This monthly gallery features some of the top photojournalism made by Associated Press photographers documenting Latin America and the Caribbean during the month of February.

Lead photo: Paraiso do Tuiuti samba school drum queen Mayara Lima performs during Carnival at the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

This gallery was curated by photojournalist Martin Mejia based in Lima, Peru.