Caribbean & Panama Canal Odyssey - 4235A

In the southern Caribbean, Oranjestad is the capital of the small island of Aruba, and an island territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is an attractive and historic harbour town just 27 km north of Venezuela. It can be divided into Upper and Lower Towns. There are a number of colonial era 18th C. Read more about Oranjestad, Aruba, Aruba

Read more about Willemstad, Curaçao, Curaçao

Read more about Kralendijk, Bonaire, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba

Basse-Terre, on Basse-Terre Island, is the administrative capital of Guadeloupe, an overseas region of France located in the Lesser Antilles, Eastern Caribbean. It is filled with various historical landmarks and forts that date back to 1643, as well as several colonial buildings and monuments all around the city. It is connected to Grande-Terre by the Point de la Gabare Bridge that is built over Riviere Salee. Known for its many delightful beaches such as Malendure beach, the Centre Nautique de Basse-Terre and Marina de Rivière Sens, all offer great opportunities for a range of water activities. Read more about Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe

St John’s, the capital of the nation of Antigua and Barbuda (two islands) in the Caribbean, sits on the NW coast of the tropical island of Antigua that is home to magnificent beaches. St John's was hit significantly by Hurricane Irma (Sep 2017) but tourist infrastructure remained intact. St John’s reflects its British heritage with such edifices as Fort Barrington overlooking the shoreline, and 17th C Fort James. The national sport of cricket (think Sir Vivian Richards, Anderson "Andy" Roberts, and Richard "Richie" Richardson) highlights its predominantly British culture. Read more about St John's, Antigua and Barbuda

Basse-Terre, on Basse-Terre Island, is the administrative capital of Guadeloupe, an overseas region of France located in the Lesser Antilles, Eastern Caribbean. It is filled with various historical landmarks and forts that date back to 1643, as well as several colonial buildings and monuments all around the city. It is connected to Grande-Terre by the Point de la Gabare Bridge that is built over Riviere Salee. Known for its many delightful beaches such as Malendure beach, the Centre Nautique de Basse-Terre and Marina de Rivière Sens, all offer great opportunities for a range of water activities. Read more about Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe

Cruz Bay (population 2700) is the main town on the island of St John, in the US Virgin Islands. The three main islands and many smaller ones that constitute US Virgin Islands are located in the Leeward Island of the Eastern Caribbean. Cruz Bay is linked to other islands in the region by ferries, and tourists frequent the bars, shops and restaurants overlooking the bay. The beach has soft white sand, a designated swimming area, and space for day boaters to anchor. Read more about Cruz Bay (St. John), Virgin Islands (U.S.)

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. With its 400 restored buildings from the 16th and 17th century Spanish colonial period, this area is steeped in history. 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. Certainly the beaches have an international flair and attract tourists from around the world. Read more about Miami, USA

Key West is a city on an island of the same name that lies off the coast of Florida USA. One of the biggest attractions on the island is a concrete replica of a buoy at the corner of South and Whitehead Streets, which claims to be the southernmost point in the continental 48 states. Although Key West today has been revitalised for the tourists, the town has retained some of its sense of individualism and isolation, especially away from the main streets. Walking tours are the best way to see the island's intriguing architecture, courtyards and gardens. Read more about Key West, USA

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. Both have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Read more about Cartagena, Colombia

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. Crossing the Canal is something that we would all like to experience, and subsequently many passenger ships provide a narrator giving excellent information during the crossing. 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. Crossing the Canal is something that we would all like to experience, and subsequently many passenger ships provide a narrator giving excellent information during the crossing. 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. Crossing the Canal is something that we would all like to experience, and subsequently many passenger ships provide a narrator giving excellent information during the crossing. Read more about Panama Canal, 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. The peninsula itself is home to two marinas and road causeway only. 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. The peninsula itself is home to two marinas and road causeway only. Read more about Fuerte Amador, Panama

Located on Costa Rica’s south Pacific coast near the border of Panama, the small port city of Golfito is a spectacular tropical hideaway situated across from the Osa Peninsula on the Golfo Dulce. It lies on a narrow strip of land along Golfito Bay and is backed against steep green hills covered with pristine rain forest. Once a major banana growing region, due to disease and worker unrest the company closed down. To help the economy, the government established a duty-free zone that attracted shoppers from other regions and the tourist industry started to grow. Read more about Golfito, Costa Rica

Puntarenas is the capital and largest city in the province Puntarenas, on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, and is one of the country’s most important tourist regions. Its coasts are decked with plenty of islands, inlets, beaches and beautiful natural treasures, many of which lie within protected zones, and it is also home to some of the country’s highest mountain peaks. Of great interest is a small ‘old town’ where the buildings are of both historical and architectural interest. There are also many National Monuments, while the old San Lucas Penitentiary on San Lucas Island is very often visited. Read more about Puntarenas, Costa Rica

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. There are also lovely towns south of Antigua to be visited and many coffee plantations. Read more about Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala

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. The surrounding district has some beautiful beaches including Playa Linda in Puerto Chiapas itself, and San Benito. Read more about Puerto Chiapas, 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. Not surprisingly, the greatest attractions are centred on the amazing beaches and water related activities. Read more about Huatulco, Mexico

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. With some of the best all-around sports fishing in the world and every water sport imaginable, Cabo is the ultimate destination for travellers looking for outdoor adventure. Read more about Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Los Angeles, also called LA, or the City of Angels, is situated in southern California, and as the home base of Hollywood is the Entertainment Capital of the world. There is so much to do in this famous city, such as visit LA's most popular beach Santa Monica that offers ocean activities, shopping, street performers and more, or simply investigate the fantastic shopping venues. Helicopter tours are now becoming extremely popular, as one gets to see beaches, movie star homes, the Hollywood sign, downtown, and all of the attractions through the eyes of an expert. Read more about Los Angeles, USA