SAFEGUARDING PARADISE: A YOUNG PERSPECTIVE ON LATIN AMERICA’S FUTURE
By Harvey Roberts, Communications Intern at Branding Latin America
Between 2022 and 2025, I was lucky enough to live in, work across, and travel through 15 countries in Latin America, from Mexico to Argentina. Each place offered unforgettable experiences, from the energy of Rio’s Carnaval in Brazil to the vastness of the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia.
During my travels, I saw how quickly Latin America is becoming a must-see destination, but I also witnessed the increasing challenge it faces: welcoming visitors without losing what makes it unique. The future of these incredible places depends on sustainable travel; the kind of travel that supports the people and places visited, keeping their stories and landscapes alive for the future.
It’s easy to think of Latin America as a single destination, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Every country, state, and town has its own character, traditions and landscapes. I spotted caimans in the Brazilian Amazon. I trekked to Machu Picchu through remote Peruvian communities. I cheered with Atletico Nacional fans in Medellín. I watched Volcán Fuego erupt at sunrise in Guatemala. Experiences like these revealed to me the richness and diversity of this very special region of our world, and reminded me how important it is that these places are cared for and preserved.
Writing in The Rio Times last year, Iolanda Fonseca noted that ‘sustainable tourism is rapidly proving to be an economic cornerstone in Latin America’, with the sector growing by 15% in 2023.
I experienced sustainable tourism first-hand in Medellín’s Comuna 13, once one of the world’s most dangerous neighbourhoods. Today, outdoor escalators carry residents and visitors through streets filled with murals and music. Tourism here isn’t just tolerated; it’s a tool for opportunity , from youth art programs to local guiding cooperatives. As Kayla Morrison notes, the key is ensuring residents are the main beneficiaries, with vendors, tour guides, and artists drawn from the community itself.
Living in Honduras for a year deepened this lesson. Being welcomed into daily life showed me the warmth and vitality of Latin culture. Travelling here often challenges outdated stereotypes, revealing vibrant cities, thriving communities, and traditions far richer than clichés embodying belonging, resilience, and togetherness that leave a lasting impression.
Latin America isn’t just a destination, it’s a living, breathing classroom. Every festival, every dish, every conversation carries the weight of tradition and the spark of possibility. For young travellers like me, the journey is not only about seeing the world, but about learning how to belong in it, responsibly, joyfully, and with the hope that what we discover, we can help preserve for generations to come. On a planet that is rapidly changing, Latin America remains one of the most preserved continents. Let’s keep it that way, so its magic continues to inspire the world.