Panorama Trails offers the chance to admire the Catalan countryside on horseback, to wander along sandy beaches, through medieval villages and atop rolling green hills. Take the chance to experience the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean the way they were experienced for thousands of years.

Heard of this one? It’s graced the cover of many a glossy brochure for good reason — it’s simply spectacular. Think sapphire sea lapping a curve of perfect white sand; the type of beach normally reserved for romantic movie scenes. But at our Wineglass Bay, anyone can wander this picture-perfect setting. Feeling energetic? Climb The Hazards to look out over Wineglass Bay, or paddle around the pink mountains in a kayak. If this all sounds too exhausting, blame the laid back coastal lifestyle and hop on a scenic flight — by far the best way to see Wineglass Bay’s faultless half-moon curve. You can also book a four-day Wineglass Bay Sail Walk journey and you can drop anchor in the bay and call it your own for the evening.

Plaça de la Independència is the elegant neoclassical heart of Girona, designed by Martí Sureda in the 19th century on the site of a former Augustine convent. Its porticoed arches frame a lively scene of locals and visitors dining or sipping coffee under the shade. The square’s name honours Girona’s defenders during the 1808–1809 siege by Napoleonic forces, a struggle memorialised by Antoni Parera’s central monument in 1894. By day, it’s a prime spot for people-watching; by night, the terraces fill with revellers enjoying tapas and evening drinks. An essential stop for both history and atmosphere.

Just an hour's boat trip away from Cartagena lie the magnificent Rosario Islands, which belong to Colombia's only underwater natural park (Rosario and San Bernardo Corals National Natural Park). Abundant marine wildlife (including over 50 species of corals) and some of Colombia's best beaches draw in many in search of relaxation and active pursuits such as snorkelling and diving. Isla Grande is best for kayaking through unique mangrove forests and seeing the phosphorescent plankton light up the waters of a brackish lake at night, while Playa Blanca is Cartagena's most spectacular white-sand beach (also reachable by land). It should be said that the company you choose to tour with has the potential to make or break the experience. Low cost tours can mean multiple intermediate stops en route to your destination, as well as unpleasant surprises such as no transfer back to your hotel. Try and choose a trusted company with consistently good reviews, or opt for a private tour. Mind that seas may be rough at certain times of the year, particularly in December and January, when tours on smaller boats may even become dangerous.