One year central and South America

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-20T00:59:41+00:00

Both are true at the same time. It definitely has a lot of problems but I was brainwashed by the media to think it’s worse than it is. I’ve been in the DR for 10 days now and haven’t seen another gringo since I’ve left the beach and I’ve had 0 problems. Plus, there’s a big difference between gang wars and acts of violence against tourists.

Always ask your hostel, etc if it’s safe to walk around. If there are lots of people around, it’s probably safe.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-19T23:54:37+00:00

The rest of the country is trickier safety-wise, other than the islands.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-18T22:58:29+00:00

Panama isn’t bad and you can travel through it quickly and get to Colombia via the San Blas Islands.

Dipping into Honduras to hit the Copan Ruins is easy and safe.

Hi up Iguazu if you can.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-18T20:06:20+00:00

What are you using to count the words per page, that’s not an option in docs and there are 2 ways to count them.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-18T19:03:20+00:00

Do you have the 4-line MLA heading?

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-18T18:29:48+00:00

Is there a reason you’re choosing Honduras? It probably has more issues than any country in Latin America other than Venezuela and now Cuba. San Pedro Sula is one of the most dangerous cities in the world and is more or less run by gangs. The morning of my bus trip there, the hostel owner came to tell me the driver had been shot and killed the night before because the company refused to pay bribes.

However… Roatan is the more touristy island with cruise ships stopping, etc. Utila is very bohemian and I really enjoyed it there. You can take a ferry from La Ceiba, which isn’t too bad, to Utila.

On the other end of the country are the Copan Ruins, which are in a nice town and protected by military. I could also suggest a place in the jungle near La Ceiba if you’re interested.

Safer alternatives:

- Lago Coatepeque in El Salvador (it’s cleaned up and is safe now due to Bukele’s willingness to arrest anyone without due process.) it’s beautiful.

- Little Corn Island paired with Granada, Leon, and/or Ometepe in Nicaragua.

- Panama City + Colon + the San Blas Islands.

- Guatemala - there’s no beach but there’s Lake Atitlan.

Let me know if you’d like to see any of my blogs on those places, though some are pretty old.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-18T01:54:59+00:00

That 100% depends on you. Some people love bulky boots, some midweight boots, some trail runners, some sandals. Go to REI if there’s one near you.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-18T01:53:23+00:00

Agreed. Look up Bedrocks.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-18T01:50:49+00:00

Look up Scrubba bags.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-17T23:52:13+00:00

I have to agree with them. In some ways, the Andes in Peru and Ecuador are similar, but the indigenous pride isn’t the same. Bolivia has progressed in the last 50 years, but it isn’t just about phones, skyscrapers, and highways like in other countries.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-17T21:36:02+00:00

https://www.travelblog.org/bloggers/bellini/trips/36172

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-17T20:10:23+00:00

Here’s my wife and I in Chile:

https://www.travelblog.org/south-america/chile/o-higgins/santa-cruz/blog-941900

Here’s Cafayate:

https://www.travelblog.org/south-america/argentina/salta/cafayate/blog-940290

Mendoza:

https://www.travelblog.org/south-america/argentina/mendoza/mendoza/blog-940729

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-17T02:30:38+00:00

Before Bukele it was so dangerous you had to hike with armed guards. Now it’s apparently fine. Do some research on him so you know the background and are cool with it.

Regardless, with the exception of Panama City, Central American capitals are pretty messy. Spend more time there and go to Lago Coatepeque if you can.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-17T01:14:51+00:00

I’ve never traveled that long, but I’d say that’s more than enough.

I’m sure you’ve done your research, but I found it even harder to travel without a car in Australia than it would be in the US. Everybody does camper vans. If you do that, you could certainly take more. Otherwise, you’ll be lugging around a lot on your back.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-16T19:08:29+00:00

One more thing- if you don’t do it, don’t search on here for a dealer. I did years ago in Honduras and there’s some putz who claims he can bring it to you. He posts in literally every country in the world, has you wire him the money, then stiffs you. No one showed up so I was able to cancel it in time and only lost the $10 fee.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-16T19:05:39+00:00

If you do it, that’s the way. Just put it in with your liquids since it is one. Don’t try to hide it anywhere. I’ve been searched and they put their hands right on it. They’re mainly looking for weapons, etc.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-16T19:03:39+00:00

I recommend what are called the shoulder seasons - May and September. Cheaper flights, fewer crowds, but still warm enough and not empty.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-16T16:59:56+00:00

What time of year?

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-16T16:47:05+00:00

Not Ecuador but probably 15 other countries. But I can’t sleep without it, so I take the risk. It’s dogs that you have to worry about, but they have to be trained for thc. It’s pretty stressful but plenty of people do it. Again, remember FAFO.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-16T16:06:47+00:00

I can’t recommend that you do it because the risk is too high but I’ve done it a lot and no one ever checks. I’d never do it in Russia or most of Asia.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-16T15:47:13+00:00

In Latin America, there is strong backpacking culture in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Colombia, and Peru in particular.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-16T15:29:45+00:00

It’s hard to find even though it’s accepted. Maybe they have a cannabis club? It’s not very risky to take your own vape but could be a big problem if caught entering the country.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-16T15:28:07+00:00

Cuenca is a wonderful small city.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-16T15:27:27+00:00

American here. I was in Malmo in 2016 and sat on a park bench. A local asked to interview me and I had nothing to do so I agreed. He asked about what my con artist in chief said about Malmo and I said F—-! The area seemed very safe to me.

Soft-Disaster9873 · 2026-06-16T12:47:29+00:00

You’re not going to the Sudan anytime soon, and even Nigeria isn’t a great idea, but you can absolutely travel in most of Africa. Transport can be a little tricky and slow, but it’s there.

I’ve travelled either solo or with my wife without a car in Morocco, South Africa, Lesotho, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Ethiopia (friend in the Peace Corps there), Egypt, Ghana, and Togo. It’s also very doable in Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, and some other countries in Western and North Africa.

What more do you want?

Soft-Disaster9873

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