The most developed countries in Latin America. Latin American countries. Latin American countries

On the territory of Latin America with an area of ​​21 million square meters. km there are 46 states, more or less different from each other.

States of Latin America

The largest and most politically significant Latin American states are several countries.

Brazil
It is the largest state in Latin America with the largest population. The country is attractive for tourists with nightclubs, impenetrable jungle and impressive waterfalls.

Mexico
A unique country, practically the most popular among travelers. It is famous for the most popular beaches in the world, diving, ancient Mayan and Aztec buildings.

Argentina
A country rich in a variety of attractions and entertainment (corrida, predator feeding, wine festivals, motorcycle races, dolphin shows, etc.) The amazing nature of national parks with waterfalls and rare animals, skiing is an inalienable advantage of Argentina.

Costa Rica
This country is valued for its unique nature: volcanoes, nature reserves, mountain slopes, lakes, underwater national parks and exotic beaches.

Venezuela
This Latin American state attracts tourists with its unshakable ecosystem. The country can be proud of the highest waterfall in the world - Angel, rain forests of the Orinoco River and a wide variety of flora.

Peru
This is a mysterious country with objects of historical significance - Cusco, Machu Picchu.

Chile
A state with beautiful nature, popular ski resorts.

Bolivia
A multinational high-mountain country with salt hotels and deserts, mountain lake Titicaca.

Colombia
This state is famous for its luxurious resorts, the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, frequent festivals and fairs.

Less developed countries in terms of economy and tourism include Panama, Uruguay, Paraguay, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, Guiana and Guatemala.

Island States of Latin America

The island states of Latin America include the countries of the West Indies:

Barbados;
- Grenada;
- Dominican Republic;
- Dominica;
- St. Vincent;
- Grenadines;
- St. Kitts;
- Nevis;
- Saint Lucia;
- Jamaica;
- Trinidad;
- Tobago;
- Antigua;
- Barbuda;
- The Bahamas is a tiny but rich state, with a high standard of living and economy, it is famous for its luxurious hotels and pink flamingos;
- Haiti is practically the poorest country in the world: corruption and dictatorship do not give prosperity to the state, and frequent earthquakes only aggravate the economic situation;
- Cuba is distinguished by inexpensive shopping, cigars, rum, as well as developed surfing and water skiing.

The world of Latin America is unusual and unique, as it is characterized not only by an interesting style of communication between people, but also by climatic features, and unusually beautiful nature.

The expression "Latin America" ​​is heard quite often. Everyone understands it in their own way: for some it is South America, for others it is the countries of the American continent, whose population speaks mainly in Spanish. And for the third - it's just warm and small states located far from Europe, somewhere south of the United States. In fact, the countries of Latin America and their capitals, it is not so easy to form a list of these states. The reason is the difference in approaches.

As you know, South America was colonized mainly by immigrants from Spain and Portugal. Naturally, it so happened that subsequently young states were formed here, which adopted these two languages ​​as official ones. But linguists know that Spanish and Portuguese belong to the so-called group of Ibero-Romance languages, they arose at one time on the basis of ancient Latin. There is also the language of the French, it is also Romance, but Gallo-Romance. Like it or not, but he is not alien to Latin.

Thus, the list of Latin American countries was formed precisely on the basis of belonging to these conditionally Latin languages ​​(hence the name).

However, focusing only on the linguistic feature, we get a somewhat strange picture. In a close group of countries, individual states will be singled out that do not speak Romance languages, nevertheless, geographically most closely related to the "Latin" countries. It turns out that for convenience it is necessary to take into account not only the language of the country, but also its geographical location.

A striking example is Belize - an English-speaking state, surrounded on all sides by Spanish-speaking countries. Belize is usually included in the list of countries in Latin America, although, in terms of language, it should not be there.

Thus, a person interested in which countries are included in the concept of Latin America will quickly find that there is no single list. If we talk about the classical Latin countries that speak Spanish and Portuguese, we get one list. If we add here French, as well as, for example, the Creole language, there will be a different picture. And if we take into account the close geographical connection, our list will increase even more, but, strictly speaking, it will no longer be “Latin”.

But this is not all the difficulties. The fact is that not all countries in this region are separate states in the classical sense of the word. Some, such as Puerto Rico, are "semi-states", overseas territories of larger metropolitan areas (in the example given, a US territory). This leads to the fact that not all compilers agree to include them in the general list, citing the fact that these territories do not have real statehood. In any case, they have their own capitals, so we are inclined to include them in the list we are compiling.

What is more important: alphabet or geography?

There are quite a few countries included in the concept of "Latin America". Usually, if they are combined into one alphabetical list, it is poorly readable, attention is forced to “jump” from region to region, from the mainland to the island and back. We decided to split the list into several parts based on their geographic location.

So, here are the countries and capitals located south of the United States, but north of Colombia. Simply put, these are states located on the territory of North America, as well as on the narrow isthmus between the two Americas.

1. Mexico (Mexico City);
2. Guatemala (Guatemala);
3. Honduras (Tegucigalpa);
4. Belize (Belmopan);
5. Salvador (San Salvador);
6. Nicaragua (Nicaragua);
7. Costa Rica (San Jose);
8. Panama (Panama).

Well, further in our list of Latin American countries are states located in South America. This is a vast territory located between the Isthmus of Panama and the Drake Passage, from which it is already "within a stone's throw" to the coast of Antarctica.

1. Venezuela (Caracas);
2. Colombia (Bogota);
3. Guyana (Georgetown);
4. Suriname (Paramaibo);
5. Guiana (Cayenne);
6. Ecuador (Quito);
7. Peru (Lima);
8. Brazil (Brazilia);
9. Bolivia (La Paz);
10. Chile (Santiago);
11. Argentina (Buenos Aires);
12. Paraguay (Asuncion);
13. Uruguay (Montevideo).

Thus, our list includes 21 countries. All of them are located on the mainland of both Americas, and their belonging to Latin America is usually not disputed. Although, as already mentioned, in connection with the same Belize, some compilers do not quite agree with this list. As a rule, these are adherents of the "pure" version, according to which only Spanish-speaking states are considered countries of Latin America.

But in addition to continental America, there is also island America. A considerable number of small (and sometimes quite large) states and semi-states are located in the so-called West Indies, on the islands of the Caribbean. Among them there are Spanish-speaking ones, such as, for example, the largest state in the region - Cuba, but there are also many whose language does not belong to Latin at all. Nevertheless, geographically these states are closely related to each other, they have a similar history in many respects, which allows them to be attributed to Latin America. Although it is obvious that the main principle in this case is the “neighborhood factor”.

1. Cuba (Havana);
2. Jamaica (Kingston);
3. Haiti (Port-au-Prince);
4. Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo);
5. Bahamas (Nassau);
6. Puerto Rico (San Juan);
7. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Kingstown);
8. Grenada (St. George's);
9. Dominica (Roseau);
10. Barbados (Bridgetown);
11. Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain);
12. Antigua and Barbuda (St. John's).

We will limit our list of Latin American countries to these states, although in some sources it is brought up to 42. As a rule, it expands at the expense of tiny semi-states such as the British Virgin Islands, which are not truly independent countries, but constitute the so-called dependent territories. However, do not rush to think that these are colonies. As a rule, their metropolis is one of the developed countries of the world, which makes the standard of living in such quasi-states quite high.

Latin America is a huge and diverse region. In order to assess its scale, we present only some data:

• This territory lies simultaneously in two hemispheres: Northern and Southern.
• The lands of the region are washed by two oceans at once: the Atlantic and the Pacific.
• The region is home to the Andes, the longest mountain system in the world.
• The total area of ​​the region is almost 21 million km².
• About 630 million people live in the countries of the region.
• Latin America is a bridge (think about it!) between the USA and Antarctica.

Studying the countries of Latin America and their capitals, the list, it becomes clear how diverse natural conditions are here, what a rich culture of numerous peoples who mixed here as a result of colonization, the slave trade, and mass migrations of the population. It is difficult to find another similar region on the planet, where the destinies of peoples representing different continents would be so closely intertwined. Latin - a real "Noah's Ark" of mankind!

