Hot mud, cool jazz, and the pursuit of the speedy bonefish

1 Diving in BelizeDive Belize's famed Great Blue Hole, on a tailor-made beginner's course with Dive Worldwide (tel: 01243 870618). Spend maximum time below sea level with a 10-day trip that has you doing the theory before you depart for your holiday. Textbook lessons are sent over to the UK from the Caribbean, and on arrival in Belize, at the offshore island of Ambergris Cays, there is a further two days of tuition, one spent in the pool, to get you used to the equipment and to breathing underwater. Then it's out into the open water until you qualify for your PADI Open Water certificate. The price is £1,895 per person, based on two sharing, and includes return flights (via Miami or New York to Belize City, with American Airlines) air transfers to Ambergris Cays, three and half star b&b hotel accommodation, tuition, equipment and an additional four days of two-tank diving.

1 Diving in BelizeDive Belize's famed Great Blue Hole, on a tailor-made beginner's course with Dive Worldwide (tel: 01243 870618). Spend maximum time below sea level with a 10-day trip that has you doing the theory before you depart for your holiday. Textbook lessons are sent over to the UK from the Caribbean, and on arrival in Belize, at the offshore island of Ambergris Cays, there is a further two days of tuition, one spent in the pool, to get you used to the equipment and to breathing underwater. Then it's out into the open water until you qualify for your PADI Open Water certificate. The price is £1,895 per person, based on two sharing, and includes return flights (via Miami or New York to Belize City, with American Airlines) air transfers to Ambergris Cays, three and half star b&b hotel accommodation, tuition, equipment and an additional four days of two-tank diving.

2 Sailing around the VirginsTake to the waters in the British Virgin Islands on a seven-day cruise starting from Tortola, moving on to Peter Island for an afternoon's snorkelling, then on to the fabulous white sand beaches of Salt Island for three days before casting off north for Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Norman Island. This itinerary is ideal for those after short sailing passages with lots of time available on each of the islands, but various itineraries are available and tailor-made routes can be drawn up. Caribbean Connection (tel: 01244 355300) offers 63ft-yacht charters, for seven days from £ 1,825 per person (based on six sharing). This price includes half-board cabin accommodation, skipper, hostess, return international flights and domestic air transfers.

3 Exotic twitchersTake an exotic bird-watching break to Trinidad and Tobago with Wildlife Worldwide (tel: 020 8667 9158). A 14-day guided Bird Watching and Natural History trip would be based in the ASA Wright Nature Centre, in Trinidad. Then it's on to explore the seabirds and underwater life in the neighbouring islands of Tobago and Little Tobago. Although this is an all-year-round destination, the ideal time to travel is between March and May when it's the peak for nesting activity. The price per person, based on two sharing is £1,995 and includes return flights, transfers, accommodation, all meals, and expert local and accompanying guides.

4 Desert island spaThose seeking "a balance of spiritual and physical renewal" should head for Parrot Cay Island in the Turks and Caicos. This 1,000-acre island was uninhabited for seven years prior to Mr and Mrs BS Ong (owners of London's Metropolitan and Halkin hotels) dropping anchor there in order to set up their exclusive Shambhala spa. Caribbean Connection (tel: 01244 355300) offers seven nights' full board in a deluxe garden room from £2,395 per person, based on twin share. This price is based on departures in October and includes return flights from the UK (from Gatwick/Heathrow) via Miami to Providenciales then a 20-minute boat transfer to Parrot Cay.

5 Luxury eco-resortStay at the Ladera Hotel, in St Lucia, where all the rooms are built into the mountains and one wall is left open, allowing guests to enjoy the smells, sights and sounds of the tropics even as they sleep. The price for a seven-night stay, is £1,075 per person and includes b&b in a suite, return flights and transfers. Elegant Resorts (tel: 0870 3333393)

6 CubaExplore Cuba off the beaten track on a 19-day tour with Journey Latin America (tel: 020 8747 8315; www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk). Using a mixture of public transport to get around (buses, trains, trucks) this trip visits the cities of Havana, Trinidad, and Santiago, as well as taking in lesser known destinations such as Santa Clara, where Che Guevara is buried. The trip then moves down to the Sierra Maestra for hiking, before finishing up in the beautiful coastal town of Baracoa. The price is £1,297 per person, and includes a JLA tour leader, all land transport, excursions and international flights. Accommodation and food is extra, arranged locally, and there is the chance to stay in casas particulares (home stays) in Trinidad and Santiago.

