As a physical region, Latin America is incredibly diverse. The region ranges from alpine to desert to rainforest, to savanna. Most of these regions are differentiated by altitude and/or proximity to coastlines. What is interesting is that one can move from the desert or beach to the snow covered alpine areas in less than a day—not unlike California, where you could be on the beach in Malibu in the morning, and at Big Bear or Mammoth snowboarding by afternoon.
What makes the Latin American region even more fascinating is the addition of tropical rainforests and savanna. While many people may associate a savanna with rolling dry grasslands, in reality, there are seasons and microclimates within those as well. For instance, the savanna in Venezuela where I have visited, is dry and grassy for most of the year, and then subject to torrential rains in the months of July and August. Less than a few hours away, one can take a ride up the mountain on a tram or funicular, and be thrust into alpine conditions and even frost or snow capped peaks.

Having experienced the tropical rainy season in Latin America, I can say that it is unlike anything I have ever seen. In Amazonia, which runs through Venezuela, Brazil, and even Peru, the humidity can be so high at times that the air itself feels wet. At times during the rainy season, the torrential rain showers are almost predictable by time of day, as one can drenched to the core by standard early morning and midday showers. The plant life also contributes to the rainforest dynamic, with its high dense canopies that almost trap water in and keep everything moist, if not damp. There is also limited daylight in the forests during rainy season, as everything is lush and fully in bloom. As the seasons change, some of the foliage alters its appearance and light trickles back down to the forest floor.