On no map or globe will you find a mainland or continent called Latin America. Latin America includes the former colonies of Spain and Portugal. America consists of 20 countries that stretch from Mexico to the extreme point of Argentina and speak Spanish.

The territory of Latin America is 15% of the total area of ​​the globe. The largest countries of their area and location are written below. What countries are among the largest in size in the unknown, distant and so mysterious Latin America. The land where the Mayan and Aztec tribes lived - the greatest warriors and scientists of our planet.

The country is located in the northern part of South America. Neighbors with three states of the mainland, and is also washed by the endless waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. According to legend, the country owes its name to the navigator Amerigo Vespucci, who reminded the dwellings of local residents of Venice and called them Venezuela, and then they began to call the whole country like that. Nowadays, 28,459,085 people live in the country. The country is divided into 23 states, and the area of ​​the state is 916,445 km². According to this indicator, Venezuela ranks 32nd in the ranking of the largest countries in the world and 7th in its region.

The full name of this Latin American country is the Plurinational State of Bolivia. The state is located in the central part of South America. Due to its geographical location, Bolivia has many neighbors and borders Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile and Peru, but does not have direct access to the sea. Bolivia is a mountainous country on its territory, the world-famous Andes mountains stretch. The state is divided into 9 departments, in which 10,461,053 Bolivians live. The area of ​​Bolivia is 1,098,580 km² and therefore it ranks 6th in Latin America and 27th worldwide.

The Republic of Colombia is the correct name for this South American state located in the northwest of the mainland. The country got its name in honor of the great Portuguese navigator Christopher Columbus. Colombia borders five countries and also has access to the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Only two states of South America have access to the two world oceans, the Atlantic and the Pacific, and Colombia is one of them.

The country does not lack water also because many rivers flow through it, including the Amazon. Colombia is divided into departments, of which there are 32 in the country, plus the capital district, which has a special status. The population of the country is 45,745,783 people, and the area of ​​the state 1,141,748 km², making it the fifth largest country in Latin America and 25th in the world.

The Republic of Peru is a country located in the northern part of South America. Peru neighbors Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile, and is washed by the Pacific Ocean. On the territory of modern Peru, the settlement of the Indians lived in the 10th century BC. Also, the ancestors of modern Peruvians were the great Inca warriors of South America, who built the majestic Inca empire that lasted about 300 years. There are many rivers and lakes flowing in the country, including the world-famous Lake Titicaca. Since 2002, the administrative division of the country has been transformed from departments to regions, and the country is now divided into 25 regions. The territory of Peru is 1,285,220 km² and according to this indicator, the country ranks 19th in the world. And there are 30 million 475144 descendants of the Incas living in the country.

The United Mexican States opens the top three largest countries in Latin America by area, this is the full name of Mexico. Mexico borders the United States, Belize and Guatemala, and also has access to two bays - the Caribbean and Mexico, and the waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. On the lands of modern Mexico, the Aztec and Mayan tribes lived, who were hundreds of years ahead of all mankind in development and disappeared from the face of the earth unexpectedly and in an unknown direction. The administrative division of Mexico consists of 31 states and one federal district. The territory of the country is 1,972,550 km² and this is the 13th indicator in the world and the third in Latin America. 120,286,655 people live in the country.

The Argentine Republic is located in the southeast of the South American continent. The country has five neighbors: Chile, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay, and is also bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. Like all countries of the continent, Argentina developed under the influence of first the Spaniards, and then the British. Argentina still has strained relations with Great Britain because of the Falkland Islands, which are claimed by both states. In the vast territory of Argentina, you can find a variety of landscapes and climates. Rivers, lakes, mountains, deserts, volcanoes and caves coexist in the country. Argentina consists of 23 provinces and one autonomous region. The population of the state is 42 million 610 thousand people. The territory of the state is 2,780,400 square kilometers and this is the eighth indicator in the world and the second in Latin America.

In the first place in a kind of ranking of the largest countries in Latin America is Brazil. The area of ​​the country is 8,514,877 km² and according to this indicator, it ranks fifth in the world, second only to such geographic and economic giants as Russia, Canada, China and the United States.

Brazil stretches across almost the entire territory of South America and borders on all countries of the mainland except Ecuador and Chile, and is also washed by the Atlantic Ocean. The main river arteries of all of Latin America pass through the country: the Amazon, Parana, Uruguay and dozens of large and not very rivers. The country is also famous for its many caves, most of which have not yet been explored by mankind. Brazil is divided into states and districts, with a total of 26 states and one federal district. The population of the state is 201 million people and this is also the fifth figure in the world.

And let's go ourselves: 5 non-standard cities for a bachelorette party

February 7, 2020

Let's explain for the news: Sri Lanka will again have to apply for a paid visa

February 6, 2020

I'm leaving for "ebul": 5 places where you can learn Zen and talk with the Buddha

February 5, 2020

We had slippers and a towel: where to go to the sea in March

February 5, 2020

Let's explain for the news: in which countries are hotels loyal to animals

February 4, 2020

Transfer in Debrecen: what you can do in one day

Few people were here, and if they were, they didn’t tell much about it. So it is not surprising that the countries of Latin America are overgrown with some terrible stereotypes and legends about the endless showdowns of the locals, witchcraft and dangers on the street.

Nagiyev would say that this is a longridish place. Before you - our guide (written in collaboration with Air France) for all countries in the region, including dependent territories of the United States and France, with explanations of what you forgot there and what you are mistaken about.

By the way, most of the countries on the list are visa-free for Russians. Isn't this a reason to go on your next vacation to explore new directions?

Navigation list:

Argentina

Where is everyone going and why?

• Buenos Aires is the capital, the largest city (and they dance tango there).
• Southern Patagonia - glaciers and the beautiful lake Lago Argentino.
• Tierra del Fuego - the southernmost archipelago with penguins.
• Cordoba is a cool ski.
• Iguazu - the most powerful waterfalls in the world: this Niagara of yours is just a spit compared to them.

Myths and legends

They are all arrogant.

Neighboring countries (especially football Brazil) hate Argentina. As one Brazilian explained, Argentina is in Latin America like France is in Europe, a rich "aristocratic" country that everyone envies and therefore dislikes. But really, Argentines are cute.

There are many blacks among whom you will unpleasantly stand out.

No. Argentines are the descendants of European settlers and therefore have no more exotic appearance from the point of view of the average Russian than the same Spaniards. Slightly sunbathe - and now you are of the same blood.

7 reasons to visit here

1. Try to dance the tango right on the street, embarrass yourself and understand that in order to compete with the locals, you need to train for a long time.
2. Drink real mate.
3. Go to football in a country that football fans throughout the rest of Latin America spread rot. Did you hear the cries of "América Latina, menos Argentina" during the World Championship? Here.
4. See penguins of Tierra del Fuego.
5. Take a ride on the longest-running tourist attraction - the 14-hour "Train in the Clouds". Photos can be viewed (be careful: the site is not very good at English).
6. Eat some fried empanadas.
7. Go to the southernmost city of the planet - Ushuaia.

What they say

I was in Argentina twice last year, mostly in Buenos Aires. The first trip was associated with a trip to Chile, so it was not possible to go far, and the second turned out to be tainted by illness. So I have nothing to say about fantastic glaciers, Tierra del Fuego and thundering Iguazu Falls. But I got used to and became related to Buenos Aires.

I was surprised by the completely different districts of the city, you can go to a new district every day and discover more and more new facets of the capital. The Argentines turned out to be warm, sociable, very cheerful people - equally southerners, northerners and porteños (natives of Buenos Aires).

Buenos Aires won me over for the second time: peach misty sunsets, bustling and musical fairs in San Telmo, romantic and relaxed evenings in Puerto Madero. In Argentina, not everyone dances tango, although you can meet dancers on the street, but every street is saturated with the viscous, exciting mood of tango. In this city it is very easy to be in love - at least with life itself.

For solitude it is worth going to the Tigre Valley. In the city, it’s better to buy empanadas and alfajores, of course, with dulce de leche - local condensed milk - and watch the course of Argentinean life in respectable and quiet Palermo, crowded La Boca, or even at the inspired and tragic Recoleta cemetery. The cemetery, perhaps, was my main artistic shock. Even the incomparable dome of the Colon Theater did not overshadow him.

