Machu Picchu & Mayan Ruins

Callao, Peru, delivers South America's irresistible combination of dramatic landscapes, vibrant culture, and extraordinary biodiversity. Essential experiences include exploring local markets, tasting the distinctive regional cuisine, and venturing into the surrounding natural environments. Best visited May through September, when drier conditions prevail and temperatures remain pleasant. Cruise lines including Cunard feature this port on their most compelling itineraries. Whether you have a few hours or a full day, the port rewards exploration at every pace and in every direction.

Salaverry is the Peruvian port gateway to Chan Chan — the largest pre-Columbian adobe city in South America — and the polychrome Moche temples that together create one of the Western Hemisphere's richest archaeological landscapes. Must-dos include the carved friezes of Chan Chan's Tschudi Complex, the vivid murals at Huaca de la Luna, and ceviche at colonial Trujillo's Plaza de Armas. Visit year-round; the coast is dry, with June through September best for archaeological site visits.

Ecuador's largest city and Pacific gateway, Guayaquil has reinvented its historic waterfront with the celebrated Malecón 2000, a sweeping riverside promenade where museums, gardens, and spectacular views of the Guayas River coexist with the energy of a genuinely ambitious city. The historic Las Peñas neighbourhood, its painted wooden houses climbing a hillside crowned by the Cerro Santa Ana lighthouse, offers the most atmospheric corner of the old city. As the embarkation point for most Galápagos expeditions, Guayaquil rewards a day or two of exploration before the archipelago's more famous wonders. The dry season — May through December — is the preferred window for visiting the coast.

Manta, Ecuador is a distinctive port city where deep cultural heritage meets authentic local atmosphere, featured on itineraries by Norwegian Cruise Line. Must-do experiences include exploring the vibrant local markets for regional specialties and fresh seafood, and discovering the waterfront quarter where maritime heritage meets contemporary energy. The optimal time to visit is November through April, when dry season brings clear skies and calm seas.

Golfito is a former banana port on Costa Rica's southern Pacific coast, now the gateway to Corcovado National Park — described as the most biologically intense place on Earth. Must-dos include wildlife spotting in Corcovado, whale watching in the Golfo Dulce, and tasting Pacific ceviche and fresh tropical refrescos. December through April's dry season offers the best hiking and wildlife conditions.

Panama City is a dynamic capital where glass skyscrapers, the colonial UNESCO quarter of Casco Viejo, and the engineering marvel of the Panama Canal converge at the Western Hemisphere's narrowest point. Must-dos include watching mega-ships transit the Miraflores Locks, exploring restored Casco Viejo, and spotting monkeys in the Metropolitan Natural Park. Visit December through April for dry season weather.

The Panama Canal is one of humanity's greatest engineering achievements—a 50-mile waterway that lifts ships 26 meters through locks to cross between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Must-dos include watching the locks operation from open deck, visiting the Miraflores Visitor Center, and exploring Panama City's restored Casco Viejo. The dry season (December–April) offers the clearest views for transit day.

Puerto Limón is Costa Rica's vibrant Caribbean port city, shaped by Afro-Caribbean heritage, coconut-infused Creole cuisine, and lush tropical surroundings. Visitors should not miss the pristine coral reefs and rainforest trails of Cahuita National Park or a whitewater rafting descent of the legendary Pacuare River. The port is at its finest during the dry season from December through April, when calm seas and warm sunshine coincide with peak cruise scheduling.

Roatán, Honduras's jewel in the Caribbean Sea, is surrounded by the second-largest coral reef system on Earth — an underwater wilderness of extraordinary richness that draws divers and snorkellers from around the world. The West End and West Bay beaches deliver postcard perfection: sugar-white sands, turquoise shallows, and hammocks swaying beneath coconut palms. Jungle-clad hills hide zip lines, sloth sanctuaries, and Garifuna fishing villages preserving centuries-old Afro-Caribbean traditions. Local lobster, fresh from the reef and grilled with garlic, is the island's defining culinary pleasure. February through April offers the clearest waters and most radiant skies.

Harvest Caye is a private island resort off Belize's southern coast, offering pristine beaches and access to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef's extraordinary marine life. Top experiences include reef snorkelling, Monkey River wildlife tours to spot howler monkeys and manatees, and visiting ancient Maya ruins at Nim Li Punit. November through April provides the driest weather, though snorkelling is superb year-round.

On Mexico's Southern Caribbean coast, Costa Maya blends ancient Maya heritage with turquoise Caribbean beauty in one of the region's most unspoiled cruising destinations. The nearby archaeological site of Chacchoben — its jungle-shrouded temples dating to 200 AD — rewards those who venture inland with an atmosphere of genuine discovery, far from the well-trodden ruins of the north. The protected Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the world's second largest, offers exceptional snorkelling and diving directly offshore. November through April guarantees dry, sunny days with crystalline visibility in the water — the ideal season for exploring both reef and rainforest.

Miami is a city of perpetual reinvention — the Art Deco jewel of South Beach giving way to the street-art murals of Wynwood, the Cuban rhythms of Calle Ocho, and the glass-and-steel towers of a skyline that has redrawn itself every decade since Julia Tuttle convinced Henry Flagler to extend his railroad south in 1896. Must-dos include strolling the pastel-fronted Ocean Drive at dusk and exploring the world-class collections at the Pérez Art Museum Miami overlooking Biscayne Bay. November through April delivers idyllic weather — warm and dry — while summer brings heat, humidity, and hurricane risk. Miami handles cruise departures elegantly, with the Port of Miami a short taxi ride from the best neighbourhoods.