Whether horseback riding in Mexico, jungle river tubing in Jamaica, snorkelling from a traditional schooner or exploring cities from historic street ferry cars in Brazil, MSC Cruises’ unique shore excursion programmes in the Caribbean and South America offer travellers a whole range of fun-filled, and often surprising, ways of exploring the very best of these idyllic regions.

With its turquoise waters, dazzling white beaches, vivid emerald forests, exotic flowers and captivating underwater life, the Caribbean is a joyous riot of colour, with great culture, perfect weather, and delicious rum to boot.

The vast array of kayaking, snorkelling and catamaran tours on MSC’s shore excursion programme are all great ways of discovering the region’s sparkling waters, incredible coastlines and underwater wonderland.

During a thrilling dive to a mysteriously sunken airplane, the Atlantis submarine tour just off the south-east coast of Aruba is an amazing opportunity to get up close with colourful schools of tropical fish and beautiful coral fields.

From Cozumel, Mexico, travellers can embark on an amazing guided horseback riding adventure through tropical forests and learn about the Mayans, one of the oldest and most mysterious civilizations as they go from their fascinating local guide.

In Jamaica, jungle river tubing down the scenic Martha Brae River is bags of fun. Travellers will enjoy the ride and the spectacular landscape to either side, and even learn about the legend of the river itself.

From the wonderful island of St. Maarten, travellers can embark on a power rafting adventure, as a comfortable high speed vessel whisks them off for the best snorkel of the day across Simpson Bay Lagoon, while the two island power catamaran tour from St. Thomas takes travellers to two secluded islands, Turtle Cove and Mystery Cove, for some of the best snorkelling locations in the Caribbean.

For pure, unadulterated fun, a monster truck safari from La Romana is a must. These 8-wheeler, all-terrain trucks promise a bird’s eye view of the world at a height of 15 feet, and the tour takes in some amazing views of the unspoiled countryside of the Dominican Republic.

An exhilarating speed boat ride from La Romana through crystal-clear waters along the scenic Dominican coastline to the island of Saona, a nature reserve is renowned for its unspoiled beauty and stunning beaches, is another fun way of admiring the region’s natural beauty.

Without a doubt one of the world’s most captivating countries, Brazil offers up palm-fringed beaches, tropical islands, rainforests bursting with rare flora and fauna, magical metropolises, and a whole host of big adventures for travellers.

A tour on a Schooner, a beautiful, traditional sailing boat, is a fun and refreshing way to discover Brazil’s spectacular coastlines, with stops for swimming, snorkelling and lazing on dazzling white-sandy beaches along the way.

Schooner tours from Buzios explore the region’s amazing peninsula and from Ilha Grande tours are available to the stunning Blue Lake, Lopes Mendes, Lagoa Verde, and Saco Do Céu, meaning “Bag of Stars,” a perfect name for this ecological sanctuary where the sea is as flat as a mirror.

For a different kind of journey around Ilha Grande, private speed boat tours are a fast and furious way of exploring the area’s natural beauty and rugged coastline.

In Buzios, travellers can enjoy the refreshing ocean breeze on a fun trolley tour, a special open air vehicle that explores the best sites of Buzios, while in Ilhabela an amazing bike ride alongside the Ilhabela bike way takes in some of its most important sights, including the famous sculptures of local artisan Gilmar Pinna and the São João church, the oldest on the island.

A panoramic tour of the history of Santos by street ferry car is a real step back in time, taking travellers into the past on a tour full of history and beauty in a legitimate street ferry car, one of the main symbols of Santos.

A jeep tour to Corcovado hill from Rio de Janeiro, located in the Tijuca forest, offers fabulous views of the largest urban forest in the world and the famous statue of the Christ, while a cable car ride to the top of Sugar Loaf hill, one of the most famous symbols of Rio, provides amazing views of Guanabara Bay, Niteroi and the statue of Christ.

From Balneario Camboriu, a cable car tour to the top of Aguada hill to the Atlantic Forest Station takes travellers to enjoy an ecological trail and learn about the native flora and fauna in one of the world’s most endangered forests.