10 Amazing Places To Visit in Latin America – Tips After Years In The Region

There are many places to visit Latin America. I went here for the first time in 2008, and have visited the majority of the countries in the area.

These days I spend about 8 months here every year. I speak Spanish and Portuguese, have many local friends, and feel like home in the latin culture.

Certain places just got something special. Like magic.

Here are 10 of my favorite places to visit in Latin America.

Boipeba, Brazil

One definition of “paradise” is “a place or condition of great happiness where everything is exactly as you would like it to be”. That’s how I felt at Boipeba. Everyone is so relaxed and it’s hard to feel otherwise. Most of the streets are made of sand and many were walking around without shoes as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

I stayed at a posada (the Brazilian version of a Bed and Breakfast) in town. There are many to choose from. Start your day with a beach walk to Morere beach, one of my favorites, before the tide gets too high (and before all the day-trip tourists from other islands come there for lunch, making it look like any beach and nothing special). Spend the day here exploring the area and the beautiful neighbor beaches, the natural pools and Ponta dos Castelhanos. Enjoy the most beautiful sunset at one of the seaside restaurants.

Take a boat or a tractor (yes, they offer tractor transport here) back, finish your evening with a delicious tapioca and a Caipirinha at the local market. If you feel like staying up for a while, there are some charming bars around.

O Ceu de Boipeba, too good to leave.

If you’re not staying at O Ceu de Boipeba, make sure to at least stop by for breakfast or dinner. It’s a gorgeous guesthouse with amazing views and a spa vibe. I skipped my boat to spend a few hours extra here, just because of how pretty it was.

Apart from exploring beautiful beaches, eating, drinking, sleeping, and getting to know the locals, there is not so much to do at Boibepa. It’s the perfect escape where you can relax for a couple of days without feeling like you’re missing out.

San Pedro, Chile

Floating in Lagunas Baltinache, an incredible feeling.

San Pedro is known as the driest desert in the world. Also for its beautiful surroundings, where you can explore new places every day and still not see it all.

To add to its magic, it has been described as one of the best places in the world for stargazing. I took a stargazing tour and it was incredible. I’ve never seen so many stars in my life. You get to learn more about the science behind it, which is fascinating. You don’t have to be a big astrology fan to enjoy the experience since the guide will customize everything based on interest and knowledge. Who doesn’t like a sky full of stars, anyway?

San Pedro is a very touristic place but still got a magical vibe. Some of the popular highlights are Valle de la Luna, Piedras Rojas, and Valle de Arcoiris. To avoid the biggest groups of tourists, you can explore some places independently by bike our rental car. There are also agencies that organize more private experiences, such as Ayllu. One of my personal favorite experiences was to float in Lagunas Baltinache. Unforgettable. Combine it with breakfast dressed in a robe listening to your favorite music (yes, this is possible).

Barichara, Colombia

I would challenge you not to be charmed by beautiful Barichara. I couldn’t stop taking photos. Cobblestone streets, white houses, and cute cafes. It just gets prettier. There are many charming accommodation options to choose from. The relaxing vibe makes it easy to sleep like a baby.

If you’re in for a different treat, try the local snack hormiga culonas (roasted, salty ants), even if it didn’t become my new favorite. Do also make sure to order the delicious local specialties gabrito (goat) and corn arepas.

Take a 7km scenic walk to the small neighbor town Guane. Sit down at one of the local tiendas at the plaza and watch the world go by. If you don’t feel like walking back, there are buses leaving from the plaza back to Barichara.

If you’re in the mood for some action after all the tranquility, Colombia’s adventure capital San Gil is located 30 min away from Barichara. Here you can do everything from bungee jump to 5-level rafting. I did, adrenaline rush guaranteed.

Torres Del Paine, Chile

Torres Del Paine is a unique place. I took the classic W-walk, this guide lies it out pretty well if you’re planning on doing the same. The number of tourists is regulated these days to avoid that the park gets over-crowded, and you have to make a reservation before entering.

With that said, you won’t be alone. I went at the end of the season and recommend you to do the same. At some camps, there were about 50 other people, and the staff told me that this number can increase up to 500 in high season. That’s crazy. We were even lucky enough to have a few places for ourselves on the way.

Fairytale views at every turn.

There were so many highlights. Some of my favorites were the views of the glacier on the way to Paso, Lago Nordernskjöld and Valle del Frances. Once you’re at Torres Del Paine itself, it’s well worth waking up early to watch the sunrise at the top. After having seen so many pictures of it before, it felt a little bit like a dream.

