When most people plan a trip to Colombia, they feel the pressure to "see it all"- bouncing from the coffee farms of Salento to the bustling valley of Medellín. But for our recent seven-day getaway, we decided to break the mold. We parked our suitcases in Cartagena de Indias and didn't leave the city limits for a single second.

Tucked between volcanoes, lakes, and ancient ruins, Guatemala is a country that surprises you slowly. One moment you’re sipping coffee in a colonial courtyard, the next you’re hiking through cloud forests or drifting across Lake Atitlán. It’s not on every traveler’s radar, but maybe that’s the point.

The Bahamas. Just the name conjures images of turquoise waters, powdery white sand, and endless sunshine.