Central & South America

My experience in Central and South America is dominated by Mexico, not surprisiing since I have mostly lived in southern parts of the US and it is easy and appealing to get there. We owned a home on the tiny Mexican island of Isla Mujeres for some years and loved the relaxed lifestyle and cheerful and friendly demeanor of the people. Latin America has its share of grand scenery for sure, but it is also full of contrasts in culture, people, lifestyle, and more, and for me it is those contrasts that provide ongoing interest once I’ve experienced the grandeur.

Young musicians sit in a row holding instruments while a director stands before them in a courtyard.
Morning sun glows over Pacific waves, shoreline rocks, and distant hills at Troncones Beach.
A young child smiles toward the camera while seated at an outdoor table near a boat or dock.
Two performers move through red theatrical light, one suspended in fabric while another reaches upward on stage.
Old utility meters and pipes line a blue wall, each labeled with bold red painted numbers.
Calm blue ocean water surrounds a rounded offshore rock beneath a pale sky streaked with thin clouds.
Calm blue water and distant islands under a warm orange sunset, framed by dark shoreline branches near Loreto.
A monochrome street scene shows fabric drying on clotheslines beneath wires and simple building textures.
A colorful parade scene features costumed dancers, musicians, and spectators under dramatic blue sky.
Black and white long exposure shows workers among vertical steel rods and scaffolding at a construction site.
Pale eroded rock islands stand in vivid turquoise-blue water beneath a cloudless sky.
Low sun shines through coastal rocks while long-exposure waves wash across the dark shore.
Bright red arches and a yellow wall create a graphic architectural composition with a green palm tree.
Dark palm silhouettes frame an intense orange sunset sky above a low waterfront horizon.
Black and white street scene of two musicians resting on a bench under heavy tree branches.
Two people stand by a stone wall overlooking arid mountains, valleys, and distant blue ridges.
Narrow cobblestone street bordered by red, yellow, and green buildings under a blue sky.
A group of children in feathered carnival costumes stand and dance in a crowded street scene.
Close view of a child looking from a car window behind a colorful layered carnival collar.
Blue ocean water blurs around a rocky outcrop with distant shoreline and soft clouds near the horizon.
Yellow metal bike rack stands before a red wall, creating a strong color contrast on a street.
Close view of a red Spanish stop sign on a colorful wall beneath a bright blue sky.
A weathered yellow door set in a concrete wall is decorated with bright painted icons and small hanging ornaments.
A woman holds a small child while two other children stand near a vivid orange and blue doorway.
A distressed wall shows painted carnival figures, Spanish lettering, and layers of peeling color.
Strong sunlight casts angular shadows over pale stone steps and walls, creating a graphic architectural pattern.
Side entrance to San Javier, which sits on a mountain road about 20 miles inland from Loreto.
Sunrise over the Sea of Cortez, viewed from a cliff top at Loreto Bay near Loreto, Mexico.
This little costumed girl is obviously anxious to join the women's dance troupe performing in the annual Carnival celebration.
A blue-railed path winds between rocky coastal cliffs toward the Caribbean Sea at the very southernmost tip of the island.
A woman works at a crowded table in a produce marketplace on a Saturday morning.
Blue ocean surrounds jagged sea stacks and distant islands under a clear sky.
This tree-lined promenade, with sculpted tree canopies is a central walkway in the town of Loreto and a great gathering place for locals.