Latin America is at a crossroads. In cities that hum with the energy of young entrepreneurs and in rural communities where centuries-old traditions still guide daily life, a quiet transformation is underway. This article explores the forces reshaping the region — from shifting demographics and booming technology adoption to political realignments and the urgent realities of climate change. If you want to understand what the future of Latin America looks like over the next decade and beyond, read on. We’ll walk through concrete trends, plausible predictions, and practical implications for citiz ...

The first time you hear about the Lost City Trek—Ciudad Perdida—you probably imagine a mist-shrouded ruin tucked away like a treasure in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. That mental image is not far from reality. This trek is a combination of jungle adventure, cultural encounter, and archaeological mystery. Unlike easier, more polished ruins that sit behind railings, Ciudad Perdida rewards effort: it asks for days of hiking through dense rainforest, multiple river crossings, and a climb up ancient stone terraces to reveal a circular plaza that has seen centuries of footsteps. If you like your ...

Torres del Paine is one of those landscapes that grabs you the moment you see it: jagged granite spires stabbing into skies that can flip through four seasons in a single afternoon, glaciers that glow an impossible blue, and wind that teaches you humility. If you love long walks that change your sense of scale, or short hikes that reward you with postcard views, this park delivers. In this article I’ll walk you through the very best hikes in Torres del Paine, from the classic W trek to the full O circuit, and the day hikes that fit into any schedule. I’ll also share practical tips—when to go, ...

The story of Spanish and Portuguese colonization reads like a grand, messy novel—full of ambition, invention, violence, adaptation, and surprise endings that still shape our daily lives. If you’ve ever listened to Spanish music, walked through a Latin American city, eaten feijoada, or heard the word “mestizo,” you’ve experienced echoes of these two Iberian empires. Let’s take a long, curious stroll through the history, the cultural exchanges, the economic systems, and the human consequences of Spanish and Portuguese colonization, and see how their influence rippled across continents and centur ...

The Pantanal is one of those places that feels like nature turned up to full volume. Spread across Brazil, with portions in Bolivia and Paraguay, this vast tropical wetland is a mosaic of lakes, rivers, marshes, and seasonally flooded grasslands that support an astonishing variety of life. If you imagine standing on a riverbank and watching a jaguar slip into the shallows while flocks of colorful birds wheel above and capybaras graze nearby, well—you’re not far from the truth. In this guide I’ll walk you through the wildlife, the seasons, the best ways to see animals with respect, and what’s b ...