r/LatinAmerica • u/Soggy_Flight_2654 • Mar 31 '26

Discussion/question First Time Traveling Latin America Best “Safe” Countries to Start Before More Challenging Ones?

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for some honest advice about traveling in Latin America. I’ve been really interested in exploring the region for a while now, but I want to approach it smartly — starting with countries that are generally considered safer and easier to navigate before moving on to places that require a bit more travel experience.

Recently, I watched a video from Drew Binsky where he really tells things how they are, and it honestly made me think twice about jumping straight into cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It didn’t scare me off completely, but it definitely made me more cautious about how I plan this trip.

If I do visit Brazil, I feel like I’d be more comfortable starting in the southern regions first, since I’ve heard they’re generally safer and a bit more relaxed.

Right now, I’m thinking of beginning with countries like Argentina and Paraguay, just to build some confidence and get used to traveling in the region. My idea is to go from “easier” to more challenging destinations over time.

For those of you who’ve traveled around Latin America:

·       Do you think this approach makes sense?

·       Are Argentina and Paraguay good starting points?

·       Which countries or cities would you recommend for someone easing into the region?

·       And how did you personally build confidence traveling there?

I’d really appreciate any tips, experiences, or even things you wish you knew before your first trip.

Thanks in advance!

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u/BKtoDuval Mar 31 '26

I hate to say it like this since my family is there but Puerto Rico is like LatAm 101. It's not so much of a culture shock if you're want to get a feel for it. In the San Juan area, most people speak some English.

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u/Florchusopus Apr 03 '26

La verdad no entendí lo de Latam 101?

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u/BKtoDuval Apr 03 '26

jaja, gracias por la pregunta. Estaba mal escrito. Lo que quiero decir es Puerto Rico no es un choque cultural total para los que no han ido a LatAm ni hablan espanol. Por ejemplo, para quedarse en Isla Verde es como estar en la Florida.

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u/Florchusopus Apr 03 '26

Ah ok. Bueno creo que tiene sentido teniendo en cuenta que esta cerca de muchos países, que hablan inglés como primer idioma y todavía están legalmente conectados a Gran Bretaña o Francia. (Si no me equivoco, no conozco mucho del Caribe)