Which Latin American countries are Masonic?

Active, recognized Masonic Grand Lodges exist across Latin America in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, as recorded by the United Grand Lodge of England. The United Grand Lodge of England also maintains two overseas jurisdictions in the region: the District Grand Lodge of South America, Northern Division, based in Brazil, and the District Grand Lodge of South America, Southern Division, which covers Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

Historical records trace the origins of these bodies to the nineteenth century. In Costa Rica, lodge activity began under the Grand Orient of New Granada in 1867, leading to the formation of a Grand Lodge at San José in 1899 1. In Peru, early lodge activity was formalized in 1825 through representatives of the Grand Orient of Colombia, followed by the creation of a Scottish Rite Supreme Council in 1830 and the ultimate establishment of the Grand Lodge of Peru in 1882 1. In Venezuela, early national Masonic bodies were organized under General José Antonio Paez, who served as the country's first Grand Master and, in 1840, as the first Grand Commander of its Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite 1.