7 St Lucia jazzOne of the biggest musical events in the eastern Caribbean, the St Lucia Jazz festival attracts such greats as Gladys Knight, Randy Crawford, Mary J Blige and Herbie Hancock, culminating in a two-day outdoor festival on Pigeon Island. The week-long festival takes place in early May and Sovereign Worldwide (tel: 08706 070770) is offering a seven-night break at the four-star Windjammer Landing Hotel for £845 per person, based on two sharing, including room-only accommodation, and return charter flights and transfers. Tickets for the festival can be pre-booked with the St Lucia Tourist Board (tel: 020 7431 3675).

8 WalkingWalk the Andean and Caribbean trails with Dragoman (tel: 01728 861133) on an 18-night trip through Colombia and Ecuador. Departing from the colonial coastal city of Catagena, travel to the Islas del Rosario to the Rivera mud volcanoes, then on to the beaches, jungles and ruins of the Tirona National Park, before moving on to the Inca museums of Bogota, horse riding in the Valley of the Statues, finishing up in Quito. The price, per person, based on two sharing, is £530 which includes a mixture of camping and hotel accommodation (40 per cent camping and 60 per cent hotel; and all meals while camping), all ground transport and guides. There is an additional kitty charge of $190 (£130) per person. International flights are not included but can be arranged.

9 CruiseBritish Airways Holidays (tel: 0870 2424 245) offers cruises aboard the Royal Clipper (the newest vessel to join the Star Clipper fleet) including the seven-night Grenadines Discovery which departs from Barbados, taking in Martinique, St Lucia, Bequia, Tobago, Grenada and the Grenadines before heading back to Barbados. The price is £1,749 per person, based on two sharing, and includes four-star, full-board cabin accommodation, as well as return flights and transfers. Additional island stays can be arranged, for example on Barbados, the three-star Sea Breeze hotel is available for £35 per person, per night on a b&b basis.

10 CarnivalThe biggest - and some say best - Caribbean carnival celebration takes place in Trinidad, starting two days before Ash Wednesday. Hayes & Jarvis (tel: 0870 8989890) offers a seven-night package to join in with the steel bands and revelry, for £899 per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, transfers, room-only accommodation at the Trinidad Hilton. Another option, for those who want to get away from the mayhem at the end of the day, would be to stay in Tobago (at the Tropikist Hotel, on a room-only seven-night package, including return flights and transfers, for £569 per person, based on two sharing) and take a pre-booked day-trip to Trinidad for £159 per person (including air travel, grandstand tickets, lunch and a guide).

11 BonefishingAndros Island is known as the bonefishing capital of the world, offering tropical water salt flats (where bonefish reside) which are second to none. Bonefish are one of the world's fastest fish caught for sport (travelling an average of 22.5 mph) and live in clear shallow waters taht are open to stalking and fly-fishing. Andros Island is the least developed and largest island in the Bahamas, offering a real back-to-nature experience and is also home to one of the longest-running diving centres in the Caribbean. Discover the Bahamas (tel: 01737 218800) can arrange a seven-night all-inclusive package for £1,199 per person, based on two sharing. Bonefishing is charged at local prices: a half day's fishing would come to about $200 (£140) and a full day $325. Both prices include up to two people fishing plus a local guide, boat, gear and packed lunch for the full-day trip.

12 Whale watchingPopular with eco-friendly visitors - such as hikers, botanists and birdwatchers - the once-British territory of Dominica, otherwise known as "Nature Island", is the best place in Caribbean for whale watching. Complete Caribbean (tel: 01423 531031) offers a seven-night holiday, at the Fort Young Hotel, with room-only accommodation, return flights and transfers from £894 per person, based on two sharing. Whale watching excursions are priced locally (excursions from $50 -£35 - per person for a half-day catamaran whale and dolphin safari) and for those that depart in November there is the added advantage of arriving for Creole Day celebrations (3 November) when street festivals take place all over the island.

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