Then and now: vintage photos of Latin America's most beloved landmarks

Travel in time

Reaching from Mexico to Argentina and even parts of the Caribbean, the vast span of Latin America has a history as dramatic and diverse as its culture and climate. Here, the remnants of pre-Columbian civilisations rub shoulders with relics of European colonisation, and man-made marvels of engineering and art compete for attention with volcanoes, lakes, rainforests and waterfalls. But how have these places – and their stunning attractions – changed over time?

Read on to see fascinating then-and-now images of Latin America's most beloved landmarks...

Then: Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico

Recognised as one of the first major cities in the western hemisphere, Teotihuacan reached its peak around the middle of the 1st millennium AD, and was likely the work of several Mesoamerican civilisations superimposed on top of one another. The enigmatic city has become synonymous with its two hulking temples, the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, joined by a road known as the Avenue of the Dead. Pictured here in 1883 prior to excavation, the Pyramid of the Sun is the larger and older of the two.

Now: Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico

The pyramid's exact purpose remains something of a mystery to historians, much like the origins of the ancient, abandoned city it dominates. But what we do know is that the structure reaches 216 feet (66m) high and measures roughly 720 by 760 feet (220 by 230m) at its base, making it the world's third-largest pyramid. Over the years, excavations have revealed pottery, obsidian, animal remains, human figurines and masks within the Pyramid of the Sun, as well as a figure of the deity Huehueteotl.

Then: Machu Picchu, near Cusco, Peru

Believed to have been established as a royal estate at the height of the Inca Empire, the citadel of Machu Picchu was abandoned by its people around the time the 16th-century Spanish conquest of the region began. This postcard shows the city in 1920, nine years after American explorer Hiram Bingham famously 'discovered' its ruins (thanks to his local guide) and spread news of its existence around the world. A monument to the Inca’s architectural and agricultural expertise, Machu Picchu has had a complicated relationship with tourism ever since.

Now: Machu Picchu, near Cusco, Peru

Inscribed by UNESCO since 1983 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the sacred site saw nearly one million visitors in 2022 alone, with numbers reaching over 1.5 million prior to the pandemic. While many local families and businesses rely on tourism for their income, the time-worn citadel has struggled under the strain of increased footfall and bad tourist behaviour in recent years. Since the beginning of 2024, visitors to Machu Picchu have been capped at 4,500 per day, and travellers are advised to book well in advance.

Then: Moai statues, Easter Island, Chile

Easter Island (known locally as Rapa Nui) lies 2,200 miles (3,540km) west of the Chilean mainland. Polynesian voyagers arrived on its shores around 900 years ago, where they later erected close to 1,000 moai – giant monolithic carved heads believed to represent ancestors. These moai have been the subject of intense fascination since European explorers first made landfall on Easter Island in the 18th century. This photo taken around 1914 documents the Mana Expedition, the island’s first in-depth archaeological survey.

Now: Moai statues, Easter Island, Chile

This image, also taken at the Rano Raraku crater (the quarry where most of the statues were made), shows the moai in December 2023. Hewn from volcanic rock, the average moai is around 13 feet (4m) tall, though some reach up to 40 feet (12m). Between the first European visitors who arrived in 1722, and the end of the 19th century, many of the moai were toppled, with possible culprits ranging from tribal warfare to earthquakes. In 2022 a fire damaged hundreds of moai beyond repair, while rising sea levels and climate change are ongoing threats.

Then: Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Founded on the site of a previous theatre, the Argentine capital’s Teatro Colon is widely regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful opera houses. The marble for its opulent interior was shipped over from Italy and Portugal, and the building took 20 years to complete thanks to financial issues and the deaths of two of its architects, Francesco Tamburini and Victor Meano. With the project finally finished by Jules Dormal, the new Teatro Colon opened in 1908 with a production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida.

Now: Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Beyond its grand architecture, Teatro Colon is lauded for its soaring acoustics. In its century-long history, the venue has hosted some of classical music's biggest stars, including Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas, Anna Pavlova and Rudolf Nureyev. The auditorium’s central dome was repainted by Argentine artist Raul Soldi in the 1960s, while the whole theatre was later refurbished by the city government and reopened in 2010, as fresh as the day it was inaugurated. Visitors today, as well as watching performances, can join a 50-minute guided tour.

