Latin Am/Caribbean Travel
- Central America or South America?
- Panama to Colombia by Boat
- The PacSafe Security Web
- Mexico City's Metro System
- Retiring to Costa Rica
- Getting the Pill in Latin America
- Cheap Caribbean Vacation Deals
- Latin American/Caribbean Travel!
- Fishing in Panama
- Joya de Ceren, El Salvador
Central America or South America?
Posted by
Megan Lyles
Megan Lyles
For travelers trying to choose between a trip to Central America and a trip to South America, the decision can be a tough one. My vote? Central America.
Central and South America each offer unique attractions and both offer the chance to learn and practice Spanish. South America has more famous sites (Machu Picchu, Nazca Lines, Salar de Uyuni) but a visit can make you feel like a tourist cog in a money-making machine.
Central America has great attractions too: Tikal, for ruins, the Panama Canal for marvelous feats of engineering, Antigua for Colonial towns, the Corn Islands for beaches, Costa Rica in general to be astounded by nature.
The difference is, in Central America, you're far more likely to experience your destination outside the tourist whirl. You’ll often be the only foreigner on the bus or strolling around town. This won’t be the case in Antigua, Guatemala, or Roatan, Honduras, but if you visit, say, Tegucigalpa or Panama City, you can wander the streets feeling a real sense of the city without being pestered to buy finger puppets or tour guide services.
And because Central America is much smaller than South America, you can spread your trip around two or three countries and still get a good taste of each. If you want a less touristy experience but still want to stay on the beaten path, try Guatemala or Costa Rica. If you want to check out places that have not quite hit the tipping point on foreigners’ radar, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua all offer unique experiences.
Of course it's all a matter of personal taste, and you certainly won't go wrong visiting South America. And as Feature Writer for Latin American and Caribbean Travel, I’m clearly biased. But having traveled extensively in both Central and South America, I’d definitely pick Central America to go back to.
Central America has great attractions too: Tikal, for ruins, the Panama Canal for marvelous feats of engineering, Antigua for Colonial towns, the Corn Islands for beaches, Costa Rica in general to be astounded by nature.
The difference is, in Central America, you're far more likely to experience your destination outside the tourist whirl. You’ll often be the only foreigner on the bus or strolling around town. This won’t be the case in Antigua, Guatemala, or Roatan, Honduras, but if you visit, say, Tegucigalpa or Panama City, you can wander the streets feeling a real sense of the city without being pestered to buy finger puppets or tour guide services.
And because Central America is much smaller than South America, you can spread your trip around two or three countries and still get a good taste of each. If you want a less touristy experience but still want to stay on the beaten path, try Guatemala or Costa Rica. If you want to check out places that have not quite hit the tipping point on foreigners’ radar, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua all offer unique experiences.
Of course it's all a matter of personal taste, and you certainly won't go wrong visiting South America. And as Feature Writer for Latin American and Caribbean Travel, I’m clearly biased. But having traveled extensively in both Central and South America, I’d definitely pick Central America to go back to.
Posted by
Megan Lyles
Megan Lyles
Some reflections on the pros and cons of traveling from Panama to Colombia oversea.
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article called Sailing from Panama to Colombia about… well, sailing from Panama to Colombia. (Let me take a moment to pat myself on the back for such an accurate and descriptive title.)
Anyway, I described the trip and discussed how one would go about finding a sailboat, but I did not mention any of the drawbacks. While this is an amazing experience and the San Blas Islands are of course fantastic – I wish I was in San Blas right now – this is a sailboat trip! Nature is in charge. You may experience discomfort or seasickness.
In my own travelogue, I have a more detailed account of the trip as I personally experienced it, from the meanie at Voyager Hostel in Panama City to the initial mixed feelings about making the trip with our captain (we later grew to love him), to the fact that we hit a reef or something and feared for our lives, and then the long day of seasickness en route to Colombia. It’s not all fun and games, kids.
BUT. Would I do it again? Oh, yes I would, without a doubt. That sailboat trip from Portobelo to Cartagena was one of the highlights of my life, seasickness and all. And your boat probably will not hit a reef. (There have been plane, train, and car crashes, but that wouldn’t stop you from getting into a plane, train, or car ever again, right?)
