Few people have been here, and if they have, they have told us little about it. So it is not surprising that Latin America is growing up with some terrible stereotypes and legends about endless local squabbles, witchcraft and dangers in the street.
In front of you is our guide to all the countries in the region, including the US and French dependencies, with explanations of what you’re missing there and what you’re getting lost in.
Argentina
Where everyone is going and why
- Buenos Aires is the capital, the biggest city (and they dance tango there).
- Southern Patagonia – glaciers and the beautiful Lake Lago Argentino.
- Tierra del Fuego is the southernmost archipelago with penguins.
- Cordoba is a great ski area.
- Iguazu is the most powerful waterfalls in the world: this Niagara of yours is just a spitfire compared to them.
Myths and legends
They’re all arrogant.
Neighboring countries (especially soccer’s Brazil) can’t stand Argentina. As one Brazilian explained, Argentina on the continent is like France in Europe, a rich “aristocratic” place that everyone envies and therefore dislikes. But really, Argentines are cute.
There are a lot of black people there, among whom I would stand out unpleasantly.
No. Argentines are descended from European immigrants and therefore have no more exotic looks than the Spanish. If you get a little tan, you are of the same blood.
7 reasons to be here
- Trying to tango right on the street, getting embarrassed and realizing that it takes a lot of practice to compete with the locals.
- To drink real yerba mate.
- Going to a soccer game in a country that is reviled by soccer fans in the rest of the continent. Heard the cries of “América Latina, menos Argentina” during the World Cup? Here.
- See the Tierra del Fuego penguins.
- Take a ride on the longest tourist attraction – the 14-hour “Train in the Clouds”. You can see photos here (careful: the site is not very good at English).
- Eating fried patties empanadas.
- Go to the southernmost city on the planet, Ushuaia.
What they say
I was in Argentina twice last year, mostly in Buenos Aires. The first trip involved traveling to Chile, so I didn’t get to go far, and the second trip was crippled by illness. So I don’t have much to say about the fantastic glaciers, Tierra del Fuego and the crashing waterfalls of Iguazu. But I did get to know and bond with Buenos Aires.
I was surprised by the very different neighborhoods of the city; you can go to a new district every day and discover new facets of the capital. The Argentines turned out to be warm, sociable, very cheerful people – equally southerners, northerners and porteños (natives of Buenos Aires).
The second time Buenos Aires won me over: peachy misty sunsets, bustling and musical fairs in San Telmo, romantic and relaxed evenings in Puerto Madero. Not everyone in Argentina is a tango dancer, although you may find dancers on the street, but the lingering, exhilarating mood of the tango permeates every street. In this city it is very easy to be in love – at least with life itself.
For solitude you should go to the Tigre Valley. In the city, it is better to buy empanadas and alfajores, of course, with dulce de leche – the local condensed milk – and watch the course of Argentine life in respectable and quiet Palermo, crowded La Boca or at all in the inspirational and tragic Recoleta cemetery. The cemetery was perhaps my main artistic shock. Not even the unparalleled dome of the Colón Theater overshadowed it.
There is room for everyone in this city: quiet provincials who grew up on farms, passionate fans of the “stone jungle”, free artists, and west-oriented careerists. There is no life there only for those who do not like soccer. It is indeed a religion in Argentina.
Brazil
Where everyone is going and why
- Of course, Rio!
- Brasilia is the capital of the country, which is no secret to anyone who has seen the textbook horror flick I Still Know What You Did Last Summer. It’s a city built on empty space, looking like an airplane from above.
- São Paulo is a huge metropolis with festivals and museums.
Myths and legends
Rio’s favelas are dangerous.
Yes. That’s true. But you can – you’d be surprised – just don’t go there. Other cities are much safer, and the tourist areas of Rio de Janeiro are quite pleasant for leisurely strolls. There are a lot of police officers here, watching for the calmness of visitors. There is no need to wander around the city after sunset and climb on the territories.
There are a lot of wild (rabid) monkeys here.
There are monkeys in this country. Wild, that is, living outside the city limits. So don’t be afraid of being bitten or having your camera stolen during your tourist excersizes.
7 reasons to be here
- Fit your trip around carnival and see a bunch of women in feathers.
- Sunbathing on Copacabana.
- Take a picture with the statue of Christ.
- Take the cable car up to a mountain stupidly named Sugar Loaf Mountain.
- Check out what condition the sports facilities are in a few years after construction.
- Going to the coffee plantations.
- Go clubbing in São Paulo and then carnival will come to you on its own.
What they say
Our girls tried not to go out on their own, and don’t advise anyone else to do so. But I wouldn’t say it was scary or even unpleasant. It’s just a normal city. Brazilians are very loud, it’s probably best not to make them angry – their blood is too hot. But the place is a lot of fun. If you don’t want to offend them, don’t speak Spanish to them. It’s Portuguese. That’s just in case not everyone knows.
Bolivia
Where everyone is going and why
- La Paz is the highest altitude capital in the world with palaces and fairs.
- Sucre, the second most popular city in Bolivia, is considered the most beautiful here.
- Cochabamba is the site of another statue of Christ, less popular but taller.
Myths and legends
There are constant coups d’état there.
Not that this is a myth – they really do happen here more often than anywhere else. That said, the places are quite well-maintained and the locals are very open and friendly.
Everyone there is weird and walks around in national costumes to this day.
Bolivia does have a layer of people who honor tradition in an incredible way. These are the Cholitas women, who wear dresses and have hats on their heads. But there are not so many of them, and it is quite a modern country: there is even internet! Only in hotels, though.