There is a place for everyone in this city: both quiet provincials who grew up on farms, and passionate fans of the "stone jungle", and free artists, and west-oriented careerists. There is no life there only for those who do not like football. He is in Argentina - indeed a religion.

Julia Onodera

journalist, Russia/Japan

Brazil

Where is everyone going and why?

• Why, Rio, of course!
• Brasilia is the capital of the country, which is not a secret for those who watched the textbook horror movie "I still know what you did last summer." This is a city built on an empty place, from above it looks like an airplane.
• Sao Paulo is a huge metropolis with festivals and museums.

Myths and legends

Rio's favelas are dangerous.

Yes. It's true. But you can - you'll be surprised - just don't go there. In other cities of the country it is much safer, and the tourist areas of Rio de Janeiro are quite pleasant for idle walks. There are a bunch of policemen watching the calmness of visitors. No need to wander around the city after sunset and climb into the territory

There are many wild (read: rabid) monkeys here.

Soviet cinema does not lie - there really are monkeys in this country. Wild, that is, living outside the city limits. So do not be afraid that you will be bitten or your camera stolen during your tourist exercises.

7 reasons to visit here

1. Match your trip to the carnival and see a bunch of women in feathers.
2. Sunbathe at Copacabana
3. Take a photo with the statue of Christ.
4. Take the funicular up the mountain with the stupid name Sugar Loaf.
5. Check out the state of sports facilities a few years after construction.
6. Drive to coffee plantations.
7. Go to a club in Sao Paulo, and then the carnival will come to you.

What they say

I was in Brazil, more precisely, in Rio, during the World Cup. Not sure if this is a revealing experience; Moscow here was not like itself.

Our girls tried not to walk themselves, and do not advise anyone to do this. But I would not say that it was scary or even unpleasant. Ordinary city. Brazilians are very loud, it's probably better not to make them angry - the blood is too hot. But it's a lot of fun here. Tourists from Russia were all welcome, they took pictures with us. If you don't want to offend them, don't speak Spanish to them. Here is the Portuguese language. This is just in case not everyone knows.

Evgeny Makeev

system administrator, Russia

Bolivia

Where is everyone going and why?

• La Paz is the highest capital city in the world with palaces and fairs.
• Sucre - the second most popular city in Bolivia, is considered the most beautiful here.
• Cochabamba - the place where there is another statue of Christ, less popular, but taller.

Myths and legends

There are constant coups.

It's not that it's a myth - they really happen here more often than anywhere else. At the same time, the cities are quite well-groomed, and the locals are very open and friendly.

Everyone is strange there and they still wear national costumes.

In Bolivia, there really is a layer of people who honor traditions in an incredible way. These are the cholitas women who walk around in dresses and hats on their heads. But there are not so many of them, and this is a completely modern country: there is even the Internet there! True, only in hotels.

7 reasons to visit here

1. See the ancient city of Tiwanaku.
2. Visit the Witch Market in La Paz.
3. Look at the boundless La Paz from the Killy Killy observation deck.
4. Go to the huge Uyuni salt marsh.
5. And from there - immediately to the valley of the geysers of Sol de Macana. There are also craters with mud, as they show in cartoons.
6. Watch the flamingos.
7. Chew coca leaves. Well just. Just be sure to sleep!

What they say

We got there by chance, from Chile. We bought a 3.5 day jeep tour from the city of San Pedro de Atacama. Even by car, this journey is not easy. From 2500 m above sea level with 0% humidity you start in one day to 6000 m with 15-20% humidity. No snow, incredible heat, strong wind. We didn't know where we were going. Coca leaves are good for mountain sickness, but I could not chew them, they taste very vile. I drank cola, I never drank so much, but the bubbles help. The whole tour you ride in a natural park, spend the night in village houses "hostels" made of shit and sticks (clay and twigs), and everything else will blow away there, and it will be cold in winter. There you are fed delicious bean stew and chicken) simple but nutritious.
This whole trip, the case when you see nothing but nature, but even the biggest art lover will not get bored! There are ostriches, donkeys, flamingos, an abandoned railway station, local beer, the Uyuni desert, meeting the dawn on a mountain in the Uyuni salt desert. The views are unique, here the photos only work, and there is nothing to write about.

Anna Hitsunova

producer, Russia

Venezuela

Where is everyone going and why?

• Caracas is the capital of the country.
• Merida - mountains, cable cars and everything is so beautiful.
• Margarita Island, where the city of Asuncion is located, is a duty-free zone.
• Angel Falls, the highest in the world.

Myths and legends

There are a lot of motorisados ​​- motorcycle robbers with pistols.

Yes, they meet. In order not to run into robbers, many tourists are advised to exist within the so-called urbanizations. Or have with you some little thing that you don’t mind giving away if something happens.

Don't go to the barrio!

Barrios are like favelas. Terrible and impossible. But local authorities do not always agree with this, and even established a festival of graffiti culture San Agustin Aereo several years ago in one of the poorest areas of Caracas.

7 reasons to visit here

1. See tepui - mountains with a flat top. You have to go to Canaima Park for them.
2. In the same place - take a look at the Angel Falls from below and feel like a conqueror of the jungle.
3. See the largest range of ice cream in the world. You are in the city of Merida, in the cafe Heladeria Coromoto. Order pistachio!
4. Gaze at the Andes from Venezuela.
5. See an anaconda (preferably not in the wild).
6. Try your luck with paragliding in the Sierra Nevada.
7. Canoeing down the Orinoco River.

What they say

South America is for the most part a very comfortable continent to travel to. This applies to the most developed countries, of course, and popular tourist routes. Venezuela can hardly be included in this list. Before going there, having read reviews about theft and robbery, we decided to protect ourselves and contacted the English-speaking guide in advance, who organized a transfer for us along the planned route. As a result, no incident overshadowed our trip.

Of course, we went to the highest Angel Falls in the world. The road to it takes a lot of time: you get to the point, you are put on a small boat, on which you sail for 4 hours to the camp, you spend the night in a hammock, and the next morning you go on foot to the waterfall. An alternative option is a helicopter, but we really wanted to sit at the foot and feel all the greatness. But we traveled in August which is the wet season. It started to rain just as we were sailing, and it continued all the way. Raincoats didn't help. It seemed like the apocalypse had arrived.

I remember very well the trip to Canaima National Park. As soon as we arrived at the place to spend the night, we saw a hammock in which someone small was lying. It turned out that this is not a child, but an anteater cub! They found him alone in the forest and decided to save him. Approaching the person, he climbed onto him and hugged him, falling asleep on his chest.

Venezuela is not about gastronomic delights, not about museums, not about ruins, not about cities and architecture. This is a country of amazing beauty, which should be visited by those who are not afraid to dive into the wild and endure all the inconveniences (as they say, get out of the comfort zone). And there is very, very, very cheap gasoline, almost cheaper than drinking water!

Julia Zavarzina

editor, Russia

Haiti

Where is everyone going and why?

Port-au-Prince is the capital of the country. Basically, that's enough for you.

Myths and legends

This is a poor country.

True stereotype. Unfortunately, this is one of the poorest countries in the world. Therefore, leave your high expectations from the service at home - it will not be here at all. On the other hand, it even has advantages in the form of a unique cultural experience. Among wealthy people, it is even fashionable to go to such lost corners of the planet and see life from the other side. In addition, you can always go to such countries as a volunteer - not only to stare, but also to help people.

There are zombies here.

We will not dissuade. Who knows if all these people on the streets are people at all? Watch a couple of zombie movies before you go. Just in case.

7 reasons to visit here

1. Get more proficient in the Creole language and understand that they do not speak it here, but French surzhik.
2. Walk through the ruins of Sanssouci Palace.
3. See local pagan rites.
4. Fall into the home of the hospitable locals with something useful and understand how everything works here.
5. Learn to enjoy the little things.
6. See the grandiose citadel of La Ferriere.
7. Climb Macaya Peak.

