Take a Hispanic Virtual Field Trip Around the World!
If you want to take your students on a Hispanic virtual field trip around the world, go no further than the list below. There’s one major landmark per Spanish-speaking country with enough awe-inspiring sights to celebrate Hispanic pride at any time of year.
There are waterfalls, volcanos, colonial cities, and ancient ruins amongst these natural and manmade wonders. You can use the videos or websites I’ve found as a starting off point for your Hispanic virtual field trip around the world. Or you can use the list for students to explore on their own.
These make for a perfect around-the-world virtual field trip to every Hispanic country from the comfort of your classroom or living room.
¡Buen viaje!
Hispanic Virtual Field Trips
Argentina
Iguazú Falls
Kick-off your Hispanic virtual field trip with Iguazú Falls, right on the border of Argentina and Brazil. It’s a series of over 200 waterfalls making it one of the widest waterfalls in the world. In fact, they are double the size of Niagara Falls. It’s an important landmark for the cities of Puerto Iguazú in Argentina and Foz de Iguazu in Brazil, though the majority of waterfalls are on the Argentinian side.
Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni
Next up is the largest salt flat in the world. It can be found in Bolivia and it’s called the Salar de Uyuni. The barren landscape is so surreal that it’s been used as a filming location for several movies including Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Adding to it’s out of this world vibe, the flats turn into a giant mirror after it rains when a thin layer of water collects on the ground.
Chile
Cerro San Cristóbal
Moving on to Chile, Cerro San Cristóbal houses the Parque Metropolitano, one of the largest urban parks in the world. This “hill’’ that overlooks the city of Santiago boasts a long list of amenities and activities for residents and tourists. There’s a cable car, a funicular, a zoo, two public pools, Japanese gardens, and plenty to see and do.
Colombia
Walled City of Cartagena
Then, spend some time in the heart of a vibrant Hispanic city -Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Students can enjoy a virtual tour of the walled city of Cartagena. The colonial city sits on the Caribbean Sea and was an important trade port along with Havana, Cuba, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The walls and the city are beautiful to see in person (or online!).
Costa Rica
Arenal
Let’s head straight to one of Costa Rica’s most active volcanos, Volcán Arenal. Until 2010 it was actively spewing lava, but suddenly stopped and went dormant. Scientists think the top layers of lava are dormant, while the bottom layers are still active. It’s considered to be a “young” volcano at over 7,000 years old.
Cuba
Old Havana
Afterwards, students can take another quick city escape to Old Havana. The city center and vintage cars are a step back in time.
Dominican Republic
Soana Island
After spending time in the hustle and bustle of the city, it’s time to head to a deserted island. The pristine beaches of Soana Island make it a popular destination in the Dominican Republic. It certainly has a deserted island feel which has made it a perfect filming location for movies like The Pirates of the Caribbean. Originally inhibited by the Taino people and called Adamanay, it is part of the Cotubanama National Park.
Ecuador
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
Meanwhile, young explorers might be interested to see where the equator lies in Ecuador. It’s located near Quito, and the area, which commemorates the equator and has several museums, is called the Ciudad Mitad del Mundo. Check out their website for more information about the equator, which separates the northern and southern hemispheres, and is what gives Ecuador its name.
El Salvador
El Boquerón
Want to check out another volcano? This one is located near the capital city of San Salvador in El Salvador. El Boquerón is an inactive volcano that people can hike to. If that’s not enough, there’s a smaller crater within El Boquerón called El Boqueroncito.
Guatemala
Tikal
Now, heading to our first of several ancient cities is Tikal. It’s an ancient Mayan city and one of the most important complexes that showcases Mayan culture to this day. The ruins show visitors where Mayans lived, their temples, ball courts, palaces, and public squares -all located in the middle of the Guatemalan rainforest.
Equatorial Guinea
Malabo National Park
From Guatemala to Central Africa, celebrate Equatorial Guinea’s Malabo National Park. It’s Central Africa’s first complete urban park. It’s extensive, beautiful, and absolutely worth a look.
Honduras
Copán
Jumping back to Central America, one of Honduras’ main attractions is Copán, another extensively preserved example of Mayan civilization. Copán’s hieroglyphic staircase is particularly interesting. It’s 62 steps high and is the longest known Mayan hieroglyphic text. There are 2200 glyphs (or symbols) sculpted into the steps!
Mexico
Chichen-Itza
Meanwhile, another example of Mayan (and Toltec) culture are the ruins of Chichen-Itza. It’s thought to be one of the largest and most diverse Mayan cities and that’s reflected in the different architectural styles found throughout the complex.
Nicaragua
Masaya Volcano National Park
Get another peek at a Central American volcano in Masaya Volcano National Park. The park contains two volcanoes, five craters, and a lava tube (a cave made from an underground stream of lava that is now empty). The Masaya Volcano is still active and spews large amounts of gas into the air. Students can watch it erupt in the video above.
Panama
Panama Canal
Started in the late 1800s by France and finished in 1914 by the US, the Panama Canal is a major engineering feat that gives ships a shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Through a series of locks, water levels rise and fall allowing ships to pass through. But it still takes 8-10 hours!
Paraguay
Saltos del Monday
The second waterfall on the list goes to Paraguay’s Saltos del Monday. They are a set of three waterfalls located near the Triple Frontier -where Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay meet.
Peru
Machu Picchu
We’ve seen quite a few Mayan cities on the list so far, but representing the Incas is the infamous citadel of Machu Picchu. It’s one of Peru’s most visited sites. Nestled among the mountain slopes of the Andes, the city does a spectacular job of blending in with its environment.
Puerto Rico
Bioluminescent Bays
Let’s leave ancient ruins in the past and head to the waters of Puerto Rico. Students can watch water glow in the dark in one the island’s bioluminescent bays. In fact, there are only five places around the world with glowing water just like this -and three of them are in Puerto Rico! The glow in the dark effect is caused by tiny organisms that live in the water and light up when moved.
Spain
Sagrada Familia
Next up, cross the Atlantic Ocean and dry off while exploring the Sagrada Familia. The basilica (a type of church) is one of the world’s most famous sites even though it’s still being built. Construction started in 1882 and is expected to finish in 2026.
Uruguay
The Fingers of Punta del Este
Our Hispanic virtual field trip around the world is almost over, but first, let’s head back to South America. Just like it sounds, one of Uruguay’s most prominent landmarks is a sculpture of a hand emerging from the sand. It was created in 1982 by a Chilean artist and goes by a few different names: Los Dedos, Hombre Emergiendo a La Vida, or The Hand.
Venezuela
Angel Falls
Finally, let’s wrap up the trip with our last waterfall: Angel Falls in Venezuela. It’s the tallest waterfall in the world and you’ll get vertigo from just watching the video above. The falls are named after a pilot, Jimmie Angel, who crash landed his plane there.
If your kids can’t travel in person, these Hispanic virtual field trips are the next best thing. There is so much to see, from volcanoes, to waterfalls, to ancient ruins, that your students won’t be disappointed.
Looking for more virtual field trip ideas? Head here for virtual trips to Spain, Colombia, and Peru.