7 reasons to be here
- See the ancient city of Tiwanaku.
- Visit the Witch’s Market in La Paz.
- View the vastness of La Paz from the Killy Killy observation deck.
- Go to the huge Uyuni salt marsh.
- And from there, straight to the Sol de Macan geyser valley. There are also craters with mud, like in cartoons.
- Watch the flamingos.
- Chewing coca leaves. That’s easy. Just make sure you spit!
What they say
We got there by accident, from Chile. We bought a jeep tour for 3.5 days from the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Even by car this is not an easy trip. From 2500m above sea level with 0% humidity you start in one day to 6000m with 15-20% humidity. There is no snow, the heat is unbelievable, the wind is strong. We didn’t know where we were going. Coca leaves are good for mountain sickness, but I couldn’t chew them, very nasty taste. I drank cola, I had never drunk so much of it before, but the bubbles helped.
The whole tour you drive around the nature park, you sleep in rustic huts “hostels” made of shit and sticks (clay and twigs) and everything else will blow away and it will be cold in winter. There you are fed a delicious bean chowder and chicken: simple but nutritious.
This trip is one where you can’t see anything but nature, but even the biggest art lover won’t get bored! There are ostriches, donkeys, flamingos, an abandoned railroad station, local beer, meeting the dawn on the mountain in the salt desert of Uyuni. The views are unbeatable, photos only work here, and there’s nothing to write.
Venezuela
Where everyone is going and why
- Caracas is the capital.
- Mérida – mountains, cable cars and everything is so beautiful.
- Margarita Island, where the city of Asunción is located, is a duty-free zone.
- Angel Falls, the highest waterfall in the world.
Myths and legends
There are a lot of motorizados here – motorcycle robbers with guns.
Yes, they do. In order not to encounter robbers, many tourists advise to exist within the so-called urbanizations. Or have some small change with you that you wouldn’t mind giving away in case of an emergency.
Stay out of the barrio!
The barrio is like the favelas. Scary and impossible. But the local authorities don’t always agree, and even established a graffiti culture festival San Agustin Aereo a few years ago in one of Caracas’ poorer neighborhoods.
7 reasons to be here
- To see the tepuis, the flat-topped mountains. You have to go to Canaima Park to see them.
- There you can also look down on the Angel Falls and feel like a jungle conqueror.
- See the largest assortment of ice cream in the world. You’re in the city of Mérida, at the Heladeria Coromoto Café. Order the pistachio!
- See the Andes from the Venezuelan side.
- See an anaconda (preferably not in the wild).
- Try your luck at paragliding in the Sierra Nevada.
- Canoe down the Orinoco River.
What they say
South America is, for the most part, a very comfortable continent to travel. This applies to the most developed countries, of course, and popular tourist destinations. Venezuela can hardly be included in this list. Before our trip there, having read reviews about theft and robbery, we decided to protect ourselves and contacted an English-speaking guide in advance, who organized a transfer on the planned route. As a result, no incident marred our trip.
Of course, we went to the highest waterfall on Earth, Angel Falls. It takes a lot of time to get there: you get to the point, they put you on a small boat, on which you swim for 4 hours to the camp, there you sleep in a hammock, and the next morning you walk to the waterfall. The alternative option is a helicopter, but we really wanted to sit at the foot and feel all the grandeur. But we were traveling in August, which is the wet season. It rained just when we were sailing and lasted the whole way. Raincoats didn’t save us. It felt like the apocalypse.
A very memorable trip to the Canaima National Park. As soon as we arrived at our overnight stay, we saw a hammock with someone small lying in it. It turned out that it was not a baby, but a baby anteater! He was found alone in the woods and decided to save him. When he approached a person, he climbed on top of him and cuddled up, falling asleep on his chest.
Venezuela is not about gastronomic delights, museums, ruins, cities and architecture. It is an amazingly beautiful country, which should be visited by those who are not afraid to immerse themselves in the wilderness and tolerate all the inconveniences (as they say, to get out of the comfort zone). And there is also very, very, very cheap gasoline, almost cheaper than drinking water!
Haiti
Where everyone is going and why
Port-au-Prince is the capital. Basically, that’s enough for you.
Myths and legends
This is a beggar’s country.
True stereotype. Unfortunately, this is one of the poorest countries in the world. So leave your inflated expectations of service at home – there will be none here at all. On the other hand, there are even pluses to it in the form of a unique cultural experience. Among affluent people it is even fashionable to go to such lost corners of the planet and see life from a different perspective. Besides, you can always go there as a volunteer – not just to gawk, but to help people.
There are zombies here.
We’re not gonna convince you. Who knows if all those people on the streets are even human? Watch a couple of zombie movies before you go. Just in case.
7 reasons to be here
- To brush up on the Creole language and realize that it’s not spoken here, but French.
- Take a walk through the ruins of Sans Souci Palace.
- See local pagan rituals.
- Popping into the home of hospitable locals with something useful and figuring out how things work here.
- Learn to rejoice in the little things.
- See the grand citadel of La Ferrière.
- Climb Makaya Peak.
What they say
Haiti leaves a lasting impression. This destination is only for very advanced travelers. It’s very unique. In the countries of Central Africa is about the same. But it is interesting, even if not for everyone. Just realize at once that you are the white crow here. Don’t be surprised and don’t be attacked. Otherwise, it’s okay.
Guatemala
Where everyone is going and why
- Guatemala is the capital.
