Latin American, The Caribbean and West Indies

This part of the world is, quite simply, a tropical paradise with luxuriant rainforest, emerald lagoons, thermal springs, dramatic volcanoes and palm-fringed white sandy beaches. There's a wealth of bird and wildlife too: from iguanas and quetzals to agoutis and spider monkeys swinging through the trees. Costa Rica, in particular, is famous for its variety of tree frogs. From the golden-eyed leaf frog to the blue jeans dart frog, their bright colours stand out against the emerald back drop of the rainforest. You'll also find animals here that have evolved nowhere else in the world, such as the paca, a sort of Latin American type of guinea pig!

The French and English battled over ownership of the French Caribbean for years, and you'll come across remains of look-out points and Napoleonic forts scattered across the islands. Our walking tours on Guadeloupe, St Lucia and Dominica are the best way to experience the real essence of the countryside. It's not unusual to see residents here baking fresh baguettes to accompany their morning coffee, and the French influence is evident in the high quality cuisine throughout. Yet the joie de vivre could not be more Caribbean as locals enjoy a rum punch under the swaying palms, or chatter animatedly to each other in the colourful markets.