No matter where in the world you travel, you will discover customs and etiquette that are unfamiliar to you.
But if you truly want to get the full experience of the country you’re visiting, you’ll want to brush up on their customs and social norms.
This is specifically true if you’re traveling to Latin America and you’ve never visited there before.
The following customs, etiquette guidelines, and social norms will help you assimilate to the culture and ensure you’re a polite traveler at all times.
7 Customs to Know as a Traveler to Latin America
Punctuality
If you tend to be on time or early to everything you’re invited to, you might experience some frustration when traveling to Latin American countries.
Punctuality is pretty relaxed in most countries south of the equator, so you can expect events to begin about 15 to 30 minutes after the stated starting time.
Certainly, this is not true for everyone, so you might still want to arrive on time, but expect the actual event to start late. Additionally, when you’re eating at a restaurant, the service might be a bit slower than you’re used to.
Just be sure to pack your patience along with your other necessities and you’ll be fine. You might even become accustomed to the slower pace of life.
By the time you return home, you’ll definitely feel more relaxed because you’ll be forced to take things as they come while you’re in South America. It might be frustrating at first, but you’ll get used to it and you might just like it!
Personal Space
In general, Latin Americans need less personal space than people from Australia. They are likely to stand closer to you when they talk and even touch your arm or shoulder while you’re socializing.
You might be tempted to step away from a Latin American because you think they’re standing too close to you, but doing so might be considered rude.
Instead, understand that they aren’t trying to invade your personal space even if it seems like it.
This social norm may have changed a bit since COVID-19, but don’t be shocked or alarmed if someone you don’t really know stands close to you.
If you’re worried about the distance between you and other people while in Latin America, be sure to wear a mask.