- Lake Atitlan is the deepest lake in Central America.
- Tikal is an ancient Mayan city.
Myths and legends
They get cholera here.
Not exactly a myth. As in many warm countries with a low standard of living, there are outbreaks of cholera, malaria, dysentery, typhoid, yellow fever and other not-so-great diseases. Therefore, it is not unreasonable to get vaccinated before traveling, and on the spot – do not drink water and beware of being bitten by anyone.
7 reasons to be here
- Don’t get lost in the architecture of Guatemala’s capital city.
- Visit the ruins of the Mayan city of Caminalguyu.
- Meet the possible descendants of those who built it all.
- Have a Ketzaltek beer.
- And a Rompopo rum cocktail with milk and egg, subtly reminiscent of Aibolit.
- To see a prison for animals that have been wronged.
- Buy handmade wallet from tin can openers.
What they say
A very small country that has everything for travelers: volcanoes, lakes, mountains, the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. It also has super-small villages inhabited by Mayan descendants who wear national costumes and speak a super obscure language, colonial towns with Catholic churches, and backpackers traveling along the isthmus.
Honduras
Where everyone is going and why
- Tegucigalpa is the capital.
- Utila is one of the best dive sites in the Caribbean.
Myths and legends
You don’t call a good country Honduras.
The funniest, of course, but stupid stereotype. There is diving, nature, beaches, tropical forests, ruins of ancient buildings – what more do you need?
7 reasons to be here
- See the Hieroglyphic Staircase in Copan.
- See the Mayan catacomb tombs, Las Seppulturas.
- Spend the day birdwatching at Lake Yohoa.
- Have a night out hitting the local bars.
- And in the morning, a tour of Tegucigalpa’s many churches.
- Get to the flea market and buy a bunch of unnecessary but from Honduras.
What they say
Honduras was a little different from the Central American countries I visited. I didn’t get to see very much there. Went to ancient Mayan ruins, saw some cities and rose bushes around the country. My main stop was the Caribbean island of Utila. It was immensely beautiful and cheap there. People from all over the world go there to get certified in scuba diving. All because it’s one of the cheapest places on the planet to do it.
Dominican Republic
Where everyone is going and why
- Punta Cana – for sand, sea and all the joys of all-inclusive.
- Santo Domingo is the capital.
Myths and legends
It’s dangerous here!
Only to some (very small) extent. Brave guys with machine guns on duty around the hotel are not a bug, but a feature.
The tourist area is not only safe, but also very beautiful, and reasonably priced flights from Air France make this country just about the most attractive of all the countries we write about here.
7 reasons to be here
- Marvel at the most accessible (from a tourist perspective) white-sand beaches in the Caribbean.
- Learn to dance bachata and merengue. Or at least try, if tango didn’t work out in Argentina.
- Bringing home a Mamajuana and a million kinds of rum.
- Go to the Columbus Lighthouse.
- Buy something with a local larimar stone.
- Get to Three Lakes Park.
- Feel like a pirate of the Caribbean.
What they say
A lot of things were very unexpected for me. I thought the Dominican Republic was a Third World country, a banana republic. In fact, it turned out to be a very civilized, advanced country. Poverty and danger are in Haiti; in fact, all the rough laborers are from there.
On arrival I found a guide who has lived there for many years. He gave us an extensive tour and told us that the Dominican Republic has a lot of natural attractions. From mountains with pine forests to pink lakes. I thought that there you can only lie under a palm tree and eat coconut, but there you can’t go around!
You can come to a public beach, and there are locals grilling kebabs, and in the parking lot of this public beach there is a Chevrolet Tahoe (generally the most popular car there) and a Ferrari! And yes. Stereotypes about rum and cigars are confirmed, they are really divine here! You should also get the Mamajuana, it’s great too.
Colombia
Where everyone is going and why
- Bogotá is the capital.
- Leticia is a tourist area with monkeys.
- Cartagena is considered a fashionable resort.
Myths and legends
Drugs.
The main, underlying, zoning stereotype of Colombia. But no – you don’t bathe in cocaine here, and you won’t be approached on the streets to offer drugs. Most likely.
Everybody gets robbed here.
The locals do recommend being careful – in general, this is true for most of Latin America. Don’t shine your iPhones, carry your bags and backpacks in the front, don’t loiter at night. Especially in poor, non-touristy neighborhoods (it’s best to never loiter there at all).
7 reasons to be here
- To debunk the underlying myth of Colombia in your head.
- Making friends with a monkey on Isla de los Micos.
- Go to all the churches in colonial Popayan.
- Riding a steel cable to some town in the mountains is the means of transportation here.
- With a guide or tour guide, venture into the Andes.
- Buy something locally made emerald.
- To try to understand the meanings of ritual masks.
What they say
This is the country where my retirement will be! Anyone who’s been waiting for cocaine, gunfire and hell can just stop reading.
Colombia is very different. Terrain, nature, standard of living, oceans, types of vacations, everything is different (just like us). Colombians do not sit still, go to the ocean, ride the only train, which is actually exclusively tourist. People here are very open.
It’s very clean. There are hardly any yard dogs on the streets, and the ones that are there are fed, combed out and with a collar. We haven’t figured out how they achieved this yet. Toilets (in every country I would put this in a separate item!) are almost everywhere paid and everywhere sterile! Everyone does their best to leave it the way it was. It’s nice! The food is divine. And they don’t drink alcohol! Seriously, maximum 0,3 beers that look like lemonade.
