Traveling to Latin America Bucket List: My Top 20 Experiences
Welcome to this traveling to Latin America Bucket List: My Top 20 Experiences!
Rounding off the year, it’s always a good time to reflect on everything we’ve got up to, and to appreciate the different experiences we’ve been able to have.
Travel has been at the core of what I’ve done this year, so naturally, all of my best moments have come from being on the road.
Latin America Bucket List: My Top 20 Experiences
Here I’m going to list 20 of my favorite Bucket List Destinations for Latin America. I used to read these kinds of things as a kid, so there’s a bit of nostalgia here too. Who knows, maybe a few new ones will end up on your list too!
1. Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) 🇧🇴
I rarely do multi-day tours since I need Internet to work daily, however I simply had to make an exception for this one.
In terms of incredible landscapes, this is by far the best I have seen on all of my travels, period. I went with this 3 Day Tour where you can see green and red alpine lakes, pink flamingos, towering volcanoes and also some incredible deserts. And that’s without mentioning the incredible salt flats too – which are memorable regardless of the season you visit!
During the dry season (April until October) you’ll see the salt in all its glory, along with the scenic Incahuasi Island.
During the wet season (best between December and February) the water will create a perfect mirror reflection of the sky.
2. Copper Canyon (Mexico) 🇲🇽
Now it’s time to head back a few years, to my first ever backpacking trip where I bombed around Mexico and the Caribbean for 6 months.
The Copper Canyon is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon across the border, and is full of incredible drops and scenery. You can head along with the train, and also visit towns such as Creel, as well as getting to know the fascinating Tarahumara tribe (who are known to run barefoot dozens of miles a day).
Whilst the trip can take multiple days (or even weeks) as you can stay in different sites, there’s also options too for those who are shorter on time. I recommend heading on this One Day Tour where you’ll see all of the top highlights.
3. Sunsets in North Brazil 🇧🇷
I really am a sucker for beautiful sunsets. There’s something about a crimson red sun, orange skies and crazy colors that makes me drop pretty much everything to go and see it.
Whilst there’s been some amazing places throughout South America for sunsets such as those in Montañita, it’s North Brazil that wins it for me. Jericoacoara and Itacaré were some of the most memorable, as they’re smaller towns and it’s easier to get away from the crowds for your own slice of (temporary) heaven.
4. Sandboarding in Huacachina 🇵🇪
Peru is full of incredible things to see and do, and it’s worth trying to squeeze as many of these in as possible (Huacachina, Arequipa and Cusco are absolute musts). This is part of the reason I’m currently living in Lima now!
However it’s the Sandboarding here in Southern Peru which was some of the best times I’ve had. Because there’s nothing quite like riding a board head first down a giant sand hill at uncontrollable speeds…
Huacachina is one of the best places to do this, where you can head on an all-inclusive Sandboarding Tour which also includes a visit to the incredible Ballestas Islands in nearby Paracas.
If you have more time, then you can head here independently and stay for a few days before continuing on to Arequipa. You’ll first need to take a 5 hour bus ride from Lima (stopping in Ica first, and then take a 10 minute mototaxi over to Huacachina).
5. Antón Valley (Panama) 🇵🇦
Whilst steadily growing in popularity, there’s still many travelers who head to Panama but don’t quite make it to Antón Valley, which is a nice stop along the way from Bocas del Toro to Panama City.
Here you’ll find some unrivalled nature trails through Cloud Forests and over Dormant Volcanoes. La India Dormida is a popular choice, however I also recommend hiking El Cerro Gaital which I actually got lost in, which made the whole thing a bit more complicated (and interesting) than it otherwise should have been…
6. Biking down Death Road 🇧🇴
Whilst the name of this place might not fill you with confidence, it’s an absolute must for the adrenaline junkies out there (or anyone else reading who has iron balls).
This road is known as the world’s most dangerous road, which previously claimed hundreds of lives each year. They’ve since opened a new road which drivers use (connects La Paz to the Amazon Jungle), which means it’s become the perfect place for an off-road biking experience.
You’ll want to go with a reputable company like I did, where they give you the best quality bikes and also take HQ photos for you (trust me when I say this isn’t the place to try and record one-handed!).
7. Salsa Dancing in Colombia 🇨🇴
Colombia is a pretty sexy place. I mean come on, the people, heat, beaches, the people… it’s easy to see why most travelers end up pausing their travels to live in this incredible South American nation.
