🇺🇸 Miami

Miami International Airport (MIA) is the main air gateway between the United States and Latin America, with direct flights from virtually every capital on the continent: Mexico City (3.5 hours), Bogota (3.5 hours), Lima (5.5 hours), Buenos Aires (9 hours), Sao Paulo (8 hours), Santiago (8.5 hours), Havana (1 hour), Guatemala City, San Jose Costa Rica, Panama City, and many more. It is the airport with the highest volume of international passengers from Latin America to the United States. American Airlines, LATAM, Avianca, Copa Airlines, and virtually every Latin American airline operates here.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), located 30 minutes north of Miami, is the budget alternative. Low-cost carriers like Spirit, JetBlue, and Southwest operate from FLL with significantly cheaper fares. If saving on airfare is your priority, FLL is an excellent option — from there you can take Uber ($25-35 USD to Miami Beach) or the Brightline, a modern and fast train connecting Fort Lauderdale to downtown Miami in 30 minutes ($12-15 USD).

Hard Rock Stadium is located in Miami Gardens, approximately 16 miles (26 km) north of downtown Miami. There is no direct public transit to the stadium — on event days there will be shuttle buses from strategic points downtown and hotel zones. Uber or Lyft from Miami Beach to the stadium costs approximately $30-40 USD, from downtown Miami about $25-35 USD. Plan your return in advance because rideshare demand surges after matches end.

Miami is, let us be honest, a car-dependent city for most trips. However, public transit options exist that can work for visitors staying in the main tourist areas. The Metrorail is the single elevated train line, running north-south connecting the airport with downtown and residential areas. The Metromover is a free automated transit system circulating through downtown and Brickell — perfect for getting between hotels, restaurants, and shops in that area without spending a cent.

Uber and Lyft are the most practical way to get around Miami. Prices are reasonable for short trips (within Miami Beach or Brickell) but add up quickly when crossing between zones. A ride from Miami Beach to downtown runs about $15-25 USD. Free trolleys run various routes through main neighborhoods — Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Brickell, downtown, and Miami Beach each have their own free trolley routes. They are slow but free and air-conditioned.

For match days at Hard Rock Stadium, there will be dedicated shuttle bus systems from major transit hubs and hotel zones. Do not try to drive to the stadium if you do not know the area — traffic in Miami Gardens on event days is chaotic and parking costs $40-60 USD. Parking in Miami Beach is notoriously expensive ($20-30 USD for a few hours) and hard to find. If you are staying in South Beach, everything is walkable within the zone — you will not need a car for the beach, restaurants, and bars.

Little Havana is the Cuban heart of Miami and a must-visit for any Latin American fan. Calle Ocho (SW 8th Street) is the neighborhood's main artery, where you will find ventanitas (walk-up windows) serving Cuban coffee, restaurants with ropa vieja and lechon asado, cigar shops, and the sounds of salsa on every corner. Accommodation is more affordable than the main tourist zones — between $60 and $100 USD per night in Airbnbs and basic hotels. It is not the most luxurious area, but it is the most authentic.

Brickell is the financial district and Miami's most modern zone. Gleaming skyscrapers, trendy restaurants, rooftop bars with panoramic views, and a young, cosmopolitan energy. It is walkable, has free Metromover service, and is full of nightlife. Hotels range from $100 to $200 USD per night. Ideal for those seeking modernity and convenience without being on the beach.

Miami Beach and South Beach are the city's visual icons — the Art Deco strip along Ocean Drive, the endless beach, the world-famous clubs. It is the most expensive zone: hotels between $150 and $400 USD per night (and higher in peak season). If you are going to the World Cup with a generous budget and want the "Miami postcard" experience, South Beach is the place. Keep in mind that the distance to Hard Rock Stadium is about 25 km.

Doral is Miami's Colombian and Venezuelan neighborhood — so much so that it is called "Doralzuela." Arepas, empanadas, restaurants serving bandeja paisa and cachapas. It is more suburban and affordable ($60-120 USD per night), ideal for families. Wynwood is the urban art neighborhood with giant murals, galleries, craft breweries, and trendy restaurants — excellent during the day, with a growing nightlife scene. Hostels and boutique hotels between $80 and $150 USD.

Miami is the only place in the United States where you can find authentic representation of virtually ALL Latin American cuisine. That is not an exaggeration — every country on the continent has genuine restaurants here. Cuban food is the historical queen: Versailles on Calle Ocho is the legendary institution where politicians, celebrities, and Cuban families have been eating since 1971. Order the ropa vieja, tostones with mojo sauce, roasted lechon, and flan for dessert. La Carreta, with multiple locations, is another essential option for abundant and affordable Cuban food.

