10 Reasons to Visit Latin America

Many US citizens forget about Latin America as a vacation destination. Instead, they opt to visit the more moderate climates of the Caribbean. Here are 10 reasons to visit Latin America.

1. There is a lot of history to explore.

From the ruins of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico to the Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires, Argentina, there are many layers to explore all throughout Latin America. Many cities still proudly display colonial architecture dating from the late 16th century and early 17th century. See first hand how Latin America's violent past has shaped the society that we know today.

2. Society in Latin American countries are much more complex than you are lead to believe.

While most Latin Americans can claim both European and Native American (Mayan, Incan, etc.) ancestry, there are some communities that have remained relatively unchanged for hundred of years. If you want a great glimpse at traditional Andean culture and artesian work, look no further than Otavalo, Ecuador.

3. There are still places where you can explore the remains of pre-Columbian Latin America.

Mexico, Peru, and many other Latin American countries can provide you with a glimpse of what pre-Columbian Latin America was like. They are continually learning more about the cultures that existed well before Columbus.

4. In many places, the climate is almost as mild as in the Caribbean, but the landscape in Latin America is much more diverse.

Whether you are looking for beaches; large, wind-swept plains; exotic islands; rainforest; or majestic mountains, Latin America has it all. In fact, many times all of the climates mentioned above exist in the same country. This is certainly true of countries such as Ecuador, Argentina, and Brazil.

5. There are big differences in culture between various Latin American countries.