Traveling in Central America

[The PeNN]

I've had this urge for a while. I would love to travel the length of central america. Basically Mexico to the top of Argentina. I have been doing a lot of research on the net and in guide books.

I am really now looking to talk to anyone who has been to some of these countries. My main concern is Columbia, Panama, and Nicaragua.

Would you live?

Or is it just not worth going to this part of the world?

thanks,

The PeNN

 

[Bobzilla]

The Penn:

I was in Costa Rica in September & had a great time! If you want info, PM me.

Bobzilla

 

[Irish06j]

Good trip to take....

It's a good trip to take....opens the eyes.....when you get back home you truly appreciate what you have here.

 

[Goober Mcfly]

Don't rent "Proof of Life" before you go.

 

[onthebottom]

Can you

Bring me back a kelo?

JUST KIDDING!

hids behind desk

OTB

 

[The PeNN]

Question

My real question is would you make it through coutries like Nicaragua, Panama and Comumbia alive? and out of jail?

 

[LateComer]

I understand that Panama and Nicaraqua have improved a lot over the last several years but Columbia is more dangerous than ever. You should do your research before going to any of these countries especially if you are going off the beaten track. I was in Columbia several years ago (mostly Cartagena) - had a great time - was my introduction to the "hobby".

 

[Skyboy]

I second that- we are sometimes like babes in the woods when it comes to being off the beaten track in some areas of the world. Life is regarded very differently in some places and if you don't know the rules, you can be in trouble without a lot of recourse.

 

[Irish06j]

Mexico...

Even Mexico is dangerous in some areas. Look at the rebellion going on just outside Mexico City...kidnappings, murders, etc.
The countries may be pretty but one must always approach with caution - use common sense. Jails in any one of those countries are an experience no North American would want to go through. No different than those in some Asian countires.

 

[goose]

Wathch yourself

A buddy of mine worked for a telecoms company that had him in and out of Colombia. Kidnapping is a big problem there. It is a cottage industry unto itself. An associate of his was kidnapped on a trip with him.

Be very carefully, and do NOT travel alone, particularly at night, and watch your back around ATMs..

Goose99

 

[Girth]

I travel to Brazil and Argentina a couple times of year on business. I have been in other parts of Central and South America, and beside Costa Rica, those are the only three I wish to return to.

PM me if you have any other questions.

 

[MuffinMuncher]

Costa Rica

If anyone has a serious interest in a trip down to Costa Rica sometime after the New Year, please contact me. I'd love to return for a week with a small group, rent a house, see the country and have some fun.

 

[goose]

Cuba

Go to Cuba and rent a condo with a couple buds. SPs there are amazing. Beautiful, well educated, affordable, and sexy. What a combination.

Trick is to rent a condo. If you stay at a hotel, they won't let her up to your room, even if you escort her in. You have to go, often, to her house (with family present).

Goose

 

[E_B_Samaritano]

hey,

What you should do is wave the Canadian Flag and sceam "the USA is the great Satan". Apparently then, they at least will kill you quickly, as opposed to an agonizing torture. Or maybe still you could tell them you know Gonzo..

But then I could be wrong...Nah..I doubt it.

EBS

 

[Questor]

I have been travelling to that region for a number of years and I highly recommend it. Dangers are highly exaggerated in the press by people who have no understanding of what it is like. People have a tendency to fear what they don't understand. That said, if you are an inexperienced traveller, you need to be extra cautious at first because anyone can put him/herself in a dangerous situation if they don't recognize what is in front of them. Start off in more touristy areas, talk to fellow travellers and you will soon learn what is safe and what is unsafe. But keep in mind that safe/unsafe are relative terms. Its a question of risk management. PM if you would like more info.

Q.

 

[Bobzilla]

Central America

Great advice, Questor...

