9 countries, one language
South America
Argentina
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Rioplatense Spanish uses voseo (“vos tenés”) instead of “tú.”
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Many words come from Italian due to 19th‑century immigration.
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Buenos Aires has one of the world’s largest and most famous bookstores:El Ateneo Grand Splendid.
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In Patagonia, there is a Welsh settlement that still preserves traditions and language.
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Mate has unique social rules; sharing it is a symbol of friendship.
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Argentina was one of the first Latin American countries to develop a major film industry.
Bolivia
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It has 37 official languages, more than almost any country except some in Africa.
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The constitutional capital is Sucre, but government functions in La Paz.
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The Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt desert in the world.
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Spanish coexists daily with Quechua and Aymara.
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La Paz’s Witches’ Market sells herbs and objects used in Andean rituals.
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Bolivia has been landlocked since the War of the Pacific.
Chile
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Chilean Spanish is considered one of the fastest in the world.
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It has some of the clearest skies for astronomy.
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The Atacama Desert is the driest on Earth.
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Easter Island belongs to Chile and is home to the famous moai statues.
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Many Mapuche words are part of Chilean Spanish.
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Chile has more than 4,000 km of coastline.
Colombia
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One of the most biodiverse countries in the world.
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Bogotá hosts the most important Gold Museum globally.
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Bogotá Spanish is often considered one of the most neutral in Latin America.
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Colombia is the world’s largest producer of emeralds.
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In San Basilio de Palenque, a Spanish‑based creole is spoken.
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The country celebrates hundreds of festivals each year.
Ecuador
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Named after the equator line.
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The Galápagos Islands inspired Darwin’s theory.
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Uses the US dollar as currency.
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The “Panama hat” actually originated in Ecuador.
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Numerous indigenous languages coexist with Spanish.
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It has four very distinct natural regions.
Paraguay
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One of the few bilingual countries in the Americas.
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Most of the population speaks both Guaraní and Spanish.
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Tereré is the national drink.
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Conversations often mix Spanish and Guaraní.
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It has one of the world’s largest hydroelectric plants: Itaipú.
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Guaraní is taught in schools.
Perú
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Machu Picchu remained unknown to most of the world until the 20th century.
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Quechua is an official language alongside Spanish.
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The potato was domesticated in the Andes.
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Lima has one of the world’s most renowned gastronomies.
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There are more than 3,000 potato varieties.
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Peruvian Spanish shows strong Andean influences.
Uruguay
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Has one of the highest literacy rates in Latin America.
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Shares the mate tradition with Argentina.
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Tango is also part of its cultural heritage.
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One of the first countries to legalize several major social reforms.
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Rioplatense Spanish uses voseo.
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Montevideo hosts one of the longest carnivals in the world.
Venezuela
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Angel Falls is the highest waterfall in the world.
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The Catatumbo lightning can be seen much of the year.
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Venezuelan Spanish varies greatly by region.
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The harp, cuatro, and maracas are essential to the joropo.
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Mount Roraima inspired many exploration stories.
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Venezuelan cacao is considered among the best in the world.
