Central and South American Destinations

Central and South American Destinations

Our first ventures outside of the US were to Mexico and Puerto Rico.  In both of these countries, we fell in love with the combination of a stunning geography, intriguing history and invigorating culture.  Of course, those trips were long before we even considered writing about our travels.  Since those days we have longed to return to both, and to have an opportunity to explore more of this diverse portion of the planet.

Central America is made up of 8 countries, while South America is composed of 12 sovereign nations, along with 2 territories still owned by France and the United Kingdom.  Then, there are over 700 Caribbean Islands.  The history of the many individual countries and islands is often a sad and turbulent story of violence and conquest and rebellion, resulting in distinct cultures that have become a blend of indigenous peoples, European invaders, and in some cases, Africans brought as slaves.  Somehow, these cultures have evolved into some of the most colorful, lively, and most friendly in the world.  Getting to know the locals and their customs is enjoyable and intriguing.

Visitors come from around the world to experience a bit of tropical splendor, history, and ancient sites.  Traveling to many of the countries in the southern  Americas, or the islands, is often affordable coming from anywhere in the world, but particularly coming from the US.

Our stories on Central and South American Destinations:

Here are some stories from friends who have visited some of these amazing destinations:

Best Things to do in Mexico

We had plans to get a taste of some of the other islands in September, 2017, on our first cruise.  Although this would not typically be our kind of vacation, it was a “girls trip,” starting in San Juan, and stopping on 6 different islands.  After some research, we learned that each of the islands had a very unique culture and lifestyle, as well as some different languages and currencies.  So, we agreed to go, and were even excited about it.  Not only were we planning to document the cruise experience itself, we had made arrangements for some local experiences so we could also share some of the local specialties of each island nation.

Then, sadly, two catastrophic hurricanes, Irma and Maria, tore through the islands.  As most readers are aware, the destruction was devastating to many of the islands.  These countries are still in recovery, but their doors are open, and visitors are welcomed.

If you are looking for a location other than Central or South America, start on the Our Destinations page.