The Spanish Main: Rise of the New World

History buffs, beach bums and xenophiles will all find something to celebrate on this unique itinerary to Central America and the Caribbean. Discover the barely inhabited tropical islands and friendly Guna Yala villagers of the San Blas Islands. Step back in time to the days of the Spanish Empire as you visit four of the oldest cities in the Americas. Explore forts pockmarked by time and cannon balls. Encounter pirate lore as you dive the wreck of Captain Kidd’s ship off Island Catalina. And relive it all over mofongo and rum in Old San Juan.

The imposing façade of El Morro fortress is just one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites in San Juan. Admire the colorful colonial buildings from your casually elegant ship, docked right in the heart of Old San Juan.

Small Isla Catalina boasts gleaming white-sand beaches ringed by coral reefs beckoning snorkelers. The island is a protected Natural Park where one beach is completely protected from the wind and the sea is delightfully calm. While beaches occupy more than 2/3 of the coastline, Isla Catalina also has unique rocky coasts and cliffs. One of the best diving sites of the Dominican Republic, Muro, can be found here. It boasts an impressive underwater wall over 328 feet deep. Isla Catalina is also the only place in the D.R. where raccoons and wild hares can be found.

La Capital, as Santo Domingo is affectionately known, is a UNESCO site and one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean, with Zona Colonial buildings dating back to the 1500s. Santo Domingo is also considered the most modern metropolis in the Caribbean doing a great job of converging old and new.  At the heart of the Zona Colonial, a pedestrian-friendly maze of cobblestones and interesting architecture is the first cathedral built in the New World. Find time to sample the aromatic coffee and cacao.

Welcome to the sparkling city of Cartagena, where the gold and jewels of the Spanish Main awaited shipment across the Atlantic. No pirate could resist, nor will you be able to when you visit this historic city. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is surrounded by 400-year-old walls and contains a plethora of churches, fortresses, and restored colonial mansions. Outside the walls are more treasures: Climb the massive Castillo de San Felipe to investigate its maze of hidden tunnels, or shop for the perfect emerald.

Welcome to the sparkling city of Cartagena, where the gold and jewels of the Spanish Main awaited shipment across the Atlantic. No pirate could resist, nor will you be able to when you visit this historic city. The Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is surrounded by 400-year-old walls and contains a plethora of churches, fortresses, and restored colonial mansions. Outside the walls are more treasures: Climb the massive Castillo de San Felipe to investigate its maze of hidden tunnels, or shop for the perfect emerald.

The San Blas Islands of Panama is an archipelago comprising approximately 378 islands and cays, of which 49 are inhabited, some by the Kuna people.  Scattered over an area of about 100 square miles, the islands are the number 1 vacation destination in Panama although the Kuna work hard to protect their land against overwhelming tourism and keep the islands healthy and lovely, unique and untouched by culture. These white-sand and palm tree lined islands are encompassed by a coral reef and warm, crystal-clear water that is perfect for snorkeling and is home to a variety of marine life including dolphins, sharks and giant manta rays.

Explore the inner workings of the Panama Canal, head into the jungle to meet with Embera Indians, or take an aerial tram ride through the rainforest canopy.