Nicaragua Caribbean

With pearly sands and crystalline waters, days are spent swimming, snorkelling, diving and mangrove kayaking. Some may be happier simply swinging lazily in a hammock, sipping an icy mojito.

Back on the mainland, and with a vibrant mix of African and European cultures, Bluefields feels more like a Caribbean port town than Spanish Nicaragua. Only accessible by boat or prop plane until recently, the town is modest and roughly-hewn, but boasts near-empty beaches, feasts of fresh seafood and a rare insight into a near-forgotten corner of the world.