Walking through the Zona Colonial, the oldest European settlement in the Americas, I felt as if I had stepped back in time. Cobblestone streets led me past centuries-old churches and colourful colonial buildings, each with its own story etched into the stone.

Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic is synonymous with luxury and relaxation, a premier destination where high-end resorts line the immaculate beaches and largely block the ocean view from the roads.

Tulum is a small town located on the Caribbean coast of Mexico, known for its incredible white sand beaches, luxury hotels, azure waters, and lush green jungles with ancient ruins. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mexico being extremely close to Playa del Carmen, but lacking its lads-on-tour vibe. Tulum is renowned for its ancient Mayan ruins, which are perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean, providing visitors with a breathtaking view.

Picture this: a tiny island, no cars, just sandy roads that are more like paths, really. The kind of place where everyone knows everyone and it’s empty have the year as the tourists head home), and the pace of life is dictated by the gentle ebb and flow of the Caribbean Sea.

An american influenced country masquerading as a British one. Despite the Queen on the money, the plugs are the frail US ones, when you order coffee they’ll ask if you want cream.

Tikal, located in the heart of the Guatemalan rainforest, near the Mexican border, is one of the most significant archaeological sites of the ancient Maya civilization. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a sprawling complex of towering pyramids, grand plazas, and ancient temples, all surrounded by dense jungle teeming with wildlife.

A quaint little island town nestled in the heart of Lake Petén Itzá in Guatemala. It's a place that's as colourful as a painter's palette, with its colonial-style houses dressed in a rainbow of hues. The narrow, winding streets are a photographer's dream, each turn revealing a new snapshot of local life.

Bonampak is an ancient Mayan archaeological site located in the state of Chiapas, Mexico. It is known for its well-preserved murals that depict the lives of the Mayan people and their rituals. The murals are considered one of the greatest achievements of Mayan art and offer valuable insights into Mayan culture and history.

Nestled deep in the heart of the jungle along the banks of the Usumacinta River in the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico, lies the ancient Maya city of Yaxchilan. This remarkable archaeological site boasts stunning examples of Maya art and architecture, including towering temples, ornate palaces, and intricate hieroglyphic inscriptions. Once a thriving political and cultural centre of the Maya civilization, Yaxchilan offers visitors a glimpse into the rich and complex history of the Mayans.

Palenque is situated in the Mexican state of Chiapas, close to the border with Guatemala. It is renowned for its ancient Mayan ruins, which date back to the 7th century. The Palenque archaeological site is one of the most well-preserved examples of Mayan architecture and features several impressive pyramids, temples, and palaces, such as the Temple of the Inscriptions, the Temple of the Sun, and the Temple of the Cross.

The Mayan ruins at Uxmal, located in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, dates back to around 600 AD, was a major ceremonial and administrative centre during the height of the Mayan civilisation.

Chichen Itza is one of the most significant Mayan archaeological sites in Mexico, located in the Yucatan Peninsula. The ruins of the ancient city provide a glimpse into the culture, architecture, and art of the Mayan civilization. The site is home to several impressive structures, including the Temple of Kukulcan, the Observatory, the Ball Court, and many more.

On the north coast of Mexico, Merida is a good-sized town of perhaps 100,000 people. The city is modern enough if follows the US approach of square blocks with one-way systems running between them, making navigation both simple and complex. Of all the towns we visited, Merida is the most ‘normal’ in purpose and atmosphere.

Playa del Carmen is a beautiful coastal town located in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Situated on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, Playa del Carmen boasts stunning beaches, crystal clear waters, and a vibrant nightlife scene. The town is a popular destination for tourists from around the world, offering a range of activities such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and exploring the nearby Mayan ruins.

I’ve visited LA twice. Once in 2010 on a road trip from San Diego to San Francisco (via Yosemite) and once in 2019 to visit family. Both trips were very different experiences for me, but between them, I’ve seen a lot of what LA has to offer.

I spent an evening in Dallas thanks to delays in taking off from Costa Rica.

We then had a 3 hour drive to Puerto Viejo de Talamanca, where we checked into rooms with mosquito netting on the beds before all meeting at an open bar space with wood tables by the small pool.

The alarm at 4:30am signalled the start of one of the main adventure elements of the trip. We would white water raft down the Pacuare river to a lodge in the middle of the jungles of Costa Rica.

We climbed aboard a flat bottomed boat and sailed along the lake toward La Fortuna and the volcano. The lake is dammed at one end and used as a hydroelectric plant which provide 50% of Cost Rica’s power.

After refreshments, it was direct to Montverde, through some incredible terrain, Costa Rica is stunningly verdant and even at higher altitudes there are tall trees and lush grass. The town of Monteverde itself is quite small but well served by shops and restaurants aimed at tourists.