Latin America has something for everyone, whether you want history, culture, nightlife, adventure, nature or everything in between. Here are the top 10 Spanish-speaking destinations in Latin America.
1Buenos Aires
Your every desire can be fulfilled in the capital of Argentina. Whether you want to indulge in street tango, party all night in the clubs, shop all day or stand on the terraces of River Plate or Boca Juniors, this is truly a 24-hour city.
2Angel Falls
For sheer height the Angel Falls in Venezuela’s Canaima National Park are unparalleled. Standing at 907 metres, with an uninterrupted drop of 807 metres, the tallest waterfall in the world dwarfs Niagara Falls by 16 times! There is a multitude of ways of getting to the falls – trekking on foot or in the cuiaras (canoes) – but probably the most spectacular is flying over the falls by plane.
3Galapagos Islands
Follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin and explore the 22 islands off the coast of Ecuador to marvel at the flora and fauna on view. Some call the islands the largest zoo on earth but remember to look but not touch!
4Patagonia
Whether you prefer relaxing in the surroundings of nature or taking a more active approach, there is plenty on offer here. National parks, fjords, glaciers, mountains and lakes can be seen at your leisure or up close and personal on many adventure activities.
5Machu Picchu
The most spectacular and popular tourist site in Peru boasts stunning vistas of an ancient city built in the sky overlooking the Urubamba River below. Reaching Machu Picchu, at 2,400 metres above sea level, is not for the faint of heart. You will have to acclimatize to the altitude sickness; however, the effort is most definitely worth it.
6Puerto Vallarta
Located on the Pacific coast in Mexico, this small city has a tropical climate, fantastic beaches and plenty of cultural sites of interest. Once dubbed the friendliest city in the world, Puerto Vallarta is a popular destination for tourists from Mexico and the USA.
7Iguazu Falls
Separating Argentina and Brazil is the Iguazu River, which is home to the widest waterfalls in the world. Taller than Niagara Falls, and over twice as wide, the 275 cascades spread out over 2 miles of the river in a horseshoe shape are among the most impressive natural wonders of the world. On the Argentine side of the falls there are tours and boat trips available.
8Lake Titicaca
Revered by the Incans as the cradle of their civilization, this is the largest lake in South America at 196 km long. It is the remnants of an ancient inland sea and has freezing waters due to its high altitude and because of the snow feeding in from the Andes. Discover the myths and legends that surround this holy area and visit the Uros tribe, who pre-date the Incas, on their floating islands made of reed.
9Easter Island
Known as the navel of the world, Easter Island or Rapa Nui is the most isolated, inhabited island on the planet being 3,200 km from Tahiti and Chile. Learn about the moai (statues made of volcanic rock) standing at 5.5 metres tall and tour the ruins to see how the first Europeans viewed this mysterious place.
10Cartagena
Since 1533 this has been an important port in the Caribbean, alive with the sounds, smells and sights of trade. Regular raiding by pirates prompted city walls to be erected in defence which still stand to this day. Visitors today enjoy the colonial history, the modern nightlife and the fantastic weather.