We were spoiled with sunshine every day, contributing to those postcard views. This isn’t always the case, but the natural beauty makes it worth visiting no matter what the weather is like. Since the majority will be disconnected during their stay, it’s a great opportunity to just be present, connect with nature and interesting people on the way.

The villages around Salta, Argentina

The Hill of Seven Colours is one of many places that will make you say wow in the area.

There is so much to explore around Salta and Jujuy. Personally, I prefer the places close by Salta, rather than Salta itself. Go village-hopping and explore the beautiful nature around Purmamarca, Humahuaca, Tilcara and the paradise for wine-lovers, Cafayate. My favorites were Purmamarca and Cafayate. There are many more places apart from these, too. I have to go back one day.

Bodega El Esteco, Cafayate

Argentina has lots of great empanadas and Salta is said to have some of the best ones. Pass by Patio de la Empanada, a little market with a few shops that only sell empanadas and beer. Have one or more glasses of Torrontés, the white wine which is produced in Cafayate. Go dancing at a peña, a great way to get to know the local culture and have a good time.

Salta is also a great base for exploring the amazing Salinas Grande and take the scenic Train to the Clouds. I did and would definitely recommend both.

Baracoa, Cuba

Baracoa, located on Cuba’s easternmost tip, ended up becoming one of my favorite spots after having traveled through the country. Here, you can swim in rivers, enjoy pretty beaches, explore Indian remains, museums, go trekking and indulge in locally produced chocolate, in just a few days. It’s much more rural than Havana, even though this might change soon since a lot of construction of new hotels and restaurants is going on.

Go salsa dancing until sunrise. Casa De La Trova is a great place to do so, and usually, you can continue to a different spot afterwards. The locals will bring you along.

Cusco, Peru

Cusco is well-known by now, especially since it’s the start off point for the Machu Picchu hike. I find Machu Picchu and its history incredible. There is much more to Cusco than Machu Picchu though. I spent 10+ days here and loved every single one.

Many people told me that Cusco was magical before I got there. No one could really explain why, but when I arrived I felt the same way. It’s just something mysterious about it. It might be because of its history and the places around it. So much happened here.

Apart from Machu Picchu, discover amazing places such as The Rainbow Mountain, Ollantaytambo and the temples just outside of Cusco itself. Go to the market, hang with the locals in one of the bars around the plaza, and the days will fly by.

Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

If you’re just a little bit into dancing, you have to visit Las Terrenas. Las Terrenas and the capital Santo Domingo are the bachata hot spots in the Dominican Republic. You will love Las Terrenas because of how friendly the locals are, the beautiful places nearby and the dancing. Many of my local Dominican friends think that Samana, the Peninsula where Las Terrenas is located, is the most beautiful part of the country.

There is a lot to see around Las Terrenas. It’s one of the better places for kitesurfing in the Dominican Republic. You can also go whale watching, trekking, canyoning, and horseback riding. Even if it has become a more popular destination in the last years, it’s still possible to find virgin beaches and your own paradise hang-out spots. Hire a scooter and explore the countryside. The areas around El Limon and Las Galeras are also just stunning.

Cabo Polonio, Uruguay

75 inhabitants. No roads. No electricity or running water. A few years ago, Cabo Polonio used to be completely disconnected. These days it’s possible to connect at some places, even if the reason most people come here is to be just that, disconnected.

There is only one supermarket, so make sure to do your shopping before it closes. There are a few restaurants and beautiful, wild views at every turn.

I went during the Uruguayan winter season and it was one of the most relaxing stays of my life. I’ve however understood that it gets really crowded during the summertime, so don’t expect the same if you go during that time.

There are several cute houses that you can rent for a more private stay. I’m a city person so for me, it was perfect with 2 nights during the low season. If you love tranquility, you might want to stay a few days more.

Check out my list of places to visit in Uruguay.

Paraty, Brazil

Paraty is a beautiful historic town located a few hours away from Rio. It has several great restaurants, cafes with delicious coffee, and even some nightlife, if you’re visiting during a weekend or the carnival. The carnival here is in fact quite famous, the complete town transforms into a big party with lots of blocos.

The town itself is super picturesque and colorful. There are more than 200 posadas in the area, and the locals told me that all of them are full during high season, especially around the carnival.

You should definitely take a boat trip to explore the islands in the area. It’s just stunning, I felt like if I was living in a postcard.

Do also visit the neighbor town Trinidad, which will spoil you with more beaches and beautiful, natural pools. Many of my local friends also recommended Ubatuba, even if I didn’t get the chance to go there this time.

And there is more

I could have made this list much longer. There is an endless amount of stunning destinations Latin America. What other destinations would you add to the list?