The border with Ecuador is a bit scary. Kids throwing rocks at buses, roadblocks everywhere. On the ocean itself, there are villages that are hard to reach. It’s only accessible by boat. If you go there, prepare to be the only white people for 500 kilometers.
Also noteworthy is Guajira, a desert in the very north, belonging to the Indians. There they mine sea salt (they have exclusivity on it), sell gasoline from Venezuela in tanks and don’t pay taxes.
Costa Rica
Where everyone is going and why
- San Jose is the capital.
- The province of Guanacaste has the coolest beaches.
Myths and legends
This is a typical Latin American country.
If by “typical” you mean “beautiful” – definitely yes. But it is favorably distinguished by the peacefulness of the locals. It’s safe here, and they’re so pacifist that they don’t even keep an army.
7 reasons to be here
- Take tons of pictures of Arenal Volcano.
- Swimming in two oceans in one vacation.
- To visit Los Angeles (that’s the name of the basilica).
- Float an inflatable boat down a mountain river.
- Buy home a couple bottles of Cafe Rica liqueur.
- From a safe distance, gaze at volcanic eruptions (there are over a hundred of them, half of them active).
- To look for someone’s lost treasure.
What they say
I love Costa Rica for its nature. I have parrots flying outside my window, monkeys screaming in the trees (about like dinosaurs). We have 2 completely different but beautiful coasts. The Caribbean is just like the pictures in the commercials. The clearest sea, authentic tree towns, houses standing on stilts. It often rains there, but in the Limon area, there is a high probability of encountering a sloth right in a tree. I personally encountered a sloth literally nose to nose, climbed up a tree and saw how fast they can move.
There is more civilization on the Pacific, different beaches, different weather. You can’t explain it in words, you have to feel it. Costa Rica is a small country, you can meet the dawn at the Caribbean Sea, and the sunset already on the Pacific Ocean. Of course, you don’t have to do exactly that, but for some people it sounds romantic.
Many people are scared of snakes and scorpions, but in reality it’s not that scary. Just do not go into the tall grass and put on slippers without looking. The probability of meeting a snake in ordinary life is quite small, well, and scorpions are caught, of course, but they do not pounce on people.
Costa Rica has several active volcanoes: it doesn’t mean they erupt all the time. You can just climb them, look at the steam coming from the ground, at the boiling “cement” (something gray). And there are also thermal springs, rivers and pools of water heated by the forces of the volcano nearby. If you know the place, you can bathe directly in a wild hot river.
We also have this beach, Ostional, where turtles lay eggs en masse. The association has a community where they post when the arribada starts (that’s the name of the event in Spanish). Lasts usually a few days and you can come and see the crowds of sea turtles and sometimes turtle babies. You can also see a turtle on a regular beach, but it is rare.
And yes, keep in mind that Costa Rica is not a cheap country. Any excursion will cost a minimum of $50 per person, and sometimes as much as $150. Don’t be surprised.
Cuba
Where everyone is going and why
- Havana is the corner of victorious socialism with the most photogenic houses and cars.
- Santiago de Cuba – old man Bacardi (the founder, not the rum) lived there.
- Varadero is the main tourist and beach region of this not-so-large country; with discos, but almost without the charm of the rest of Cuba.
- Cayo Coco is a slightly less mainstream beach region that is starting to be heavily promoted by tour operators.
- Matanzas is a city of bridges, caves and comparisons with other cities in the world.
- Santa Clara is the mecca of Che Guevara fans.
Myths and legends
Crime and fraud are rampant here.
In Cuba, as we have already noticed, the police work well. Therefore, the probability that you will be attacked in broad daylight for a couple of dollars tends to zero. It is possible to ask you for twice as much for your goods. But to rob or criminalize for nothing – unlikely.
7 reasons to be here
- Buy a package of authentic Cuban cigars.
- And a lot of rum.
- Go to the Hemingway House Museum.
- On the joy of seeing it, go drinking Mojitos at the famous (among Hemingway and Cuban fans) bar La Bodeguita del Medio.
- Rent a Cadillac.
- See the Matanzov caves of Bellamar.
- To visit the place where history was made – at the Monumento a la Toma del Tren Blindad, where Che knocked armored trains off the tracks.
What they say
Cuba is a very party place. Everybody dances and drinks rum. And this is not a stereotype! We were surprised when on the tour the musicians played Despacito, the waitress threw the plates and ran to dance. Only after the song was over was our food brought to us. In the clubs, Cubans teach the girls how to dance. It turned out that I was a very harmful student, because I wanted to lead him in the dance myself, and that is not the custom.
The food, to be honest, is unpalatable. But you can eat rum, which is what we did. Excursions are good. We went to Havana – it was very impressive, they took us to many other cities, where the nature is awesome, we went to a tobacco factory – unusual. We went to the valley, where the jungle. That’s how different Cuba is! In terms of natural scenery – a bit of a mixture of Thailand and Cyprus.
There is no service – that’s what Dominica is for. We got used to living in one bathroom with ants by the end of the vacation. They live like that themselves, and you can see that they try very hard for tourists.
Mexico
Where everyone is going and why
- Cancun is the premier coastal destination, a hotspot for people from all over the world (and it’s relatively close to attractions).
- Mexico City is the capital.
- Acapulco – aye-aye-aye-aye-aye.
Myths and legends
There are gangsters here too!
It’s safer here than many states in the US! The farther away from the border, the better. In Cancun, everything is so calm (except, perhaps, for drunken fights between visiting youths in the numerous nightclubs, but we did not see that there).
