Panama Canal Cruise - from Miami - 106335

Miami is a city at the South-East coast of the US state of Florida. The "Coconut Grove" district was the heart of the settlement in 1884. Today, the city is dominated by elegant boutiques and pavement cafés. Often, free street concerts are held in the side streets - usually reggae or jazz music. The city has numerous high-rise buildings, hotel complexes, areas with palm trees, shopping centres, cultural and recreational facilities. Sights include: the Southeast Financial Center - the tallest building in Florida at 55 storeys high; Dade Country Courthouse; Metro Dade Cultural, a cultural centre that houses Miami Dade Main Library; the Centre for Fine Arts and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.

'"Costa Maya" is the newest port on the Mexican peninsula of Yucatán. It is a city rich in cultural and natural resources, where you can experience the legacy of Mayan history, nature and beautiful landscapes first hand. A large number of luxurious shops close to the harbour offer duty-free shopping. There is also a lido with its own waterfall, a spectacular pool and a fantastic bar. Other must-sees include the archaeological areas of Dzibanché and Kohunlich, the Bacalar lagoon and the Caribbean beaches that stretch for miles.

Roatan is the largest island North of Honduras and is part of the Bahia archipelago. For many years it went unnoticed before being rediscovered; it is now considered to be the most beautiful island in the Caribbean. The coral reef is the second-largest in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef. It is easy for snorkellers and divers to reach stunningly beautiful coral gardens in the brightest colours, sponges, coral caves and wrecks shrouded in legend. Crystal clear water and white sandy beaches are perfect for splashing about and just relaxing. The largest towns on Roatan are the capital Coxen Hole and the port, French Harbor. Oak Ridge is home to the diving hotel Reef House and the diving station of the same name. The town is split in two by a waterway and the houses are built on stilts.

Ocho Rios is one of the most important holiday cities and the most important cruise harbour in Jamaica. Every year, around 300 cruise ships dock here with almost 450,000 passengers. A broad range of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and a seemingly unending range of watersports and excursions mean all your recreational needs will be covered. Along the Main Street there are various shopping centres selling tax-free branded goods.

Puerto Limon is the port and capital of the province of Limon at the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica and the most important Atlantic port for the export of bananas and coffee. The busy town centre is dominated by a multicultural atmosphere. The main attractions include Vargas Park, where there are lots of Banyan trees in which you can sometimes see up to thirteen sloths snoozing!

Cartagena was founded in 1533 by Pedro de Heredias, a Spaniard and companion of Columbus, as a naval port. The historic old town and the harbour are listed and have been a World Heritage Site since 1984. Due to the flourishing trade in gold from Peru, silver from Bolivia and emeralds from Muzo, the city developed quickly and magnificently. Today, mainly oil coffee and platinum are exported and the city has been able to make a name for itself as one of the most beautiful colonial cities of South America. Sights include: the Gold Museum, the cathedral dating from the 16th/17th century and the San Felipe de Barajas fort with its amazing system of tunnels.

Colón is the capital of Colón province and the second-largest city in Panama. As a free-trade area, Colón is an important economic site. The cathedral and the statue-lined promenade, known as "Paseo Centenario", are well worth seeing.

In the middle of Central America lies the tropical region of the Panama Canal with its lush vegetation and rainforests. The Panama Canal is a technical masterpiece and one of the most important waterways in the world. It takes just a day to travel along the canal, but visitors are sure to remember the trip for many a long year.