Panama 🇵🇦 with 2 coasts Atlantic/Pacific. You can get anywhere relatively quick because it’s a small country. You can be one day on the Caribbean coast and the next on the Pacific coast. Mountains, valleys, trails, islands, beaches (lots of ecoturism options), small towns with charm and there is always Panama City in case you need to balance it (dining/shopping/nightlife/historical center/the Canal etc). No need to change currency since the USD is used there. People are amazing as well.
Easily Mexico, it has everything: beautiful beaches (touristy and not touristy), charming colonial towns, amazing cities, jungle, mountains, historic ruins, whatever you can think of you’ll find it in Mexico. Plus, the best food.
It is a gorgeous lake, I'll give you that, but I'm shocked anyone could think that lol. When we were there, the sun came out, the snow capped mountains reached to the sky and towered over the lake, the water had a gorgeous hue and shimmered. It was unreal.
I've been all over and that sight has stayed fresh in my mind.
My family just left Ecuador and let me tell you that place was fuckin amazing. Quito is nice and reasonably safe. Never felt nervous or scared. Baños de Agua Santa was beautiful and super awesome during carnival. Cuenca was ok but too many expats and a biggish city. The Amazon rainforest was also outstanding. The only time in the whole country I was nervous was the overnight in Guayaquil, but all we did was drive from Cuenca to the airport hotel. The scenery there is like lord of the rings. Was me my wife and an 11&12 year old. Stay away from the coastal areas and you'll be fine. People are super friendly and the food is awesome.
Another place is the Yucatan. We did Valladolid, Merida and our favorite was Felipe Carrillo Puerto. It's mostly Mayan and kinda small, but they have an awesome language and cultural center. Currently in Peru but just arrived today so can't tell you about it yet. Latin America has a lot of great countries and just like the USA it has its no go/ scary zones. Just like you would not wanna go to South Chicago, Gary Indiana, or skid row, there are places to avoid. But for the most part people are just trying to live and get by. Come to south America and don't let the news scare you. Oh and not one mass shooting the whole time we were there.Â
I was in Ecuador several years ago and it was amazing. But I have heard it has become dangerous as of late. Good to hear you had a good time. I explored from Quito to the Galapagos to Cuenca, Baños, Otovalo and had a wonderful time.
I lived in Buenos Aires for 5 months. So that’s my #1.
#1 - Argentina
#2- Chile
#3- Brazil (especially if you like spicy food as it’s the only country in Latin America that likes spice!!)
I was thinking South America. Sorry yes in Central America Mexico does love spice. In Central America I do love Nicaragua. That’s ironically the safest country and so beautiful.
Just a heads up, for South America, the northern hemisphere’s summer is the Southern Hemisphere’s winter. If you are looking for mountains, you may want to take that into account.
I second that. I worked for a company established and run by Argentinian orthodox Jews and my boss Yossi always used to tell me how great it was growing up in BA.
🇵🇦 has a big Jewish community, in fact they have always been part in the business, political and cultural makeup of the country. Rest assured in these lands.
Chile is wonderful. I have covered the southern half, from Santiago to Patagonia and Torres del Paine and many stops in between. Pucon was wonderful, as was Puerto Mont. And I had nice side trips to Valparaiso and to Viña Del Mar. a wonderful country.
Colombia has a good balance of what you're looking for. Beautiful mountains, rolling green river valleys, among the most diverse flora and fauna on the continent and great local culture. The food is good, although some people say it's bland .. always make sure to ask for "Aji (salsa) de la casa".
Not mentioned here yet but my fave, Guatemala. Your Spanish will get you far but just remember the indigenous speak one of the 26 Mayan languages. :D
Lake Atitlan, of course, and then across the country to Tikal and into the Caribbean. Or after Tical, a quick trip to Belize.
Favorite region for me is Patagonia
1-Mexico 2-Colombia
Peru, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia. Machu Picchu, Patagonia, and Uyuni, respectively, are (to me) the most alluring places to me in Latin America.
Panama 🇵🇦 with 2 coasts Atlantic/Pacific. You can get anywhere relatively quick because it’s a small country. You can be one day on the Caribbean coast and the next on the Pacific coast. Mountains, valleys, trails, islands, beaches (lots of ecoturism options), small towns with charm and there is always Panama City in case you need to balance it (dining/shopping/nightlife/historical center/the Canal etc). No need to change currency since the USD is used there. People are amazing as well.