The food’s terrible, you’re just gonna have to eat burritos.
Of course, the tortilla is the head of everything here, and Mexicans can wrap anything in tortillas. But there are also wonderful grilled meats, soups based on ancient Indian recipes, and nachos here are tastier than your favorite movie theater. You’ll find something to eat.
Sombrero is this here?
Yes, you guessed it. The sombrero is the national hat of neither Peruvians nor Bolivians. But don’t think that everyone here knocks sombrero fields on buses. There are no idiots here, only sellers of all sorts of stuff to tourists.
7 reasons to visit Mexico
- Go scuba diving.
- Listen to the mariachi.
- Don’t miss the Day of the Dead celebration.
- Collect all the historical sites (Tenochtitlan ruins, Templo Mayor, Chichen Itza and the rest) in my head and phone memory and stop finally confusing them.
- To try to get up in the surf.
- Drink a lot of tequila.
- Buy some really nice beaded skull, because why not.
What they say
At the time of my trip I had only one association with this country – the show “Vacation in Mexico”. I didn’t watch it, but it was on the rumor at the time, and everyone roughly understood that Mexico should be like in TV: snow-white beaches, bars, villas, etc. Fortunately, it turned out not to be like that at all.
For me, Mexico is a country with some wild, beastly power and energy. It is the acoustic mysteries of Chichen Itza, the swarthy bodies of those whose ancestors were real Mayans, the cool cactus-spinach juice in the heat and the warming bitterness of tequila in the evening.
My favorite place in Mexico is the Skaret Eco-Park. It’s a huge reserve where you can feel like a real savage, getting lost in all those thickets. Swimming in the blue waters of the local lagoons, feeding giant turtles, stroking Ara parrots, watching flamingos – what could be more beautiful?
Nicaragua
Where they’re going and why
- Managua is the capital.
- Granada is one of the main tourist regions of this not-so-rich country.
- San Juan River – there is a lot of interesting wildlife here.
Myths and legends
Feminism didn’t win here
Unfortunately, it’s true. And we are not talking about flash mobs on social networks (although they are not organized here either), but about the real problems of harassment of women. The patriarchy here is so ramshackle that it is better for girls without a male escort not to come here. Although, again, as luck would have it, you can spend your vacation quite peacefully.
7 reasons to be here
- Realize the unexpected extent of your own unpretentiousness.
- It’s cheap to get into ecotourism. Everything here is really cheap.
- Fishing in the San Juan River.
- Surf in places where most likely no one you know has surfed.
- Buy a hammock to make your neighbors envious: Nicaraugan hammocks are the best!
- Enjoy a local Las Vegas experience in Managua.
- Relax by a not-so-clean lake overlooking a very dormant volcano.
What they say
Nicaragua is my favorite of all the Central American countries I’ve been to. I’ve easily made tons of friends, had exciting adventures, and I’ve never been bored. From partying in San Juan del Sur to cliff jumping north of Somoto Canyon, it was an incredible experience. The main transportation is yellow school buses that will take you anywhere for a mere penny. There’s endless fun and inexpensive activities like volcano and regular surfing. 10 out of 10, I’ll go again!
Panama
Where everyone is going and why
- Panama is the capital.
- Balboa is the launching point for Panama Canal cruises.
Myths and legends
This is a backward country with nothing but a canal.
Have you seen pictures of Panama? Despite the low buildings of the old part of the capital and all those barefoot people, Panama is quite a decent metropolis.
7 reasons to visit Panama
- Snorkeling in Portobelo.
- To see the Panama Canal that everyone talks about.
- See the ruins of the old city in Panama and marvel at the two-colored Cathedral.
- Hide out in the ruins of Portobelo’s medieval structures from adult life.
- Learn to haggle with local cab drivers and hone your skills to unprecedented heights.
- Get away (in whatever plan you want) in Bastimentos National Park.
- Spend an entire day on a coffee plantation, decide to never drink coffee again, and give up the next morning.
What they say
Panama seemed a bit strange to me. It is such an inherently agrarian country, poor-looking if you leave the capital, but actively building. The capital is very different. I visited Baku once, I think they are a bit similar. The same strong contrast between poor houses and steep skyscrapers. I advise you to go to the canal purely for the sake of a tick. I didn’t see anything beautiful or interesting there.
Paraguay
Where everyone is going and why
- Asuncion is the capital.
- Ybycui National Park is even more beautiful.
- Itaipu Dam is for fans of man-made wonders.
Myths and legends
It’s not the standard of cleanliness
The truth. Don’t expect neat garbage cans and carefully swept streets, even in Asuncion. People here don’t really care about such things. Just accept it and try not to litter yourself.
7 reasons to visit
- Rent a jeep and go racing across the plains.
- Try the local yerba mate (by the way, it is different in all countries, here they like it cold and call it “terere”).
- Stock up on local pottery (and make the vendors happy by lifting their economy off their knees).
- Going to the Itaipu Dam.
- Buy aho po’i embroidery T-shirt.
- Self buy herbs on the street to make mate at home.
- Get to know the Mennonites (they live quite far from Asunción).
What they say
It’s a pretty poor country. It was one of the first places I consciously went to, and it’s hard to explain why. I’ve only been to Asuncion, it’s peculiar, deserted and not very clean, but sometimes there are some interesting buildings. This is one of those countries where you need to go either very adventurous, or strongly wanting to stand out, or just bored of simple tourist happiness traveler.
Peru
Where everyone is going and why
- Lima is the capital.
