Ultra Luxury Caribbean to South America

Days at sea are the perfect opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you’ve been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale-watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shoreside.

Bonaire’s small, tidy capital city (population 3,000) is five minutes from the airport. The main drag, J.A. Abraham Boulevard, turns into Kaya Grandi in the center of town. Along it are most of the island’s major stores, boutiques, and restaurants. Across Kaya Grandi, opposite the Littman’s jewelry store, is Kaya L.D. Gerharts, with several small supermarkets, a handful of snack shops, and some of the better restaurants. Walk down the narrow waterfront avenue called Kaya C.E.B. Hellmund, which leads straight to the North and South piers. In the center of town, the Harborside Mall has chic boutiques. Along this route is Ft. Oranje, with its cannons. From December through April, cruise ships dock in the harbor once or twice a week. The diminutive ocher-and-white structure that looks like a tiny Greek temple is the produce market, where one can find plenty of fresh produce brought over from Venezuela. Pick up the brochure Walking and Shopping in Kralendijk from the tourist office to get a map and complete list of all the monuments and sights in the town.

Bright and brilliant colors coat the waterfront buildings of Willemstad, gleaming attractively below the generous Caribbean sun. The capital of the Caribbean island Curacao, Willemstad is famous for its technicolor UNESCO World Heritage Site city center, and a narrow channel connects the sea with the Schottegat harbor, which expands inland like a blooming flower. Settled by the Dutch in the 1630s, they brought colorful architecture, lavish red-roofed mansions, and gorgeous European-style waterfront buildings to this beautiful Caribbean island. Watching over the entrance to this luxurious port is Rif Fort – a 19th-century fortress, which looms above the Sint Anna Bay channel. From here, wind your way to the Queen Emma Bridge – a pontoon bridge known as the Swinging Old Lady, which was built in 1888 to connect Otrobanda and Punda. Enjoy the wonderful views of Willemstad’s lavish, pastel-colored Punda waterfront set before you. Visit the small boats that pull up side by side to sell juicy fruits and vegetables, in a floating market on the waters below. At sunset, the gingerbread stretch bathes in lights, glowing evocatively as the last of the evening’s light ebbs away. Wander Willemstad to discover the lemon-shaded Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue, said to be the oldest synagogue in the Americas, see the historic liqueur distillery, or head for Queen Wilhelmina Park – where the letters ‘DUSHI’ are spelled out in a standing sign. You’ll hear this word a lot – the island’s favorite way of describing the little things that make life worth living. The beaches of Curacao are certainly ‘dushi’, with tempting sandy curves on practically every corner. Snorkel in the turquoise waves, among dashing fish life and sleek sea turtles.

Stroll multi-colored Oranjestad – the capital of enchanting Aruba – and feel the sun’s bronzing kiss, on the shores of one of the sunniest islands in the Caribbean. Settle in for a day on the beach, to relish the stunning weather on some of the region’s finest shores – where white sands glow, gentle waves sparkle, and knotted divi divi trees lean. Offering sensational diving and snorkeling, you can swim in the shallow, warm waters, or head out on a catamaran or submarine to investigate further and deeper. If you can drag yourself away from the sparkling beaches and glowing turquoise waters, venture inland towards Bushiribana Gold Mill Ruins, which lie on the route to Aruba Natural Bridge. The vast natural arch collapsed in 2005, but the picturesque Baby Bridge remains and is the main attraction of this scenic spot. The island takes its form from the looming, 165-meter-high volcanic hill called Hooiberg – named after the Dutch for “haystack”. The volcano’s cone is omnipresent as you traverse the island, and if you’re up for a challenge, you can take the wheezy rise up the 650 steps to the lookout. You’ll climb among sunbathing iguanas, and reaching cacti, to views that unravel as far as Venezuela’s coastline on clear days. Visit the island’s farms of butterflies and ostriches or explore Oranjestad’s Spanish and Dutch flavors. Pick out bargains from the fancy shops of the colorful boutique-lined lanes or choose from local makers selling hand-crafted wares. The multicultural blend extends to the cuisine that’s cooked up, with a tantalizing fusion of the best of Dutch, Asian, and Caribbean flavors.

Trek to lost cities, explore dense jungles and dive into the coral reefs of peaceful Caribbean coves. Colombia’s Santa Marta embraces a gorgeous natural setting, nestled between the Caribbean’s warm waters and the mighty Sierra Nevada mountains. The city is rich in history as the first Spanish settlement in Colombia, and it has been home to many indigenous ethnic groups. Santa Marta’s streets exude a sense of breezy Caribbean colonial charm. Wander along cobblestone paths bursting with character and colorful facades, or seek out the tomb of Simon Bolivar – the liberator of Venezuela – at Catedral de Santa Marta. Away from the buzz, you’ll find the glorious golden sands of Tayrona National Natural Park, adorned with exquisite tranquil coves and verdant jungles. Here, 300 bird species sing and strut, alongside howler monkeys, jaguars, and iguanas. The dense canopy near Santa Marta conceals many secrets, but few can rival the mystique of the Lost City. Rediscovered and unearthed from the tangled grip of the jungle just a few decades ago, the Lost City is a multi-tiered archaeological wonder that predates Machu Picchu and offers no less of a dramatic and astonishing encounter.

Following breakfast on your final day, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home to Ireland.

Get your sunglasses ready, because Cartagena is a riot of color, charisma, and Caribbean charm. The best way of seeing the city is on foot and soaking up the uniquely South American atmosphere. Stroll through the jumble of cobbled streets, step back in time, and enjoy one of the Caribbean’s loveliest destinations. Cartagena was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984 as a shining example of an extensive and complete system of military fortifications in South America. The city’s strategic location, on a secluded bay facing the Caribbean Sea, meant that it was an essential stop from Europe to the West Indies during the time of commercial and naval exploration. Traces of this era are still to be found on the walls of several of the beautiful buildings lining the streets of the old town. The magnificent city is a walled fortress that stretches for 11 kilometers, dating from 1533, and once played host to Sir Francis Drake, who passed through in 1586 (and set fire to 200 buildings during his visit). Despite its 16th-century roots, Cartagena today is a modern and glorious riot of color. Fuchsia pink bougainvillea tumbles down from turquoise-painted balconies, while well-preserved colonial buildings painted in vibrant colors line the streets. Take shelter from the heat and enjoy the sensual atmosphere that is so exclusively Colombian by grabbing a seat in a local bar, ordering a plate of Empanadas, and enjoying a Guaro- the colloquial name for aguardiente – the country’s national spirit.