What they say

Haiti leaves a lasting impression. This destination is only for very advanced travelers. It's very peculiar here. The same is true in the countries of Central Africa. But it is interesting, albeit not for everyone. Just understand right away that you are here - a white crow. Don't be surprised and don't freak out. And so everything is ok.

Gregory O'Connor

programmer, USA

Guatemala

Where is everyone going and why?

• Guatemala is the capital of the country.
• Lake Atitlan is the deepest in Central America.
• Tikal is an ancient Mayan city.

Myths and legends

Here they suffer from cholera.

Not really a myth. As in many warm countries with a low standard of living, there are outbreaks of cholera, malaria, dysentery, typhoid, yellow fever and other not the most beautiful diseases. Therefore, before the trip, it will not be superfluous to be vaccinated, and on the spot - do not drink water and beware of biting anyone.

7 reasons to visit here

1. Do not get lost in the architecture of the capital of Guatemala.
2. Visit the ruins of the Mayan city of Kaminalguya.
3. Get to know the possible descendants of those who built it all.
4. Drink Quetzalteca beer.
5. And the Rompopo rum cocktail with milk and egg, subtly reminiscent of Aibolit.
6. To see a prison for delinquent animals.
7. Buy a handmade wallet from can openers.
   

What they say

A very small country that has everything for labor travelers: volcanoes, lakes, mountains, the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. And also - super-small villages where Mayan descendants live, who walk in national costumes and speak a super-incomprehensible language, colonial cities with Catholic churches and backpackers plying along the isthmus. Not from Russia! 99% that you will be the first and only.

Daria Khlopova

communications manager, Russia

Honduras

Where is everyone going and why?

• Tegucigalpa is the capital.
• Utila is one of the best diving spots in the Caribbean.

Myths and legends

A good country will not be called Honduras.

The most ridiculous, of course, but stupid stereotype. Here you have diving, and nature, and beaches, tropical forests, the ruins of ancient buildings - what else do you need?

7 reasons to visit here

1. See the Hieroglyphic Staircase in Copan.
2. Look at the Mayan catacomb graves, Las Seppulturas.
3. Watch the birds all day at Lake Yohoa.
4. Arrange nightly walking around the local bars.
5. And in the morning - through the numerous churches of Tegucigalpa.
6. Climb to the flea market and buy a bunch of unnecessary, but from Honduras.
7. And why is the ability to say “Guys, I was in HONDURAS” not the reason?

What they say

Honduras was a little different compared to the Central American countries I visited. I didn't get to see much there. Went to ancient Mayan ruins, saw some cities and rose bushes all over the country. My main stop was the Caribbean island of Utila. It was incredibly beautiful and cheap. People from all over the world come there to get certified in diving. That's because it's one of the cheapest places on the planet to do it.

Glenn McDonald

musician, Canada

Dominican Republic

Where is everyone going and why?

• Punta Cana - beyond the sand, the sea and all the joys of all-inclusiveness.
• Santo Domingo is the capital.

Myths and legends

It's dangerous here!

Only to some (very small) extent. The brave guys with machine guns on duty around the hotel are not a bug, but a feature.

The tourist area is not only safe, but also very beautiful, and flights from Air France with reasonable prices make this country almost the most attractive of all that we write about here.

7 reasons to visit here

1. Admire the most accessible (from a tourist point of view) white-sand beaches in the Caribbean.
2. Learn to dance bachata and merengue. Or at least try, if tango in Argentina didn't work out.
3. Bring home Mamajuana and a million kinds of rum.
4. Go to Columbus Lighthouse.
5. Buy something with local larimar stone.
6. Get to the Park of three lakes.
7. Feel like a pirate of the Caribbean.

What they say

A lot of things were very unexpected for me. I thought the Dominican Republic was a third world country, a banana republic. But in fact it turned out that this is a very civilized advanced country. Poverty and danger are in Haiti; in fact, all the rough workers are from there.

Upon arrival, I found a Russian guide who has been living there for many years. He gave us an extensive tour and told us that there are a lot of natural attractions in the Dominican Republic. From mountains with pine forests (!) to pink lakes. I thought, there is only to lie under a palm tree and there is a coconut, and there - you can’t drive around!

You can come to the public beach, and there the locals fry kebabs, and in the parking lot at this public beach there are Chevrolet Tahoe (generally the most popular car there) and Ferrari! And yes. Stereotypes about rum and cigars were confirmed, they are really divine here! You also need to take Mamahuana, she is also super.

Alexey Blazhenov

editing director, Russia

Colombia

Where is everyone going and why?

• Bogota is the capital of the country.
• Leticia is a tourist area with monkeys.
• Cartagena is considered a fashionable resort.

Myths and legends

Drugs.

The main, fundamental, zone-forming stereotype about Colombia. But no - they don't bathe in cocaine here, and they won't approach you on the streets to offer you drugs. More likely.

Everyone is robbed here.

Locals really recommend being careful - in general, this is true for most countries in Latin America. Do not shine with iPhones, carry bags and backpacks in front, do not roam at night. Especially in poor non-tourist areas (it’s better to never run around there).

7 reasons to visit here

1. Taki debunk the foundational myth about Colombia in your head.
2. Befriend a monkey on Isla de los Micos.
3. Go to all the churches of the colonial Popayana.
4. Driving to some city in the mountains along a steel cable is a means of transportation here.
5. With a guide or guide, go to the Andes.
6. Buy something locally made emerald.
7. Try to understand the meanings of ritual masks.

What they say

This is the country where my pension will take place! Here, everyone who was waiting for cocaine, shooting and hell can just stop reading.

Colombia is very different. The relief, nature, standard of living, oceans, types of recreation, everything is different (like ours). Colombians do not sit still, they go to the ocean, they ride on the only train, which is actually exclusively tourist. The people here are very open. When they find out that you are from Russia (they won’t understand until you say it, there are few of us, and they usually don’t guess by ear), they will download Russian into Google Translate, they will definitely say that they are still laundering from a bad reputation, but they will ask about vodka, bears, Putin and the World Cup (we were before the World Cup).

Very clean. There are almost no yard dogs on the streets, and those that are are full, combed out and with a collar. We have not yet figured out how they achieved this. Toilets (in each country would include this in a separate item!) are paid almost everywhere and sterile everywhere! Everyone tries to leave everything as it was. It's nice!

The food is divine. And they don't drink alcohol! Seriously, a maximum of 0.3 beer, similar to lemonade.

It's scary on the border with Ecuador. Children threw stones at buses, there were roadblocks everywhere. There are remote villages on the ocean itself. Travel by boat only. If you're there, get ready to be the only whites for 500 kilometers.

Another noteworthy is Guajira, the desert in the very north, owned by the Indians. There they extract sea salt (they have an exclusive for it), sell gasoline from Venezuela in eggplants and do not pay taxes.

Anna Hitsunova

producer, Russia

Costa Rica

Where is everyone going and why?

• San Jose is the capital of the country.
• Province of Guanacaste - the coolest beaches.

Myths and legends

This is a typical Latin American country.

If by "typical" you mean "beautiful" - definitely yes. But it compares favorably with the peacefulness of the locals. It is safe here, and in general they are so pacifist that they do not even keep their own army.

7 reasons to visit here

1. Take a bunch of photos of the Arenal Volcano.
2. Swim in two oceans in one vacation.
3. Visit Los Angeles (that's the name of the basilica).
4. Raft on an inflatable boat on a mountain river.
5. Buy home a couple of bottles of Cafe Rica liqueur.
6. From a safe distance, stare at the volcanic eruption (there are more than a hundred of them, half of them are active).
7. Look for someone's lost treasure.

What they say

Marina Bogoda

internet entrepreneur, consultant, blogger (@marinabogoda), Russia/Bulgaria/Costa Rica

Cuba

Where is everyone going and why?

• Havana is a corner of victorious socialism with the most photogenic houses and cars.
• Santiago de Cuba - old Bacardi lived there (founder, not Roma).
• Varadero is the main tourist-beach region of this not very large country; with discos, but almost without the charm of the rest of Cuba.
• Cayo Coco is a slightly less main beach region, which tour operators are starting to actively promote.
• Matanzas is a city of bridges, caves and comparisons with other cities in the world.
• Santa Clara is the mecca of Che Guevara fans.

