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We can’t emphasise enough how much it can enhance your experience in Latin America if you spend a short while before your trip learning a few Spanish phrases. The locals you will encounter are some of the warmest and most hospitable people you could wish to meet, so why not return the favour with a small token of respect by impressing them with a Spanish phrase or two?

We’ve been specialising in travel to Central and South America for over 30 years and can tell you that knowing just a little can go a long way!

Here are 15 very simple yet essential phrases you can learn to use on your trip:

1) Hola - Hi

2) Por favor / Gracias - Please / Thankyou

3) Buenos días / Buenas tardes / Buenas noches - Good morning / Good afternoon / Good evening

4) ¿Cómo estás? - How are you?

5) Mucho gusto - Nice to meet you

6) Me gustaría - I would like

7) Yo necesito - I need

8) ¿Tiene? - Do you have?

9) ¿Dónde está? - Where is?

10) ¿Cuánto cuesta? - How much does it cost?

11) ¿Qué hora es? - What time is it?

12) A la derecha / A la izquierda  / Siga derecho - On the right / On the left / Straight ahead

13) A una cuadra / A dos, tres, cuatro cuadras- In one block / In two, three, four blocks

14) El baño - The bathroom

15) Banco / Dinero / Cambio / La cuenta - Bank / Money / Change / The bill

And finally, if all else fails:

Yo (no) entiendo - I (don’t) understand

¿Habla inglés? - Do you speak English?

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Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

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