I can only speak with experience regarding Costa Rica, but one thing I did learn is that gringos travelling there are viewed as "rich", comparatively speaking. Therefore, for the criminals, you are a mark upon being sighted. It's really no different than going anywhere else. I wouldn't walk through downtown Toronto waving a wad of cash around or flashing a Rolex, either. Common sense is the key. Having said this, I found the people in Costa Rica to be very friendly for the most part, but they move at a slower pace (especially wait staff) than we are used to. My very limited Spanish wasn't a big problem.

On the other hand, I ran into 2 guys from New York who were staying at the Del Rey Hotel (the ground floor of which contains the Blue Marlin bar, where the SP's congregate). At breakfast 1 day, 1 of the girls (for no apparent reason, they didn't know her & vice versa) came up to them & started shouting "Osama-yes, Bush-no". Not the smartest thing to do as these New Yorkers were a NY firefighter, the other a New Jersey cop. Apparently, security picked this girl up and literally threw her out on her ass before these guys could get to her! I didn't see this myself, but got it from these 2 guys. Still have a hard time believing anyone could be so insensitive, stupid or __________ (insert other adjective here)

 

[Big Bear]

Questor is under-estimating the problems in Columbia and to a lesser extent Peru and Bolivia. I too have traveled to these countries on business and would not go there without a bodyguard or knowledgeable local, particularly in Columbia. Kidnapping of Westerners is a way of life, particularly once you get outside the big cities and even in Bogata I never really felt safe. Our local people would only go in certain areas at night and if you did not know what you were doing or where you were going you could get in trouble real fast. I once started to go for a walk outside my hotel about 6pm only to be stopped by the doorman who told me it wasn't safe to walk alone in that area after 5pm unless in a large group.

Of all the countries I have been to and this includes places like Russia, China, Bulgaria, South Africa and parts of the Middle East Columbia is the only place where I have been truly afraid to go out and wanted nothing more than to get out of there. You couldn't pay me enough to travel outside Bogata or Cartegena by myself or in a small group without protection.

Mexico is reasonably safe and Costa Rica is wonderful so go there instead.

 

[SDFeuerzauber]

Of all the countries I have been to and this includes places like Russia, China, Bulgaria, South Africa and parts of the Middle East Columbia is the only place where I have been truly afraid to go out and wanted nothing more than to get out of there. .

Where in Russia have you traveled?? I've been considering a trip to the Baltic, including Kaliningrad. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

 

[Big Bear]

Travel In Russia

I have been in Moscow, St. Petersburg and for punishment, Rostov on Don. (Gives a whole new meaning to the word dump) I've been in Tallin (can't remember how to spell it today for some reason) in the Baltic. Beautiful old city, lots of nice looking women and fairly reasonable. Thats why all the Finns and Swedes go there on the weekend on the ferries. Haven't been to Kallingrad but have been told it is not as nice as the Baltic States cities.

In terms of traveling there you should operate on the following assumptions: 1) Everything is controled by the mafia and they make the Italian mafia look like school children. This is particularly true of clubs and bars. 2) You are going to pay more because you are a westerner. For example a taxi from my hotel in Moscow to our offices was $15 US if I negotiated it and $2 if negotiated by my Russian colleagues. 3) It is unsafe to go out walking anywhere at night. Again a colleague of mine tried walking home to his hotel from one of the leading nightclubs a distance of 8 blocks down a main street and was held up at gunpoint.

In addition don't carry a lot of money or wear expensive jewellry or clothes because it just marks you as someone to be taken advantage of.

St Petersburg, Tallin and Moscow are all beautiful cities but everyone has their hand out and everyone is looking for an angle. It is the last frontier, the new wild west but you can have a great time in any of those three cities. Smaller centers you are going to have real problems unless you speak the language as English is pratically non existant and Russian is a very difficult language.

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

My advice for travel in Russia: In Moscow, at least, always carry some bribe money and your passport (don't lose it!!!). The cops love to screw around with foreigners for bribes. My first hour in the country and I was out $100 cdn to the cops....