So I thought I’d just point out that there might be some less than perfect aspects of sailing the Caribbean. But if you bring your anti-seasickness pills and find out where the life-jackets are ahead of time, you’ll no doubt have as amazing a time as I did.
Anyway, I described the trip and discussed how one would go about finding a sailboat, but I did not mention any of the drawbacks. While this is an amazing experience and the San Blas Islands are of course fantastic – I wish I was in San Blas right now – this is a sailboat trip! Nature is in charge. You may experience discomfort or seasickness.
In my own travelogue, I have a more detailed account of the trip as I personally experienced it, from the meanie at Voyager Hostel in Panama City to the initial mixed feelings about making the trip with our captain (we later grew to love him), to the fact that we hit a reef or something and feared for our lives, and then the long day of seasickness en route to Colombia. It’s not all fun and games, kids.
BUT. Would I do it again? Oh, yes I would, without a doubt. That sailboat trip from Portobelo to Cartagena was one of the highlights of my life, seasickness and all. And your boat probably will not hit a reef. (There have been plane, train, and car crashes, but that wouldn’t stop you from getting into a plane, train, or car ever again, right?)
So I thought I’d just point out that there might be some less than perfect aspects of sailing the Caribbean. But if you bring your anti-seasickness pills and find out where the life-jackets are ahead of time, you’ll no doubt have as amazing a time as I did.
Posted by
Megan Lyles
Megan Lyles
There's always some risk of having your travel pack slashed, whether at home or while traveling. But do you need a security system for your pack?
I chose to address this question in a blog post rather than an article because Suite requires that writers keep articles objective and I just can’t be objective on the PacSafe issue. The PacSafe Security Web is like a little flexible chain-link fence for your backpack, designed to prevent thieves from slashing the material and helping themselves to your possessions. Oh, dear. I am not at all a fan!
Here’s why I don’t like PacSafes. Their bizarre appearance draws attention to your pack and thus to you when you’re wearing your pack and sends out two simultaneous messages.
Sometimes you simply must carry valuable items. I traveled through Mexico, Central, and South America by bus with a laptop. My travel partner carried several expensive cameras and lenses. But there are better ways of keeping your belongings safe than a PacSafe – number one being simply keeping your eyes and hands on your backpack in public.
The PacSafe company makes several bags with the wire mesh hidden away inside the bag, which is another story entirely. This gets you that extra protection against bag slashing without advertising that you need it. PacSafe also makes reinforced waist belts and money pouches, and small, discreet locks, which can be very useful. But the Security Web? I recommend avoiding this.
See this article on keeping your valuables safe on the bus in Central America (or anywhere else).
Here’s why I don’t like PacSafes. Their bizarre appearance draws attention to your pack and thus to you when you’re wearing your pack and sends out two simultaneous messages.
- My bag is full of valuables.
- I think you are all bunch of thieves.
Sometimes you simply must carry valuable items. I traveled through Mexico, Central, and South America by bus with a laptop. My travel partner carried several expensive cameras and lenses. But there are better ways of keeping your belongings safe than a PacSafe – number one being simply keeping your eyes and hands on your backpack in public.
The PacSafe company makes several bags with the wire mesh hidden away inside the bag, which is another story entirely. This gets you that extra protection against bag slashing without advertising that you need it. PacSafe also makes reinforced waist belts and money pouches, and small, discreet locks, which can be very useful. But the Security Web? I recommend avoiding this.
See this article on keeping your valuables safe on the bus in Central America (or anywhere else).
Posted by
Megan Lyles
Megan Lyles
Traveling to Mexico? The metro system in Mexico City is great in most ways - clean, fast, and convenient. But beware the danger of the closing doors.
Mexico City’s metro system is notorious. In a city of twenty million people, I guess it would have to be. But aside from an attempted pickpocketing on my first morning in town, I found the metro quite pleasant. Trains were frequent and clean. Stations were easy to navigate. For tourists, easy navigation is key; you don’t want to wander about like a rube.
As a New Yorker, I'm proud of New York’s subway system. It's not the cleanest, but it’s certainly, um… the most famous. So whenever I travel to a city with a subway or metro system – London, Paris, Calcutta (yes, Calcutta has a subway!) - I can’t help but compare. Mexico City was no different.
Here’s the thing I didn’t like about the metro in Mexico City. Those doors close waaay too fast! As a result, when one crowd wants to exit and another wants to enter, sheer mayhem ensues, with each side trying to attain their goal before being stranded on train or platform. Obviously, physics-wise, they’re working at cross-purposes.
