Meet the Amazing Women Who Shaped Latin American Poetry Forever
Poetry has long been a popular art form in Latin America, perhaps due to its inhabitants’ widespread inclination towards emotive expression. And while male authors may well be the most recognized, a respectable number of incredibly talented women have left their mark on the genre as well. Hailing from all corners of Latin America, here are the greatest latina poets of all time.
Gabriela Mistral
A superstar of the Latin American literary scene, Gabriela Mistral gained legendary status in 1945 when she became the first female in the region to receive a Nobel Prize in Literature. More than just a poet, Mistral dabbled in diplomacy, writing, and education throughout her illustrious career, even mentoring the acclaimed Pablo Neruda at one point in time. Yet it was her elegant poetic prose that saw her become a household name, primarily focusing on themes of love, nature, betrayal, and feminism.
Destinations Unlocked:
Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture tripCentralAmerica
1. Guatemala
An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.CentralAmerica
2. Belize
A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.CentralAmerica
3. Mexico
An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.SouthAmerica
1. Ecuador
A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.SouthAmerica
2. Peru
An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.Europe
1. Italy
The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.Europe
2. Scotland
Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.Europe
3. Portugal
A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.Asia
1. South Korea
Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.Asia
2. Thailand
From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.Asia
3. Sri Lanka
A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great priceAfrica
1. Morocco
An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!Africa
2. Egypt
From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.Meira Delmar
A Colombian native of Lebanese descent, Olga Eljach worked under the pseudonym Meira Delmar to write dreamy and emotive pieces about love, loss, nostalgia, and reflection. Her seductive rhythm was widely adored, leading her to win numerous awards and earn recognition as being among the most important Colombian writers of the 20th century.
Gioconda Belli
Born in Nicaragua in 1948, Gioconda Belli undertook an education in the United States before returning to her homeland as a young adult. Upon arrival, she became a passionate socialist activist, at one point joining forces with the Sandinistas by lending her creative talents to help overthrow a rightwing dictator. Such experiences would influence her later work, much of which was written with patriotic overtones and covered themes of economic inequality and hope. The French government awarded her the prestigious Knight Order of Arts and Letters award in 2013.
Julia de Burgos
Julia de Burgos was born into an impoverished Puerto Rican farming family in 1954, losing as many as six of her siblings to malnutrition over time. After securing a university scholarship and working for many years as a teacher, this talented lady began writing poetry influenced by her strong nationalist political views. Tragically, de Burgos passed away from pneumonia in New York when she was just 39.
Alejandra Pizarnik
A tragically tortured soul, Alejandra Pizarnik was an Argentine of Russian and Jewish ancestry who suffered severely from depression throughout her life. Much of her work relied heavily on metaphors to portray feelings of agony as well as a disconnection from the outside world. Indeed, some of her works explicitly foretold her suicide, which occurred in 1972. Nevertheless, Pizarnik’s linguistic prowess has allowed her to live on in the hearts and minds of admirers for generations.
María Calcaño
The biggest female poet to come out of Venezuela, María Calcaño was born in 1906 and married just 14 years later. This early marriage and loss of innocence would have a profound influence on her work, most of which is best described as classical eroticism with touches of sensuality, passion, and rebellion.
Adela Zamudio
A woman who would resonate strongly with the youth of today, outspoken feminist and atheist Adela Zamudio was centuries ahead of her time. Born in 1854 to a wealthy family in Bolivia, Zamudio was first published at just 15 and quickly went on to promote women’s rights throughout the nation.
Her work was of an intellectual nature, at times featuring romantic undertones as well as themes of political struggle and the rejection of religion. Such was her contribution to the national feminist movement that her birthday, October 11, is now Bolivia’s Woman’s Day.
Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip
meet our Local Insider
Hanna
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?
2 years.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.
WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?
I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!
Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.