- Machu Picchu is a destination for wealthy travelers from all over the world.
- Arequipa is a beautiful southern city not for everyone, but if you do, it’s worth a visit.
- Amazon, or properly, the Amazon River basin.
Myths and legends
It’s a terribly expensive country
Not at all. This is a country that is terribly expensive to fly to, but the prices inside are perfectly adequate (not like in Norway, for example). So if you have saved up for a flight, you are halfway done.
It’s always cloudy here
Is it always cloudy in your hometown? Well, it’s about the same here. The capital Lima is a normal city with different seasons.
All of Peru is a village with nothing in it
Bullshit, the stores have everything. It’s the same as everywhere else.
7 reasons to visit Peru
- Climb Machu Picchu.
- A look at the Nazca Plateau from above.
- See the main lake of all school children – Titicaca.
- Visit Trujillo, a colonial-era town.
- Meet the shaman.
- Iron alpaca and stock up on wool sweaters.
- Put on a traditional national costume.
What they say
Our trip to Peru was the most unforgettable adventure of our lives. It was one of our dream countries and we decided to do the impossible. During our 3 week stay, my friend and I traveled almost the entire country with a local guide. Our trip included Lima, Cusco, Nazca (and flying over it), visiting Machu Picchu, Paracas, Iquitos, staying in a tribe 80 km up the Amazon from Iquitos, Arequipa, Coca Canyon, Puno and many other most amazing places in Peru. Traveling with a personal guide is not cheap, but it is fully paid off by the excitement and incomparable unique experiences.
Probably the most incredible for me was the Paracas Reserve – it was like another planet! First you drive for 7-8 hours through the desert, the sands of which consist of different rocks, which creates the effect of shimmering from soft pink to rich blue. And then you come to a cliff and all that desert merges with the saturated ocean. All in all – FIRE!
El Salvador
Where everyone is going and why
- San Salvador is the capital (against the backdrop of the countryside in general).
- The Ruta de las Flores route is what little there is to marvel at here.
Myths and legends
There’s nothing to do here
In general, this is a frequent stereotype that can be applied to many countries. And which, most importantly, depends only on the person saying it. Yes, El Salvador is not the most sightseeing-rich country in the world. But that doesn’t make it uninteresting. In any case, if you haven’t visited half of the world already, you will find it interesting and new here.
7 reasons to be here
- Go to the crater lake near Alegria.
- Poseurf in the village of La Perla in the south of the country.
- See another statue of Christ the Savior – in the central square of San Salvador.
- Pet a critter in Montecristo El Trifinio National Park.
- Try to marvel at the Art Deco architecture, carefully hidden behind the bazaar into which the streets have been turned.
- Go to the unusual Iglesia El Rosario church with oddly shaped stained glass windows.
- Eat the pupusa (they’re just tortilla flatbreads with a filling).
What they say
It’s like poor California: warm, palm trees. Climate-wise, it’s okay. But it’s a socially awful place. I don’t advise girls to go there. Only in big groups with guys.
Uruguay
Where everyone is going and why
- Montevideo is the capital.
- Punta del Este is the country’s main beach region.
- Cabo Polonio is a charming coastal spot with a lighthouse.
Myths and legends
Uruguay is unremarkable and there is nothing to do there.
For a minute, one of the richest countries in the region! Uruguay combines the best of its neighbors. There is already a bright future here with very little corruption, freedom of the press and other benefits of civilization. They also have Natalia Oreiro.
7 reasons to visit Uruguay
- See Montevideo’s main building, the Palacio Salvo. By the way, the bottom three floors symbolize hell. Adocek. Adisco.
- See the local La Rambla in Montevideo (doesn’t look like Barça at all).
- See sea lions in Cabo Polonio.
- To sing the netlena Cambio dolor in the homeland of Natalia Oreiro.
- The meat to try here is “asado a la parrilla”.
- Buy Grappamiel honey tincture.
What they say
Uruguay is awesome! I haven’t been to many countries in South America, but Uruguay is just gorgeous in my opinion. The beaches are nice, the people are wonderful. I highly recommend it.
One tip is the house of the artist Carlos Paez (it’s a white house called Casa Pueblo). Take a tour or hire a local guide, he will tell you much more interesting things than wikipedia.
I studied Spanish at university, but in Uruguay it is phonetically complex. You don’t get used to its sounds right away. In general, though, they speak it quite correctly.
We were actively preparing for the trip, we read a lot, so I can share one not the most hackneyed idea: to go to Punta del Este to watch whales! They swim close to the shore, as close as you can see whales from land. It’s very interesting!
Chile
Where everyone is going and why
- Atacama Desert – for fantastic lunar and Martian views (there really is a valley of the moon and a valley of Mars), photos from the Desert Hand.
- Northern and Southern Patagonia – mountains, forests, reserves, rugged nature.
- The fiery land is glaciers.
- Lake Region, River Region – in principle, understandable.
- And, of course, Easter Island with its famous Moai statues. If it takes a long time to get to Chile, it is even longer, farther and more expensive. But for the sake of such a trip you can afford it and be patient.
Myths and legends
There’s terrible Spanish in here
It’s a terrible truth. Even if you’ve already become a professor of Spanish, you won’t begin to understand the Chilean version of the language in one fell swoop. There’s an incredible amount of regional modisms, idioms, and words that are present in conversation and not in your academic Spanish textbook. Plus the peculiarities of pronunciation. In general, if you were going to flaunt it like in Barça, this is not the place for you.
It’s a desert!