Cuban coffee is a way of life in Miami. The cafecito (sweet and strong espresso) costs $1-2 USD at any ventanita — those walk-up windows in the walls of coffee shops where locals stop for their caffeine fix without entering the establishment. The colada is a large cup meant for sharing among friends. The cortadito has a touch of evaporated milk. Trying Cuban coffee at a Little Havana ventanita is as essential as visiting the stadium.

In Doral you will find the best Colombian and Venezuelan food: stuffed arepas, complete bandeja paisa, meat and cheese empanadas, and cachapas with queso de mano. Coral Gables has top-tier Peruvian ceviche restaurants. Brickell is full of Argentine steakhouses with export-quality cuts. Little Haiti offers griot (Haitian fried pork) and other unique Caribbean dishes. For seafood, any beachfront restaurant will have stone crabs (in season) and fresh fish.

Budget: a casual meal costs between $7 and $14 USD (ventanitas, food trucks, taquerias). A sit-down restaurant in Brickell or South Beach runs about $25-60 USD per person. Drinking in South Beach is expensive — cocktails at $15-20 USD. In Little Havana or Doral, the same drinks cost half as much.

Miami's main tourist areas are safe for visitors. South Beach, Brickell, Wynwood, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, and the Design District have good police presence and are busy at all hours. Miami Beach has an active tourist police force and surveillance cameras in the main areas. Calle Ocho in Little Havana is safe during the day and early evening hours.

As in any major city, there are areas where extra caution is advisable. Overtown and Liberty City, northwest of downtown, are not tourist areas and are best avoided at night. In South Beach, watch for theft of belongings on the beach — do not leave valuables unattended. In Wynwood, the gallery and bar area is safe, but surrounding streets can be deserted at night — use Uber to get back.

Weather is an important safety factor in Miami. Summer heat and humidity are intense and can cause dehydration and heat stroke quickly, especially if you are walking or standing in line under the sun. Drink water constantly. At the beach, respect warning flags about rip currents — they are the real ocean danger in Miami. Apply sunscreen generously — the tropical sun burns in minutes. Bring mosquito repellent, especially at dusk. Emergencies: dial 911.

June and July in Miami mean tropical summer in its fullest expression. Temperatures range from 26 to 33 degrees Celsius (79-91 Fahrenheit), but humidity — which regularly exceeds 80% — makes the heat index significantly higher. Prepare your body to sweat from the moment you step out of air conditioning. This is not an exaggeration: Miami in summer is hot and humid in a way that only those who live in the Caribbean or tropical coast fully understand.

Afternoon storms are practically a daily routine in summer. Typically between 2 and 6 PM, dark clouds form quickly, intense downpours with impressive lightning and thunder fall, and in 30-60 minutes it all passes and the sun returns. These storms are normal — do not let them ruin your plans, simply take shelter in a cafe or restaurant and wait for them to pass. Always carry a compact rain poncho or small umbrella.

Hurricane season technically begins on June 1, but significant storms in July are statistically rare. Still, stay informed about weather alerts through the National Weather Service app. What to pack: light and breathable clothing, sandals (acceptable almost everywhere), high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, mosquito repellent (mosquitoes are active especially at dusk and dawn), and a rain poncho. Bring a light jacket for indoors — air conditioning in Miami is aggressive and the temperature difference between outside and inside can be 15 degrees.

Miami is, essentially, a Latin American city that happens to be in the United States. This is not a marketing phrase — it is the everyday reality. In Miami-Dade County, approximately 70% of the population is Hispanic, and in many areas Spanish is not just spoken but is the dominant language. You can live in Miami speaking exclusively Spanish without any inconvenience: in supermarkets, banks, hospitals, restaurants, government offices — Spanish is the common language everywhere.

Every Latin American consulate has an office in Miami, making it a diplomatic hub for the entire region. If you need consular assistance during the World Cup, you will find it here. The Cuban community, which built Little Havana since the 1960s, was the first major migration wave, followed by Colombians, Venezuelans, Nicaraguans, Argentinians, Peruvians, and virtually every nationality on the continent. Each community has created its own cultural, religious, and commercial spaces.

Football has a special place in Miami since Lionel Messi's arrival at Inter Miami CF. The city, historically more focused on basketball (Miami Heat) and American football (Dolphins), has transformed into a football epicenter. Inter Miami jerseys are visible everywhere. Calle Ocho in Little Havana is the cultural heartbeat of the city — salsa, reggaeton, and bachata music plays in every establishment. Tipping in restaurants is 18-20% (it is part of servers' wages in the US, it is not optional). The dollar is the currency, but in Miami you will feel like you are in Latin America.