Mexico is the world's largest Spanish-speaking country and with around 130 million people, ranks as the eleventh most populous nation. Pre-Columbian Mexico dates to about 8,000 BC and is identified as one of five cradles of civilisation. It was home to many advanced Mesoamerican civilisations such as the Olmec, Toltec, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, Mayan, and Aztec people. The first contact with Europeans was in the early 16th century. In 1521, the Spanish Empire conquered and colonised the territory from its politically powerful base in Mexico-Tenochtitlan (part of Mexico City). Three centuries later, the territory became a nation state following its recognition in 1821 after the Mexican War of Independence. Mexicans are some of the friendliest people you'll ever meet and they are usually eager to share their wealth of history and abundant culture with travellers from other countries. Our tour of Mexico starts in Mexico City and then moves southeast taking in the UNESCO heritage sites of Monte Alban, the greatest of the Zapotec cities, Teotihuacan, the most sacred of the Aztec sites and the Mayan sites of Palenque, Uxmal and Chichen Itza. We will savour some wonderful Mexican food and music and reach the Yucatan Peninsula on the Caribbean coast after travelling through the heartland.

Cuba is an archipelago of islands in the Caribbean. The island of Cuba itself is by far the largest, at approximately 110,000 square kilometres. It’s also the most populated with around 11 million inhabitants - over 2 million living in the capital – Havana. The first humans arrived in Cuba around 5,000 years ago from South America. In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed and claimed the islands for Spain. Small colonies were developed with the core aim of searching for gold, however, after minimal success, most turned to tobacco and sugar farming. The clichés of Cuba are a must see. Locals dancing the salsa, mambo and rumba, the men leisurely smoking their big fat cigars and drinking rum plus reminders of revolutionary figure, Che Guevara. Of course the quintessential postcard of Cuba is the 1950’s Buicks and Chevys – spotted all over the country. Get to Cuba before too long ... it is changing!