Panama Canal& Island Gems

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

Puerto Limon - aka Limon - is the capital of Limón Province in Costa Rica. It is the country's main Caribbean port, and most of its citizens are of African descent. Originally from Jamaica, these workers were brought to the area in the late 19th century to build the railroad line from San José to Limón. Read more about Puerto Limon, Costa Rica

George Town is located on the island of Grand Cayman, the largest of the three islands in the Cayman Islands of the British West Indies. It is the largest city and capital of the Cayman Islands. All three - Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman - are coral outcrops surrounded by healthy coral reefs and dramatic walls close to shore, creating ideal conditions for the best diving and snorkelling found in the Caribbean. Read more about George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Ocho Rios lies on the north coast of Jamaica. As many believe that Christopher Columbus first set foot here, Columbus Park has been created, where visitors and residents alike can absorb the historical artefacts and the Spanish colonial buildings. Renowned for its most striking waterfalls Ocho Rios owes much of its fame to Dunn's River Falls, a much-photographed and much-climbed attraction. Read more about Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Casa de Campo is a relatively new ‘Resort-port’ in the Dominican Republic, which is entirely geared to the Caso de Campo Resort, rather than an existing town. It is situated on the eastern side of Hispaniola, an island that it shares with Haiti. This port, still in its infancy in terms of development, is somewhat controversial because most of the more interesting options are available only through ships' shore excursions, and hence there's a limited range of activities for independent travellers. Read more about Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic

Tortola is the largest and most populated of the British Virgin Islands, a group of islands that forms part of the archipelago of the Virgin Islands. Its capital is Road Town, situated on a pleasant harbour. Interestingly, Columbus noted the island during his second voyage. Read more about Tortola, Virgin Islands (British)

San Juan, the capital and most populous city of Puerto Rico, is the oldest city on US territory. It is the Caribbean commercial hub, best known for its beautifully restored historic district of Old San Juan. It is situated on a rocky peninsula girded by thick walls jutting into the crashing Atlantic surf. Read more about San Juan, Puerto Rico

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