Then: Monserrate cableway, Bogota, Colombia

Pictured here in the decade they opened, these cable cars have connected downtown Bogota to the top of Monserrate since 1955. Considered sacred by some Indigenous peoples, Cerro de Monserrate (or Monserrate Hill) has been crowned with a Christian shrine since Colombia’s colonial era, and its church remains a place of pilgrimage today for both believers and tourists. The journey itself is all part of the adventure – beginning at the cable car station where a cabin awaits to whisk you above Bogota’s colourful rooftops.

Now: Monserrate cableway, Bogota, Colombia

The trip to Monserrate takes around four minutes, barely enough time to soak in the panoramic views through the cable car’s glass walls. While the route itself has remained unchanged for nearly 70 years, the Colombian capital’s cityscape has evolved below, growing upwards and outwards in all directions. The cabins have had a modern makeover too and have themselves become symbols of the city. As well as the cable car, visitors can hike to Monserrate or take a funicular railway.

Then: Panama Canal, Panama

One of the all-time great feats of human engineering, the Panama Canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by slicing through the Isthmus of Panama, the narrow strip of land that connects North and South America. The idea for such a passage dates back to the 1500s, but work on the canal did not begin in earnest until 1880. France, enlisting the skills of Suez Canal builder Count Ferdinand de Lesseps, first broke ground for the channel, though after several mishaps the project lost its funding in 1888. This image from 1904 shows the excavation of the Culebra Cut, an artificial channel also known as the Gaillard Cut.

Now: Panama Canal, Panama

In 1903, control of the Panama Canal Zone officially passed to the United States. Clearing the Culebra Cut (pictured) was the main task and it was notoriously dangerous work – unpredictable landslides and dynamite explosions claimed many lives. In 1913, two steam shovels working from opposite directions finally met up, marking the beginning of the end of the canal's construction. By its 100th anniversary, more than one million ships had passed through the canal. But with the freshwater lake that feeds it reaching critically low levels due to climate change and the El Nino weather pattern, this landmark’s future hangs in the balance.

Then: Tikal, Guatemala

Wrapped in the rainforests of northern Guatemala, Tikal was once one of the biggest cities in the Maya world. Inhabited from the 6th century BC to the 10th century AD, it began as a village before burgeoning into a ceremonial and political centre. Hieroglyphic evidence suggests that the ruler Yax Ehb Xook made Tikal his seat of power, and it became a rich complex of temples, palaces and squares. When crops started to fail, the site was abandoned and reclaimed by nature. In this photo, from around 1882, the ruins are barely visible through the jungle.

Now: Tikal, Guatemala

Of the buildings that remain at Tikal today, some date back as far as the 4th century BC. The surviving ruins provide fascinating insights into how the ancient Maya lived, but represent only a fraction of this sprawling former city state, which was home to at least 60,000 people at its peak. In 1848, the first official expedition set out to investigate the ruins. Now falling within Tikal National Park and inscribed by UNESCO since 1979, the site is one of Central America’s most captivating ancient attractions.

Then: Havana Cathedral, Havana, Cuba

What Havana Cathedral lacks in symmetry, it makes up for in drama and intrigue. Flanked by two uneven towers – one tall and slender, one slightly shorter and broader – it is one of the oldest cathedrals in the Americas, completed in 1787 and photographed here in the 1930s. The Jesuits began building it as a church in 1748, and work eventually continued on the project despite their expulsion from Cuba in 1767. Its decadent Baroque frontage and contrasting Neoclassical interior are the work of Italian architect Francesco Borromini.

Now: Havana Cathedral, Havana, Cuba

Havana Cathedral held the remains of Christopher Columbus from 1795 until they were reinterred at Spain’s Seville Cathedral in 1898. The focal point of Old Havana's Plaza de la Catedral, the building was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and is today considered an architectural and cultural marvel. Almost unchanged since its construction, the landmark has remained a constant through Cuba's turbulent history. The coral rock façade has weathered over the years, and fragments of fossilised sea creatures have become increasingly visible.

