18 February

Uruguay: Montevideo

Located just across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires, Uruguay’s underrated capital is a cosmopolitan and eclectic mix of colourful colonial architecture and high rise modernity. The 14-mile waterfront promenade, La Rambla, is a popular and pleasant place to be on a summer’s evening.

19 February

Brazil: Rio Grande

20 February - At sea

21 February

Brazil: Porto Belo

Porto Belo, situated on a peninsula in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, is best known for its superb beaches and calm waters, which offer excellent snorkelling and scuba diving. Just off the coast is the Ilha de Porto Belo nature reserve, where you can hike through beautiful tropical surroundings.

22 February

Brazil: São Francisco do Sul

The southern Brazilian town of São Francisco do Sul sits on the island of the same name, home to a major cargo port as well as some attractive Portuguese colonial architecture. The nearby Acaraí State Park preserves part of the Atlantic forest that once covered this part of Brazil, providing an important habitat for endemic and endangered species.

23 February

Brazil: Paranagua

24 February

Brazil: São Paulo

Served by the busy port of Santos, cosmopolitan São Paulo is a vast metropolis that is home to some 20 million people, making it the third largest city on earth. The urban sprawl may not be to everyone’s taste, but for fans of big city life there is plenty to see and do, with a lively cultural scene and a host of world class restaurants.

25 February

Brazil: Ilhabela

Ilhabela, the aptly named ‘beautiful island’, is swathed in rainforest and fringed by golden beaches. The majority of the island is a protected state park, and walking trails lead you through dense foliage to magical waterfalls, with the chance to spot wildlife including toucans and capuchin monkeys.

26 February

Brazil: Paraty

Paraty is a beautiful colonial town to the west of Rio de Janeiro, surrounded by stunning beaches and set against a backdrop of jungle-covered mountains. The cobbled streets are closed off to traffic, which makes wandering amongst the pretty whitewashed buildings all the more enjoyable.

27 February to 29 February

Brazil: Rio de Janeiro

The carnival capital of the world, Rio de Janeiro needs little introduction. We can think of few cities in the world that are able to compete when it comes to location: hugging the beautiful sandy shore and surrounded by jungle-clad islands and mountains, including the iconic Corcovado, the setting for Brazil’s most vibrant city is simply breathtaking.

1 March - At sea

2 March to 3 March

Brazil: Salvador

Colourful Salvador is Brazil’s third biggest city and a vibrant centre for Afro-Brazilian culture, with frequent festivals that fill the streets with music and dancing. The historic core of the old city is the biggest tourist magnet, where elegant, brightly hued colonial buildings line the cobbled streets.

4 March - At sea

5 March

Brazil: Natal

Natal takes its name from the Portuguese word for Christmas, since the city was founded on Christmas Day in 1599. The local tourist industry is focused mostly on the region’s beautiful beaches, and a buggy ride along the huge sand dunes is a popular activity.

6 March to 7 March - At sea

8 March

Brazil: Belém

Belém lies about 60 miles from the Atlantic coast on the Pará river, part of the vast Amazon delta, and the bustling food markets here are piled high with the bountiful produce of the rainforest. As well as a gateway to the Amazon, Belém is an appealing destination in its own right, with an attractive colonial centre and an imposing fortress.

9 March - At sea

10 March

United States: Isle Royale

11 March - At sea

12 March

Trinidad and Tobago: Scarborough

Scarborough is the capital of Tobago, a sleepy island where tourism remains mostly low key. The town has a few interesting colonial era sights, but we’d recommend exploring Tobago’s natural treasures instead, including stunning reefs, secluded waterfalls and a rainforest reserve that draws birdwatchers from around the globe.

13 March

Arriving in Bridgetown

There’s more to Barbados than just beaches; the delightful architecture of the old garrison in Bridgetown, the capital, is fully deserving of its UNESCO World Heritage status, and the island interior is littered with old sugar plantations and natural wonders such as Harrison’s Cave.