A Heavenly Holiday Under Palm Trees

Miami is one of the world’s most popular holiday spots. It has so much to offer; from its countless beach areas, to culture and museums, from spa and shopping days out, to endless cuban restaurants and cafes. Miami is a multicultural city that has something to offer to everyone.

Despite its small size, North Bimini offers plenty of adventure: while everyday life in the beach bars of Alice Town is relaxed, the bright-blue lagoons invite you to snorkel or dive around sunken shipwrecks. Sun worshippers and anglers will also find their island paradise on the dream beaches under palm trees or enjoy Bahamian seafood fresh from the ocean. Fancy some culture? Then the exhibitions at the Bimini Museum are well worth a visit.

The lovely little dual islands of Bimini consists of two main islands—North Bimini Island and South Bimini Island— as well as countless cays. Located just 50 miles off Florida’s coast, Bimini is the closest Bahamian island to the United States, and as such is the most “American” if all the Bahamian Islands. Yet, the miles and miles of pristine beaches are witness to the fact that yes, this is the Bahamas and yes, this is paradise indeed.

On the south-western coast of Grenada lies St. George’s, one of the most beautiful coastal cities in the Caribbean. The natural harbour of Carenage and the colourful colonial houses give the Grenadian capital its typical appeal. The pretty lanes and historic buildings of the old town invite you to explore, while small restaurants and shops around the harbour and along Melville Street and Lagoon Road form the heart of the tourist centre. A walk up the hill above the city to the former French Fort Frederick offers a magnificent panoramic view of the entire bay. Enjoy the atmosphere in complete relaxation thanks to a long lay time.

Nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, cocoa those heady aromas fill the air in Grenada (pronounced gruh-nay-da). Only 21 miles (33½ km) long and 12 miles (19½ km) wide, the Isle of Spice is a tropical gem of lush rain forests, white-sand beaches, secluded coves, exotic flowers, and enough locally grown spices to fill anyone's kitchen cabinet. St. George's is one of the most picturesque capital cities in the Caribbean, St. George's Harbour is one of the most picturesque harbors, and Grenada's Grand Anse Beach is one of the region's finest beaches. The island has friendly, hospitable people and enough good shopping, restaurants, historic sites, and natural wonders to make it a popular port of call. About one-third of Grenada's visitors arrive by cruise ship, and that number continues to grow each year. Grenada's capital is a bustling West Indian city, much of which remains unchanged from colonial days. Narrow streets lined with shops wind up, down, and across steep hills. Brick warehouses cling to the waterfront, and pastel-painted homes rise from the waterfront and disappear into steep green hills. The horseshoe-shaped St. George's Harbour, a submerged volcanic crater, is arguably the prettiest harbor in the Caribbean. Schooners, ferries, and tour boats tie up along the seawall or at the small dinghy dock. The Carenage (pronounced car-a-nahzh), which surrounds the harbor, is the capital's center. Warehouses, shops, and restaurants line the waterfront. The Christ of the Deep statue that sits on the pedestrian plaza at the center of The Carenage was presented to Grenada by Costa Cruise Line in remembrance of its ship, Bianca C, which burned and sank in the harbor in 1961 and is now a favorite dive site. An engineering feat for its time, the 340-foot-long Sendall Tunnel was built in 1895 and named for Walter Sendall, an early governor. The narrow tunnel, used by both pedestrians and vehicles, separates the harbor side of St. George's from the Esplanade on the bay side of town, where you can find the markets (produce, meat, and fish), the Cruise Ship Terminal, the Esplanade Mall, and the public bus station.

Bonaire, the second largest of the Caribbean ABC islands, offers a mixture of colourful nature and a fascinating underwater world. The name of its capital Kralendijk translates as “coral dyke”, which refers to the fantastic coral world that stretches off the coast in the Bonaire National Marine Park. While the hilly north of the island boasts exotic species of birds and tropical vegetation in the Washington-Slagbaai National Park, the Pekelmeer Flamingo Sanctuary in the flat south attracts nature lovers with one of the largest flamingo colonies in the world. Bonaire is a paradise for snorkellers and explorers alike. The lay time is generous, allowing you to gather many impressions.

Aruba’s reputation as a paradise precedes the island by far. In the south-west, endless white beaches shimmer, gently lapped by the turquoise sea. In the north-east, however, rugged rocky coasts and barren cactus landscapes characterise the wild and romantic landscape. Oranjestad, the lively capital, is also located in the midst of this picturesque backdrop, its candy-coloured houses in Dutch colonial style shining in the sun. Stroll through elegant shopping streets and let yourself be enchanted by the Caribbean flair. If you’re looking for an original photo motif, you’ll find it at the Stadhuis: the bright green and white town hall is a real gem. Fancy a break on the beach? Then the palm-fringed beaches of Druif Beach and Manchebo Beach are not far away.

