The sleepy fishing village of Portobelo, on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, was once the busiest port in Spanish America, funneling vast quantities of Inca gold back to Europe. Ruined forts still litter the coast, and the legacy of the colonial era also lives on in the Congo people, descendants of African slaves brought here by the Spanish.

The Bocas del Toro archipelago is one of Panama’s most appealing tourist destinations, a collection of idyllic Caribbean islands blessed with beautiful beaches, lush mangroves and wildlife including sloths, iguanas and turtles.

Puerto Limón is a busy port on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, and plays a vital role in the export of bananas. Take a trip out of the city and explore the lush rainforest, with nearby attractions including the canals of Tortuguero National Park, a key breeding site for green turtles.

The island of San Andrés is part of Colombia, though it lies far closer to the coast of Nicaragua than the Colombian mainland. Sunbathing, snorkelling and diving are the main attractions, and the island is also home to the fascinating Raizal culture, an Afro-Caribbean ethnic group that speaks an English creole rather than Spanish.

The Caribbean island of Providencia may belong to Colombia, but its relative inaccessibility and distance from the mainland lends the island its own distinct flavour. Many locals speak an English creole, and tourists are thin on the ground. It’s a great place for diving, snorkelling or relaxing on the beach.

Far more than just an offshore tax haven, Grand Cayman boasts the staggeringly beautiful white sands of Seven Mile Beach and some fantastic snorkelling in crystal clear waters. The capital, George Town, is a compact and friendly place, home to some interesting architecture and a suspiciously large number of registered companies.