Travel photos are a great way to document your vacation and to showcase the beautiful places you’ve visited. Latin America, with its diverse geography, architecture and culture, is an especially rewarding region for travel photography that’s worthy of display.
Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to create compelling, professional photo art from your travels — visuals that can impress in a variety of formats, from social media posts to large-scale posters, from souvenir magazine covers to postcards and content for businesses, bloggers and educational institutions.
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The good news: you don’t need to be a professional photographer to take gorgeous travel photos. The ever-improving technology of cell phone cameras, as well as the endless array of editing apps, has made it easier than ever for travelers to create memorable imagery from their trips. And what better way to celebrate the beauty of your trip than with an engaging visual to wow your friends, family and colleagues?
If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to take your travel photography to the next level — and I’m going to show you how, while also providing you with a bucket list of 10 amazing places in Latin America for travel photos. Your next vacation is about to get a big visual boost!
How to Use Your Travel Photos to Make Compelling Images
In addition to taking advantage of improved cell and app technology, you can also make use of free, online graphic design tools to create travel photo art that’s perfect for a variety of uses, from memorable souvenir gifts to home decor to promotional material designed to strengthen your brand and more effectively engage with your followers and customers.
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A company called PosterMyWall, for example, offers an extensive selection of tools for creating customizable visuals, with dozens of template options that range from travel posters to postcards, business cards and invitations, to name a few.
PosterMyWall also includes a large number of social media templates, so you can create a fresh look for posts on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Pinterest, YouTube and even LinkedIn. You can use cool features like the photo collage maker, flyer maker and poster maker to really make your visuals pop and make the most out of your travel photos.
The online editor is free and simple to use, and you can choose from a variety of formats and styles, and even add text or customize existing designs to make them fit your own style and needs. (One of my personal favorite templates is graced with the all-too-true phrase, “difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.” It’s an inspiring outlook that certainly applies to many of us travelers.)
By the way, PosterMyWall also works well for bloggers, businesses and even teachers looking to create professional-quality visuals using travel photography and other visuals. I even used it to make the headline image for this travel blog post!
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The next time you take a vacation, think big and think visually. Here are some of the best places to take travel photos in Latin America, to get you started.
- Machu Picchu, Peru
This 15th-century Incan citadel, perched in the Andes Mountains, never fails to impress — and provides a perfect backdrop for memorable travel photos.
2. Easter Island, Chile
The dozens of mysterious, monolithic stone statues that dot this Pacific island continue to entice visitors. Time your photos with the perfect sunrise or sunset for the best effect.
3. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Nature lovers are in heaven in this island paradise – one of the few places where you can take up-close shots of a wide variety of wildlife, in their natural habitat.
4. Iguazú Falls, Argentina/Iguaçu Falls, Brazil
Carved into the border between Argentina and Brazil, these dramatically beautiful falls together make up the largest waterfall in the world.
5. Guanajuato, Mexico
With its subterranean streets, winding alleys and historic architecture, downtown Guanajuato – a UNESCO World Heritage Site — is ideal for travel photos as well as romantic selfies on the Callejón del Beso, the Alley of the Kiss.
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6. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan’s historic heart is graced with beautifully restored historic architecture and lots of places to capture memorable images that incorporate the natural beauty of the Caribbean.
7. Guna Yala, Panama
Formerly known as San Blas, this autonomous archipelago off of Panama’s Caribbean coast is absolutely stunning. Visits here usually include accommodations on the water, hosted by the local Guna community.
8. Barrancas del Cobre (Copper Canyon), Mexico
Think the Grand Canyon is impressive? Well, take a look at Mexico’s Barrancas del Cobre, a group of six canyons in the Sierra Madre Occidental. Most international travelers visit by taking the Ferrocarril Chihuahua al Pacífico or ChePe, and you can also enjoy the view while staying in a hotel perched atop a sheer cliff. Be sure to have that camera ready at sunrise!
9. Guatapé, Colombia
This colorful, lakefront small town, an easy day trip from Medellín, is home to El Peñol, a gigantic monolith that offers postcard-perfect views from its summit. It’s well worth the 649-step climb — but take your time if you’re wary of heights.
10. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
It’s hard to beat the legendary view from Pão de Açúcar, Sugarloaf Mountain, which rises nearly 2,000 feet above Rio’s harbor. Getting there is part of the fun, as you board the cableway that offers inspiring vistas even before you reach the top.
I’m a travel writer, travel blogger and Mexico travel specialist, and I love sharing travel tips to make your next vacation or business trip better. Please feel free to share your comments, experiences and questions about Mexico travel and Latin America travel and vacations!
Please also be sure to follow my travels on Instagram and on my YouTube channel, so you don’t miss any of my travel tips or travel videos. ¡Buen viaje!