One of my favorites though is the fact that everyone loves to Salsa Dance here. Cartagena and Cali were some of the best cities, where you’ll find locals dancing in the street and also professionals swinging it at top places like the Topa Tolondra.
8. Monteverde Night Tour 🇨🇷
My overall experience of Costa Rica was pretty poor. Sure getting Dengue Fever didn’t help, however it was also due to the fact that it just didn’t feel that authentic and over touristy.
However, having said that, the nature here is still pretty incredible. Whilst recovering I went on a Night Tour through the Costa Rican jungle, and this was by far the highlight for me.
With everything from Tarantulas and Snakes to Ocelots, it’s a great way to see some awesome animals. If you’re lucky you may even spot a Jaguar too.
I 100% recommend going with this tour, where a professional guide will even get some close-up photos for you too.
9. Waterfalls in Chachapoyas 🇵🇪
I left this until number 9, however this was the most memorable of all on this list for me.
Peru is a truly amazing country to travel around, and you’ll find a tonne of awesome destinations such as Cusco and Arequipa. However the north is where the real, rough adventures lie, and Chachapoyas takes the crown of them all.
Here you’ll find the beautiful Gocta Falls, which can be reached with a hiking tour where you’ll walk through the jungle for around 2 hours to get there (they also have donkeys to make the ride easier too).
My all-time favorite has to be the off the beaten path waterfalls of Yumbilla, which at 896m is the fifth tallest waterfall on earth. It’s a bit of a trek to get – which is why I loved it so much! You’ll first need to head to Pedro Ruiz by bus, and then take a mototaxi into the remote mountainous village of Cuispes, which is where the trail starts.
10. Living it up in Copacabana 🇧🇷
Brazil is king for good vibes and endless fun, with Rio de Janeiro the absolute epicenter of it all.
The truth is that there’s awesome places to head out all over the city, such as Lapa and Botafogo. However for me the best was in Copacabana, with this half-moon shaped beach never sleeping.
During the day you can grab some beers and head out for some rays, and in the evening you can get some locally made Caipirinhas on the street for cheap before staggering into the main beachside bars dotted along the strip.
11. The Amazon 🇧🇷 🇵🇪 🇪🇨 🇨🇴 🇧🇴
There’s no way I was going to miss this one out.
The most biodiverse area on earth, everyone who comes to South America must come here at least once! You can access the Amazon from either Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia (also Venezuela but I can’t comment since I haven’t been yet).
I’ve seen jungles before, but just the sheer scale of it all is seriously impressive. There’s many multi-day tours which allow you to access deeper parts of the Jungle, where you can go Piraña Fishing, swim with Pink River Dolphins and look out for rare wildlife like Jaguars and Capybara.
This is one of the most reputable tours out there (which I went with), where you can customise your trip from 2-4 days depending on your timeframe. You’ll see everything I mentioned above and more.
12. Samaipata (Bolivia) 🇧🇴
This is quite a low-key one on this list, and not somewhere I had even heard of once I crossed into Bolivia.
Located a few hours from the large city of Santa Cruz, this town has a much warmer climate, which is a welcome from the cooler highlands and cities like La Paz and Uyuni. Samaipata is known for the El Fuerte ruins, which is an incredible archaeological site that’s worth the visit.
When I came here I also hired a motorbike driver for a few hours, where we went out into the beautiful Las Cuevas Falls. These waterfalls are hardly explored, and you’ll have some nice jungle trails to explore too.
13. San Blas Islands (Panama) 🇵🇦
These are by far the most beautiful islands I have ever seen. Palm trees in spades, with white sands and little else around, you’ll feel lost in the middle of the Caribbean Ocean.
They’re not actually that far at all, with most heading with an overnight tour from Panama City to explore this stunning archipelago.
The interesting thing about them is that they’re home to the Kuna Yala Tribe, who have managed to keep their home independent from the rest of Panama. You’ll get chances to meet them and explore their ways of life.
14. Cenotes in the Riviera Maya 🇲🇽
Mexico is known for a lot of things, good food and Aztec ruins being some of the most revered.
In the Southern region of the Riviera Maya you’ll also find cenotes, which are natural, hollowed out caves filled with turquoise waters. They’re perfect for swimming, and the divers out there will be especially keen since you can dive deep into the expansive underwater cave systems here too.
One of my favorites has to be the Dos Ojos Cenote near Tulum, where you’ll have two different pools to explore (you can hire snorkelling gear on-site and even go on early-access diving tours too).
