Planning a trip to Latin America can seem overwhelming, but as soon as you step off the plane, feel the sun on your face and see the amazing colours and beautiful nature for the first time — it will all be worth it!
Through this itinerary, you’ll be exposed to almost everything that Latin America could offer you, and will likely return home practically fluent in Spanish! You’ll pass through three of the Seven Wonders of the World, you’ll pick up more accents and slang than you hadn’t even heard before, and you’ll make enough memories to fill a thousand books!
Each country you visit deserves enough time for you to explore, so we’re splitting them up for you to choose and combine the route that fits you!
The best part about this plan is that it can be suited to anyone’s preferences, budget, and timeframe. Only want to see a few countries? Hop on the route where you’d prefer! Looking to just learn Spanish? Skip Brazil! Want to chill in the Caribbean before you fly back home? Flip the route upside down and relax! Whatever Latin American adventure you’re looking for, you’ve found it here.
Are you ready? Let’s go!
Your 3 month trip
Mexico City (Mexico)
What better place to start than the most visited country in Latin America: Mexico?
Mexico is an amazing colourful tapestry filled with different cultures, cuisines and people — all of which come together in Mexico City.
Make sure to visit all of the amazing museums and galleries that the city has to offer and try all of the food from across Mexico that culminates in restaurants across the city.
Our partner school in Mexico City is set in one of the famous colonial-style buildings in the city, right in the centre — making it a great base to explore the city.
Once you’ve had your fill of the exciting city life, it’s time to take a more relaxed break in…
Playa del Carmen (Mexico)
…Playa del Carmen! The beautiful resort town is surrounded by stunning turquoise water. To arrive here from Mexico City, we recommend you take a domestic flight to Cancun, and a short bus ride to the city itself.
Playa del Carmen is known to have some of the best beaches in the world! Making it the perfect spot to try watersports or just relax on the beach
You may even get lucky enough to see a Whale Shark, the largest species of shark in the world! (don’t worry, they’re harmless!). The city is also near the Chichen Itza, one of the 7 wonders of the world!
Our school in Playa del Carmen is just a stone’s throw from the beach, so you can finish class and hit the waves without skipping a beat!
So, you’ve had an exciting city and a beautiful beach, is there something missing from your trip?
San Jose Coronado (Costa Rica)
Rainforests! And Costa Rica has tons of them! From Playa del Carmen, all you need is to take a direct flight to San Jose, and a short bus ride to Coronado, and you’re ready to experience Costa Rica!
Our partner school in Coronado has an extensive free activity programme that’ll show you everything that this beautiful country has to offer. From dance classes to days out in wildlife sanctuaries — get ready to experience the real Costa Rica!
Playa Jaco (Costa Rica)
Missing the Playa del Carmen beaches already? Don’t worry! You’re in the Caribbean, and there’s plenty more of them to see. After a bus or flight from San Jose, you’ll be in Playa Jaco, a sleepy beach city with an amazing coastline and 16,000 acres of natural parks just waiting to be explored!
Study in our partner school in the city to explore the crystal clear waters after class through either surfing or stand-up paddle!
Ready to start your trip? Contact our team and we’ll find the best way for you to do it!
Your 6 month trip
Sosúa (Dominican Republic)
Continuing on from your Caribbean beach adventure, it’s time to take a trip to the country known for its wild parties, beautiful beaches, and laid-back atmosphere (yes, even by Latin American standards!) the Dominican Republic.
From San Jose, you can take a connecting flight from Santo Domingo and arrive in Sosúa: the surfer’s paradise, filled to the brim with amazing party culture, jaw-dropping blue seas and sandy beaches.
Our partner school in Sosúa specialises in teaching you Dominican culture. Whether it’s through dance, cooking, dominos, history, local folklore, or trips to local markets — they have something for everyone
Cartagena (Colombia)
You’ve done the Caribbean, you’ve had your time relaxing on the beach, now it’s time for the main event, the vast exciting continent of South America. Starting with: Colombia
On the northern coast of Colombia, Cartagena sits as the gateway between the Caribbean and South America. With a direct flight from Santo Domingo, you can be in this colourful city in only a few hours.
Cartagena is a tropical paradise, with bright colonial buildings matched by the vibrant local colours (think exotic fruit, bright clothing, and beautiful birds!). Our partner school in the city will take you on a varied mix of excursions, from the surrounding natural beauty, like Corales del Rosario national park, or the local history of the old town!
Medellin (Colombia)
Surrounded by a luscious rainforest, breathtaking mountains, with a cityscape that’s rich in colours and culture — Medellin is a beautiful jewel in the centre of Colombia. With its trendy nightlife and incredible food and coffee — it’s not hard to see why this city is constantly voted as one of the best in Latin America, and the world!
With a direct flight from Cartagena (or for the more budget-conscious and patient travellers, a bus), you’ll be in Medellin.
For coffee lovers, Medellin is also right in the centre of the coffee growing region of the country, and the locals will be happy to tell you their favourite spots and brands!
Medellin is full of amazing experiences to enjoy and our partner school will make sure you make the most of them! Make sure to join them for six hours of cultural activities per week! Including museum trips, concerts, cooking, and dancing.
Bogota (Colombia)
With another direct flight (or gruelling bus journey!), you’ll finally reach the capital of Colombia: Bogotá! Bogotá has a distinct change in “vibe” to the other Colombian cities on this list. Think “trendy urban centre” rather than “tropical paradise”.
