Hey, we're Canadians - we can take whatever the Great White North throws at us. But still, it's almost a constitutional right for us to take a reprieve from winter or a spring break and go someplace to warm up.

We tend to go to places we know. But how can you have any travel bragging rights when half of your friends have been to the same places as you, and combed the same beaches?

How about an alternative that will be truly memorable and will make you a pioneer, a place where the only footprints on the beach might be your own? Here are some as yet little-known gems to inspire you, as well as some places that are prime for rediscovery.

Endless beaches

The Turks and Caicos are islands of white sand perfect for beachcombing. Located just south of Florida, they are finding their way into mainstream travel because of the opening of a new airport on Grand Turk, a new cruise pier, and a number of new resorts. But consider one of the less-visited islands in the group, such as North Caicos or Salt Cay, which have mostly traditional guest houses and villas on the beach and where a main form of transportation is the bicycle. Bonus point: The islands are still lobbying in Ottawa to become a Caribbean territory of Canada.

The Bahamas are a traditional vacation hotspot, but don't rule out the Out Islands if you're looking for something secluded. There are dozens of Bahamas islands that are quieter and more traditional than the built-up Grand Bahama that most tourists know. A particularly spectacular beach island is Eleuthra, which is 150 kilometres long and just three km wide - and it's all sand. The resorts are tiny and the local people are happy to cook up local specialties for visitors. Hideaway treasure: the secluded Lighthouse Beach near Eleuthra's Bannerman Town, with its pink sand and lighthouse on a limestone promontory.

History

Nevis is an island that's a lot more historic than its neighbour St. Kitts, and it retains a much more laid back existence because it is less accessible. The ruins of sugar mills and many of the great houses of the plantation era of the 1800s are still here, and some of the former great houses have become hotels. Much of the history can be visited on foot and there are beautiful beaches as well. Bonus feature: Visitors can watch the making of traditional herbal remedies from plants in the island's rain forest.

When Hurricane Wilma savaged Mexico's Caribbean coast in 2005, it shut down resorts and washed away some beaches. But hotels on the Mexican Riviera used it as an opportunity to give the resort area a complete upgrade, and nature has restored the white sand. Now there are lots of deals to lure tourists back. Not to be missed: the remarkable Mayan complexes at Chichen Itza and Tulum were not damaged by the storm and are within driving distance. An added attraction is the nearby Xcaret archeological and ecological park.

Most known for its beach resorts, there are hundreds of years of fascinating history to explore in Jamaica. Visit the reputedly haunted Rose Hall Plantation in Montego Bay, or take a tour to the mountain area that is still the home of ancestors of freed slaves known as Maroons who set up their own government. Bonus: Fans of reggae music can get a fascinating glimpse of Jamaica's lush interior on a drive through St. Ann Parish to the birthplace of Bob Marley at Nine Mile.

The life aquatic

The Central American country of Belize is bounded by the world's second-largest barrier reef, home to a wildly diverse population of fish and other sea creatures that have seldom seen humans, let alone fishing boats. Cropping out of the reef are a number of Out Islands, such as Glover's Reef and Lighthouse Reef, with small resorts that are right in the midst of the action. Bonus: the mainland is filled with ecology sanctuaries for flora and fauna, and there are six Mayan sites on the mainland open to the public.

Roatan, an island off the coast of Honduras, is also on the barrier reef and little changed by tourism, with guest houses that are still family run. Virtually everything on the island caters to water sports, but check out the forests filled with exotic birds and butterflies. Even more off the radar: try one of the small Bay Islands, such as Utila.

Being an offshore banking haven has made the Cayman Islands' main island Grand Turk the home of the $20 hamburger. But the price hit is considerably less and the scuba diving more spectacular in its two tiny Out Islands, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Little touched by the development on the main island, they're fringed with uninhabited beaches. Package trips make the costs affordable, although the resorts have only a few rooms, so advance booking is vital. Bonus: Row out to Owen Island, the quintessential palm tree and sand castaway island.

Back to nature

Dominica, a volcanic island in the eastern Caribbean, has virtually no sand beaches but it is known as the nature island for a reason. Lush rain forests blanket the interior and there are 400 km of hiking trails to waterfalls and gorges, and mountain climbs up peaks. Bonus: the island is known for the Caribbean's best whale watching and for its spectacular scuba dives along sea cliffs.

Large sections of the Central American country of Costa Rica are set aside as nature reserves, where the air is filled with brightly coloured parrots and the trees are presided over by monkeys. The beaches are attracting more Canadians every year, but even more spectacular is the interior with its rugged landscapes, colonial towns and plantations. Special treat: the Santa Elena Cloud Forest Preserve in the Monteverde area in the centre of the country.

Kauai is hard to get to, but idyllic once you get there. Known as Hawaii's garden island, it has unique jungle flora and rugged sea cliffs dotted with caves, as well as deep valleys with hidden beaches and high waterfalls. Unforgettable experience: a helicopter tour of the waterfalls and cliff faces of the Na Pali coast.

Unique attractions

The island of St. Lucia may have the most varied activity options in the Caribbean, with beaches, scuba diving and wilderness. Its landmark Pitons are two pointed mountains that jut into the air and are near another unforgettable sight, the world's only "drive-in volcano." They're located in a national park, where water and minerals vent up from a long-dormant crater. An insider's tip: You're allowed to bathe in the volcanic sulphur mud streams that flow down the hillside. The warm water soothes aching joints and the minerals are reputed to alleviate arthritis. Just make sure you wear an old bathing suit, because the minerals can change the colour of fabrics.

Find a deal

The island of Grenada is scented by its major agricultural crop, nutmeg. It made a dramatic comeback after being devastated by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, and most of the island's resorts are offering discounts of about 20 per cent to bring tourists back as well. So far, it's still quieter than usual - and that means you can have beaches to yourself and an uncrowded look at the picturesque 18th-century capital of St George's. Best getaway: Lance Aux Epines - four-wheel-drives are recommended for this area, which gives a whole new meaning to off-roading.

And a wild card:

Travel and Leisure magazine named Quito, Ecuador, the up-and-coming destination of the year. The colonial city's dramatic revitalization - thanks to being named a UNESCO heritage area - and affordable accommodations are expected to make it a growing favourite, with several airlines planning direct flights from U.S. airports this year.

A travel tip:

The farther from the beaten path you go, the more important it is to book ahead and get confirmation of your reservation, because there are few accommodations and limited services. But the advantage of finding a secluded getaway is the exclusivity. You get to know the people and their way of life in a way that you don't experience in a larger resort. And besides the incredible experience, it will also earn you those coveted travel bragging rights.

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