Boasting the most challenging extreme ski runs in all of Latin America and one of the world’s longest intermediate runs, Las Leñas (near Mendoza) offers 27 runs total in all levels of difficulty, as well as slalom stadium and unbeatable off-piste areas. Between summit and base lies a 4,000 foot vertical drop.

Puerto Madryn is protected by the Golfo Nuevo, which is formed by Península Valdés and Punta Ninfas, and is one of the most sheltered places on the Patagonian coast. With five kilometers of beaches bordering the city, Puerto Madryn is the gateway to many other attractions in Argentina. Top among them is Valdes Peninsula Nature Reserve, a UNESCO heritage site since 1999.

Immortalized by Hemingway in “Islands in the Stream,” Cayo Guillermo is perched on Cuba’s north coast between the Bay of Dogs and the Atlantic. It is home to four all-inclusive resorts. Five miles of fine white sand and gorgeous, clear green waters, including the spectacular Playa Pilar, offer picture perfect sunning spots. Fantastic snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities beckon from more than six miles of coral reefs. Flamingos and many other birds live in its lagoons, forest and jungle.