Myths and legends

Cuba is like the USSR.

Yes. There are grocery cards here, in stores you can often see empty shelves, as in times of shortage, there are queues everywhere. In addition, in Cuba, happy people with good free healthcare, efficient police and old cars (in this case, this is also a plus - it's too beautiful).

Crime and fraud thrive here.

In Cuba, as we have already noticed, the police work well. Therefore, the probability that you will be attacked in broad daylight for a couple of dollars is close to zero. Here to ask you for the goods 2 times more - yes, it is possible. And to rob or criminalize how much in vain - hardly.

7 reasons to visit here

1. Buy a pack of real Cuban cigars.
2. And a lot of rum.
3. Go to the Hemingway Museum.
4. For the joy of what you see, go drink Mojito in the famous (among Hemingway fans and Cubans) bar La Bodeguita del Medio.
5. Rent a Cadillac.
6. See the Matans caves of Belyamar.
7. To visit the place where the history of the country was made - at Monumento a la Toma del Tren Blindad, where Che knocked down armored trains.

What they say

Cuba is a very party place. Everyone is dancing and drinking rum. And this is not a stereotype! We were surprised when the musicians played Despacito on the tour, the waitress threw the plates and ran to dance. Only after the end of the song did they bring us food. In clubs, Cubans teach girls to dance. It turned out that I was a very harmful student, because I wanted to lead him in the dance, but this is not accepted.

The food is, frankly, tasteless. But you can eat rum, which we did. Tours are good. We went to Havana - I was very impressed, they took us to many more cities, where the nature is awesome, they taxied to a tobacco factory - unusual. We went to the valley where the jungle is. Here is such a different Cuba! In terms of natural scenery - a little mixture of Thailand and Cyprus.

And, of course, color! This is a museum of vintage cars on the go, favelas and the Cubans themselves. Many of those who are older know Russian - the Soviet school is still there.

No service - for this in the Dominican Republic. To live in the same bathroom with ants, we are already accustomed to by the end of the holiday. They themselves live like this, and it is clear that they are trying very hard for tourists.

Bogdan Parish

journalist, dancer, Russia

Mexico

Where is everyone going and why?

• Cancun is the main place on the coast, a point of attraction for people from all over the world (and relatively close to attractions).
• Mexico City is the capital.
• Acapulco - ah-ah-ah-ah.

Myths and legends

And here, too, bandits!

Mexico is safer than many US states! The farther from the border, the better. In Cancun, everything is generally calm (not counting, perhaps, the drunken fights of visiting youth in numerous nightclubs, but we didn’t see anything there).

Terrible food, only burritos to eat.

Of course, the tortilla is the head of everything here, and the Mexicans can wrap anything in a tortilla. But there is also wonderful grilled meat, and soups according to the recipes of the ancient Indians, and nachos here are tastier than in your favorite movie theater. You will find food for yourself, in short.

Is the sombrero here?

Yes you guessed. The sombrero is the national hat of non-Peruvians and non-Bolivians. But don't think that everyone here is knocking sombrero fields on buses. There are no idiots here, there are only sellers of all sorts of things for tourists.

7 reasons to visit Mexico

1. Go diving.
2. Listen to mariachi.
3. Don't miss the Day of the Dead celebration.
4. Collect all the historical sights (the ruins of Tenochtitlan, Templo Mayor, Chichen Itza and others) in the head and memory of the phone and finally stop confusing them.
5. Try to surf.
6. Drink a lot of tequila.
7. Buy some very nice beaded skull because why not.

What they say

At the time of the trip, I had only one association with this country - the show "Vacations in Mexico". I didn’t watch it, but at that time it was well known, and everyone roughly understood what Mexico should be like on TV: snow-white beaches, bars, villas, etc. Fortunately, it turned out not to be the case.

For me, Mexico is a country with some kind of wild, bestial power and energy. These are the acoustic secrets of Chichen Itza, the swarthy bodies of those whose ancestors were real Mayan Indians, the cool cactus-spinach juice in the heat and the warming bitterness of tequila in the evening.

My favorite place in Mexico is Xcaret eco-park. This is a huge reserve where you can feel like a real savage, getting lost in all these thickets. Swimming in the blue waters of the local lagoons, feeding giant tortoises, petting Macaws, watching flamingos - what could be more beautiful?

Elizaveta Shornikova

journalist, Russia

Nicaragua

Where are they going and why?

• Managua is the capital.
• Granada is one of the main tourist regions of this not very rich country.
• The San Juan River - there are a lot of interesting living creatures here.

Myths and legends

Feminism didn't win here.

Unfortunately, true. And we are not talking about flash mobs on Instagram (although they are not satisfied here either), but about the real problems of bullying women. There is such a dense patriarchy here that it is better for girls not to go here without male accompaniment. Although, again, how lucky - you can spend your vacation quite calmly.

7 reasons to visit here

1. Realize the unexpected extent of your own unpretentiousness.
2. It's cheap (everything inside the country is really cheap) to join ecotourism.
3. Fishing in the San Juan River.
4. Go surfing in places where, most likely, none of your friends have surfed.
5. Buy a hammock to make your country neighbors jealous: Nicaraugan hammocks are the best!
6. Enjoy local Las Vegas in Managua.
7. Relax by a not very clean lake overlooking a very dormant volcano.

What they say

Nicaragua is my favorite of all the countries in Central America where I have been. I easily made a lot of friends, experienced exciting adventures, and I was never bored. From partying in San Juan del Sur to cliff jumping north of Somoto Canyon, it was an incredible experience. The main transport is yellow school buses that will take you anywhere for mere pennies. There is endless fun and inexpensive activities like volcanic and conventional surfing. 10 out of 10, will go again!

Glenn McDonald

musician, Canada

Panama

Where is everyone going and why?

• Panama is the capital.
• Balboa is the starting point for cruises on the Panama Canal.

Myths and legends

This is a backward country where there is nothing but a canal.

Have you seen pictures of Panama? The business center there is cooler than Moscow City - and more than twenty times. Despite the low buildings of the old part of the city, despite all these barefoot people, Panama is quite a decent metropolis.

7 reasons to visit Panama

1. Go snorkeling in Portobelo.
2. See the same Panama Canal that everyone is talking about.
3. Look at the ruins of the old city in Panama and marvel at the two-tone Cathedral.
4. Hide in the ruins of the medieval buildings of Portobelo from adulthood.
5. Learn to bargain with local taxi drivers and hone your skills to unprecedented heights.
6. Retire (in whatever plan you want) in the Bastimentos National Park.
7. Spend a whole day at a coffee plantation, decide never to drink coffee again, and give up the next morning.

What they say

Panama seemed a little strange to me. This is such an inherently agrarian country, looking poor when leaving the capital, but at the same time actively building. The capital is very different. I once came to Baku, it seems to me that they are a bit similar. The same strong contrast between poor houses and steep skyscrapers.I advise you to go to the channel purely for show. I did not see anything beautiful or interesting there.

Gregory O'Connor

programmer, USA

Paraguay

Where is everyone going and why?

• Asuncion is the capital.
• Ibike National Park - even more beauty.
• Itaipu Dam - for fans of man-made miracles.

Myths and legends

This is not the standard of purity

Truth. Don't expect neat litter bins and carefully swept streets, even in Asuncion. Here people don't really bother with such things. Just accept and try not to litter yourself.

7 reasons to visit

1. Rent a jeep and go racing across the plains.
2. Try the local mate (by the way, it is different in all countries, here they love cold and call it “terere”).
3. Stock up on local ceramics (and please the sellers by raising the economy from their knees).
4. Drive to the Itaipu dam.
5. Buy aho po'i t-shirt-vyshyvanka.
6. Buy your own herbs on the street to make mate at home.
7. Get to know the Mennonites (they live quite far from the capital).
   

What they say

Pretty poor country. She was one of the first places where I consciously went, it’s even hard to explain why. I was only in Asuncion, it is peculiar, deserted and not very clean, but sometimes there are some interesting buildings. This is one of those countries where either a very adventurous person, or a person who really wants to stand out, or just a traveler who is simply bored of simple tourist happiness, needs to go.

