People love people. That’s a clear message to be learned from social media platforms like Instagram. Sure, I can post beautiful photos of beaches, hotels or mountains, but viewers will generally like photos better if there’s a person in them. So it’s no surprise that most of my top 9 posts and reels on Instagram this year have people in them.
I’ve already shared my top 5 travel blog posts and YouTube travel video posts, which showcase a diverse array of destinations in Mexico, the United States and Panama (all of which I’ve visited this year). Those posts are popular because of the information they provide, the travel tips and the inside looks they provide of hotels, aircraft, air travel and the general travel experience. It’s the kind of information that you look for when you’re thinking about travel.
Now it’s time to go to the human side and see which posts topped the list for 2022 on my Instagram account. It’s a very different list of people and places.
That’s because Instagram posts display very different kinds of results when compared to travel blog posts and YouTube travel videos. Instagram posts are even more visually driven, and they engage viewers in a different way. So while you may consult a travel blog like LatinFlyer.com for detailed travel tips, hotel reviews and specific travel advice to help you plan your next vacation, you’re more likely to turn to Instagram for more general travel ideas and inspiration. Travel photography inspires us, sparks our imagination and gives us ideas about what we might want to do and where we might want to go.
In addition, let’s be honest. We often look at platforms like Instagram for the simple visual pleasures it can provide. It’s human nature to enjoy looking at pretty places and beautiful people. There’s a certain amount of superficiality to these things, of course. So it’s not exactly shocking that the number one Instagram post of the year on my account is of a handsome male fitness model. He may be talking about tourism in Mexico City, but people’s eyes were first drawn to him, not the destination he’s talking about.
Still, there is lots to be learned from top Instagram posts. In terms of destinations, the most-liked and most-viewed posts from my account this year were taken in the following cities:
• New York City
• Mexico City
• Los Cabos
• Mexico’s Riviera Maya
• Panama
• Cleveland
• Curaçao
• Rochester, New York
• New Jersey
And here are the top 9 Instagram posts for 2022 (click to see the actual post):
1. Mauricio, Male Fitness Model in Mexico City
2. Kevin, Embera Community Guide in Panama
3. Queens Hispanic Parade in Jackson Heights NYC
4. Queens Pride Parade in Jackson Heights NYC
5. Book Cover Reveal for “Prepare for Departure”
6. Hotel pool at Thompson Playa del Carmen Hotel in Mexico
7. Rodrigo and Mark Enjoy the View from The Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City
8. Dinner on the Beach at Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa, Los Cabos
9. The Day After a Snowstorm in Jackson Heights NYC
My Top 9 Travel Reels on Instagram for 2022
Instagram Reels have taken off in recent months, as one of the hot new ways to get notices on Instagram. I’m no different; I’ve found a greater level of viewership through many of my Reels than I have with recent posts.
Click on the links below to see my most engaging Instagram Reels of the year:
1. Embera Community Visit in Panama (with Kensington Tours)
2. Queens Pride Parade in Jackson Heights NYC
4. Spectacular Manhattan NYC View on Flight Approach
5. Drag Show a la Mexicana at a Gay Bar in Panama City City, Panama
6. Queens Hispanic Parade in Jackson Heights NYC
7. A Look Inside the New Sandals Royal Curaçao Resort
8. Book Cover Reveal for “Prepare for Departure”
9. Mermaid Parade in Brooklyn NYC
Thanks to everyone who’s followed my travels and experiences on Instagram over the past year. Here’s wishing everyone a happy and productive 2023 with many pleasant journeys!
The official PREPARE FOR DEPARTURE merch is out!
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I’m a travel writer, travel blogger and Mexico travel specialist, and I love sharing travel tips to make your next vacation or business trip better. My new memoir was just published: Prepare for Departure: Notes on a Single Mother, a Misfit Son, Inevitable Mortality and the Enduring Allure of Frequent Flyer Miles. Please click and check it out!
Please feel free to share your comments, experiences and questions about Mexico travel and Latin America travel and vacations!
You can also follow my travels on Instagram and on my YouTube channel, so you won’t miss any of my travel tips or travel videos. ¡Buen viaje!