Ultimate South America to the Caribbean through the Panama Canal

Valparaíso is Chile's UNESCO-listed port city of 42 painted hills, Victorian funicular railways, and one of the world's most spectacular street art scenes, where Pablo Neruda built his hill-top home La Sebastiana. Must-dos include riding the historic ascensores, touring Neruda's house, and feasting on Humboldt Current seafood. October through March offers the warmest, driest weather.

Chile's Pingüino de Humboldt National Reserve protects three rocky islands where the cold Humboldt Current meets the Atacama Desert, creating critical habitat for endangered Humboldt penguins, bottlenose dolphins, and visiting fin and blue whales. Must-dos include walking among penguins on Isla Damas and boat tours through the teeming seabird colonies. October through March brings peak wildlife activity and the chance to spot great whales offshore.

Paracas is a desert peninsula on Peru's southern coast where one of the world's most productive marine ecosystems meets a landscape of dramatic aridity, enigmatic geoglyphs, and ancient textile traditions. Must-dos include a boat tour to the wildlife-packed Ballestas Islands, exploring the red sand beach and flamingo bays of the national reserve, and dining on fresh ceviche. Visit year-round in this rain-free climate, with mornings best before the fierce afternoon winds.

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.

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.

Utría National Natural Park on Colombia's Chocó Pacific coast is where the world's wettest rainforest meets warm ocean waters, creating intimate humpback whale encounters barely 50 metres from shore during the July-to-October calving season. Must-dos include kayaking the mangrove-lined inlet, snorkelling the rare Pacific coral formations, and tasting encocado fish in coconut sauce. July through October offers peak whale activity alongside the park's extraordinary birding and rainforest exploration.

Darién National Park is 579,000 hectares of impenetrable rainforest at the Panama-Colombia border, where North and South American wildlife overlap in one of Earth's most biodiverse regions, home to harpy eagles, jaguars, and the indigenous Emberá people. Must-dos include birdwatching for harpy eagles, visiting an Emberá riverside community, and experiencing primary tropical forest on guided treks. Visit December to April during the drier season.

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 San Blas Islands (Guna Yala) are a Caribbean archipelago of 365 palm-fringed islands governed autonomously by the Guna indigenous people, whose intricate mola textiles rank among the world's finest textile arts. Must-dos include purchasing molas directly from Guna artisans, snorkelling pristine coral reefs, and experiencing the crystalline waters of uninhabited islands. Visit December through April for the dry season, and approach with respect for Guna sovereignty.

Cartagena, Colombia, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its stunning colonial architecture, vibrant atmosphere, and rich culinary scene. Must-do experiences include exploring the historic Old Town and savoring local specialties like arepas de huevo and ceviche de camarones. The best time to visit is from December to April, when the weather is warm and dry, perfect for leisurely city explorations and excursions to nearby attractions.

Cabo de la Vela on Colombia's La Guajira Peninsula is where the Caribbean meets the desert — sacred Wayúu territory of wind-sculpted dunes, turquoise seas, and the spiritual Pilón de Azúcar hill. Must-dos include climbing the sacred hill at sunset, buying handwoven Wayúu mochilas, and feasting on beach-grilled lobster with fresh lime. December through March delivers the strongest trade winds and clearest skies for this starkly beautiful desert-meets-sea landscape.

Willemstad, the capital of Curaçao, is a vibrant port city celebrated for its colorful architecture and rich history. Must-do experiences include trying local delicacies like "keshi yena" and exploring the stunning beaches of Playa Kenepa. The best season to visit is during the dry months from December to April, when the weather is ideal for exploring both the city and its beautiful surroundings.

The Tobago Cays are five uninhabited islands in the southern Grenadines, surrounded by a horseshoe reef and some of the clearest water in the Caribbean, where green sea turtles graze in the shallows and pristine coral reefs teem with tropical fish. Must-dos include snorkeling with the sea turtles, enjoying a beachside lobster barbecue from local boat vendors, and swimming at the Pirates of the Caribbean filming location on Petit Tabac. December through May offers the best visibility and steadiest trade winds.

Mayreau is the smallest inhabited island in the Grenadines, a car-free Caribbean gem with fewer than three hundred residents, the exquisite Salt Whistle Bay beach, and views across the pristine Tobago Cays Marine Park. Must-do experiences include snorkelling with sea turtles in the Tobago Cays, feasting on fresh grilled lobster, and watching sunset from the hilltop church. January through May's dry season offers the most reliable weather.

Soufrière sits beneath Saint Lucia's iconic twin Pitons — UNESCO World Heritage volcanic peaks rising 700 meters from the Caribbean — with a drive-in volcano, Diamond Botanical Gardens, and thriving coral reefs completing the island's most naturally spectacular destination. Visit December through April via Silversea or Windstar for Gros Piton summit views, geothermal springs, and the primal Caribbean beauty that no resort amenity can replicate.

Bridgetown, Barbados's compact and convivial capital, carries three centuries of uninterrupted British colonial heritage — a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Georgian townhouses, coral-stone churches, and the Garrison Savannah, whose racecourse is the oldest in the Western Hemisphere — all infused with the irresistible rhythms of a proud Caribbean nation. The island's culinary scene has matured into one of the Caribbean's most sophisticated, with flying fish cutter sandwiches from roadside stalls competing for devotion with the elegant seafood preparations of the Platinum Coast's celebrated restaurants. Visit December through May for the driest season; the island's sheltered west coast offers superlative year-round sailing conditions.