From the Caribbean to the Amazon

San Juan is a city of white-sand beaches, lush rainforests and inspiring Spanish colonial architecture. Compact and elegantly planned, Old San Juan spans the centuries. El Morro fortress has been standing watch over San Juan Bay since the 16th century and its formidable cannons peer out to sea. The streets of the centuries-old UNESCO World Heritage Site are paved with steel-blue adoquín stone, used to ballast the Spanish galleons that brought settlers here. These colorful, narrow byways lead to picturesque multihued facades and townhouses with neoclassical balconies.

Throughout San Juan, there is evidence of the city’s Spanish influence. Centuries-old, two-story houses line the streets of the Old Town, many of them brightly hued with pastel facades. Some of the city’s most historic structures have been transformed into cultural venues. In the stately Ballajá Barracks, built to house troops in the mid-1800s, the Museum of the Americas chronicles the region’s heritage. The metallic-blue 16th-century La Fortaleza, once a defensive citadel, is the oldest continually used executive mansion in the Americas, today home to the city’s governor.

Sail through turquoise waters where legends of marauding pirates, swashbucklers and tales of hidden treasures were born.

Barbados is rich in British history and spectacular sandy beaches. Home to the Commonwealth’s third-oldest parliament, Barbados is often called “Little England” for its lasting British influence. Bajans, as islanders are known, exude a hearty love of their small island country and delight in sharing its culture. Cricket matches and afternoon tea are as common here as surfing and sunning on the beach with family and friends. And a bottle of the island’s native Mount Gay Rum, accompanied by a conkie, a pumpkin-coconut cake steamed in banana leaves, are never far out of reach.

Sail the Atlantic Ocean, divided in half, north to south, by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Longer than the Rockies, the Himalayas and the Andes combined, this underwater mountain range is the longest on Earth.

The three Îles du Salut, or Islands of Salvation, were a much-feared penal colony for the most notorious French criminals. Together, they provide a glimpse of a fascinating slice of French history. Devil’s Island is small enough to be explored independently. The prison system was opened in 1852 and became notorious for its harsh treatment of inmates. Captain Alfred Dreyfus was sent here in 1895, accused of treason and later exonerated, and Henri Charrière was among the few to escape. Charrière told his story in a memoir, Papillon , which was later adapted into a film.

Sail legendary waters, where medieval Europeans believed “there be dragons” beyond the ocean’s horizon.

The largest river in the world by volume, the Amazon feeds the world’s largest and densest rainforest, known as “the lungs of the world” for the oxygen it produces. Near the mouth, the Amazon has been called the “river sea” for its vast width, the accumulated waters of more than 1,000 tributaries. In this breathtaking river, one of nature’s most fascinating natural phenomena unfolds: the Meeting of the Waters, where the dark waters of the Black River run side by side along the brown waters of the Amazon.

Santarém lies at the confluence of the Tapajós and Amazon Rivers. The Tapajós River’s crystalline waters host inviting beaches that have earned it the nickname “the Caribbean in Brazil.” Bathers on these freshwater sands are likely to see families plying the waters in small boats, as most nearby villages can be reached only by river. Santarém’s religious center is the stunning Cathedral of Our Lady of Conception, a colonial gem topped with two graceful towers. Its vibrant market overflows with produce from the surrounding countryside, handicrafts and local wares.

Parintins sits on Tupinambarana, a group of four adjacent islands surrounded by a convergence of four rivers. Their endless surging current divided the once singular island into four. The sleepy town centers around its Square of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, home to the eponymous church and a thriving market. But it is perhaps best known for its folk theatrical tradition known as Boi Bumbá. This extravagant performance, part of an annual folklore festival held each June, is Brazil’s largest celebration after Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

Manaus is the most populous city in the Amazon basin. Its prosperity from the rubber trade earned it a reputation as the “Paris of the Amazon,” with elegant buildings, gracious avenues and colorful facades still visible in the Old Town. The Amazon Theater, constructed when demand for rubber was at its height, boasts a striking tiled dome and rich European influences. The Rio Negro Palace, once home to an eccentric rubber baron, is a vibrant cultural center. By boat, the Meeting of the Waters can be seen, where the Black River and the sand-colored Amazon run side by side.

European-flavored Manaus is one of Brazil’s largest cities. Its remote situation in the Amazon rainforest is so isolated, the unique culture of native Brazilian tribes has been largely preserved. Nowhere is this more visible than in the historic markets. Behind the pink and yellow facade of the Mercado Municipal, inspired by the famed Les Halles in Paris, a wide array of colorful tribal handicrafts can be found alongside medicinal plants and locally grown produce. But the market’s main attraction is the bustling fish market overflowing with freshly caught Amazon species.

Set sail into the mouth of the mighty Amazon River. The Amazon is largest river in the world by volume and feeds its famed rainforest, know as “the lungs of the world.”

Set sail into the mouth of the mighty Amazon River. The Amazon is largest river in the world by volume and feeds its famed rainforest, know as “the lungs of the world.”

Hugging the mouth of the Amazon, bustling Belém is known for the many mango trees that grace its boulevards and parks. Fascinating vestiges of Portugal line its streets, rich with architecture and intricately painted azulejo tiles inspired by the elegant designs of 17th-century Lisbon. The waterfront Ver-o-Peso market, the largest open market in Latin America, brims with all manner of local goods, from fruits to medicinal plants. Ice cream flavored with cupuaçu fruit juice is the perfect accompaniment to an exploration of Belém.