16 reasons to go to Latin America

One of the travel guides I have been reading recently stated 21 reasons to go to Latin America. They actually align with our reasons for going, so thought I would share them with you. I've only left the ones that we actually plan to do! Please keep us in check to make sure we do these things :)

1. Shop in an indigenous market - The unique cultural heritage of Latin America's many indigenous peoples is often on display at markets... where farmers come into town to sell and trade crops, weavings and other handicrafts.
2. Walk through the jungle canopy - High about the rainforest floor, treetop walkways provide close-up views of the denizens of the canopy, many of which never set foot on the ground.
3. Explore a lost city - From Chichen Itza in Mexico to Machu Picchu in Peru, the great stone cities built by civilizations like the Maya and Inca long before Europeans conquered Latin America are among the most beautiful and mysterious sites the region has to offer.
4. Explore a colonial past - The legacy of Portugal and Spain is most evident in the elaborate towns and cities throughout Latin America.
5. Celebrate a Fiesta - The exuberance and vitality of Latin America shines through the innumberable fiestas that mark the calendar throughout the year.
6. Learn to dance the tango - Master the sensuous, melancholy moves of tango and you're halfway to being accepted as an Argentine. And if you don't fancy the tango, there's always salsa, cumbia or merengue.
7. Snorkel in the caribbean - The world's second largest barrier reef and a string of coral atolls make the Caribbean coast and islands of Mexico and Central America world-class scuba diving and snorkelling destinations.
8. Eat the world's best beef - The entire region is a carnivore's paradise, but the best cuts are to be found in Argentina, where succulent steaks and whole beasts are roasted over open fires.
9. Enjoy a fruit juice - Latin America is home to a colourful array of tropical fruits, best enjoyed freshly squeezed at street and market stalls throughout the region.
10. Watch the sun rise - Sometimes, you have to get up early to see things at their most splendid.
11. Hike an Inca trail - The high Andes of Ecuador, Bolivia and, above all, Peru are crisscrossed by a network of stone-paved pathways built by the Incas and other pre-Columbian civilizations, perfect for day hikes and extended treks.
12. Spot wildlife in the rainforest - The tropical rainforests of Latin America are the most biodiverse environments on earth, home to an astonishing variety of wildlife including monkeys, toucans, dolphins and jaguars.
13. Hang loose in a hammock - Arguably Latin America's greatest gift to the world, the hammock is both a perfect place to adjust to the local pace of lie and a cool and comfortable alternative to a bed.
14. Listen to Andean music - With their panpipes, drums and twelve-stringed charangos, musicians in the Andes are liable to strike up lively tune at any social gathering, with haunting tunes that seem insparable from the migty mountains they inhabit (We're also determined to listen to come Carribbean reggae whilst on the coast of Belize).
15. See icebergs up close - In the wild, austral region of Patagonia - a land much closer to Antarctica than the Amazon - some of the world's mightiest glaciers can be seen ( and heard).
16. Ride a train - Latin America's few remaining railways lines allow you to travel in style through some of the most rugged and remote landscapes in the region.

(The Rough Guide: First Time Latin America, 2006)