Gregory O'Connor

programmer, USA

Peru

Where is everyone going and why?

• Lima is the capital.
• Machu Picchu is a place of attraction for wealthy travelers from all over the world.
• Arequipa - a beautiful southern city is not for everyone, but if you already come - it's worth a visit.
• Amazon, or, as it is correct, the Amazon basin.

Myths and legends

It's a terribly expensive country

Absolutely not. This is a country that is terribly expensive to fly to, but inside there are absolutely adequate prices (not like in Norway, for example). Therefore, if you saved up for a flight, consider half the battle done.

It's always cloudy here

Is it always cloudy in your hometown? Well, it's about the same here. The capital of the country, Lima, is an ordinary city, with different seasons.

All of Peru is a village with nothing

Crap, the stores have everything. Everything is like everywhere else.

7 reasons to visit Peru

1. Climb to Machu Picchu.
2. View from above on the Nazca plateau.
3. See the main lake of all schoolchildren - Titicaca.
4. Visit Trujillo, a colonial-era town.
5. Meet the shaman.
6. Pat the alpaca and stock up on wool sweaters.
7. Dress in traditional national costume.

What they say

Our trip to Peru was the most unforgettable adventure of my life. It was one of the dream countries, and we decided to do the impossible. For 3 weeks in the country, my friend and I traveled almost the entire country, accompanied by a local guide. Our trip included: Lima, Cusco, Nasca (and flying over it), visiting Machu Picchu, Paracas, Iquitos, living in a tribe 80 km up the Amazon from Iquitos, Arequipa, Coca Canyon, Puno and many other most amazing places in Peru . Traveling with a personal guide is not a cheap event, but it fully pays off with delight and incomparable unique experiences. Probably the most incredible for me was the Paracas reserve - as if another planet! First, you drive for 7-8 hours through the desert, the sands of which are composed of different rocks, which creates an overflow effect from delicate pink to deep blue. And then you come to a cliff, and all this desert merges with a saturated ocean. In general - FIRE!

Svetlana Krapivina

senior radio broadcast editor, Russia

Salvador

Where is everyone going and why?

• San Salvador is the capital (against the background of the villages in general).
• The Ruta de las Flores route is one of the few surprises in the country.

Myths and legends

There's nothing to do here

In general, this is a common stereotype that can be applied to many countries. And which, most importantly, does not depend on the country, but only on the person who says it. Yes, El Salvador is not the richest country in the world for attractions. But that doesn't make her uninteresting. In any case, if you have not already visited 180 countries, you will be interested and new here.

7 reasons to visit here

1. Drive to the crater lake near the city of Alegria.
2. Surf in the village of La Perla in the south of the country.
3. See another statue of Christ the Savior - in the central square of San Salvador.
4. Pet an animal in Montecristo El Trifinio National Park.
5. Try to admire the Art Deco architecture carefully hidden behind the bazaar that the streets have been turned into.
6. Go to the unusual church Iglesia El Rosario with strangely shaped stained glass windows.
7. Eat pupusa (it's just stuffed tortillas).

What they say

It looks like poor California: warm, palm trees are growing. Climate is ok. But it's a socially shady place. I don't recommend girls go there. Only big groups with guys.

Gregory O'Connor

programmer, USA

Uruguay

Where is everyone going and why?

• Montevideo is the capital.
• Punta del Este is the main beach region of the country.
• Cabo Polonio is a charming coastal town with a lighthouse.

Myths and legends

Uruguay is unremarkable and there is nothing to do there.

For a minute, one of the richest countries in the region! Uruguay combines all the best from its neighbors. A bright future has already come here with absolutely insignificant corruption, freedom of the press and other benefits of civilization. They also have Natalia Oreiro.

7 reasons to visit Uruguay

1. See the main building of Montevideo - Palacio Salvo. By the way, the three lower floors symbolize hell. Adochek. Adishko.
2. See the local La Rambla in Montevideo (in general, it doesn’t look like Barça).
3. See sea lions in Cabo Polonio.
4. Take a picture of a hundred-ruble bill against the backdrop of the Solis Theater and count how many friends will not understand the joke.
5. Sing the imperishable Cambio dolor in the homeland of Natalia Oreiro.
6. Try meat here - "asado a la parrilla".
7. Buy honey tincture "Grappamiel".

What they say

Uruguay is awesome! I have been to few countries in South America, but Uruguay, in my opinion, is simply luxurious. The beaches are good, the people are wonderful. Highly recommend!

Of the tips - the house of the artist Carlos Paez (this is such a white house, called Casa Pueblo). Go on a tour or take a local guide, he will tell you much more interesting things than Wikipedia.

I studied Spanish at the university, but in Uruguay it is phonetically difficult. It doesn't take long to get used to its sounds. Although, in general, they speak quite correctly.

Veronika Simonova

content writer, Russia

Chile

Where is everyone going and why?

• Atacama Desert - for fantastic lunar and Martian views (there really is a valley of the Moon and a valley of Mars), photos with the Desert Hand.
• Northern and Southern Patagonia - mountains, forests, nature reserves, harsh nature.
• Tierra del Fuego - glaciers.
• The region of lakes, the region of rivers - in principle, it is clear.
• And, of course, Easter Island with the famous Moai statues. If you get to Chile for a long time and far, then here it is even longer, further and more expensive. But for the sake of this, you can fork out and be patient.

Myths and legends

It's awful spanish here

The terrible truth. Even if you have already become a professor of Spanish, you will not begin to understand his Chilean version for one or two. There's an incredible amount of regional mods, idioms, and words in conversation that aren't in your academic Spanish textbook. Plus the pronunciation. In general, if you were going to flaunt, as in Barca, you are not here.

Yes, it's a desert!

The Atacama, the driest desert, is truly massive. But if you expect to see here one big sandy nothing, then go on your way somewhere else. The desert in Chile is the richest and most interesting place. Otherwise, people from all over the world would not come here to look at volcanoes and cacti.

7 reasons to visit Chile

1. See moai idols.
2. Make friends with a llama or alpaca.
3. Drink the most wonderful local Carmenère wine.
4. Find out that Chilean youth prefer wine to beer and a local cocktail with the sweet name "piscola" (pisco + cola). Dare and try. pass for a local
5. Go to Cape Horn and not be blown away by terrible local winds. You're not Mary Poppins to fly.
6. Visit the incredible size of the glacier
7. Watch Magellanic penguins.

What they say

Chile is a country where there is a lot of movement along the vertical and so little - along the horizontal, which is sharpened within the borders of the Andes and the Pacific Ocean - however, in the Chilean latitudes it shows a stormy character.

From north to south, like pearls on a string, regions with amazing climatic diversity are strung together - from the driest desert in the world, Atacama to
volcanoes of 6000 meters to the glaciers of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Between them, the regions of Araucania, Rivers, Lakes with evergreen emerald forests and again ... snow-capped tops of volcanoes lurk. But already in a completely different frame.

In the north you meet fluffy llamas, in the south - colonies of penguins. In Valdivia, sea lions roam imposingly along the piers, and sometimes go deep through the streets into the city. Once upon a time, Valdivia was shaken by the strongest earthquake in history - this is another Chilean sign. The central region gives a meeting with the motley port of Valparaiso, wine valleys and sharp peaks of the Andes.

But there is another direction in Chile, a 5-hour flight west of the capital. The famous point in the ocean, Easter Island, it is also the only piece of the tropics in the country - stone idols around the perimeter of the island, a volcano crater, and Polynesian culture, seasoned with a South American rhythm.

Guayaquil is a large city with colonial buildings and ruins of Indian settlements.

Myths and legends

This is a banana republic and a third world country.

Banana Republic - yes. Here bananas are fried, dried and actively exported. But don't worry, the locals know about the existence of other food. As for a third world country, well, no. Quite a European civilization (and the level of service).

7 reasons to visit here

1. See how mangoes grow.
2. Go to the famous (at least among fans of Latin America) market in De Ponchos Square in Otavalo.
3. See turtles.
4. See whales.
5. Buy a carpet from the Indians.
6. While Chile and Peru are at war over whose pisco is the right one, drink it in Ecuador.
7. Visit Sangay Park, where three volcanoes are located not far from each other. One of them with a lake inside.

