Travelling through Latinamerica?

Question

Yes, it is one of my dreams and goal after I finish school (in a few months) and I'll be 18 years old. I'm a girl and one other female friend would accompany me. I thought about renting a car, taking a credit card with me and discovering the countries on our own with the car. We'd stay in cheap hotels etc.

So basically, I just want to have fun and see the poorer sides of Latinamerica. Which countries should I really avoid? And if it's too dangerous for us, do you know some other alternatives?

Answer 1

So.....Im going to assume that you actually meant to say: "See the local culture of these countries" instead of your comment about seeing poverty. It's a bit insensitive otherwise.

Anyway, Ive just done a fair bit of travelling there, and so here's what I found and what Id recomend:

Firstly, dont bother with a car. Getting a car into Mexico is pretty easy, but after that, it's a real hassle getting it into Guatemala or Belize. Furthermore, the roads in these countries arent very good and there is a good chance of breaking down. Also, the police in a lot of cities are poorly paid and look for ways to extract bribes from foreigners. Driving a car is going to make you a target for them. And finally, the traffic in a lot of bigger cities such a Mexico City, Guatemala City and San Salvador is HORRIFIC. You do NOT want to try your luck in it.

It's easy (and safer) to see Latin America by using the public buses. You can usually get pretty comfortable 1st class buses for long trips and second class "chicken buses" are a good way to meet the locals, even if they arent very comfortable. Buses are very cheap as well.

Safety is a relative term. I felt more unsafe in LA than I did throughout Latin America even though Latin America has a bad reputation for crime. The truth is, no one can guarantee you will be 100% safe, but most people are able to travel in Latin America without anything bad happening to them.

Really, the only place you need to avoid is the border region between Panama and Columbia. This area is pretty much lawless at the moment, and going there is very risky due to the high level of rebel and drug gang activity in the area. Avoid it.

The rest of Latin America is safe enough to pass through so long as you're careful. You need to take the sort of precautions you would take in any big city:

- Dont carry around large amounts of money or your credit cards whenever possible.

- Dont flash your valuables around. Dont wear jewllery or anything that will make you look "rich". Wear simple clothes that help you blend in with the surrounds.

- Learn as much Spanish as you can. Not much English is spoken in many places once you leave Mexico so learning Spanish will be a big help. It's also much more polite to speak to the locals in their local language instead of expecting them to know English.

- Dont travel on second class buses at night in El Salvador or Guatemala. There is a slight risk of the bus being hijacked and robbed on the side of the road.

- Stay in well lit, busy areas in cities. Dont go to isolated places alone.

You need to also be aware that men in Latin America can be a little foward with women. I saw them calling out and whistling at women as they walked past. This is usually harmless and I met HEAPS of girls travelling alone in the area who had GREAT time, but, it can be a little intimidating. Best thing is to ignore it. The guys mean no harm. It's just their way of showing how "manly" they are.

Answer 2

We gave the 1st answer a thumbs up.......we also decided to take a swing at answering this question of yours.....

1st......TAKE THE BUS........Fly to Guatemala......make yourselves a plan from there, or Antigua.......leave all your "nice stuff" at home........Don't be uninformed........though the people of Latin America are wonderful.......as you mentioned, they are also poor and live in poverty.  Most do this with integrity the USA can not imagine.  Some do not.........DON'T be as ........uninformed........as you sound.  

Bus transport in Latin America is often EXCELLENT and inexpensive.  LEAVE YOUR CAR AT HOME............Don't plan on seeing "everything" your 1st trip.  Leave the credit card at home......take a debit card that can be used to get local currency.........do not take too much at one time, but surely take enough, they are not everywhere as they are in the States.  You might consider a volunteer program..GVN...is good.........and take trips on the weekends.  You have a GREAT idea..........develop it wisely

Answer 3

Learn spanish since most of the countries are spanish speaking, except belize

Answer 4

"So basically, I just want to have FUN and see the poorer sides of Latin America."

I truly can't believe anyone would say something as insensitive as that.Shame on you! Do you actually think poverty is funny? Do you and your female friend plan to throw pennies or Big Mac's out the window of your "rented car" as you drive through those poor countries?

Which countries should you avoid? All of them!

Take your credit cards,your rented car,and your female friend and buy an all-inclusive vacation in Cancun. Or...you both could stop thinking about yourselves for a month and go somewhere and try doing the unselfish thing by finding someway to help those that are less fortunate than yourselves.Who knows,you might just like it.

    For example:   http://www.casa-guatemala.org/

                             http://www.habitat.org/intl/lac/145.aspx