On one occasion, some old folks called my travel partner and me burros for trying to struggle past them to leave a subway car. Me! But I’m so nice and considerate! I just didn’t want to get stuck on the train, that’s all. Ouch. And what do you call old folks who violently push their way into a subway car before letting anyone off? I guess in Mexico City, just… normal.
If you’re traveling to Mexico City, don’t be afraid to ride the metro, do keep an eye on your valuables (as in any big city) and watch for those closing doors, they’re brutal.
As a New Yorker, I'm proud of New York’s subway system. It's not the cleanest, but it’s certainly, um… the most famous. So whenever I travel to a city with a subway or metro system – London, Paris, Calcutta (yes, Calcutta has a subway!) - I can’t help but compare. Mexico City was no different.
Here’s the thing I didn’t like about the metro in Mexico City. Those doors close waaay too fast! As a result, when one crowd wants to exit and another wants to enter, sheer mayhem ensues, with each side trying to attain their goal before being stranded on train or platform. Obviously, physics-wise, they’re working at cross-purposes.
On one occasion, some old folks called my travel partner and me burros for trying to struggle past them to leave a subway car. Me! But I’m so nice and considerate! I just didn’t want to get stuck on the train, that’s all. Ouch. And what do you call old folks who violently push their way into a subway car before letting anyone off? I guess in Mexico City, just… normal.
If you’re traveling to Mexico City, don’t be afraid to ride the metro, do keep an eye on your valuables (as in any big city) and watch for those closing doors, they’re brutal.
Posted by
Megan Lyles
Megan Lyles
Costa Rica (or anywhere in Latin America) is a tempting option for a retirement destination. But don't let the advantages keep you from being practical.
John F. Wasik’s column on Bloomberg.com yesterday is all about retiring to Costa Rica. I have to say, the first time someone told me they were considering retiring to a developing country (in that case, Honduras) I thought, what? Why?
And then I started traveling and actually visited Central America and thought, ah… I see. All the comforts of home plus gorgeous weather and low cost of living. And I can’t pretend that being a worldly expat wouldn’t be pretty cool. I began to picture myself wearing a sundress and strolling through colorful markets with a basket on my arm, selecting fresh exotic fruit.
Wasik points out several reasons why Costa Rica makes such a good choice for retirement: the balmy weather, political stability, the diverse and lovely landscape.
But then he gets into the practicalities of it all, citing taxes, high health care and vehicle insurance costs, and the difficulty for foreigners in buying property. Well, a little realism never hurt anyone, right? It’s certainly important to know exactly what you’re getting into.
Until he suggests looking closer to home, at maybe Denver or Pittsburgh or Portland, calling them lively and vibrant. Pittsburgh? I’m hooked on the thought of ocean breezes and weekend trips to cloud forests and year-round tropical weather and an avocado tree in my yard. Too late for Pittsburgh!
Wasik’s best bit of advice is to rent a place in Costa Rica for a few months and experience the cost of living for yourself before up and retiring there. Try before you buy – always a good plan. Ok, we can compromise. When I'm ready to retire, I’ll be practical. But I’m definitely looking at San Jose, Costa Rica before Pittsburgh.
And then I started traveling and actually visited Central America and thought, ah… I see. All the comforts of home plus gorgeous weather and low cost of living. And I can’t pretend that being a worldly expat wouldn’t be pretty cool. I began to picture myself wearing a sundress and strolling through colorful markets with a basket on my arm, selecting fresh exotic fruit.
Wasik points out several reasons why Costa Rica makes such a good choice for retirement: the balmy weather, political stability, the diverse and lovely landscape.
But then he gets into the practicalities of it all, citing taxes, high health care and vehicle insurance costs, and the difficulty for foreigners in buying property. Well, a little realism never hurt anyone, right? It’s certainly important to know exactly what you’re getting into.
Until he suggests looking closer to home, at maybe Denver or Pittsburgh or Portland, calling them lively and vibrant. Pittsburgh? I’m hooked on the thought of ocean breezes and weekend trips to cloud forests and year-round tropical weather and an avocado tree in my yard. Too late for Pittsburgh!
