Latin America

Renowned for its world-class textiles and artisan treasures, Latin America goes hand in hand with souvenir shopping. You’ll find markets of all shapes and sizes in most major cities, towns and even the most rural areas, serving as an important trading place for the locals. Piles of fruits and vegetables lining the pavements, vendors in traditional dress chanting their prices, craft stalls laiden with alpaca jumpers and colourful textiles, locals tucking into hearty soups and slow-roasted meats - these are all common sights throughout the continent. Instead of just passing through each place, by visiting a market you will be rewarded with a more authentic experience, knowing that you are helping with the development of a local community. With this in mind, we’ve put together a selection of some of our favourite markets in Latin America, plus some top tips.

Here at Llama Travel we pride ourselves on being experts in Latin America, having all travelled extensively throughout the continent. It's hard to choose a favourite from such a diverse range of locations, but here are a few of our personal highlights. 

Across Central and South America, the 31st of December is about taking part in special rituals to see in the new year and say goodbye to the last one. From burning effigies to eating grapes and lentils, each one symbolises something different. Here are a few of Latin America’s weird and wonderful traditions.