So you have learned your Spanish, and let me guess you are just aching to use it. Why not make a trip south to Latin America? There. you will discover some of the most breath-taking beautiful locations on earth.

Below is some brief information about various Latin America countries and also included are some links to Message Boards, where you can get additional information. Message Boards are an excellent place to get advice, opinions, and facts; but be aware that anyone can post to message boards and occasionally you get a few loons. So don’t rely on the first response to your question, and try to get as many responses as possible in order to make a fair judgment.

Right now, I have a link to just a few countries. I may try to add more countries later, if time permits.

Just one more thing, I am often asked is it safe to travel to Latin America? Simple answer: No place is perfectly safe. When traveling to a foreign county, you should always take some extra precautions and be aware of you surroundings. If you follow some simple common sense guidelines then you can have a fun and relatively safe time.

Colombia

Colombia has a bad reputation for being narco-terroist state, but I I have since learned that is not exactly a fair and accurate portrayal of this beautiful country. I have spoken to many Americans that have traveled and have had a wonderful time in Colombia, and now I can’t wait to make my trip. My favorite message board for Colombia is the Poor but Happy Colombia. This has everything you need to know including: travel guides, cheap places to stay, safety guides, information about teaching English in Colombia, and so much more Now, there is a lot of great stuff on Poor but happy, but there is also a lot of BS. Politics are often discussed and it can get very heated over there sometimes. Still, it is my favorite blog out there because of the wealth of material on the site. Another great message board is the Colombian Blog, which also has a lot of useful information.

Mexico

Mexico, our neighbor to the south, is another often maligned, but beautiful country. Around 16 Million Americans visit Mexico each year, and another 400,000 live in Mexico year round. Among the Popular tourist destinations are Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, and Cozumel. I have included some message boards here, but to be honest I am not thrilled with any of them. Mex-on-line is the best one, but it is still not as active as I would like. If you have a message board about Mexico that you love, email me. If I find some more, I will be sure to add them.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica (literally meaning Rich Coast in Spanish) is a country about the size of West Virginia located in Central America. Costa Rica is one of the most stable countries in Latin America, so much so that it abolished it’s military in 1948. Unlike most of its neighbors, the majority of the Costa Ricans are unmixed and the direct descendants of Spaniards. In addition there are, small expatriate communities from United States and Europe. From what I understand, many people who visit as tourists often return looking to purchase land in Costa Rica.

Argentina

Argentina has a European feel, which is reflected in her architecture and her people.. The country's population consists heavily of immigrants from Europe. The largest groups being Italian and Spanish, but there are French, German, Polish, and Irish. So if you want to travel to Latin America, but ifyou are afraid of sticking out like a sore thumb, then Argentina may be the country for you. This is the best message board I cound find on Argentina. It seems like a good one, but if you know of another then please let me know.