Crystal Serenity - January 7, 2025

Ft. Lauderdale has 23 miles of beaches, 300 miles of inland waterways and swimming pools galore, but immersing yourself in this city doesn't require a drop of water. Dive into a culture as deep as any ocean, a culture characterized by Seminoles and Broadway shows, golf and whimsical water taxis, fine cuisine and tasty jazz. And just like the horizon here, the list of attractions goes on and on.

George Town is the capital of the Cayman Islands, and is situated directly on Grand Cayman. Once a center of turtle fishing, the area is now a popular tourist destination. Snorkeling and diving are especially popular, and the opportunity to swim with and feed the giant, graceful stingrays should not be missed. Don't worry--it is said that no one has ever been stung.

Costa Maya is located on the Mayan Riviera, so named because was the home of the Mayans. Lush jungle vegetation is juxtaposed with beautiful beaches that have recently become the destination for scuba divers and snorkelers wishing to explore the untouched coral reef. or take a drive through the jungle and see an amazing combination of birds and mammals, like the wild deer and jaguars, spider monkeys, monkeys, and even alligators.

Belize City is the country's chief seaport, so snorkeling and diving is big here...bring a suit! Travel to a city previously inhabited by the Mayan people at Altun Ha, ancient temple of the Sun God. Or visit the Belize Zoo or Baboon Sanctuary. Gales Point is a great place to view manatees!

Located approximately 35 miles north of Honduras in the Caribbean, Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands group. Plenty of great snorkeling and diving is found at the coral reefs off Roatan's coast.

Once the port where the wealth of the New World flowed back to the Old, Cartagena also served as a notorious base for privateers and pirates. Today, you can stroll the tree-lined Spanish colonial artistry of old in the streets and see the works of the Gold Museum. The port is also a great place to find bargains on emeralds.

Once the port where the wealth of the New World flowed back to the Old, Cartagena also served as a notorious base for privateers and pirates. Today, you can stroll the tree-lined Spanish colonial artistry of old in the streets and see the works of the Gold Museum. The port is also a great place to find bargains on emeralds.

Spend an unforgettable day cruising the Panama Canal, a fifty-one-mile waterway through the rainforest that is one of the world's engineering masterpieces. The ship glides down the canal with inches to spare, through locks that raise and lower it like a toy. Along the way it crosses enormous Gatun Lake, and the amazing Gaillard Cut, blasted out of a solid mountainside.

Manta is the third largest city in Ecuador. The port city boasts some wonderful beaches. The Malecon Escencio is a strip of restaurants and shops right on the water, and attracts many locals and visitors. The local seafood is said to be quite good--and cheap, too. The legendary Panama Hats, locals say, are not actually from Panama, but from Montecristi, a village just 10 minutes away from Manta.

Guayaquil, Ecuador's main Pacific port, was founded in 1535. Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and a major manufacturing center. Guayaquil features a hot climate, diverse ethnic mixture, and beautiful white sand beaches. See the last traces of the city's colonial style in Las Pe'as, where two cannons guard the neighborhood's entrance. Las Pe'as is also home to Guayaquil's oldest church.

Guayaquil, Ecuador's main Pacific port, was founded in 1535. Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and a major manufacturing center. Guayaquil features a hot climate, diverse ethnic mixture, and beautiful white sand beaches. See the last traces of the city's colonial style in Las Pe'as, where two cannons guard the neighborhood's entrance. Las Pe'as is also home to Guayaquil's oldest church.

This is the port for Trujillo, the "Lordly City," whose elegant mansions and churches reflect the aristocracy of the Spanish colonial era. Here you may opt for a thrilling excursion to Chan-Chan, an immense and magnificent enclave that since A.D. 1300 has been the center of the sophisticated Chim culture.

Callao is your port of entry to the glittering, elegant city of Lima, the darling of Peru. Founded by Pizarro and the Conquistadors, the capital city today offers priceless collections ranging from the Museum of Gold to the Museum of Anthropology and Archeology. Pizarro's remains can be found in the Cathedral, built in 1746. From Lima, you can also take a tour to Machu Picchu, the mysterious lost city of the Incas high in the Andes, or to Cuzco, the capital of the Incan Empire.