Abstract
In Latin America, translation and interpreting occupy a crucial position, in that they contribute to the creation of the national identity of Central and South American countries (Vega & Pulido, 2013: 26). This article, therefore, explores translators' and interpreters' work during the first contacts with the New World, and views retrospectively the origin and development of Translation Studies in Latin America, introducing, for example, the first interpreter, doña Marina, the first translator, Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, the first expert on translation theory and criticism, José Martí, the first anthologies and projects devoted to translation and interpreting etc.