Destinos

Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish

Welcome to the Destinos Telenovela Resource Site

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Visit the Destinos Tertulia

A Spanish tertulia is traditional social gathering to discuss things. Visit our Destinos community space to post comments, offer suggestions, or ask questions.

Destinos: An Introduction to Spanish (Destinos) is an instructional video series that teaches Spanish speaking and listening skills. It was produced as a “telenovela”, a television “soap opera” format with a set, limited number of episodes. 

Running for two seasons, the show first aired in 1992 and was designed to introduce viewers to the Spanish language. It consists of 52 episodes and is still a valuable educational resource for Spanish language learners. 

Destinos was available as a free resource for many years thanks to the generosity of Annenberg Learner (learner.org), a division of the Annenberg Foundation. However, the Annenberg Learner site ceased operating as of July 2026.

This site provides all necessary resources for you to learn Spanish using the Destinos telenovela. Enjoy the journey!

Explore the Collection: Episodes 1–52

The Destinos videos and associated educational materials are organized as an introduction and four “pillars,” based on the locations to which Raquel traveles in her quest to determine the fate of Rosario after the Spanish Civil War.

La Gavia: México City, México

Don Fernando's Secret

Episodes 1 and 2

The episode opens at the ancestral estate of the Castillo family in México. Patriarch don Fernando Castillo reveals a secret that he has kept since the Spanish Civil War: a letter fro his past suggesting that his first wife, Rosario, did not perish in the bombing of Guernica as he once believed. He also learned that she was pregnant at the time of the bombing. Lawyer Raquel Rodriguez is hired to investigate this mystery, beginning a quest that will span three continents to uncover the truth about a long-lost love and a hidden heir.

Key Concepts: Personal identity, family history, and basic greetings

Go to Episodes 1 and 2

Destination 1 España

The Search for Rosario

Episodes 3 to 11

Raquel’s investigation takes her to Seville to track down Teresa Suárez, the mysterious author of the letter. From the vibrant markets of Andalusia to the grand museums of Madrid, Raquel navigates the cultural and historical landscape of Spain to find the first concrete leads on Rosario’s post-war life.

Key Concepts: Locations, Numbers, Present Tense, Ser vs. Estar.

Go to Episodes 3 to 11

Destination 2 Argentina

Secrets of the Heart

Episodes 12 to 21

The investigation shifts to Buenos Aires, where Raquel meets Arturo, a psychiatrist with his own connection to the mystery. Together, they navigate the “Paris of the South” to find the fate of Rosario and her son, Ángel, while an unexpected romance begins to bloom.

Key Grammar: Preterit vs. Imperfect, Expressing Emotions, Medical Vocabulary.

Go to Episodes 12 to 21

Destination 3 Puerto Rico

Family Ties

Episodes 22 to 31

Raquel’s journey leads her to the colorful Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. Here, she meets Angela and Roberto, the grandchildren Don Fernando never knew existed. But family friction and a looming deadline in Mexico threaten to derail the mission just as the truth is within reach.

Key Grammar: Future Tense, Caribbean Dialects, Family Relationships.

Go to Episodes 22 to 31

Destination 4 Return to Mexico

The Final Revelation

Episodes 32 to 52

All roads lead back to the La Gavia estate. As the extended Castillo family gathers, Raquel must piece together the final fragments of the puzzle. Financial scandals, health crises, and a dramatic confrontation at the patriarch’s bedside bring this epic telenovela to its emotional conclusion.

Key Grammar: Subjunctive Mood, Complex Sentences, Formal/Business Spanish.

Go to Episodes 32 to 52

Using the Destinos Resources

For each episode, you will find the following associated resources:

 

📺 Full Video Series
High-quality streaming of the entire mystery, from Spain to Mexico, with accessible closed captioning.
📜 Complete Transcripts
Line-by-line Spanish scripts for all 52 episodes. Perfect for following the dialogue and building vocabulary.
📚 Textbook & Workbook/Study Guides
  • Textbook: Lessons and activities to prepare for watching and then reviewing episode comprehension.
  • Workbook/Study Guides: Additional lessons and activities to reinforce grammar concepts and vocabulary.
  • Audio file: Audio files for each episode, used in both the textbook and the workbook/study lessons and activities. 
📚 Instructional Material

Episode-specific resources including vocabulary and multiple sets of questions and answers. Useful for episode review and group discussion.

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Recent Updates & fixes

13 Apr 2026: 

  1. Received feedback that a user did not know how to access the videos. I moved the “ticket” image from the right sidebar to the center on each page.
  2. Many of the Q&A pages had errors: the questions and answers did not match. All 52 episodes have been fixed. Please report any issues or make suggestions to improve.
  3. Added a pop-up to explain that there is only one set of audio files for both the textbook and workbook/study guides. When the headphones icon appears in either the textbook or workbook, it refers to the single audio file for that episode.

Please send suggestions and ideas. I will continue to update the site based on feedback.

Clarification about the audio files ....

There is only one set of audio files for both the textbook and workbook/study guides. Each audio file is used for both. The textbook contains the “script” and reading that goes with the audio file. The Workbook (Manual de actividades) contains the actual blanks to be filled in while listening to the audio file.

The audio is specifically designed to “talk” you through both the textbook and workbook activities. For example, a narrator will say, “Lección uno. Comprensión. Ejercicio A…” and then provide the audio content used to respond to the workbook questions & activities.