The Atacama, the driest desert, is indeed massive. But if you expect to see one big sandy nothing here, then make your way somewhere else. The desert in Chile is a rich and interesting place. Otherwise people wouldn’t come here from all over the world to see volcanoes and cacti.
7 reasons to visit Chile
- To see the Moai statues.
- Make friends with a llama or an alpaca.
- To drink the most wonderful local carmenère wine.
- Learn that Chilean youth prefer beer to wine and a local cocktail with the endearing name “piscola” (pisco + cola) (pisco + cola). Dare to try it. Pass for a local
- Go to Cape Horn and not get blown away by the terrible local winds. You’re not Mary Poppins to fly.
- To visit an unbelievably large glacier
- Watch the Magellanic penguins.
What they say
Chile is a country with a lot of movement vertically and so little horizontally, which is confined within the borders of the Andes and the Pacific Ocean – however, it shows a turbulent character in Chilean latitudes.
From north to south, like pearls on a string, are strung regions with a stunning climatic diversity – from the world’s driest desert Atacama with volcanoes at 6000 meters to the glaciers of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. In between lurks the regions of Araucania, Rivers, Lakes with evergreen emerald forests and again…snow-capped volcanoes. But already in a completely different frame.
In the north you’ll find furry llamas, in the south colonies of penguins. In Valdivia, sea lions roam the piers and sometimes wander the streets into town. Valdivia was once shaken by the worst earthquake in history, another Chilean landmark.
The central region presents an encounter with the colorful port city of Valparaiso, wine valleys and the sharp peaks of the Andes.
But there’s another destination in Chile, a five-hour flight west of the capital. The famous point in the ocean, Easter Island, is the only piece of the tropics in the country – stone statues around the perimeter of the island, a volcano crater, and Polynesian culture flavored with South American rhythm.
Ecuador
Where everyone is going and why
- Quito is the capital.
- Baños is a tourist town.
- Galapagos Islands to the turtles.
- Cuenca is a city in the mountains with all the befitting beauty and hot healing springs.
- Guayaquil is a large city with colonial buildings and ruins of Indian settlements.
Myths and legends
It’s a banana republic and a third world country.
Banana Republic, yes. Here bananas are fried, dried and actively exported. But don’t worry, the locals know other food exists. And as for a third world country – well, no. Quite a European civilization (and level of service).
7 reasons to be here
- To see how mangoes grow.
- Go to the famous (at least among Latin America fans) market at Plaza de Ponchos in Otavalo.
- To see the turtles.
- To see whales.
- Buy a rug from the Indians.
- While Chile and Peru fight over whose pisco is more proper, drink it in Ecuador.
- Visit Sangay Park, where there are three volcanoes not far from each other. One of them has a lake inside.
What they say
The jewel of the banana republic is the Galapagos. Sea lizards sneezing salt, cormorants moving their blue paws in incredibly funny mating dances, pelicans of all colors, frigates inflating a red bag on their chest and playing on it with their beaks like a drum… And all, of course, endemics. To pet a one and a half meter shark in the underwater tunnel and to watch how a seal plays with them is a common thing.
Airline tickets to the islands are not cheap, but luckily we learned a flyer: you can arrive at the airport early in the morning with your bags and buy the remaining tickets right before your flight. It’s much cheaper that way than buying in advance. And Galapagos also has a cheaper analog – a small island Isla de la Plata. In the waters around it in August you can often see whales. On the way back we were lucky: whales were actively blowing fountains, waving their tails and even jumped a couple of times not far from the boat.
I really want to come back to see albatrosses and orcas, as well as to eat the world’s most delicious ceviche again (people with sick stomachs should be careful, as it contains a lot of vinegar), to buy a panama in the birthplace of these hats (yes, yes, they were only brought to Europe through Panama), to try to get up on the surf and just to chill in the relaxed atmosphere of this rainbow country.
Puerto Rico (U.S. territory)
Where everyone is going and why
- San Juan is the capital.
- The islands of Vieques and Culebra are paradise islands.
Myths and legends
The entire U.S. underworld hangs out here.
Yes, the musical about modern Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, did not serve the country well. Of course, it has been recognized (thanks to the Puerto Rican protagonist), but the clan squabbles have been attributed to Puerto Ricans for nothing. This hinders travelers, and the main tourist flow to the country is provided by Americans. In fact, things have changed in half a century.
7 reasons to visit Puerto Rico
- To see that the people here are not like the people in West Side Story.
- Walk inside the old fortress of Fuerte San Felipe del Moro.
- Understand nothing at the Tibs Indian Ceremonial Center in Ponce (or understand anything at all).
- Drink a proper pina colada.
- Take a tour of the country (good thing it’s small) and see all the variety of critters.
- Spend the night on a beach that lights up (on Vieques Island, called Mosquito Bay).
- And a day at Flamenco Beach on Culebra with rusty tanks. Where else would you see something like this?
What they say
It’s a very special place. I come back here all the time. There is so much life in Puerto Rico! But even though I came here time and time again, and then moved away for two years, there was still one place I hadn’t been. Vieques. For my birthday, I went there. It was a real liberation! I met people from all over the world and just hung out there for a few days. It became a place of strength for me. I believe Puerto Rico can cure some mental problems. I recommend it to everyone!
Guadeloupe (French territory)
Where to go and why to go
The main attraction and beauty is the island of Bas Ter. There is a second island, Grand Ter, which is also beautiful.
Myths and legends
The beaches here aren’t great.
