Do You Need Spanish To Travel In Latin America? (5 Key Tips)

English is so commonly spoken around the world that you’d almost get complacent. But if you expect it to be easy getting around with just English in South or Central America, then you may be in for a surprise. 

Relatively few people in Latin America speak English as a second language. It’s even common for waiters, vendors, and even some tourist guides to only know Spanish, potentially creating much more of language barrier.

That means travelers may have a few more challenges to face!

Watch this video in which I share my personal experiences with the language barrier and my stages of learning:

Traveling Latin America without Spanish

Do you need Spanish in South America or Central America?

Well, it depends by how you define “need“.

While it’s very helpful to know some Spanish, surviving without it is entirely possible. You can even have a highly enjoyable trip without knowing the local lingo. If the language barrier is stopping you from going, just go!

On my first-ever trip to Peru, which was about ten years ago, I knew absolutely no Spanish and I was able to figure things out just fine. Along the usual tourist circuit, plenty of people do speak English, especially in hostels or hotels that are frequented by foreigners. (Just not random locals on the street.)

You can also still use hand gestures and other basic communication. Getting a WiFi password or asking when breakfast start is hardly rocked science; simply point at your phone, or point at a clock while making food-related gestures, such as circling around your tummy, with a quizzical look. Using Google Translate is also an option.

If just the thought of learning a new language makes you run for the hills, rest assured you won’t be completely lost without Spanish.

But it won’t give you the best experience…

Advantages of knowing Spanish

If you’re going to spend some time in Spanish-speaking countries, it does help to pick up at least a little bit of Spanish.

Obviously, just having the ability to ask for directions, exchange pleasantries, or negotiate prices will be extremely valuable.

You will also be seen less as a typical gringo tourist which means fewer attempts to rip you off and a generally more helpful attitude.

Better yet, if you advance to a basic level (even just A2 level of proficiency) you’ll be able to get to know many more locals.

When I travelled for a year through South America, I made it a point to learn some Spanish, and this got me invited to all sorts of local goings-on. I ended up at a 12-hour marathon BBQ in Argentina, someone’s graduation party in Colombia, and was invited for drinks in a small village in Peru.

Here’s how you can level up your Spanish before or during your trip:

How to learn Spanish for travel

1. Listen to audio courses

Chances are you’ll spend many hours on buses on your trip. This downtime is perfect for brushing up on your Spanish!

I used an audio course called the Michel Thomas Method. It’s a little old now so you can probably get a newer or better audio course elsewhere. Check out this playlist on Spotify with Spanish lessons. There are also many learn Spanish podcasts.

2. Take local classes

1-on-1 Spanish lessons are inexpensive in many Latin American countries.

A week of intensive lessons (usually 4 hours a day) costs as little as $100 in countries like Guatemala, Nicaragua, Peru, or Bolivia. Class-based lessons can cost even less.

A popular country to take lessons in Central America is Guatemala as the dialect there is quite pure and easy to learn. Nicaragua is a great option too and Mexico is nice as well.

In South America, a lot of people take classes in Bolivia because of the mild accent and low cost. Other countries like Peru, Ecuador, or Colombia are also popular options. 

Many Spanish schools also offer homestay packages, where you stay with a local family for the duration of the course. This is a very fun way of learning Spanish but also finding cultural immersion.

3. Get a dictionary or language app

You’ve surely heard of Duolingo. It’s pretty great for learning the basics. Another one that I liked using was Babbel which teaches you the basics interactively as well.

During my first Central America trip I bought an old dictionary for a dollar in a hippie bookstore in Guatemala. This was fun to leaf through on some of my bus trips and because it was more tactile than an app, I think it really helped me memorize a lot of words. 

4. Speak with everyone

Simply forcing yourself to interact with people and putting your learnings into practice right away will rapidly increase your comfort zone in Latin America.

Try to make some small talk with vendors for instance, or make friends with bilingual locals. Even if you stumble through your sentences, the effort is usually appreciated. You can also decide on doing some volunteering during your trip in order to have more regular interactions with Spanish-speaking locals.

5. Go to language exchanges

Finally, language exchanges can be an opportunity to learn but also can be a fun travel activity in their own right. 

Bars or hostels will sometimes organize language exchanges, which you can find advertised on chat groups or on notice boards. 

These language exchanges are often an excuse for travellers and locals to mix and have some drinks, while also practicing the language. It can be a little weird, but try to get into a conversational mode where you only speak Spanish and the other person only speaks English, as that way both parties will benefit most.

How much Spanish should you know?

Honestly, as much as you can bring to the table. That can be a little or a lot depending on your dedication and/or the length of your trip.

One of my travel buddies spent a year travelling around Latin America without knowing any Spanish at all. He managed just fine. For a while, it seemed the only word he knew was “necessito” (meaning “I need”). He would say it followed by the English word for whatever he wanted. Necessito water! Necessito food! Necessito toilet paper! Rest assured, he lived to tell the tale. Eventually picked up the local words as well.

Of course, knowing only the bare basics won’t get you as close to the culture, so it’s worth downloading Duolingo or booking a class to achieve a more immersive experience in Latin America.

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