5 Amazing Hispanic Countries To Explore

There are so many amazing Hispanic countries to explore and enjoy on your next incredible vacation. We will take a closer look at my top five in this post.

What is Hispanic exactly?

Before I dive in, I want to look at the what Hispanic is. Many terms are incorrectly and interchangeably used and often cause confusion. 

For reference, I have looked up the Definition of Hispanic at  https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hispanic.

Definition of Hispanic: 

1. of, relating to, or being a person of Latin American descent and especially of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin living in the U.S.
2. of or relating to the people, speech, or culture of Spain

Based on the definition, the countries that are considered Hispanic are: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Any one of these Hispanic countries would be wonderful places to explore the land and learn about it’s people.

The absolute best way to learn about a culture or it’s people is to travel to that region and/or get to know the people that live there or come from there! I have been fortunate enough to have lived with people from several Hispanic countries and learn from them. I am also very grateful to have traveled to several of these countries and at times really immersed myself in their culture. 

OBSERVATIONS FROM MY EXPERIENCE WITH HISPANIC COUNTRIES AND PEOPLE :

A few things I can tell you about my overall experiences. The people really tend to be warm and welcoming.  They seem to really enjoy life and have an amazing ability to celebrate it. I might be a little jealous! They understand struggle and sacrifice and have a resiliency I have come to admire. Hispanics also tend to be more laid back. They often have a strong sense of nationalism.

Much of the above observations can be seen through their political actions, the use of vibrant colors, their celebrations, the relationships they maintain with family, their overall disposition amongst many other things.

I am aware that not everyone checks all these boxes. Rather, it is what I have seen to be the case from the perspective of an overall culture. 

There is a rich history in Hispanic culture between the influence of both the native, indengenoius peoples that inhabitated these countries and  that of the Spaniards that conquered them which has shaped the culture.

If you want to experience and learn about the culture by visiting an incredible country, I am going to provide you with 5 pretty awesome options. And a good place to start will be Spain – without it, there would not be Hispanics. 

Now it’s time for The Foxxy 5 list of amazing Hispanic countries to explore and experience!

SPAIN

If you want to get a sense of where much of Hispanic culture stems, you need to travel to Spain. It is rich in culture and history and is influenced by African and other European societies. This country is rather large for a European nation. We backpacked the country for about 3 weeks and just scratched the surface. 

You will not want to miss seeing all of what Barcelona has to offer. This northern city is everything you hear about and home to a culture of it’s own. The architecture is breathtaking, thanks to the exquisite designs of Gaudi. Las Ramblas is absolutely the most amazing strip of walkway you can enjoy, with street performers of all kinds, cafes, restaurants. I highly recommend snagging a seat and a drink and taking it all in!   If you want to catch all of the goodness of the city, the double decker tour is well worth the money to hit all of the best sites!

If you are into museums, you will want to head to Madrid which is home to the world famous art museum, El Prado, amongst several other must sees. The nightlife here is all the rage as well!  Madrid is amazing if you are an art afficiando or enjoy the nightlife!

Head south to the region of Andalusia where the Moors once reigned. Their influence is still a part of the culture which is most notable through the Moorish architecture that remains. La Alhambra palace and gardens near Granada should be at the top of the list to be in awe-inspiring places to see.  While all of Spain has many amazing churches to visit, the Mezquita Mosque-Cathedral in Cordoba offers something different. And Seville offers a plethora of amazing sites and neighborhoods. There was a region that was made up of the most adorable cobblestone “roads” and alleyways that make you feel like you are in a different era, a liitle medieval, a little renaissance, a little Moorish! We absolutely loved this area but man did we get lost! 

I think I have provided enough to get your feet wet!

MEXICO

Our neighbor to the south has many beautiful cities and beaches to visit with an extremely diverse geography and population!

Mexico was home to many pre-Hispanic civilizations for centuries prior to the Spanish rule that lasted three centuries. Of these were two of the greatest indigenous civilizations in history, the Aztecs and Mayans. Their influence is evident in the culture, landscape and people as traditions are blended from the Mexicans, the indigenous and European and Western world peoples.

You can find ancient ruins, colonial architecture, natural reserves, and of course, amazing food.  The terrain is made up of volcanoes, mountains, deserts, rainforests and swamps which provides many different types of trips.

And the nice part about it is that there are many beach resort areas with different price points to enjoy. A very popular and convenient option are all-inclusive hotels.