What they say

The pearl of the banana republic is the Galapagos. Sea lizards sneezing with salt, cormorants moving their blue paws in incredibly funny mating dances, pelicans of all stripes, frigatebirds inflating a red bag on their chest and playing on it with their beaks like on a drum ... And all, of course, are endemic. Stroking a one and a half meter shark in an underwater tunnel and watching how a fur seal plays with them is a common thing.

Flights to the islands are not cheap, but, fortunately, we learned a life hack: you can arrive at the airport early in the morning with your things and buy the remaining tickets right before departure. This is much cheaper than buying in advance. And the Galapagos have a cheaper analogue - the small island of Isla de la Plata. Whales can often be seen in the waters around it in August. On the way back, we were lucky: the whales actively started fountains, wagged their tails and even jumped a couple of times not far from the boat.

I really want to go back to see albatrosses and killer whales, and again gorge myself on the most delicious ceviche in the world (people with a sick stomach need to be careful, as it has a lot of vinegar), buy panama in the homeland of these hats (yes, through Panama they were just taken to Europe), try to get on the surf and just chill in the relaxed atmosphere of this rainbow country.

Julia Zavarzina

editor, Russia

Puerto Rico (U.S. Territory)

Where is everyone going and why?

• San Juan is the capital.
• The islands of Vieques and Culebra are paradise islands.

Myths and legends

The entire criminal world of the United States hangs out here.

Yes, West Side Story, a musical about modern-day Romeo and Juliet, did not serve the country well. Of course, they found out about her (thanks to the main Puerto Rican heroine), but the disassembly of different clans began to be attributed to Puerto Ricans how much in vain. This interferes with travelers, and the main tourist flow to the country is provided by the Americans. In fact, everything has changed in half a century.

7 reasons to visit Puerto Rico

1. To see that people here are not like in West Side Story.
2. Walk inside the old fortress of Fuerte Saint Felipe del Moro.
3. To understand nothing at the Tibs Indian Ceremonial Center in Ponce (or to understand everything at all).
4. Drink a proper pina colada.
5. Take an overview of the country (fortunately it is small) and see all the variety of animals.
6. Spend the night on a beach that glows (on the island of Vieques, called Mosquito Bay).
7. A day - on the Flamenco beach on Culebra with rusty tanks. Well, here's where else you'll see it!

What they say

This is a very special place. I keep coming back here. So much life in Puerto Rico! But although I came here time after time, and then moved away altogether for two years, there was one place where I had not been. This is Vieques. I was there for my birthday. I felt a real release! There I met people from all over the world and just hung out for a few days. It has become a place of power for me. I think Puerto Rico can cure some mental problems. I advise everyone!

Sean Singh

producer, freelancer, USA

Guadeloupe (territory of France)

Where and why to go

The main attraction and beauty is the Bas-Terre island. There is also a second island, Grande-Terre, it is also beautiful there.

Myths and legends

The beaches here are not great.

The beaches here are very - but very crowded. Bas-Terre is more likely to lie down.

7 reasons to travel

1. Soak up the white sand, and then immediately on the black. And then back to white. And so a hundred times.
2. Go to the sugar factory.
3. Constantly stumble upon some kind of waterfall while walking.
4. Walk through the grandiose cemetery of Morne-à-Lot in the Petit Canal.
5. See how the locals live.
6. Eat stuffed crab.
7. Try the coolest punch in the Caribbean - tee punch.

What they say

I am a fan of everything French, so I generally liked Guadeloupe. There signs are almost like in Paris! If this whole flair is discarded, then you need to go here only for the sake of volcanic beaches and endless punch. My young man and I lived here in very Spartan conditions, and punch helped us to accept this world in all its diversity. It's delicious, really!

7 reasons to visit here

1. See how bananas are grown in Belfort.
2. It is possible to eat the same bananas with cod. This food perversion is called "Ti-nein-lan-mori".
3. And cod with avocado (“trempage”).
4. Climb the active volcano Montagne Pele.
5. Chat with bats in the caves.
6. See the estate of Josephine, wife of Napoleon.
7. Try rum, which is considered the best by many French people - St. James.

What they say

Rum! Be sure to buy local rum!Well, in general, I was in Martinique once, at sea. It looks like you go to Turkey like this. Well, we are in Martinique. It seems that you have Sochi, and we have the Cote d'Azur, but flying somewhere far away is more interesting. There are great beaches here, very beautiful nature, which is not found in France.

Nicolas Daniel Trant

sound engineer, France

Saint-Martin (territory of France)

Where is everyone going and why?

Since this is the smallest inhabited island in the world, dividing it into regions is a little pointless. But if you want, you can use the border of the island divided between the two countries and highlight the French city of Marigot and the Dutch Philipsburg.

Nominally, only the French part is referred to Latin America - but seriously, why bother if the territory is only 87 squares.

Myths and legends

There's nothing there.

In terms of infrastructure, it’s really a little difficult there now - Saint Martin was almost completely destroyed by a hurricane last year. But the island is being actively rebuilt. The locomotive is small but strong.

7 reasons to visit Saint Martin

1. See the landing of the plane at the same Princess Juliana airport (the runway of which is closely adjacent to the Maho beach).
2. Play at the casino on the Dutch side.
3. Climb the Pic du Paradis.
4. Ride on a yacht.
5. Drive to the underwater marine reserve on Orient Bay beach.
6. Go to a butterfly farm.
7. Travel from Holland to France and back.

What they say

I thought Saint Martin would be the same as Martinique or Guiana. French. But no! It's almost like the United States. Here they speak English normally and you can pay in dollars. But I was in this country until last year, before a big hurricane. Hope everything is ok there now. I would like to go back there someday.

Gregory O'Connor

programmer, USA

Saint Barthélemy (French territory)

Where is everyone going and why?

• Gustavia is the capital where all the most interesting things are concentrated.
• Saint-Jean is a fashionable area of ​​an already fashionable resort.

Myths and legends

This is another ruined island.

Yes, Hurricane Irma spared no one. And the islands here are too small, they had no chance. But they rebuild so quickly! In just a few months they were ready to receive tourists. And now everything looks almost as beautiful as in the photographs from old advertising brochures.

7 reasons to visit here

1. Go to a nude beach where you could theoretically meet someone very wealthy.
2. And manage not to burn on the snow-white sand to a bright red color.
3. Look at how obscenely rich people live.
4. See the Rockefeller house.
5. Explore the old Swedish forts.
6. Go diving in Grand Cu de Sac.
7. Climb the Morne-du-Vite mountain to see the whole island and drive back with a clear conscience.

What they say

I spent little time in St. Barts. We were on a press tour, and although space money was probably paid for our flight, we had almost no time to enjoy the beautiful life. I myself never do that, and if I fly far, I try to stay in the country longer, okay.

The atmosphere of Saint Barthelemy reminded me of Monaco. There are many yachts, there is a feeling of some kind of rich life. But I’m not sure that I would go there myself, it’s still far and expensive. Only if there is a lot of money or the opportunity to combine visiting the island with trips to some other places.

Veronika Simonova

content writer, Russia

Guiana (territory of France)

Where and why to go

• Cayenne is a capital city with tropical jungles and tribes of temperate savagery.
• Cau is a region where there is even more jungle.
• Ile-du-Salu (Islands of Salvation) - paradise islands that served as a prison for criminals.
• Kourou is a cosmodrome (however, why do you need Russia and Kazakhstan when you can drive off to look at rockets in Guiana).

Myths and legends

There is still a gold rush here.

No. It took place in the middle of the century, so now no one is in a fever. Although fanatic prospectors looking for gold can still be caught in Guiana now.

7 reasons to visit Guiana

1. Eat shrimp so that fewer of them are exported.
2. Try cayenne pepper straight from the bush.
3. Go for a walk in the jungle. Just be careful.
4. Try to catch the dry season (it's short here).
5. Go to the local carnival, if you have already arrived.
6. Look at the launch of the spacecraft almost at the very equator.

