Central and South America trip

HardyBuckFan

Greetings all, I searched through previous threads looking for advice on Central and South America trip but all posts seem pretty old so just wondering if anyone can provide up to date info on my proposed trip as below:
At present I am in Miami and fly out to Cancun on Tuesday 6th August, all I have booked as of now is my flight to Cancun and my bus to Playa del Carmen.
After that my plan is do backpack through Cuba, Central America and South America with the aim of being home for xmas.
My number one concern is safety in certain countries just going on what I have heard, countries being Cuba, Venezuela and other central american countries-Guatemala, El Savlador etc.
I am just wondering if anyone else can confirm/disconfirm this or is all just a matter of luck/bad stories to certain people etc.
Also if anyone can give me any hidden gems in Cuba, Central/South America that would be awesome (as well as places to stay)
Cheers for your time and advice Boardsies

0lddog

( I have no useful experience ).....have you found ? :

http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=285

HardyBuckFan

Cheers for that, ye had a look, was looking for some hands on experience from fellow travellers though, may just take a risk and go, need to get my cuban tourist visa now, harder work than I thought!

Graham_B18C

While I've never personally travelled South America, on my current travels I met an Irish couple and the guy had done it two years ago. He said in his mind he was worried about Colombia and Brazil. But he said Venezuela was unreal, he was advised not to go to a bar across the street one night by the hotel staff saying it was too dangerous. He took their advice and ended up meeting a guy in the hotel that ignored the advice and ended up witnessing some dude shoot another in the head after some argument at the bar! He also said while walking through a market a laser hit his eyes and it came from some guy pointing a god at him, when he looked at him the guy just laughed and walked away.

He also had amazing stories of his trip down the amazon. So it wasn't all bad, no more trouble in 11 months in all the other countries.

lisasimpson

HardyBuckFan wrote: »

Cheers for that, ye had a look, was looking for some hands on experience from fellow travellers though, may just take a risk and go, need to get my cuban tourist visa now, harder work than I thought!

Cuban visa is easy enough to get. send off a postal order a photocopy of your passport and you will get it back in the post within a few days

HardyBuckFan

Graham_B18C wrote: »

While I've never personally travelled South America, on my current travels I met an Irish couple and the guy had done it two years ago. He said in his mind he was worried about Colombia and Brazil. But he said Venezuela was unreal, he was advised not to go to a bar across the street one night by the hotel staff saying it was too dangerous. He took their advice and ended up meeting a guy in the hotel that ignored the advice and ended up witnessing some dude shoot another in the head after some argument at the bar! He also said while walking through a market a laser hit his eyes and it came from some guy pointing a god at him, when he looked at him the guy just laughed and walked away.

He also had amazing stories of his trip down the amazon. So it wasn't all bad, no more trouble in 11 months in all the other countries.

Cheers for that, looks like I will be avoiding Venezuela!!

Graham_B18C

HardyBuckFan wrote: »

Cheers for that, looks like I will be avoiding Venezuela!!

Oh and it wasn't a god he was pointing at him, 'twas a gun

My next trip will hopefully be South America, I'd say you'll love it wherever you do go

Marcusm

I liked Rio and certainly didn't find it anywhere near as frightening or crime ridden as some people will suggest. THe physical beauty of the city far exceeds the style of the buildings etc.

Buenos Aires is the Paris of South America and, compared to Rio, is the cheapest city in the world. Much more varied nightlife, much better food etc than Brazil, better cheaper hotels, a place where you could buy stuff to supplement your travels etx.

godtabh

I've been to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Brazil and Argentina. Belize City was probably the most dangerous (an american tourist was shot and killed as we arrived when she was leaving her compound & we were stopped and told to get off the streets a few times).

Each country has its dodgy places. Have some cop on and you'll be fine

HardyBuckFan

Marcusm wrote: »

I liked Rio and certainly didn't find it anywhere near as frightening or crime ridden as some people will suggest. THe physical beauty of the city far exceeds the style of the buildings etc.

Buenos Aires is the Paris of South America and, compared to Rio, is the cheapest city in the world. Much more varied nightlife, much better food etc than Brazil, better cheaper hotels, a place where you could buy stuff to supplement your travels etx.

Cheers, am currently in central america so will be hitting south america in bout a month and fully intend doing all countries except maybe Venezuela due to bad reports i have heard, even though I would like to see angel falls!

HardyBuckFan

godtabh wrote: »

I've been to Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Brazil and Argentina. Belize City was probably the most dangerous (an american tourist was shot and killed as we arrived when she was leaving her compound & we were stopped and told to get off the streets a few times).

Each country has its dodgy places. Have some cop on and you'll be fine

Ta, arrrive in Belize in about a week, fingers crossed no bad stories when I will be there

godtabh

HardyBuckFan wrote: »

Ta, arrrive in Belize in about a week, fingers crossed no bad stories when I will be there

If you can head to Cay Caulker (sp) great place for diving and island life.

Now that I think of it San Pedro Sula was also a bit dodgy