The West
Indies
Synonymous with paradisiacal islands, the
crescent-shaped West Indies archipelago extends over 2,400 km (1,500 mi), from the Gulf of
Mexico to Venezuela. North of the archipelago, the Greater Antilles are made up of large
islands such as Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico and
Jamaica. Cuba and the Dominican Republic alone attract a fair share of vacationers. The
Greater Antilles also encompass the Bahamas, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and the Turks
Islands.
The Lesser Antilles, for their part, are
composed of the Leeward Islands -- so called because they are sheltered from the wind -- and
the Windward Islands, so named because they are exposed to the northeasterly trade winds. A
sailing, tanning and lounging paradise, these islands are now French, now British. From
north to south, the islands of Saint Martin, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Trinidad and
Tobago, and Aruba partly make up this string of islands that separate the Caribbean Sea from
the Atlantic Ocean.Mexico A vast country nestled between the United States and Guatemala,
Mexico features very impressive tourist facilities. The Pacific coast is peppered with
wonderful villages and seaside resorts such as Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta, Manzanillo,
Zihuatanejo, Acapulco and Huatulco.
The Yucatán
peninsula, which juts out into the Gulf of Mexico, abounds in fabulous attractions, starting
with the magnificent Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá. Cancún remains the country's biggest
seaside resort, while Mérida, the largest city on the peninsula, offers a host of activities
at any time of day.Central and South America Central America has been a first-class tourist
destination for some time now. Side by side, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panamá feature a
wealth of sandy beaches, forests and mountains with unhoped-for riches. Moreover, they offer
a wonderful combination of nature and culture. In these modest-sized countries, the ocean
(Atlantic or Pacific) is never more than a few hours' drive away.
The northern part of South America, bathed by the Caribbean Sea or
Atlantic Ocean, also encompasses little sun-drenched paradises. Colombia (Barranquilla, San
Andrés), Venezuela (Barcelona, Isla Margarita) and Brazil (Salvador, Magalhaes) promote
relaxation in delightful natural settings where music, dancing and revelry are part of the
fabric of life.