Perched on the banks of the dreamy Lácar Lake, San Martin de los Andes is a Patagonian paradise. Birdwatchers flock and flutter to the annual South American Bird Fair, while thrill seekers love to kayak, ski, or mountain bike along the gorgeous landscape. Arts and crafts shops and artisan food producers will delight visitors that love a sensory sampling of local cultures.

Crystal clear waters beckon from the south part of this tranquil Caribbean islet, a hundred miles south of Havana and known for its17 miles of stunning white sand beaches, mangrove forests and scuba diving to the black coral reef. The largest of the 300 keys and islets in Los Canarreos Archipelago, waters in the north are much cloudier. Cayo Largo also offers excellent deep sea fishing. Rent a jeep to explore the islet’s few roads and paths or trot across coral sand beaches on horseback.

The industrial city of Monterrey is reigned over by the mighty Cerro de Silla, a mountain that galvanizes adventurers with its steep hiking trails. Within the city, an 18th-century neighbourhood impresses with its architecture and harbours what’s hailed as Mexico’s most beautiful bookshop.