Top 10 curious facts about Latin America

 

 

 Latin America is a melting pot of cultures.  The 26 countries that make up this ethnic-geographic concept are full of places, populations and phenomena worth knowing.  From Civitatis we propose a list with 10 curious facts about Latin America that you probably do not know yet.

 1. The Atacama Desert, one of the driest places in the world

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 Probably the word desert already gives you a clue, but the Atacama is not a typical desert.  It is considered one of the driest places in the world.  In 1971, according to recorded data, the first rain fell after four centuries.  If you want to discover this unique place, you cannot miss this excursion to the Valley of the Moon from San Pedro de Atacama.

 2. In Honduras it rains fish

 Yes, you read correctly, it rains fish.  In Yoro, a small town in northern Honduras, a strange phenomenon occurs whereby, at least once a year during the transition from spring to summer, the streets are flooded with small silver fish “fallen from the sky”.

 3. In Cartagena de Indias the sea lights up

 Have you ever heard of luminous plankton?  In Colombia, more specifically in Cartagena de Indias, you can enjoy a night bath with bioluminescent plankton.  With each movement, the waters light up with tiny blue dots. A magical experience!

 4. Mexican gastronomy, a World Heritage Site

 We all know and love tacos, but Mexican cuisine goes far beyond this delicious signature dish from street stalls.  In addition to being a delight, Mexican gastronomy earned the title of Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2010.  If you want to discover the flavors of Mexico, there is no better way to do it than with a gastronomic tour of Mexico City.

5. Panama, a country bathed by two oceans

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 This news is not new.  Panama is one of the countries where it is extremely easy to see the sunrise in the Atlantic Ocean and enjoy the sunset in the Pacific Ocean.  Crazy!  truth?  Essential in our list of curious facts about Latin America.

 6. Ecuador, where nature defends itself in court

 Did you know that in Ecuador nature is considered a subject with constitutional rights?  Thanks to this measure, the country boasts some of the best preserved natural spaces in the world.  The Galapagos Islands are a great example of this.

7. Paraguay, a bilingual country

 Paraguay has wanted to make sure to preserve its ancestral culture.  The country considers Spanish and Guaraní, the local indigenous language, as official languages, so it is not strange to hear its inhabitants change from one language to another with total fluency.  If you want to soak up its culture, a good option is to take a guided tour of Asunción with a local guide who will show you the essence of Paraguay.

 8. The Amazon, the largest river in the world

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 This is probably not news to anyone, but the Amazon River could not be missing from this list of curious facts about Latin America.  If you want to enjoy its rich ecosystem, there are excursions that will show you this unique place in one or several days.  An excursion that must be done at least once in your life!

9. Colombia, the country of coffee

 Colombian coffee is recognized worldwide, but not only for its quality, but also for its extensive plantations spread throughout the country.  Did you know that Colombia is the second largest coffee producer in the world?  If you want to discover more about this industry, you cannot miss these visits to the Eje Cafetero.

10. Lima, the gastronomic capital of America

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 We have already talked about Mexican gastronomy, but it must be recognized that the capital of Peru has nothing to envy.  The country has up to 90 microclimates, which creates a perfect opportunity to grow all kinds of raw materials and have a gastronomy with first-class ingredients.  That said, a visit to Lima wouldn't be complete without taking a food tour to discover its impressive cuisine.  Ceviche for everyone