However, it’s your best chance to sample local staples as the city features cuisine from all over the country, in addition to plenty of museums, galleries and more.
Bogota is also where many of Latin America’s most popular dances come together throughout the city, and if you choose our partner school, you can learn the basics of salsa, merengue, vallenato, cumbia and tango alongside your Spanish classes.
Ready to start your trip? Contact our team and we’ll find the best way for you to do it!
Your ultimate Gap Year
Cusco (Peru)
With a direct flight from Bogota, you’ll arrive in Cusco, the centre of Peruvian indigenous culture, and home to another wonder of the world: Machu Picchu.
While not the capital, Cusco offers a great chance to experience Peruvian culture, as our partner school organises plenty of excursions and workshops for you to get a sense of what’s on offer in the country. They even offer cooking classes! So you can learn to make ceviche from the experts.
Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital blends the old-world charm of Europe with the intense soul of Latin America — with regal monuments overlooking lively dance halls.
To arrive from Cusco, you’ll need to take a quick stop in Lima (make sure to try some Arroz Chaufa!), and then it’s off to the tango capital: Buenos Aires!
Our partner school in Buenos Aires organises activities for you to get the very best of Argentinian culture. From trips to tango halls, football matches, and wine tastings to local events like asados (Argentinian barbeques), you’ll soon see why so many Spanish students fall in love with Buenos Aires.
Montevideo (Uruguay)
Argentina and Uruguay are neighbours separated by the Rio de la Plata, so the quickest and easiest way to get to Montevideo is via a short boat ride across the river. Once you arrive, you can see why this beach-front city is named one of the most underrated in all of South America! With endless concerts, shows, and events throughout the year and plenty of unique local customs to explore.
Uruguay is also the home of some of the most well-known songwriters in Latin America, such as Alfredo Zitarrosa and Ruben Rada. Montevideo is a place of art and soul, so you can improve your Spanish by picking up the rhythm of Latin America in this artistic city!
While Buenos Aires may be the tango capital, Montevideo is a close second! And through our partner school, you can combine your Spanish classes with one-to-one tango lessons, to come back with the rhythm of Latin America!
Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
By now, you may fancy yourself as near fluent in Spanish. You’ve lived your beach life in the Dominican Republic, you’ve explored ancient civilisation in Peru, and partied in Argentina, but now it’s time for a new challenge: Portuguese!
Brazil is the final stop on our trip, and who wouldn’t want to spend their final moments in South America in its party capital, Rio de Janeiro?
Rio has almost too much to see in one trip, whether it’s the beach with its constant activities like volleyball and surfing, the nearby attractions of Sugarloaf Mountain and Christ the Redeemer (the third and final world wonder on this list!), or the explosion of colours and music that is Carnaval!
If you choose to study with our partner school, you can also combine your Portuguese lessons with popular Brazilian activities. Whether it’s the passionate dance of Samba, the rhythmic martial art of Capoeira (not to be confused with the local cocktail, caipirinha!), the popular local surfing culture, or giving back to your host community through volunteer work.
Writing this itinerary has made me want to book my flight, pack my bags and jet off to South America tomorrow! And I hope it’s done the same for you.
If you’re ready to take your Spanish to the next level, reach out to our team and we’ll help you plan your own Latin American adventure!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TRIPS TO LATIN AMERICA
Everything you need to know about your trip to Latin America
Is it safe to travel to South America right now?
This may be the first question on your mind, as South America undoubtedly has somewhat of a reputation for being unsafe, but is it true?
While South America has seen its fair share of instabilities over the years, it’s important to remember that, as with all continents, there are safe areas and less-safe areas. For this list, I have exclusively chosen cities which are popular with tourists, meaning the cities have made a conscious effort to minimise the risk to visitors.
What’s more, when you travel to an ESL school, many (if not all) activities are directed by a local, who can show you around and give you tips on the area you’re visiting. And through the activity programmes, you’ll constantly be surrounded with other tourists, making the whole experience much safer for all of you!
So, is South America safe? Yes! As long as you follow some basic safety precautions, and it always helps to travel with a local (like one of our school staff!)
What is the best country to visit in Latin America?
The best country to visit in Latin America is the one that best suits you!
Okay, I know, I know, not exactly the answer you wanted, but Latin America is so varied that you can find anything you could want. So the real question is, what do you want?
If you’re looking for relaxing on a beach in the day, and non-stop partying at night: Either the Dominican Republic or Playa del Carmen are perfect for you. If you want to see nature like you’ve never seen before, try Costa Rica. If you’re wanting to see one of the world’s wonders right next to your host city, Cusco, or Rio de Janeiro are for you. If you’re interested in bringing home a new skill like dancing or cooking, give it a go in Cartagena, Bogota, Medellin, Montevideo, or Buenos Aires — The list goes on!
If you’re still unsure what you want out of your trip, but you know that you want to go there, talk to us! Our team are experts in the field and can point you in the right direction without any obligation or fee.
What are the best months to travel to South America?
As the continent is so large, it’s almost impossible to go during a time that’s optimal for every country you visit. The general rule is that European winter (November to April) is a good time to visit most of the countries on this list. However certain regions are “outliers” that may experience rainfall at different times, so it’s worth checking before you commit to visiting!
What do you think?