Audley in the CaribbeanWhilst the Atlantic and Caribbean coasts of mainland South America offer the visitorsome wonderful beaches, particularly inBrazil, Venezuela and Colombia, the longPacific coast does not have much, if anything,in the way of places to relax with more-or-less guaranteed sunshine and warm seas.Time in the Caribbean is therefore oftenconsidered for rest and relaxation after a triparound South America.We do not offer a full range ofaccommodation and excursions in theCaribbean. We also do not specialise in twoweek beach packages to the islands featuredon these pages. Most of our clients chooseto travel to the Caribbean as an extension totheir South America trip. This is where wecome in as we are able to make use of awide range of airlines to enable convenientconnections to your chosen island.PracticalitiesFlight connections between South Americaand the Caribbean are continually improving, although it is not always as easy as one might expect given their closeproximities. There are very few direct flights between destinations but there areconvenient connections via Central Americaand the USA. Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Trinidad andTobago lie outside of the Caribbeanhurricane belt and are thus all year-rounddestinations, whereas all other islands tend to be best avoided during hurricane seasonfrom August to October.Find out more The Caribbean islands featured on thesepages are best combined with trips to Peru, Ecuador & the Galapagos, Colombia,Venezuela and Guyana. For information onthese destinations please consult the relevant pages of this brochure. Ourspecialists for these countries will be bestplaced to make plans for your Caribbeanextension.Other Caribbean islandsAll the islands mentioned have been chosen dueto their flight links with South America. Close tothe coast of Venezuela are the colourful and laid-back islands of Trinidad and Tobago, where thereare many picturesque bays, fabulous beaches, anda year-round carnival atmosphere. Barbados offersluxurious hotels and high quality restaurantsalongside coral sand beaches and warm turquoisewaters. St Lucia's reputation as the Caribbean'smost scenic island is well-founded, it has a lushtropical landscape, turquoise bays and soaringvolcanic peaks along with pristine white beachesin the north and black volcanic sands in the south.Dominica is regarded as one of the most unspoiltislands in terms of its natural beauty with tropicalforests and coral reefs teeming with marine life,not to be confused with the Dominican Republicwhich offers good hotels, nightlife and pearlywhite beaches. Finally the many islands of theBahamas, lying close to the Florida coast, offerstunning beaches and a wide variety ofaccommodation options.Aruba, Bonaire & CuraçaoAruba, Bonaire and Curaçao are the major islandsthat make up the archipelago formerly known asthe Dutch Antilles. All offer year round sunshineand good beaches, mixed with a charm thatcomes from their melting pot heritage ofindigenous inhabitants, Dutch colonialists andAfrican slaves. Bonaire is currently the most easily accessibleisland for visitors to South America as it is a stopover on KLM transatlantic flights toEcuador. It has a consistently warm climate withtemperatures averaging 28C year round, there islittle rainfall and humidity is low. As well as a greatplace to relax on a beach and do nothing, Bonaireis a good destination for scuba diving andsnorkelling. The clear waters off the island's coasthave been declared a marine park, preserving thereefs in pristine condition, and colourful marinelife is abundant. Should airline schedules changethen we can recommend hotels and excursionsavailable on either Aruba, or on Curaçao, whichperhaps has the most colonial charm.Caribbean55Willemstad, CuraçaoFishing boats, St LuciaBonaire

56Central America, Mexico & CubaCopper Canyon, MexicoTake a train journey deep intothis remote and wild part of the country.Oaxaca, MexicoA charming colonial city, andnearby are ancient ruins, Indiancultures and dramatic scenery.21Lake Atitlán, GuatemalaWith a backdrop of threetowering volcanoes, the lakeviews are breathtaking and theshores are dotted with traditional, colourful villages.Tikal, GuatemalaFascinating Mayan ruins in astunning jungle setting.3412345678910Central America, Mexico and Cuba -a fascinating region ofbreathtaking landscapes, spectacularwildlife, steamy jungles, turquoisewaters lapping against white sandbeaches and pristine coral reefs.Throw in ancient ruins entwined intropical forests, crumbling colonialarchitecture, traditional indigenousmarkets and a relentless passion formusic then you have a region thatoffers something for everyone. Thesecountries are all linked to some degreeby their histories, but each has forgedits own distinct identity making this part of the world a colourful and unique destination. We have adedicated brochure and team ofspecialists that cover this region indepth either as an accompaniment toyour South America adventure or asa trip within its own right.Keel-billed toucan, Costa RicaThe Atolls, BelizeThe world's second longestbarrier reef is teeming withmarine life.Arenal Volcano, Costa RicaThe region's most active volcano,and a place to go zip-lining andenjoy canopy walkways.Osa Peninsula, Costa RicaA tranquil and remote part ofthe country with spectacularopportunities for wildlife viewing.San Blas Islands, PanamaThis idyllic group of over 400 palm-fringed islands is self-governed by the Kuna Indians who uphold an intriguingcultural tradition.Panama Canal, PanamaAn incredible feat of engineering.Watch the ships squeeze throughfrom one ocean to another.Havana, CubaThe capital city and pulsating,vibrant heart of the island.5610987