Wasik’s best bit of advice is to rent a place in Costa Rica for a few months and experience the cost of living for yourself before up and retiring there. Try before you buy – always a good plan. Ok, we can compromise. When I'm ready to retire, I’ll be practical. But I’m definitely looking at San Jose, Costa Rica before Pittsburgh.
Getting the Pill in Latin America
Posted by
Megan Lyles
Megan Lyles
I'm often asked by people planning long term backpacking trips, "Do I need a prescription to buy birth control pills in Central America?"
You can buy oral contraceptives, aka "the pill" in Central America very easily. Walk into any pharmacy, or farmacia, and pick them up for about $5 US per pack. No prescription or doctor visit needed.
The pharmacy might not have the brand that was prescribed to you by your doctor at home, so be sure to make a note of the hormone levels in your pills or save a sample of the packaging, so you can see if you can match them up with another brand or a generic.
Many pharmacists in Latin America speak some English, but be prepared to ask for “contraceptivos orales” in Spanish and/or show them the labeling from your last pack.
You might find it convenient to stock up a big supply of birth control pill packs at once, but you should note that if you’ll be traveling around with your pills in your backpack, you will most likely be exposing them to temperature extremes, which can lessen their efficacy (i.e. make them stop working). Also note that doxycycline, a common malaria prophylactic, can cause oral contraceptives to fail.
So you'll want to be careful with when you get them and how you store them, but don't worry about finding them. Every city and town has at least one farmacia that will be happy to sell you the pill.
Disclaimer – I am not a doctor. I’m just a person who’s been lucky enough to have spent bunch of time in Central America and often gets asked about whether you can get bc pills there. These are just tips to point you in the right direction as you make your plans. You should never depend on medical advice from a stranger’s blog, especially if that stranger is not a doctor or nurse. Always, always consult a medical professional!
The pharmacy might not have the brand that was prescribed to you by your doctor at home, so be sure to make a note of the hormone levels in your pills or save a sample of the packaging, so you can see if you can match them up with another brand or a generic.
Many pharmacists in Latin America speak some English, but be prepared to ask for “contraceptivos orales” in Spanish and/or show them the labeling from your last pack.
You might find it convenient to stock up a big supply of birth control pill packs at once, but you should note that if you’ll be traveling around with your pills in your backpack, you will most likely be exposing them to temperature extremes, which can lessen their efficacy (i.e. make them stop working). Also note that doxycycline, a common malaria prophylactic, can cause oral contraceptives to fail.
So you'll want to be careful with when you get them and how you store them, but don't worry about finding them. Every city and town has at least one farmacia that will be happy to sell you the pill.
Disclaimer – I am not a doctor. I’m just a person who’s been lucky enough to have spent bunch of time in Central America and often gets asked about whether you can get bc pills there. These are just tips to point you in the right direction as you make your plans. You should never depend on medical advice from a stranger’s blog, especially if that stranger is not a doctor or nurse. Always, always consult a medical professional!
Cheap Caribbean Vacation Deals
Posted by
Megan Lyles
Megan Lyles
What’s the deal with those unsolicited faxed offers for cheap resort vacations in the Bahamas, or Cancun, or some other popular beach resort vacation destination?
I’ve always been suspicious of those faxes. And yet, as they flutter into the recycling bin, I can’t help but feel tempted. I mean, a cruise to the Bahamas for $299? Today's fax offered “Cancun, Mexico OR Mayan Riviera (quantities limited)” for six days, $361 per person, all inclusive. I decided to call and satisfy my curiosity.
The sales pitch was fast and slick. Thirty resorts, all over Mexico. All you can eat and drink, something about Pamela Anderson’s honeymoon, beachfront. Pay now and choose a vacation from a DVD she would send me. I would have up to a year to travel.
Always a savvy consumer, I asked if there was a timeshare presentation. Nope, they’re "just promoting tourism to Mexico." Any other fees? I’d have to pay my own airfare. Taxes? Hotel taxes of 20 dollars per person/day. Could I pay by check or money order? No. Visa or MasterCard only.
Could I review the material before paying? Impossible, but she directed me to their website, choosecancun.com, pointing out that the faxed offer was far cheaper than the posted prices.
I told her I’d discuss it with my husband and call back. “Well, you can always call back,” she said, “But you won’t get the low price. You’ll have to pay the higher price on our website.” Then she hung up on me.
