Dive right into adventure in the underwater caverns of Cozumel’s Chankanaab eco-park — home to dolphins, manatees, and sea turtles. Then set sail for Isla Mujeres to wander the Mayan Temple of El Meco and Hacienda Mundaca ruins. On Grand Cayman, experience Stingray City, where you can feed and touch these mystical creatures. Explore Cayman Brac’s island-long bluff with caves, secluded beaches, and lush forests, and visit the marine life of Reach Falls from Port Antonio, Jamaica. Stroll the Caribbean’s oldest city and largest botanical garden in Santo Domingo, and discover white-sand beaches ringed by coral reefs on Isla Catalina. In Virgin Gorda, swim in the underground “Baths,” and sample Dutch and French culture in St. Maarten. Barbuda brings its signature pink sand while Roseau offers snorkeling in the bubbly waters of Champagne Beach. On Pigeon Island take in the Pitons volcanic peaks and discover the distinctive French charm of Les Saintes with an underwater world that’s attracted the likes of Jacques Cousteau. Visit Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park in lovely Basseterre and the chic island of St. Barts (look for celebrities). Return to St. Maarten, the Cuisine Capital of the Caribbean, for one last treat before you say au revoir.

The Mesamerican Barrier Reef spans 14 miles around the Mexican island of Cozumel and the impressive marine diversity here makes it an excellent place for snorkeling and diving. Chankanaab, an eco-park surrounding a lagoon offers underwater caverns that are home to dolphins, manatees and sea turtles.  Or take a ferry ride over to the mainland to explore the beaches of Playa del Carmen.

The largest of the Cayman Islands, Grand Cayman is known for its beautiful beaches and coral reefs. Seven Mile Beach, for one is a long stretch of white sand, calm turquoise waters and shops and restaurants. Stingray City is the most popular attraction where the stingrays can be touched, fed and even held. The island has one cross-country walking path, the Mastic Trail and horseback riding on the beach may be the best way to experience the beauty of this place.

On tiny Cayman Brac, The Bluff, a limestone cliff running the length of the island contains numerous caves including the Bat Cave. It is a nature lover’s dream of lovely secluded beaches and lush green forests. Birdwatchers can search for endangered parrots, brown boobies and peregrine falcons or see the parrots at the Parrot Reserve. The hiking trails that crisscross the island lead to historic sites, reptilian habitats and unusual flora.

Known as the gateway to the nearby Reach Falls, with its series of cascades tumbling from pool to pool, John Crow Mountains and tropical jungles, Port Antonio is a delightful hodgepodge of markets, street vendors, greenery, beaches and Georgian architecture. Experience the fun of taking a bamboo raft down the Rio River and don’t miss the world famous bottomless Blue Lagoon.

La Capital, as Santo Domingo is affectionately known, is a UNESCO site and one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean, with Zona Colonial buildings dating back to the 1500s. Santo Domingo is also considered the most modern metropolis in the Caribbean doing a great job of converging old and new.  At the heart of the Zona Colonial, a pedestrian-friendly maze of cobblestones and interesting architecture is the first cathedral built in the New World. Find time to sample the aromatic coffee and cacao.

La Romana has something for every outdoor lover. White-sand beaches, pristine coral reefs, shallow and extreme depth waters teeming with marine life, fields of sugar cane, and cave-riddled forests where Taino rock art and fresh-water springs can be found. It is also home to the renowned Casa de Campo Resort with its award-winning golf course and 16^th century Altos de Chavon, an amazing replica of a Mediterranean village.

For an island comprised of a mere eight square miles, it’s amazing how much there is to do on Jost Van Dyke. Visit the national park on nearby Diamond Cay, snorkel among swaying sponges and angelfish at Sandy Spit, or pilot your own boat around Sir Francis  Drake Waterway. After all that, you’ll be ready for an evening drink on the beach — where you can admire your Windstar ship aglow in the harbor.

The  beautiful Bank Barrier coral reef wavers just beneath you as your ship makes the break to the bird sanctuary of Prickly Pear Island, so named because it is dotted with prickly pear cacti. Althought uninhabited, it does have a beach bar and water sports facilities. Not far away lies the curious assembly of house-sized boulders called “The Baths,” which form huge underground pools and caverns

Pastel-colored buildings and shops filled with tempting souvenirs herald your arrival to bustling Philipsburg. Situated near the harbor on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, Philipsburg owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus in 1493. Today, celebrated Front Street is home to a number of local Creole restaurants as well as jewelry stores, stylish boutiques, and lively casinos for visitors seeking an upbeat island experience.

This capital of Nevis with its narrow streets and brightly painted Victorian and Georgian stone buildings is full of colonial history. Alexander Hamilton lived here as a child and you can see the ruins of the Hamilton Estate. Lovely Pinney’s Beach is nearby and a group of volunteers work at night tagging sea turtles here and on the other beautiful beaches. Walk the main street and check out the Museum of Nevis History, St. Thomas Lowland Church and the Nevisian Heritage Village to name a few of the historic sites here.

Get ready for a full day with plenty to do. Snorkel alongside brilliant parrot fish in the bubbly waters of Champagne Beach. Take a break to enjoy more than 150 species of plants and brilliant red-necked Jaco parrots at the botanical gardens. If you’re up for an optional hike, don’t miss Boiling Lake and the Valley of Desolation at Dominica’s Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The UNESCO site Pitons’ with their two majestic volcanic peaks and 24 miles of vibrant coral reef welcome you to St. Lucia. Nearby Pigeon Island National Park features impressive ruins of English forts, archaeological relics of Arawak Indians, and splendid beaches.

This is the Caribbean as you’ve always imagined it, with yacht-filled harbors set against volcanic mountains and endless stretches of palm-fringed beach. The underwater world here attracted the likes of Jacques Cousteau, but even novice snorkelers will enjoy exploring these impossibly blue waters.

Affectionately known as St. Barts, the Caribbean’s most chic island adds a French flair to Riviera-like beaches and duty-free boutiques. Walk past gingerbread cottages in search of celebrities, shop for designer fashions, or sip the island’s signature ti punch as kite surfers fly by.

With Georgian architecture situated against an irresistible backdrop of emerald green hills, Basseterre is one of the loveliest of the Caribbean’s small capitals. Beyond town, more than a quarter of St. Kitts has been set aside as Brimstone Hill Fortress national Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pastel-colored buildings and shops filled with tempting souvenirs herald your arrival to bustling Philipsburg. Situated near the harbor on the Dutch side of St. Maarten, Philipsburg owes its discovery to Christopher Columbus in 1493. Today, celebrated Front Street is home to a number of local Creole restaurants as well as jewelry stores, stylish boutiques, and lively casinos for visitors seeking an upbeat island experience.