15. Machu Picchu (Peru) 🇵🇪
Again, another mention which shouldn’t be too surprising.
Despite the massive amount of hype and expectations I had of this place, there was still no moment like when you first walk over to the main mirador (lookout point) over Machu Picchu.
It really is a stroke of an architectural masterpiece, with the Incas being well known for their ability to create incredible structures using stone masonry techniques which still have people scratching their heads today (the tightly fitting stones of Sacashuayman being another).
This full-day tour is the perfect way to explore Machu Picchu, which includes the entrance ticket as well as having all logistics already handled for you.
16. Baños Biking and Waterfalls 🇪🇨
Having already hiked up Cotopaxi and spent time heading around Quito, I was pretty happy to just relax once I arrived in Baños.
I then found out that the region was home to various beautiful waterfalls (not just the Pailón del Diablo), and I booked myself onto a Bike Tour of the surrounding region.
Not only will you see some incredible sceneries and sights, however you’ll have a chance to go zip lining over the canyon too!
I recommend heading to the Selina in town (whether staying here or not – it doesn’t matter) and booking yourself onto their bike tour.
17. Lake Atitlan (Guatemala) 🇬🇹
Located within the Guatemalan highlands, this stunning lake is surrounded by volcanoes, and rightfully so is one of the most visited destinations in the country.
Going for a boat ride is a popular activity to do, where you can also stop off at some sediment, rustic towns like that of San Marcos and San Pedro.
If you’re already in Antigua then you can join this convenient tour which includes a full-day on the lake, where you’ll explore the towns of San Juan, San Pedro and Santiago.
To get here you’ll first need to head to Panajachel which is the gateway to the lake, with the bus from Antigua taking around 3 hours.
18. The Lost City Trek 🇨🇴
Located near the Caribbean in the north of Colombia, The Lost City Trek is one of the best jungle treks you can do in this continent.
Starting from Santa Marta, you’ll spend 3 days hiking through the steaming rainforest, where you’ll also see the indigenous Wiwa culture along the way who also make this sacred journey (often in just a day which is pretty impressive given the distance).
You’ll spend the nights in remote jungle lodges, eat good food and also have stop-offs for a cool river swim too. All in all I recommend this trek for anyone heading to northern Colombia.
This is the trek that I did (although the company was different – however they are all of high quality and follow the same route). You’ll want to make sure you’re in somewhat decent shape since you’ll be walking 6+ hours a day through the jungle!
19. Havana (Cuba) 🇨🇺
This city is as good as it was promised to be, and I felt like I was in a completely different land and time when here.
Just walking around the streets was a highlight of my own Cuba trip, where between the colonial houses you’d occasionally have an old American car zoom on by.
Whilst in Havana you’ll want to explore the Historic Center, with gems like El Capitolio and the famous restaurant of La Bodeguita del Medio very much worth the visit.
20. The Sacred Valley 🇵🇪
Last but not least is this iconic region of Peru, which is nestled up in the Andes near Cusco.
The Sacred Valley really is full of everything – from historic towns of Pisac and Ollantaytambo to the stunning alpine lakes of Ausangate.
Those who love ancient ruins will also be in luck, since there’s many incredible sites to see here including Moray Ruins and also those of Choquequirao.
This Full-Day Tour of the Sacred Valley is a really good choice, as you’ll be transported to the very best sites here, such as Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Chinchero.
Special Mentions
There are countless others Latin America Bucket List destinations that I had great times in but haven’t mentioned.
Below I’ll give a few extra special mentions:
- Iguazú Falls (Argentina) 🇦🇷
- Viñales (Cuba) 🇨🇺
- Maricao Jungle (Puerto Rico) 🇵🇷
- Hand of the Desert (Chile) 🇨🇱
- Maipu Valley (Argentina) 🇦🇷
Latin America Bucket List
And there we have it, some of the very best experiences you can have in Latin America, which for me were the most memorable.
I hope you can find this guide useful. Have you been to any of these gems before? Or do you have any questions about how to plan a trip there?
Drop a comment below and we’ll be more than happy to help out!
If you’re heading to Mexico or currently planning your trip, then I recommend reading this Mexico Bucket List guide for even more travel inspiration.
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
“Dear traveler! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a purchase, book a hostel or sign up for a tour, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support means a lot and helps us to carry on traveling and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”
