region

A gateway to the eastern Tropical Pacific, Marina Papagayo is a year-round yachter’s paradise in the Costa Rican province of Guanacaste. Palm-lined beaches and rocky bays define the coast of this water sports and recreation haven. Relax on white sandy beaches or ride on horseback along the black sand beneath the cliffs at Playa Ocotal. Enjoy a boat ride to the wetlands in Palo Verde and visit the old wooden Hacienda El Viejo. This family-owned estate offers a variety of activities from a cultural tour to a rum-m

Costa Rica’s southernmost port town of Golfito is often referred to as the last frontier, and its only city situated within a declared protection area. In a remote and secluded region of the country, it’s an escape from the hustle and bustle of the more popular tourist-filled destinations.

Sitting on Spain’s glorious Costa Blanca, Alicante is the epitome of Mediterranean elegance. Wander along its palm-fringed waterfront promenade; lose yourself in the narrow streets of the old Barrio de la Santa Cruz district; enjoy some well-deserved beach time at San Juan or Almadraba; or climb up to the medieval Castillo de Santa Bárbara, where you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views of the Mediterranean. Peruse the works of Dalí and Picasso in the Museuo de Arte Contemporáneo de Alicante, or learn all about round-the-world yacht-racing at the Museo Volvo Ocean Race.

Towering cliffs, impossibly blue grottoes, bougainvillea-draped villas and undeniably chic residents – the island of Capri is everything you imagine it to be. Spend a happy morning exploring the ruins of the impressive Villa Jovis, which was built by the Emperor Tiberius. The view over the Bay of Naples there is stunning. Surround yourself in dilapidated grandeur at the Art Nouveau Villa Lysis, or bathe in blue light at the famous Grotta Azzurra, where sunlight enters through a small chasm and is refracted through the water.

Beautiful and bold, Istanbul stands astride the continents of Europe and Asia. Start your day with a silky Turkish coffee before making your way to the Byzantine basilica of Haghia Sophia. With its gold mosaics and awe-inspiring dome, this is one of the world’s most beautiful buildings. Follow this with a visit to the Blue Mosque, the grand project of Sultan Ahmet I, and a tour of the harem at the opulent Topkapi Palace. In the afternoon, take a boat trip between Europe and Asia or practice your haggling skills at the colorful Grand Bazaar.

Often referred to as ‘Turkey’s Best Kept Secret’, the windswept island of Bozcaada has a decidedly unhurried vibe. Draped in vineyards and adorned with deserted beaches, it luxuriates in its easy-going Aegean attitude. Spend a contented morning wandering through the cobblestoned streets of the Greek Quarter or climbing up to the port’s enormous medieval castle, which is one of the largest citadels in the Aegean. Watch the fishermen haul in their daily catch, sample the local wines at the Amadeus or Corvus Vineyards, or simply opt for some down-time on a secluded beach.

The volcanic island of St. Vincent offers a diverse array of natural wonders. Waterfalls cascade down cliffs into tranquil pools surrounded by lush green interior. Botanical gardens reveal the island’s history and natural beauty. Hike the Vermont Nature Trail in search of the rare St. Vincent parrot, or head to remote Wallilabou Bay, where scenes from the movie Pirates of the Caribbean were filmed. Hop the ferry to the nearby yachting paradise of Bequia and relax on the golden sands of Princess Margaret Beach, or stay on St.

Kick off your day in this dynamic economic and cultural hub with a shot of Moroccan espresso at a street café before heading to the mighty Mosquée Hassan II. From the street, this enormous mosque – which can house 25,000 worshippers inside and a further 80,000 in its courtyard – appears to float upon the ocean. Alternatively head to Ain Diab to spend a lazy afternoon at a sophisticated beach club. Next, take a stroll along the white-washed lanes of the Old Medina to the downtown district and surround yourself in the magnificence of Mauresque and Art Deco architecture.

Long expanses of golden sand lining crystalline waters welcome visitors to this coastal Caribbean town on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Just offshore from the pristine beaches, colorful coral teems with tropical fish at Banco Chinchorro, a biosphere reserve with a number of shipwreck sites that attract snorkelers and divers alike. Equally enticing is the abundance of ancient Mayan ruins found just inland from Costa Maya.

Sitting in a magnificent location at the end of a promontory with the Cinque Terre coast on one side and the Gulf of Poets (La Spezia) on the other, Porto Venere enjoys the kind of tranquility that its more hectic neighbors can only dream of. And with its pastel-hued tower-houses, picturesque harbor and poetic associations, it’s every bit as enchanting. Spend a morning exploring the rocky terraces of the Grotta di Byron - named because Lord Byron once swam from there to visit the Shelleys in San Terenzo.