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Where to drink, dance, and stay up all night in Cuba.

Two cookbook creators share their insider tips on traveling and eating well in the newly open country

The best ways to recharge away from the crowds

An AFAR staffer spent months studying abroad in this cluster of Ecuadorian islands and fell in love with their way of life.

Discover her top picks for places to eat, drink, and visit in this South American city.

This is going to be my totem street art for 2015. Cool vibes only! A lot of the street art I ended up finding in Santo Domingo was in the Malecon section, by the ocean. This sort of boardwalk street has been a locals hang out spot for decades. Photography by Ruddy Harootian

The malecon (boardwalk), that spans for over 4.5 kms along the coast of Havana, it’s a gathering place for people as the sun sets down. The breeze (which combats the otherwise overwhelming heat of the city), the fishing and not least important the people watching make up for a great afternoon activity.

This novel walking tour combines a power work-out with sightseeing. You’ll climb a steep hill to reach a look-out spot with sweeping views of Vallarta and Banderas Bay, then descend to see Elizabeth Taylor’s and Richard Burton’s former homes (and the bridge that connected them), a tortilla factory, Cuale gardens, and a chocolate shop. Lots of samples and healthy snacks are included, as are plenty of photo ops.

The most popular destination (and one of the only) for running in Lima is along the Malecón bike path. Be warned that the name changes from Malecón de la Reserva to Malecón Cisneros and finally to Malecón de la Marina. But the more than two miles of scenic coastline stretches from San Isidro through Miraflores past Larcomar shopping centre and the Parque del Amor, all the way to Barranco. You can stick to the path or find the stairs near the Parque del Amor that descend to sandy beach. If along the way toward Barranco you happen upon an outdoor exercise class dancing to a remix of “Gangnam Style,” as there was when I passed, join them.

Havana’s Malecón is the world’s most famous street with that name, but the term is used for seaside boulevards throughout Latin America. Manta boasts its own Malecón that winds along the city’s oceanfront. If your time in Manta is limited, this is the place to see its best side, with locals and visitors enjoying the beach and the seaside cafés at the base of new hotels and condominiums.

This 2.5-kilometer (1.5-mile) promenade along the vast Guayas River is part public park, part urban playground filled with restaurants, cafés, shops, a clock tower, an IMAX theater and even a Ferris wheel. From the docks, small boats leave on river tours or head to Santay Island, a wildlife refuge on the eastern side of the river. At La Rotonda, a statue of Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín commemorates their meeting in Guayaquil after the liberation of Ecuador from Spain.

Mexico’s Pacific Coast beach town Puerto Vallarta is all about fun. Not sure what to do while in Puerto Vallarta? We’ve got you covered. Puerto Vallarta has fabulous nightlife, a charming downtown, a long malecón, or boardwalk, great al fresco dining options, and the best sunsets of the West. Visit the beach where the Richard Burton-Ava Gardner flick “Night of the Iguana” was filmed, eat fresh, delicious seafood, and then dance until dawn in one of Puerto Vallarta’s many neon nightclubs.

El Malecon is the promenade and beating heart of South Vieques’ community of Esperanza. It starts at El Blok, the fun and beautifully designed hotel I stayed at. Strolling west from El Blok, the boardwalk will take you past cafés, bars, restaurants (such as Duffy’s), stores and, on weekends and busier times, pop-ups by local artists. It’s a relaxed, friendly place that I would highly recommend making your destination, if you’re planning not to rent a car, while on island.

Chef Thierry Blouet helms the kitchen at Café des Artistes, where guests enjoy not only Blouet’s culinary creations, but also the setting: a century-old home on a hill with views of the Malecon. Pair the three-course French-Mex fusion prix fixe (vegetarian option available, too) with one of the 350 wines from Blouet’s cellar or one of the many top-shelf tequilas and mezcals available.

Many visitors to Peru stay in Miraflores, and for good reason: The neighborhood is where you’ll find most of the better hotels, as well as the top restaurants. Get off main streets to stroll the pretty side streets. Down by the ocean, walk the Malecón seawall and visit the Parque del Amor, or Love Park, to watch paragliders soar and bank overhead. The oceanfront is also home to Larcomar, an open-air shopping mall where you can grab a bite or shop for any items you may have forgotten.