Afterwards I did some Googling and found that choosecancun is rather unpopular down at the Orlando Better Business Bureau, and Trip Advisor too. Oh, well.
Amigos, please be careful with your credit cards. Ask questions, do research, and don’t feel pressured into buying something before you’re ready, especially with unsolicited offers. Cliched but true: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
There’s always Little Corn Island if you’re looking for a cheap beach paradise.
The sales pitch was fast and slick. Thirty resorts, all over Mexico. All you can eat and drink, something about Pamela Anderson’s honeymoon, beachfront. Pay now and choose a vacation from a DVD she would send me. I would have up to a year to travel.
Always a savvy consumer, I asked if there was a timeshare presentation. Nope, they’re "just promoting tourism to Mexico." Any other fees? I’d have to pay my own airfare. Taxes? Hotel taxes of 20 dollars per person/day. Could I pay by check or money order? No. Visa or MasterCard only.
Could I review the material before paying? Impossible, but she directed me to their website, choosecancun.com, pointing out that the faxed offer was far cheaper than the posted prices.
I told her I’d discuss it with my husband and call back. “Well, you can always call back,” she said, “But you won’t get the low price. You’ll have to pay the higher price on our website.” Then she hung up on me.
Afterwards I did some Googling and found that choosecancun is rather unpopular down at the Orlando Better Business Bureau, and Trip Advisor too. Oh, well.
Amigos, please be careful with your credit cards. Ask questions, do research, and don’t feel pressured into buying something before you’re ready, especially with unsolicited offers. Cliched but true: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
There’s always Little Corn Island if you’re looking for a cheap beach paradise.
Latin American/Caribbean Travel!
Posted by
Megan Lyles
Megan Lyles
Watch this space for all kinds of awesome info on what's happening in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
I am so very thrilled to be the new Feature Writer in Latin American and Caribbean travel! Right now I'm just looking around, exploring all the fancy new tools I have available to me. It's like getting used to any new job, except this one comes with a virtual view of Mayan ruins and turquoise Caribbean waters and an excuse to to running off to Jamaica. Fantastic.
I feel particularly excited to have gotten this topic because this part of the world is one of the most interesting and diverse out there. Really, it has everything. Except snow-capped mountains. Well, let's not think about that.
We have everything else - regular mountains, white sand beaches, black sand beaches, volcanoes, cloud forests, deserts, lakes, rivers... and I have to mention beaches again because they're so world class.
I'm especially excited to return to the world of blogging; it's something I miss from when I was traveling through Central America overland all those months ago. Here's my chance to start experiencing new things again and this time sharing them with Suite101 readers.
So, I'm off to have a celebratory first-day coco loco, but I'll be back often with helpful tips and tidbits and thoughts about my new topic: Latin American and Caribbean Travel!
I feel particularly excited to have gotten this topic because this part of the world is one of the most interesting and diverse out there. Really, it has everything. Except snow-capped mountains. Well, let's not think about that.
We have everything else - regular mountains, white sand beaches, black sand beaches, volcanoes, cloud forests, deserts, lakes, rivers... and I have to mention beaches again because they're so world class.
I'm especially excited to return to the world of blogging; it's something I miss from when I was traveling through Central America overland all those months ago. Here's my chance to start experiencing new things again and this time sharing them with Suite101 readers.
So, I'm off to have a celebratory first-day coco loco, but I'll be back often with helpful tips and tidbits and thoughts about my new topic: Latin American and Caribbean Travel!
Posted by
Portia J. Lino
It's no joke - fishing is a big deal here in Panama.
Fishing is taken seriously here in Panama. In fact, Panama means ‘abundance of fish” in its native Indian language and with the country owning more than 250 world fishing records, it more than lives up to its name.
Posted by
Portia J. Lino
Joya de Ceren was a village that was buried by a volcano in 600 A.D.
Joya de Ceren, in El Salvador, was a small Mayan farming village. While it’s not “grand” in the same scale as the Tikal Ruins in Guatemala, it offers a compelling view of how everyday Mayans lived their lives.
In 600 A.D., a volcano buried the whole village. Since no bodies were found, it was believed the people made it out in time. It was discovered in 1976 and excavation has since continued.
In 600 A.D., a volcano buried the whole village. Since no bodies were found, it was believed the people made it out in time. It was discovered in 1976 and excavation has since continued.