Perhaps the most well-known region and certainly the most popular for Mexican tourism, is the Yucatan peninsula to the east of Mexico.  This area was once the center of the ancient Mayan civilization and thus is home to famous archeological sites like Chichen Itza. You will also find Cancun which offers shopping, restaurants, and activities. I love the accessibility of the area to be able to move around off of resort. You can also find fantastic opportunities for day trips to see some of the most famous attractions and islands.  

Some other notable and beautiful beach vacation destinations include Mazatlán, the historical center of Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco.  You can also travel to the southern tip of the northwestern Baja Penisula, where you will find the very popular resort destination of Cabo San Lucas. 

If you are not as interested in the beaches and prefer to take in more of the culture or history, the capital, Mexico City, is perfect with ruins and other historical sites. 

Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a beautiful country in the Caribbean on the island of Hispaniola. which is split  with Haiti to the west. The culture is a blend of African, European and the Taino (indeginous). The island offers white sand beaches, golf and Victorian architecture.

Like Mexico, you can find resort areas that offer amazing and safe stays. I know visiting an unfamiliar region can be intimidating so feeling safe is key! If you would like to get off of the resort, there are plenty of wonderful “excursions” to try.  With water like this, snorkeling should be high on the list of things to do!  

The most popular tourist destination is Punta Cana which can be found at the eastern end of the island. There is an abundance of accommodations with different price points for any budget.

A few other resort areas that may also be of interest are Puerto Plata and La Romana.

If you don’t love the whole resort, all inclusive type of vacation, head to the capital of Santo Domingo. Or for a more relaxed, freestyle vibe, and backapackers paradise check out the city of Cabarete. 

PUERTO RICO

🎶 “Puerto Rico, my heart’s devotion” 🎶 La isla que me Encanta! Of course it holds a special place in my heart since my family is from there, but, there is something so truly calming about being there. Even the sounds of the coquí frogs at night are soothing.

I should point out that unlike all of the other listed places to travel, Puerto Rico is in fact a US territory and not a country. But as it pretty much stands alone, it is on the list.

Although it is small, you can find plenty of different experiences for just about anyone. If you are in Puerto Rico, you must make time to enjoy the picturesque views of the colonial buildings of Old San Juan. While there, head over to the San Juan National Historic Site to see the fortress.  Next, take a day trip to the tropical rainforest of El Yunque and take a swim in the waterfall. Then relax or enjoy some fun watersports at one of the many amazing beaches surrounding the island.  A couple beach areas I love are Luquillo to the northeast and the beaches of Rincon to the west.

DO NOT miss out on the spectacular experience of observing glowing microorganisms at night in one of the Bioluminescent Bays!

One of the many things we Puerto Ricans do well is rum! If you love you some rum, make sure to go to the Bacardi Distillery (just don’t do it with a massive hangover, I learned that the hard way).  I could honestly go on and on but I will save it for another post.

CHILE

Chile is one of the longest countries in the world running North to South and thus provides plenty of terrains to see and enjoy. It is a nature lovers haven!

In the north you will find beautiful beaches like those in Iqueque, mining towns of Antofagasta, and a plethora of sights and scenery in the driest desert in the world, the Atacama.

As you travel down to Central Chile you will encounter more incredible beach and resort areas like Valparaiso. It is also home to the vast metropolis of the capital city, Santiago.

This is where I had the good fortune of studying abroad and I absolutely loved it! I remember many a days just thinking how awe-inspiring the view was as the mountains were everywhere in the distance.

In Santiago you can visit the wonderful museums and enjoy a robust nightlife. Make sure to attend a fútbol game at any level. The synergy is awesome and is nothing like I have ever experienced before. You can also take a day trip to vineyards in Maipo Valley or ski resorts in the beautiful snow-capped Andes mountains!

When you get to Southern Chile, the natural beauty is abound. You can surf, relax in the hot springs, enjoy adventure sports or fish in the Lake District. Monte Verde, one of the oldest archaeological sites of the Americas.

Just below southern Chile is Patagonia which is full of mountains, fjords, channels and islands. Torres Del Paine is one of the most popular destinations.

Final Thoughts

I promise that you will not be disappointed in any of these five hispanic countries to explore. Even if you opt for a different one, you will find a rich culture and history. And the people will make you feel welcomed.

Keep in mind always, you always want to do your research on the safety, requirements and warnings about any country before heading over. The Foxxy5 includes relatively safe options depending on where you stay.

So dust off the Spanish dictionary, pick a place and start planning for a marvelous trip!