15 Days, Round-Trip Miami

Although there are numerous spots on land that invite relaxation and exploration, the Turks and Caicos are really all about the water. More specifically, they're all about what's beneath the water. These islands have some of the best diving and snorkeling anywhere, courtesy of one of the world's largest network of coral reefs, easily accessible off the islands' shores. One reef, aptly called the Wall, is particularly spectacular; it drops 7,000 feet-straight down. Between the shore and the reef, the water is only waist deep, providing a perfect place for beginning snorkelers to get their feet wet.

Charming Cartagena is one of the most fascinating towns in South America. The old city, almost completely surrounded by lagoons, bays and the Caribbean Sea, is still girded by its 17th-century fortifications. Once these guarded the gold and treasures of the New World, bound for Spain; now they shelter ornate churches and convents, the dramatic Palace of the Inquisition, and other historic gems.