International travel gives us a unique look into another world. We experience different food, flavors, sites, cultures, but something that will make your journey truly unique is studying the local language spoken there. Language is at the root of any culture and when studying one you can see this in the daily lives of the people that live there.
Latin America offers a plethora of mind boggling experiences from natural sites such as El Lago de Atítlan in Guatemala, the sacred peaks of Machu Picchu in Peru and even the largest and tallest waterfalls in the world in Brazil and Venezuela. Although Spanish is the primary language spoken, there is such an abundance of different regional dialects and linguistic influences from indigenous communities throughout Latin America. For this reason we see vast differences in the Spanish spoken from country to country and even across neighboring regions and state lines.
Furthermore language breaks down a wide variety of barriers when it comes to navigating the world around you in travel, conversing with locals and having an overall more authentic experience. Instead of getting stuck in tourist traps, when you speak the language fluently it's easier to seek out the best spots to eat, the best sites to see and the most beautiful places to visit. In a lot of ways it makes you more of an active participant in your journey instead of merely an observer. We all love to travel, but I guarantee that with some focused studies prior to your next trip that it’ll be an experience like nothing before.