Then: Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil

Forming part of the border between the Brazilian state of Parana and the Argentine province of Misiones, Iguazu Falls is a collection of around 275 gushing waterfalls on the river of the same name. Stretching 1.7 miles (2.7km) in a long horseshoe curve, the cascades are nearly three times wider than North America’s Niagara Falls. Meaning 'great water' in the Guarani language, Iguazu Falls is protected on both sides by two national parks founded in the 1930s. This photo was taken around 1960.

Now: Iguazu Falls, Argentina and Brazil

Today, Iguazu Falls welcomes more than a million visitors a year. Breathtaking views of the cascades can be enjoyed from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides, as well as glimpses of the beautiful fauna and flora that make this region one of South America’s most precious ecosystems. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature (chosen via a global vote in 2011), Iguazu Falls is at its most impressive during the wet season – typically between November and March.

Then: Copan, Honduras

Located in the misty highlands of western Honduras, the archaeological site of Copan was an important Maya city between around AD 400 and 900. Spanning roughly 50 acres, this once-prosperous site might not boast the architectural grandeur of Tikal in neighbouring Guatemala, but its striking sculptures and majestic Hieroglyphic Stairway set it apart from other pre-Columbian settlements. Here, a couple of tourists admire some of Copan’s ruins on a 1952 visit.

Now: Copan, Honduras

The first European to set foot in Copan was Diego Garcia de Palacio in 1570. In the early 19th century explorers studied the crumbling city intently, and the resulting illustrations are still used by historians today. These drawings caught the eye of Alfred Maudslay, who led the first excavations of Copan in the 1880s. Its ruins have been quieter in recent years, as Honduras' high crime rate means that citizens from a variety of countries are advised against travelling there. For those that do come, there's an on-site visitor centre and sculpture museum.

Then: Palacio de Gobierno, Asuncion, Paraguay

Pictured here in 1911, Asuncion’s Palacio de Gobierno (also known as the Palacio de Lopez) is the seat of Paraguay’s government and where its presidential offices are located. Built in a Neoclassical style by British architect Alan ('Alonso') Taylor, the palace was constructed between 1857 and 1867. Taylor had not intended for it to take so long to complete, but the War of the Triple Alliance (1864 to 1870) delayed progress when most of his labourers were enlisted to fight.

Now: Palacio de Gobierno, Asuncion, Paraguay

Though the building was commissioned by President Carlos Lopez, neither he nor his son and successor Francisco Solano Lopez ever got to use it. Carlos died before it could be finished, and under his son's rule Asuncion fell to the combined forces of Argentina and Brazil, leaving the presidential palace a ruin. When the Paraguayan government was restored the Palacio de Gobierno was too, and today it's one of the city’s most photographed sights.

Then: Chichen Itza, Mexico

One of many amazing historic sites in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Chichen Itza was founded around the 6th century AD by the ancient Maya. Covering an area of four square miles (10sq km), the city had some 35,000 residents at its peak, emerging as one of the region’s most important spiritual, political, commercial and military hubs. Surrounded by cenotes on an otherwise arid plain, the site’s name is derived from the Itza tribe who settled here and the Maya words 'chi' (mouths) and 'chen' (wells). This sombre photo was taken around 1860, long after the Maya had declined.

Now: Chichen Itza, Mexico

Added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1998 and declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza has been gradually brought back to life. It's now a top tourist attraction and is still being actively excavated – a newly-discovered housing complex was unveiled in 2023. The city’s most famous attraction, the El Castillo pyramid, made headlines in 2022 when a clueless tourist was videoed climbing its steps – an act forbidden by local authorities in 2008 for conservation reasons.

Then: Cerro Rico, Potosi, Bolivia

Known as 'the mountain that eats men', Cerro Rico looms above the Andean city of Potosi (pictured here in 1895) like a dark cloud. Meaning 'rich mountain' in English, the imposing peak became famous for housing the world's biggest silver mine. The silver extracted here bankrolled the Spanish Empire, but the brutal conditions resulted in the deaths of millions of predominantly enslaved workers. Silver ore was discovered here in 1545, and, when word reached the Spanish, Potosi quickly became one of the largest high-altitude towns on Earth.

