Get ready for Cuba!

One of the greatest leaders of Cuba, he was also a Third World spokesperson; proof of the Cubans' pride in him are the memorials dotted across the island.

There are 6 UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves in this subtropical country on the south of the South American coastline; Guanahacabibes Peninsula, Buenavista, and Cuchillas del Toa, to name a few. You'll find the best resorts here, like Havana, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, and Santiago de Cuba; the buildings are usually in an American/50's style, just like the cars on the street.

The birthplace of the bolero, mambo, and cha-cha-cha, this hub for the arts holds events such as Casa de las Américas literary contest, International Jazz Festival, Havana International Ballet Festival, and Festival of New Latin American Cinema. For a filling meal, try the local ajiaco, a stew of vegetables with pork, beef, or chicken; lechón (roast pork) is a crunchy delight dripping with oil. Ground beef with tomato sauce (picadillo a la habanera) is another choice, as well as rice with black beans (named moros y cristianos, interestingly enough). Fried plantains are also common, and don't leave without dessert. Have some rum in Bodeguita del Medio in Havana, which was frequented by Hemingway himself; don’t forget the cigars!