3 DAYS
Cartagena, a gorgeous fishing village on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, has excellent beaches, a historic old town (that’s entirely walkable) and beautiful colonial architecture. It’s also one of the safest places in the country, so it’s no wonder it’s a popular port of call for cruise ships. Need a break from exploring the cobblestone streets? Stop at an outdoor cafe for excellent pastries and people-watching
2 DAYS
Best known for its miles of sandy beaches, there is in fact some 20 km (12 mi) of sandy ocean beach in the Qualicum Beach and Parksville area of Central Vancouver Island. The low tides and warm waters are ideal for paddling and beachcombing.
2 DAYS
Parksville is located in the heart of Oceanside, on the sheltered east coast of Vancouver Island. The City is an active community of urban professionals, families with young children, and retirees who have chosen to live in the community for a quality of life and the region's inspiring natural environment.
7 DAYS
Madeira, an autonomous region of Portugal, is an archipelago comprising 4 islands off the northwest coast of Africa. It is known for its namesake wine and warm, subtropical climate. The main island of Madeira is volcanic, green and rugged, with high cliffs, pebbly beaches.
3 DAYS
The Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal, are an archipelago in the mid-Atlantic. The islands are characterized by dramatic landscapes, fishing villages, green pastures and hedgerows of blue hydrangeas. São Miguel, the largest, has lake-filled calderas and the Gorreana Tea Plantation. Pico is home to the 2,351m Mt. Pico and vineyards sheltered by boulders.
3 DAYS
The Algarve, Portugal’s southernmost region, is known for its Atlantic beaches and golf resorts. Whitewashed fishing villages on low cliffs overlooking sandy coves were transformed in the 1960s, and now its central coast between Lagos and Faro is lined with villas, hotels, bars and restaurants. The region’s western Atlantic coast is less developed. We based ourselves out in Salema for this reason.
3 DAYS
Departing from Porto, where the river flows into the sea and where the Douro wines (table wines and Port wine), produced on its hillsides, also end up, there are various ways to get to know this cultural landscape, listed as a World Heritage Site: by road, by train, on a cruise boat and even by helicopter. [visitportugal.com]
3 DAYS
Porto is a coastal city in northwest Portugal known for its stately bridges and port wine production. In the medieval Ribeira (riverside) district, narrow cobbled streets wind past merchants’ houses and cafes. [google]
3 DAYS
Victoria, capital of British Columbia, sits on the craggy southern end of Vancouver Island. With abundant parkland, it’s known for outdoor activities.
3 DAYS
Lisbon is Portugal’s hilly, coastal capital city and is one of the oldest cities in the world. A city to get lost in the pastel coloured streets of Alfama and the lovely tram ride through old town and enjoying the sounds of fado in the bustle of nightlife in Bairro Alto.