Latin America is a large region. It includes part of the countries of North America, most of the countries of Central and South America. Its borders stretch from the US in the north to Antarctica in the south. The area is about 12 million kilometers, it is washed by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Geography and states

The name "America Latina" was introduced in the 19th century by Emperor Napoleon III, he combined the list of countries where they speak Romance (Latin) languages. Spanish and Portuguese are widely spoken in these states. In all these territories, Spanish is the official language, with the exception of Brazil, where Portuguese is the official language.

Looking at the map of Latin America, you can see that the largest number of countries are in Central America. These are small states located along the Panama Canal. The largest countries are in the Atlantic region, such as Brazil and Argentina.

Initially, all these territories were inhabited by Indians who lived in a primitive system. After the conquest of America by the Spaniards and the Portuguese, the indigenous population was gradually forced out, exterminated and driven into hard-to-reach places. But unlike North America, the Indians of the southern hemisphere survived for the most part, many tribes assimilated with emigrants from Europe. Since Europeans actively spread the Spanish language and the Catholic religion, now Latin American countries are the largest region professing Catholicism.

Information! The official language is mainly Spanish, but each country uses a different dialect.

The states of this region have a diverse economy and political structure. All of them were previously colonies of developed European states, but over the past century, almost all have gained independence.

Latin American countries are deservedly very popular among tourists. Breathtaking natural landscapes will not leave anyone indifferent here. These places are mainly visited by travelers who have seen many countries, which are difficult to surprise with something. These are not poor people, they mostly stay in 5* hotels.

Consider which countries are part of Latin America.

List of countries and their features

Latin America on the world map occupies 1/7 of our planet in the Western Hemisphere. It consists of 33 independent states with a total population of about 600 million people. The geographical features of these countries are as follows:

• All countries in the region have access to the ocean, except for Paraguay and Bolivia;
• Geographical proximity to the USA;
• Remoteness from other countries of the world;
• According to the form of political government, all countries are republics.

Political map of Latin America in Russian

The largest country in the region is Brazil, the smallest is Suriname. Consider a list of Latin American states, we will try to briefly describe them. The list of countries is as follows:

1. Antigua and Barbuda is a small country in the Caribbean whose official language is English. The population is less than 100,000 people, the capital is St. John's.
2. Argentina is famous for tango, football and beaches. This is the second largest country in Latin America after Brazil, the capital is Buenos Aires. Enjoys great popularity among tourists from all over the world, an economically developed country.
3. Belize is a state in the Caribbean region, the famous offshore zone of the whole world. The official language is English, the capital is Belmopan, tourism is actively developing.
4. Bolivia is a poor but safe country of great interest to travelers.
5. Brazil is a huge country with a population of about 200 million inhabitants. This is a country of carnivals and sunny beaches, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world. The capital is Brasilia and the language is Portuguese. Brazil is the main exporter of coffee and tobacco in the world.
6. Venezuela is a relatively small country in the north of the mainland, with a population of just over 20 million, the capital is Caracas, and the official language is Spanish.
7. Haiti is a very poor country, constantly suffering from natural disasters and coups. Uses several languages ​​- French, Haitian and Creole. The capital is the city of Port-au-Prince.
8. Guatemala is a country with the capital of the same name, which attracts tourists with beautiful nature and volcanoes. The population consists of various Indians and mestizos.
9. Honduras is the islands of the Caribbean Sea, united in one state. The capital is the city of Tegucigalpa, the language is Spanish, it is famous for its poverty and crime.
10. The Dominican Republic is a famous beach resort that attracts vacationers all year round. The capital is Santa Domingo, the language is Spanish, and the population is about 10 million people.
11. Colombia is a country notorious for producing cocaine. This troubled state, however, attracts tourists due to its natural beauties. The capital is Bogotá, with a population of over 45 million.
12. Costa Rica is a state located in the central part of America. The capital is San José and the official language is Spanish.
13. Cuba is the island of Freedom, famous to all our compatriots. This is a state in the Caribbean, which has a large number of high-level hotels. Tourism is very developed here, excellent beaches, the capital is Havana, the population is very small - more than 11 million people.
14. Mexico is a large country famous for its soap operas, ancient architecture and beach resorts. The capital, Mexico City, is a real paradise for tourism.
15. Nicaragua is located in Central America, a problematic country, the population is 6 million inhabitants, the capital is Managua, the language is Spanish.
16. Chile is a visa-free mountainous state stretched along the entire mainland. The population is more than 17 million people, the capital is Santiago, the official language is Spanish.
17. Panama is a country of Latin America, located on the isthmus of the same name, the main language is Spanish, the population is about 4 million people.
18. Peru is located in the northwestern part of America, the capital is Lima. In addition to Spanish, Aymara and Quechua, the languages ​​of the indigenous people, are used here.
19. El Salvador is a small state, often suffering from all kinds of natural disasters, the population is 6.8 million, the capital is the city of San Salvador.
20. Uruguay is located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, a small and safe country for tourists. The capital is Montevideo and the language is Spanish.
21. Puerto Rico is a state dependent on the United States, has a special status. This country is rich in Spanish colonial architecture and attracts tourists with sports competitions.
22. Ecuador is located on the mainland and the Galapagos Islands. A visa for citizens of the CIS is not required, the capital is Quito.
23. Saint Barths, Saint Martin, Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana are states that are legally part of France. These are islands with beautiful nature, wide beaches and warm sun.

Interesting! Saint Barths Island is a reserve for oligarchs from all over the world. With its high prices, this state scares away many ordinary tourists.

As you can see, all Latin American countries have striking features in culture and nature. This continent is rich in natural resources, water and green resources, has unique historical values.

Rio de Janeiro is one of the largest cities in South America

Major cities and attractions

As elsewhere in the world, in Latin America there is a tendency to move from villages to large cities. People move to cities in order to find work and arrange their lives. Consider which cities are most important.

1. Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, a major business center with a population of 17-18 million people. This is a large shopping center of the country, nightlife is seething here, fashion weeks are held, thousands of migrants from other regions of the country flock here.
2. Mexico City is the capital of Mexico and the largest city in Latin America. It is difficult to accurately calculate the population of this metropolis, since many growing conglomerate areas adjoin the center, but this figure is from 18 to 19 million. Most of the population are indigenous Indians, thanks to whom the ancient culture of the pre-Columbian era has been preserved in Mexico City.
3. Rio de Janeiro is a city of carnivals and fun, nightlife and wide beaches. It is the cultural center of the country with a population of 6.5 million people. The main attraction of Rio is a mountain with a statue of Jesus Christ, one of the 7 wonders of the world.
4. Lima is the capital of Peru, with a population of more than 7.6 million, the city is washed by the Pacific Ocean, stands at the foot of the Andes. The bulk of the townspeople are Quechua and Aymara Indians.
5. Bogota is the capital of Colombia, with a population of about 7 million, this city is located at an altitude of 2600 m above sea level. There are large temperature differences, often reaching -6 degrees, despite the proximity to the equator. Locals are friendly to tourists, but it is dangerous to travel outside the city.
6. Santiago, the Chilean capital, has 5.5 million inhabitants and this figure is growing steadily. This city is visited before a trip to Easter Island, the Atacama Desert and the Patagonian National Parks.
7. Buenos Aires - more than 3 million people, a city of contrasts. This capital of Argentina is similar to Paris, London and Barcelona at the same time. Here is the most famous theater of Colon, a huge park of Palermo forests, the famous area of ​​La Boca.
8. Caracas is the capital of Venezuela, the population reaches 3.5 million. The city is located in the Caribbean Andes Valley, interesting places are Bolivar Square with a central cathedral, museums. From Caracas, the route to Angel Falls and Roraima Rock begins.
9. Havana is a fun and diverse capital of Cuba with a population of 2.5 million people. Here, time has stopped, this city is recognized as a "patrimony of mankind", in Havana you can see buildings with a 600-year history next to the houses of the 20th century.

In recent decades, this region has been actively developing, and the main focus is on tourism. The combination of a warm climate, wide sandy beaches, tropical forests, and historical sites attracts more and more tourists from all over the world. Latin America is a real storehouse for travelers.