10 Places that You Must Visit in Latin America

What comes into your mind when you think of Latin America? Soccer stars? Beauty queens? Nah, Latin America is more than that. It is home to stunning natural wonders, spectacular sights, friendly people, and a diversity of flora and fauna.

Latin America is romanticized for its carnivals and music and mysterious for its hidden natural wonders waiting to be discovered. There are many amazing places to visit in Latin America, among them are the Amazon Rain Forest, Galápagos Islands of Ecuador, and Angel Falls of Venezuela.

What places you should not miss when visiting Latin America?

• Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon Rainforest is the largest forest in the world. More than 20 percent of the world’s oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest, thus earning the moniker the “Lungs of the World”. The Amazon rainforest is a diverse ecosystem, home to a vast number of species of plants and animals, as well as tribes of indigenous peoples who survive remotely from modern civilization. The Amazon Rainforest covers an area of over two million square miles, covering nine countries and holding half of the planet’s remaining rainforests.

• Machu Picchu, Peru

Travel back to the time when the ancient Incas ruled a large portion of western Latin America, centered on the Andes Mountains. The Lost City of the Incas, Macchu Picchu is a spectacular archeological wonder atop the lush Andes. Macchu Picchu has about 200 structures made of perfectly cut granite stones that fitted perfectly tighter – without mortar. The origins of Machu Picchu remain a mystery as the Inca never left any record of why they built the site or how they used it before it was abandoned in the early 16th century.

• Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, Belize

Situated in the Cayo District in western Belize, Xunantunich is one of the most popular Mayan archeological sites in Latin America. It may have been occupied as early as 1000 BC, and the large architecture that remained was built in the 7th century AD. It was first explored in the 1800s by a British medical officer. In the Mayan language, Xunantunich’s name means “Sculpture of Lady”. (Belize, by the way, is the setting for Len Stage’s science fiction novel The Brotherhood of the Wone.)

• Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins, Mexico

Chichen Itza is a ruined ancient sacred Mayan city on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and was the center of pilgrimage for the Maya civilization for over a thousand years. Its name literally means “Mouth of the well of the Itza”. The most notable ruin on Chichen Itza is the El Castillo pyramid, which is also known as the Temple of Kukulcan.

• Lago de Atitlán, Guatemala

Picturesque is one word that best describe Lago de Atitlán (Lake Atitlán in English), which is the deepest lake in Central America. In the Nahuatl language, Atitlán means “between the waters”. Lago de Atitlán is surrounded by many towns and villages, in which Maya culture is still prevalent. Several submerged Mayan archeological sites have been discovered in Lago de Atitlán.

• Easter Island, Chile

The mysterious Easter Island is famous for the moai, a collective of 887 giant monolithic stone figures that were carved by an ancient Polynesian culture that vanished centuries ago. Another link to the lost culture includes petroglyphs or rock art found on the torso of the head statues, into the rocks, and ancient stone houses. What else to do at Easter Island rather than just gaze at the moai? Go surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.

• Galápagos Islands, Ecuador

Go wildlife viewings in the Galápagos Islands, home to a vast number of animal species, including giant tortoise, sea lions, penguins, and iguanas, all abounding thanks to a lack of natural predators. The volcanic archipelago is truly a paradise for every animal lover. Another factor that makes the Galápagos Islands so unique is its unusual climate. The archipelago straddles the equator, making the climate temperate.

• Angel Falls, Venezuela

Venezuela is home to many natural wonders, the most famous being Angel Falls. With a height of 979 meters (3,212 ft.) and a plunge of 807 meters (2,648 ft.), it is the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall – and one of the four most beautiful waterfalls in the planet. A natural splendor, Angel Falls is located in an impenetrable jungle forest, so a helicopter trip is the best way to get a panoramic view of the falls. Trivia: Angel Falls is named after a U.S. aviator who became the first person to fly over the falls in the mid-20th century.

• Cartagena, Colombia

A beautiful port city off Colombia’s Caribbean coast, Cartagena is a city full of attractions, such as its colorful colonial buildings, churches, plazas, and excellent beaches. It is one of the ‘must visit’ location in Latin America for its blend of beachside charm and urban vitality. Noteworthy spots to visit in the walled city include the historic Castillo San Felipe de Barajas fortress, the wonderful Walled City, the neighborhood of Getsemaní, the Clock Tower, and the church of San Pedro Claver.

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Is there any other city in the world that’s fun, lively, and exciting as Rio de Janeiro? Nicknamed as the Dubbed the Marvelous City, Rio de Janeiro has hundreds of interesting spots to visit, including Ipanema, Copacabana, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the world-famous Christ the Redeemer statue. The city is also known for its beaches, samba, bossa nova, and the Carnival, an extravaganza of flashy and sexy costumes, music, and dance. 

For its beauty, history, and culture, Latin America is worth visiting. There is so much to see and experience.