This magical city is festive and friendly, from its legendary zoo to Balboa Park everyone here seems to be living that quintessential California lifestyle – sun, sand and surf. Between ocean and desert, the near perfect weather here is ideal for exploring charming neighborhoods, gorgeous parks, and of course, the beach.

Ensenada, the third-largest city in the state of Baja, and its environs are famed for many things. One is the sunny and mild weather, which helps yield fine wines considered to be the best in Mexico. Another is the surf. Ensenada boasts several celebrated surfing spots, including San Miguel Beach and Three Ms, or Tres Emes. A third lure is off-road racing, with the Baja 1000 being held every year in November and the Baja 500 taking place in June. Rivaling Carnival in Rio and Mardi Gras in New Orleans is Ensenada’s Carnaval, bringing thousands of revelers to the streets for six fun-filled days. Migrating gray whales draw their fair share of travelers as well. Certainly, this is only a partial list of Ensenada’s seasonal and perennial attractions. During your visit, you are sure to discover additional reasons Ensenada is called the “Cinderella of the Pacific.”

Nestled into the Baja Peninsula, Cabo San Lucas is surrounded by a translucent sea and timeless rock formations that seem otherworldly. There are miles of golden beaches and an undersea world that’s just as fascinating as what’s on shore.

Embraced by rugged tropical mountains on one side and the beautiful Banderas Bay on the other, Puerto Vallarta is second only to Acapulco when it comes to the Mexican Riviera's leading resort cities. White stucco houses are capped with red-tile roofs and surrounded by bougainvillea-lined cobblestone streets. Native women who beat their laundry along riverbanks as busy fishing boats return to port illustrate a lifestyle that has been maintained for decades. Nearby, sophisticated restaurants, luxury hotels, smart boutiques and lively nightclubs bear testament to the changes wrought on this quiet seaside city since the 1960s. Life here has never been quite the same since the filming of the movie "Night of the Iguana" and the worldwide publicity accorded the romance of its stars, Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Puerto Vallarta brims with life. Shop for leather goods, shell and silver jewelry, hand-embroidered blouses or painted figures from Oaxaca. Explore cobblestone streets and pic…

Relatively new on cruising sojourns, El Salvador is likely to become pinned as a surprising favorite, due to a unique blend of authenticity and rusticity combined with classic tropical attractions – think national parks, steep volcanos, wide beaches, colonial history, colorful handcrafts and an easy-going attitude. Outdoor pursuits might put you in snorkel gear or on ziplines, or you might make a beeline for a café serving the region’s famed coffee.

Acrescent-shaped bay, excellent surfing and fishing, and authentic, laid-back culture make this slice of paradise a tempting invitation to stroll golden-sand beaches and streets lined with wooden buildings painted in vibrant colors. Hammocks and sunsets are the way of life here, where the hilltop statue of Christ of the Mercy gazes upon the bay, like Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, but on a much smaller scale.

One of Latin America's most peaceful countries, often called the "Switzerland of Central America," Costa Rica does not possess an army and boasts a stable democratic government as well as a high literacy rate. Strategically located between two great continents, it has been the benefactor of great cultural contributions from each. Visitors to Costa Rica will be welcomed by friendly people and will enjoy superb scenery and an ideal climate.

Lapped by the azure waters of Ecuador's Pacific coast, Manta brims with pretty beaches and a vibrant coastal culture of fishing, diving, snorkeling and kitesurfing. Seaside bars and restaurants beckon with local delicacies and stunning ocean views. Pacoche Reserve, a habitat for howler monkeys, is a hot spot for nature lovers. Fans of the Panama hat, recognized by UNESCO as an item of Intangible Cultural Heritage, can visit its birthplace in Montecristi, where the hat is still woven by hand.

Hyacinths drift by on the chocolate brown Guayas River. The forest seems to almost close in on the town. A tour includes the Municipal Market, the City Museum and the column called La Rotonda, celebrating a meeting of Bolivár and San Martín. The pristine Galapogos Islands are straight west of here, beyond the horizon.