Aruba's capital is easily explored on foot. Its palm-lined central thoroughfare runs between old and new pastel-painted buildings of typical Dutch design (Spanish influence is also evident in some of the architecture). There are a lot of malls with boutiques and shops—the Renaissance mall carries high-end luxury items and designer fashions. A massive renovation in downtown has given Main Street (a.k.a. Caya G. F. Betico Croes) behind the Renaissance Resort a whole new lease on life: boutique malls, shops, and restaurants have opened next to well-loved family-run businesses. The pedestrian-only walkway and resting areas have unclogged the street, and the new eco-trolley is free and a great way to get around. At this writing, Linear Park was well and will showcase local merchants and artists. There will be activities along a boardwalk that will eventually run all the way to the end of Palm Beach, making it the longest of its kind in the Caribbean.

A city full of history and zest for life lies on the Caribbean coast of Colombia: Cartagena de Indias, often referred to as one of the most beautiful cities in South America. Founded in 1533, the “queen of Colombia’s coast” quickly developed into an important trading centre and is now a modern port with historical charm. Salsa beats, a gentle sea breeze and vibrant colours contribute to the atmosphere. The old town has cobbled streets, colonial buildings and exotic plazas to offer. At Plaza de Bolivar, behind the clock tower called Monumento Torre del Reloj, you can stop to sample local Colombian delicacies.

Cartagena's magnificent city walls and fortresses, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enclose a well-restored historic center (the Cuidad Amurallada, or walled city) with plazas, churches, museums, and shops that have made it a lively coastal vacation spot for South Americans and others. New hotels and restaurants make the walled city a desirable place to stay, and the formerly down-at-the-heels Getsemaní neighborhood attracts those seeking a bohemian buzz. The historic center is a small section of Cartagena; many hotels are in the Bocagrande district, an elongated peninsula where high-rise hotels overlook a long, gray-sand beach.When it was founded in 1533 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Heredia, Cartagena was the only port on the South American mainland. Gold and silver looted from indigenous peoples passed through here en route to Spain and attracted pirates, including Sir Francis Drake, who in 1586 torched 200 buildings. Cartagena's walls protected the city's riches as well as the New World's most important African slave market.

The daytime passage through the Panama Canal is a unique experience that takes visitors right through one of the world’s most important engineering masterpieces. With its impressive locks, the canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and offers spectacular views of the lush tropical landscape. The famous locks of Miraflores and Gatun play a crucial role in the crossing and allow you to directly experience how nature and technology interact in a fascinating way. Sailing through the Panama Canal is more than just a passage – it is an insight into the heart of a global transport network that connects the world more closely together.

Expect incredible morning views as you arrive into the port for Panama City. Tinged with a silver pre-dawn light, the city will metamorphosise into a golden glow as the sun rises above it. And from then on expect one stunning view after another. Very interesting in its own right, Fuerte Amador is obviously overshadowed by its proximity to Panama City. So should the Miraflores museum of the Canal, which offers a comprehensive and immersive tour of the Canal including a 3-D experience, four exhibition halls, an observation deck, and a surprisingly good restaurant not interest you then there is always the option of lovely Casco Viejo – literally the old quartier of Panama. The grand old colonial houses, cobbled streets, independent boutiques and buzzing street scene make this a must stop on your itinerary. And if you like seafood, you will not want miss the many restaurants and market stalls serving different variations of so-fresh-it’s-still-practically-swimming ceviche. Best eaten like the Panamanians do, with salty crackers and a cold beer on the beach. And if money is no object, a cup of geisha coffee – supposedly the world’s best and definitely the world’s most expensive at $7 a shot is definitely a pick me up! Cool cosmopolitan capital aside, Panama has a skyscraper filled skyline that is worthy of some of its North American counterparts. But if urban utopia is not your scene then fear not, the sandy beaches and lush rainforests are never more than a short cab ride away.

Expect incredible morning views as you arrive into the port for Panama City. Tinged with a silver pre-dawn light, the city will metamorphosise into a golden glow as the sun rises above it. And from then on expect one stunning view after another. Very interesting in its own right, Fuerte Amador is obviously overshadowed by its proximity to Panama City. So should the Miraflores museum of the Canal, which offers a comprehensive and immersive tour of the Canal including a 3-D experience, four exhibition halls, an observation deck, and a surprisingly good restaurant not interest you then there is always the option of lovely Casco Viejo – literally the old quartier of Panama. The grand old colonial houses, cobbled streets, independent boutiques and buzzing street scene make this a must stop on your itinerary. And if you like seafood, you will not want miss the many restaurants and market stalls serving different variations of so-fresh-it’s-still-practically-swimming ceviche. Best eaten like the Panamanians do, with salty crackers and a cold beer on the beach. And if money is no object, a cup of geisha coffee – supposedly the world’s best and definitely the world’s most expensive at $7 a shot is definitely a pick me up! Cool cosmopolitan capital aside, Panama has a skyscraper filled skyline that is worthy of some of its North American counterparts. But if urban utopia is not your scene then fear not, the sandy beaches and lush rainforests are never more than a short cab ride away.