable white-sand beaches and great snorkelling. Merida, Chichen Itza and Tulum, with their ancient ruins, offer a passage into the Yucatanâs native history. Nature lovers can jungle trek and swim in subterranean sinkholes filled with crystal-clear water. Bike around the ruins and hop between towns in colectivo vans.

Palm Beach has long lured America's big name social elite, from the Kennedys to the Pulitzers to the Trumps. If you don't have the Jaguar, catch a Palm Tram around the city. Opulent extravagance is the order of the day. But if you can take your eyes off the glittering procession of socialites and the prices at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Spa and in Worth Avenue stores, there are plenty of other sights to be seen. Don't miss Henry Morrison Flagler Museum or the hopping nightlife on Clematis Street.

Just a few minutes' drive but a world away from the mainland, Key Largo has been the setting of movies, the home to abundant wildlife and a favorite destination for scuba diving. Lush flora and lively fauna abound in the Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and Everglades National Park. Underwater, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary teems with life while the American Crocodile thrives at Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

The smaller half of Trinidad and Tobago, the 116-square mile island is a top eco-tourism destination. Its rainforest has been protected since 1776. Kayak through mangrove swamps, mountain bike testing trails in the island's northeast, drift dive with manta rays and sharks, hike the Rainforest Reserve or take in the distinctive Tobago pursuits of goat and crab racing. Cars, taxis and "maxi taxi" minibuses make it easy to get around the island. Carnival sees this exuberant island at its most extroverted.