For nearly 400 years, the Netherlands and France have shared the island known as St. Maarten on the Dutch side and St. Martin on the French. Home to 37 beaches and an array of tropical experiences, the island’s dual cultural profile sets it apart from other Caribbean destinations. Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch side, is a bustling port with a lively waterfront, colorful shopping district, casinos, and restaurants serving international fare. Water sports, like sailing, and rainforest explorations are all within easy reach of its docks.

A narrow waterway separates Guadeloupe’s two largest islands, whose wing-like shapes inspired the nickname – “le papillon,” or butterfly – for this overseas department of France. The busy port town of Pointe-à-Pitre sits on the eastern island of Grande-Terre near the bridges to Basse-Terre, offering easy access to both. Grande-Terre is known for beautiful sandy beaches, the most popular along the reef-sheltered southern coast, and restaurants serving Guadeloupe’s best Creole cuisine. Basse-Terre is forested and mountainous – the active volcano La Grande Soufrière is the tallest peak.

Named for its round harbor, Porto Rotondo is a resort town on the Costa Smeralda. While a little quieter than Porto Cervo to the north, the town is no less beautiful and appealing. Some of the most idyllic beaches in this port are obscured by large boulders, so discovering them is an adventure in itself. The unassuming village behind the port has attractive outdoor cafés, restaurants and clubs situated on a pleasant town square. For a taste of rural Sardinia, visit the nearby town of San Pantaleo. Long a haven for artists and writers, it has a bohemian vibe and a gorgeous setting.

This postcard-perfect destination, with its pastel-colored houses encircling the port, may be one of the most photographed in all of Italy. If you can take your eyes off the scenery, there is much to explore in and around Portofino. The 12th-century Church of St. George and the medieval Castello Brown both afford spectacular views of the harbor. A long, scenic hike or a short boat ride takes you to the restored 11th-century abbey in San Fruttuoso. Northwest of Portofino lies Genoa, filled with museums, palaces and the grand Cathedral of San Lorenzo.

The large island of Corsica rests enticingly between the French Riviera, Sardinia and Tuscany. This French playground has it all – hilltop villages, unspoiled beaches, rugged mountain scenery, dense forests, a dramatic coastline and thousands of years of history. Situated on the island’s western coast, Porto-Vecchio is Corsica’s St. Tropez, a city of luxury yachts, fashion shoots, nightclubs and some of Corsica’s most beautiful beaches. For an entirely different experience, travel inland to the mountainous region with its gorges, rivers and waterfalls.

Progreso boasts the world's longest pier, which juts nearly five miles into the Gulf of Mexico and anchors to the oceanfront amidst a gorgeous beach with a promenade that itself stretches a mile. Standing sentry over it all is the 120-foot Faro de Progreso, an active lighthouse built in 1893. Progreso has a beach-town vibe, and the center is easily explored on foot. At the biological reserve of El Corchito, observe lush flora and fauna and take a dip in one of the Yucatán’s famous cenotes – collapsed caverns that created freshwater swimming holes.

An ecological paradise of unbridled diversity, Costa Rica certainly lives up to its name, which means “rich coast.” The city of Puerto Limón has a few attractions, including the waterfront Parque Vargas and an interesting ethnohistory museum, but most visitors head to one of the many astounding national parks outside the city. A cruise through the canals of Tortuguero National Park offers the chance to observe endangered sea turtles, sloths, monkeys and even jaguars.