The beaches here are very – but very crowded. On Bas Ter there’s a better chance of laying down.
7 reasons to travel
- Lying on the white sand, and then straight to the black sand. And then white sand again. A hundred times.
- Go to the sugar factory.
- Constantly bumping into some sort of waterfall while walking around.
- Walk through the grand Morne-a-Loe cemetery in Petit Canal.
- See how the locals live.
- Eat stuffed crab.
- To try the Caribbean’s coolest punch, tee punch.
What they say
I’m a fan of all things French, so I generally liked Guadeloupe. The signage there is almost like Paris! All that flair aside, you should come here just for the volcanic beaches and the endless punch. My young man and I lived here in very spartan conditions, and the punch helped us to accept the world in all its diversity. It’s delicious, really!
Martinique (French territory)
Where everyone is going and why
- Pierre – with the Paul Gauguin Museum.
- Caravelle Reserve – postcard views.
- Balata Botanical Gardens – other postcard views.
Myths and legends
All the unemployed lazybones here.
Not all of them, but a third. Since it’s an overseas French territory, the locals have a whole carload of French benefits and social perks. And when you’re European, you can be lazy, I guess.
7 reasons to be here
- See how bananas are grown in Belfort.
- It’s possible to eat these same bananas with cod. It’s called a food perversion called “Ti-nain-lan-mori.”
- And cod with avocado (“trempage”).
- Climb the active volcano Montagne Pelee.
- Interact with bats in the caves.
- To see the estate of Josephine, Napoleon’s wife.
- Try the rum that many French people consider to be the best – St. James.
What they say
Rum! Be sure to buy local rum! Actually, I’ve been to Martinique once, by the sea. I think that’s how you go to Turkey. Well, we go to Martinique. You seem to have Sochi, and we have the Cote d’Azur, but it is more interesting to fly somewhere far away. There are great beaches here, very beautiful nature, which is not to be found in France.
St. Maarten (French territory)
Where everyone is going and why
Since it is the smallest inhabited island in the world, dividing it is a bit pointless. But if you want to, you can use the border of the island divided between two countries and distinguish the French city of Marigot and the Dutch city of Philipsburg.
Nominally, only the French part is considered Latin America – but seriously, why bother when the area is only 87 squares.
Myths and legends
There’s nothing there.
In terms of infrastructure, it’s a bit difficult there now – St. Maarten was almost completely destroyed by a hurricane in 2017. But the island is actively rebuilding back. The steam train is small but strong.
7 reasons to visit St. Maarten
- See an airplane landing at the very same Princess Juliana Airport (whose runway is right next to Maho Beach).
- Play casino games on the Dutch side.
- Climbing up to Peak du Paradis.
- A boat ride.
- Take a trip to the underwater marine reserve at Orient Bay Beach.
- Go to a butterfly farm.
- Going from Holland to France and back again.
What they say
I thought St. Maarten would be like Martinique or Guiana. French. But no! It’s almost like the United States. They speak normal English and you can pay with dollars. But I was in this country until last year, before the big hurricane. I hope it’s back to normal by now. I would like to go back there someday.
Saint-Barthélemy (French territory)
Where everyone is going and why
- Gustavia is the capital, where all the most interesting things are concentrated.
- Saint-Jean is a fashionable area of an already fashionable resort.
Myths and legends
It’s another ruined island.
Yeah, Hurricane Irma didn’t spare anyone. And the islands here are too small, so they didn’t stand a chance. But they’re rebuilding so fast. In just a few months, they were ready to welcome tourists. And now everything looks almost as beautiful as in the photos from the old advertising brochures.
7 reasons to be here
- Go to a nude beach where you could theoretically meet someone very wealthy.
- And manage not to burn to a bright red color on the white sand.
- To see how obscenely rich people live.
- To see the Rockefeller house.
- Explore ancient Swedish forts.
- Go diving in Grand Cuy de Sac.
- Climb the Morne du Vité mountain to see the whole island and drive back with a clear conscience.
What they say
I didn’t spend much time on St. Barth’s. We were on a press tour, and although we must have paid a lot of money for our flight, we didn’t have much time to enjoy the beautiful life. I never do that myself, and if it’s a long flight away, I try to stay in the country longer, but okay.
The atmosphere of St. Barthélemy reminded me of Monaco. Lots of yachts, a sense of a rich life. But I’m not sure I would go there myself, it’s far away and expensive. Only if you have a lot of money or the possibility to combine a visit to the island with trips to other places.
Guyane (French territory)
Where to go and why to go
- Cayenne is the capital with tropical jungles and tribes of temperate savagery.
- Kau is a region with even more jungle.
- The Ile du Salut (Salvation Islands) were paradise islands that served as a prison for criminals.
Myths and legends
There’s still a gold rush here.
No. It was the middle of the century, so no one’s in a fever now. Although there may still be fanatical prospectors looking for gold in Guiana.
7 reasons to visit Guiana
- To eat enough shrimp so that less of it is exported.
- Taste the cayenne pepper right off the bush.
- Go for a walk in the jungle. Just be careful.
- Trying to catch the dry season (it’s short here).
- Go to the local carnival, if you’re here.
- Watch a spacecraft launch almost at the very equator.
What they say
I didn’t spend very much time in Guiana. It’s a small but very rich country. They all think they are French here; maybe they are. I’ve been to Guyana and Venezuela, and I’m sure it’s much better. It’s a peculiar country, it can be inconvenient to get to, but it’s definitely worth it to vacation here and experience this slice of France on the road!