Now: Cerro Rico, Potosi, Bolivia

The streets once literally shined with silver, but the city ultimately fell into neglect as the wealth from its mines was directed elsewhere. Today, Potosi is a monument to this complex past, recognised by UNESCO for its industrial heritage and colonial relics. The intensive mining that put Potosi on the map may also prove to be its downfall, and parts of the mountain are so riddled with tunnels and sinkholes that there are widespread fears of collapse.

Then: Playa de los Pocitos, Montevideo, Uruguay

A favoured haunt among Montevideans and visitors alike, Playa de los Pocitos lends its name to an energetic neighbourhood and urban beach on the Rio de la Plata, an estuary that feeds into the Atlantic. Photographed here in the 1920s, the crescent-shaped sandy shores of Playa de los Pocitos have been popular with sunseekers since the early 20th century.

Now: Playa de los Pocitos, Montevideo, Uruguay

You can see in this image from 2023 just how much the waterfront at Pocitos has changed in the last century. Now lined with a band of high-rise developments and hotels, it’s become an upmarket destination for both residents and tourists. Come for a refreshing dip and a lazy walk along the promenade, or to sip a drink in one of the numerous sidewalk cafés and watch the world go by.

Then: Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Watching over the skyscrapers and seaside streets of Rio de Janeiro from the top of Mount Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer is the largest Art Deco-style sculpture in the world. Built out of reinforced concrete and covered by millions of tiny tiles, the enormous statue’s construction took nine years. It’s pictured here a couple of months before its dedication in 1931, scaffolding still in place. An evolving team of Brazilian, French and Romanian sculptors, artists and engineers worked on the landmark’s iconic look.

Now: Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Its completion, funded partly by donations by local Catholics, was enabled by a railway line transporting labourers and materials to the mountaintop site. Now a world-famous symbol of Brazil, Christ the Redeemer has undergone several renovations over the years, and has become much more accessible. Escalators and panoramic elevators were installed in 2002, as previously the final stage of the journey to the statue involved a climb of more than 200 steps. A chapel was added at its base in 2006, marking the monument’s 75th birthday.

Then: Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral was built over a period of 250 years and was finished in 1813, so it was already venerable when this photo was taken in 1895. Dominating the Zócalo – Mexico City's main square which stands on top of the foundations of the ancient Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan – the cathedral's long construction time saw it incorporate a number of styles that went in and out of fashion, including Gothic, Neoclassical and Baroque.

Now: Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral, Mexico City, Mexico

Today the cathedral looks as majestic as ever, though the horses and carts and troops of marching soldiers have been swapped out for colourful taxicabs and tourists clicking cameras. At 358 feet (109m) long, 194 feet (59m) wide and 213 feet (65m) high, it still looms above most of the city's buildings, and is filled with richly-decorated chapels, gilded altars and carved 17th-century choir stalls. Visitors may wander freely, but are asked not to do so during mass.

Then: Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Possibly the most famous beach in the world, Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro has been a magnet for sun-and-sand-seekers since well before this photo was taken in 1939. The two-and-a-half-mile (4km) beach is famous for its nightclubs and beach bars, its raucous New Year's Eve celebrations and the luxurious Copacabana Palace Hotel (opened in 1923 and just out of sight in this photo). In this image the beach is already backed by whitewashed tower blocks and brimming with swimmers and sunbathers.

Now: Copacabana Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The sand and the sea still look similar (give or take a few hundred sun umbrellas) but the beach's backdrop has changed beyond recognition. The wavy mosaic patterns of the beach's iconic promenade (designed in 1970 by Brazilian architect Roberto Burle Marx) back onto six lanes of heavy traffic, while an impenetrable layer of tower blocks almost obscures the rest of the city. One of the liveliest neighbourhoods in the whole of South America, today's Copacabana Beach sparkles at any hour.

Now check out more amazing sculptures and statues around the world