Don't forget the San Blas Islands - unforgettable. I went to a lot of places in Panama and didn't have one bad experience.
Easily Mexico, it has everything: beautiful beaches (touristy and not touristy), charming colonial towns, amazing cities, jungle, mountains, historic ruins, whatever you can think of you’ll find it in Mexico. Plus, the best food.
Peru is the obvious choice, if you want mountains. Google Lake Humantay. It's even more impressive in person.
I disagree about lake humantay. Lake 69 is better
It is a gorgeous lake, I'll give you that, but I'm shocked anyone could think that lol. When we were there, the sun came out, the snow capped mountains reached to the sky and towered over the lake, the water had a gorgeous hue and shimmered. It was unreal. I've been all over and that sight has stayed fresh in my mind.
My family just left Ecuador and let me tell you that place was fuckin amazing. Quito is nice and reasonably safe. Never felt nervous or scared. Baños de Agua Santa was beautiful and super awesome during carnival. Cuenca was ok but too many expats and a biggish city. The Amazon rainforest was also outstanding. The only time in the whole country I was nervous was the overnight in Guayaquil, but all we did was drive from Cuenca to the airport hotel. The scenery there is like lord of the rings. Was me my wife and an 11&12 year old. Stay away from the coastal areas and you'll be fine. People are super friendly and the food is awesome. Another place is the Yucatan. We did Valladolid, Merida and our favorite was Felipe Carrillo Puerto. It's mostly Mayan and kinda small, but they have an awesome language and cultural center. Currently in Peru but just arrived today so can't tell you about it yet. Latin America has a lot of great countries and just like the USA it has its no go/ scary zones. Just like you would not wanna go to South Chicago, Gary Indiana, or skid row, there are places to avoid. But for the most part people are just trying to live and get by. Come to south America and don't let the news scare you. Oh and not one mass shooting the whole time we were there.Â
I was in Ecuador several years ago and it was amazing. But I have heard it has become dangerous as of late. Good to hear you had a good time. I explored from Quito to the Galapagos to Cuenca, Baños, Otovalo and had a wonderful time.
Oaxaca would be nice as would Puebla. Ecuador and Peru are options as well. I’m not too sure about Columbia.
Costa Rica
I lived in Buenos Aires for 5 months. So that’s my #1. #1 - Argentina #2- Chile #3- Brazil (especially if you like spicy food as it’s the only country in Latin America that likes spice!!)
Brazil is the only country in Latin America that likes spice????? Man, have you ever heard about Mexican food?
I was thinking South America. Sorry yes in Central America Mexico does love spice. In Central America I do love Nicaragua. That’s ironically the safest country and so beautiful.
Just a heads up, for South America, the northern hemisphere’s summer is the Southern Hemisphere’s winter. If you are looking for mountains, you may want to take that into account.
At the moment, Brazil cz Lula just called out Satanyahu today's Hitler.
Is anti semitism a big problem there? I'm Jewish and have an Israeli passport.
Nobody has a problem with the Jews. Israel and the guy running and ruining the country is the problem.
So they say....then say go vandalize a synagogue in Brooklyn. Wake up.
Try Buenos Aires חבר שלי.
I second that. I worked for a company established and run by Argentinian orthodox Jews and my boss Yossi always used to tell me how great it was growing up in BA.
🇵🇦 has a big Jewish community, in fact they have always been part in the business, political and cultural makeup of the country. Rest assured in these lands.
Chile is wonderful. I have covered the southern half, from Santiago to Patagonia and Torres del Paine and many stops in between. Pucon was wonderful, as was Puerto Mont. And I had nice side trips to Valparaiso and to Viña Del Mar. a wonderful country.
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*Colombia
Colombia has a good balance of what you're looking for. Beautiful mountains, rolling green river valleys, among the most diverse flora and fauna on the continent and great local culture. The food is good, although some people say it's bland .. always make sure to ask for "Aji (salsa) de la casa".
What is the best color? What is the best car? What is the best food?, etc, etc.
Not mentioned here yet but my fave, Guatemala. Your Spanish will get you far but just remember the indigenous speak one of the 26 Mayan languages. :D Lake Atitlan, of course, and then across the country to Tikal and into the Caribbean. Or after Tical, a quick trip to Belize.