Miami and South Beach blend iconic movie backdrops with Latin American culture: Art Deco streets, Wynwood's murals, and Little Havana's café cortadito, sugarcane juice, beer, ice cream, dominoes, cigars, and politics. Add salsa, designer shopping, speedboats, and the Everglades for rare wildlife.

St. John, the smallest US Virgin Island, is lined with quiet coves and hidden harbours. Relax on Trunk Bay's turquoise water and powder-soft sand. Virgin Islands National Park covers two-thirds of the island, protecting forested valleys, indigenous rock art, old sugar plantation ruins, and scenic hiking trails. Kayak the mangroves of Hurricane Hole or snorkel Maho Bay, where turtles and rays glide through clear water.

Mingle amongst other discerning guests on this French isle that exudes relaxed glamour. Wander along secluded beaches, harbourside Creole huts, drop into bohemian bars and snorkel gently through warm turquoise waters. Visit La Tourmente, the peaceful salt ponds and admire uninterrupted views on a local boat trip. And as you sip your second (or third) glass of champagne to the lull of the gentle waves, it might be time to learn the French for "paradise found".

An adrenaline rush awaits. Swim with stingrays. Zip-line through lush forests. Walk across a gorge on a scenic suspension bridge. Sip excellent aged rums. Taste the island with a chef. Or stroll St. John's old town to tour cottages laden with cheerful fretwork. Explore British forts atop Shirley Heights and Goat Hill. Then rest and rejuvenate at one of the snow-white beaches.

A tropical utopia in the British Virgin Islands: soaring peaks for climbing, waves for surfing, wrecks for snorkelling, and cocktails with local rum. Around Road Town are brightly coloured colonial-era buildings; try Pusser's Painkiller Bar, then head to Sage Mountain. Zip-line, dive coral lagoons, 4x4 jungle trails, relax on postcard-perfect beaches, or sail by catamaran to uninhabited islands.

Formed by volcanoes, St Kitts has rich, fertile soil and lush rainforest. Hike Mount Liamuiga to its mile-wide crater, or descend to smell the sulphur. Try a scenic train ride, sailing, cooking class, sky-safari zip-line, or batik workshop. Visit sugarcane plantations, the Narrows, and UNESCO Brimstone Hill Fortress for island views. Small in size, big on charm.

Explore America's oldest city for Caribbean history, Spanish culture, and the American dream. Wander Old San Juan's alleys past centuries-old forts and colorful colonial buildings. Learn to move to salsa and reggae, shop boho streets or luxe boutiques for artisan goods, designer pieces, and hand-rolled cigars. Enjoy world-class surfing, a tropical rainforest, a private rum cocktail tasting, and empanadas. End on beautiful beaches with crystal-clear water and maybe one last rum cocktail.

Philipsburg is the capital of Dutch Sint Maarten on the island shared with French Saint Martin. Set beside Great Bay, its colorful streets are lined with Dutch shops selling chocolates, cheeses, and luxury goods. Enjoy kayaking in blue waters, reef diving, horseback rides on plantation trails, casinos, or golf by the sea. Every moment feels royal.

In dainty Terre-de-Haute, diminutive sibling of Guadeloupe and queen of the Îles des Saintes, French charm and Caribbean culture are woven together in laid-back towns and sleepy fishing villages. High above, Fort Napoleon and Le Chameau peak are flanked by fragrant forests of fern and frangipani, overlooking picture-perfect landscapes bathed in golden sunlight and sailboats afloat on gin-clear bays.

Nestled in a caldera horseshoe, with candy-coloured houses spilling to the water, this natural harbour is often considered the Caribbean's prettiest. Explore the Georgian Carenage, market stalls, Fort George, the cathedral and Anglican church rebuilt after the 2004 hurricane, and the House of Chocolate devoted to Grenada's cacao trade. Then head inland for lush hikes to waterfalls, or north on a spice journey, with nutmeg scenting the air.

Explore romantic St Lucia: hike the UNESCO-listed Pitons, soak in volcanic mud baths, relax on black sand beaches, visit botanical gardens, and trek tropical jungle plantations of banana, coconut, and mango. Cruise calm Caribbean or choppy Atlantic waters by catamaran, boat, or kayak, swim under waterfalls, watch whales, and savor fresh mahi mahi with local Piton beer.

Puerto Plata, the "Silver Coast" queen, is prized for cloud-shrouded peaks and gleaming beaches. Once plundered by pirates, it still invites you to storm the 16th-century Fortaleza San Felipe. Today it lures visitors with aged rum, cigars, and chocolate. Adventurers can ride to Pico Isabel de Torres (793 m/2,602 ft), off-road to Damajagua Waterfalls, or kite-surf, catamaran, and zip-line over the ocean. Save time for a beach club and coconut cocktails.

Miami and South Beach blend iconic movie backdrops with Latin American culture: Art Deco streets, Wynwood's murals, and Little Havana's café cortadito, sugarcane juice, beer, ice cream, dominoes, cigars, and politics. Add salsa, designer shopping, speedboats, and the Everglades for rare wildlife.