Living History of Latin America

Argentina
With 300-year-old Jesuit missions and cave paintings dating back 10,000 years, Argentina contains many sites of archaeological and cultural significance. Also check out the Magnasco Institute Museum, which houses the first library in Argentina founded by women, antique furniture and musical instruments, polychrome wooden carvings from the 17th century, and a collection of more than 300 works by native and foreign artists.

One of Argentina’s most visited historical sites is the Cementerio de la Recoleta in Buenos Aires. It is the final resting place of many Argentinian luminaries, but pilgrims trek there every day to visit the grave of Evita Peron.

Brazil
Brazil celebrates its religious holidays with a fervor you won’t find anywhere else. The Carnaval and Boa Morte festivals are legendary, especially as they are celebrated in Rio de Janeiro. On your visit to Rio, be sure to check out the giant Cristo Redentor statue that looms over the city.

Brazil has its share of antiquities as well. Many centuries-old churches and Jesuit settlements have been preserved, and a set of cave paintings in Serra da Capivara National Park is thought to be over 25,000 years old.

Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s culture is one of polite social consciousness and preservation of nature. The country’s Guayabo National Monument is the remains of a city dating back to 1,000 B.C. Another site, the Monteverde Biological Preserve, is the first nature preserve ever established in Costa Rica.

The main cultural attraction in Costa Rica, however, is its people. The national pastime is friendliness, and Costa Ricans (or Ticans, as they are often called) make a point of being helpful to visitors. You’ll find the mood in this country to be relaxed and unhurried, with a high value placed on education and environmental preservation.

El Salvador
El Salvador has few cultural sites, but the country is making attempts to preserve its natural treasures.

Guatemala
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization includes three Guatemalan sites on its prestigious World Heritage List. Tikal in northwestern Guatemala has some of the best-preserved Mayan ruins in existence; Antigua features churches and other buildings dating back to the 16th century; and the ancient Mayan city of Quirigua contains twenty-two monuments to various people, animals and deities.

The Dia de los Muertos celebration in the village of Santiago Sacatepequez is a cultural event not to be missed.

Mexico City
Mexico City is the culture capital of Mexico. It is packed with museums, historic cemeteries, native craft markets, colonial and pre-Columbian architecture and active bullfighting arenas.

The city’s most famous landmarks include the Palacio Nacional, the Aztec temple ruins in the main central square, the golden Angel of Independence, and the National Museum of Anthropology. Mexico City is also home to numerous paintings by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.

Uruguay
Uruguay’s cultural events include regional variations of annual celebrations such as Carnaval and Holy Week.