How can I learn about Latin America?

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I am from the UK, but recently spent six months working abroad, and happened to have several Latin American colleagues. I am now unexpectedly interested in Latin America, and I would like to learn more, and actually might want to live there in the future.

I don't feel particularly comfortable contacting my former colleagues to ask them about it. I would really like to learn about Latin American culture, from the "inside" if that makes sense. Not just the English-speaking world's take on Latin America. But I don't know what books to read, what authors to look for, what to watch or listen to. I speak Spanish so that should make it easier.

How could I find this out? WIBU to email university Latin American studies departments to ask if they can give me any pointers? When I search online, I just get lists of Netflix shows to watch to learn Spanish, which isn't what I'm looking for.

Latin America is a bit of a vague term - covers Mexico to Argentina which gives you a huge diversity of culture, geography and history. For reference, South America is the same size as Europe and Australia combined (although that does include Brazil)

The only thing all these countries have in common is that they were colonised by the Spanish and have Spanish as their official language, and even there there is a huge variation in the way the language is used from place to place.

Can you narrow down a bit what you are looking for? What is it that interests you? Is there a particular region within South America that you are keen to know about?

I read the lonely planet guide to South America sometimes to plan trips I can’t afford (lol). You could also watch South American tv/films - Ive watched a few Colombian and Mexican series on Netflix, and follow the main actors on Instagram. You learn quite a bit of Spanish that way also which is a plus.