RIVERA NAYARIT, MEXICO - I’m having trouble catching my breath as I drag my body onto the white sand of Playa del Amor (Lover’s Beach) — a.k.a. Hidden Beach — one of the lovely Marieta Islands that lie just off this romantic Mexican resort town.

ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO - This magical Pacific Ocean fishing village was pretty much unknown until it was mentioned in a memorable scene in the film The Shawshank Redemption when Andy (Tim Robbins) tells fellow inmate Red (Morgan Freeman) where he’d go if he got out of prison.

ASUNCION, PARAGUAY - The words Fausto uses to greet us — “Mba’éichapa” — are unfamiliar, even to those in our small group who speak Spanish.