My Top Ten Tips For Central America

It is my last day in Central America and I will be making my way to Juan Santamaria Airport in the next few hours to start a 19 hour flight to Salvador, Brazil via Bogata, Columbia and Rio De Janinero. I spent last night walking around San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica picking up some roated chicken from a Chinese take out and chatting with a taxi driver who was trying to convince me to come back, explaining the ratio of women to men was seven to one !!! San Jose is a working class city, sprinkled with 57 private universities with plenty of parks and squares around to break the monotomy of the concrete buildings and congested traffic though it gets quiet at night and feels safe to wander around.

Before I leave Central America, here are some tips (that I have done or should have done) if you come to this part of the world. So in no particular order....

1) Learn some Spanish either before come or when you get here. English is not spoken fluently, especially in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua and some basic Spanish will make your trip a lot smoothly. The locals are generally open to your attempts and will patiently correct your incorrect pronounciations.

There are plenty of inexpensive Spanish schools plus home stays throughout Central America, with the least expensive being in Guatemala in such cities Xella, Antigua and San Pedro running about $165 to $250 a week for 25 hours of one of one instruction and food/ lodging.

2) Bring American Dollars, especially one dollar bills but make sure they in good condition so you don't get that immigration guard who throws your crinkled dollar back at you. The dollar bills are handy for those annoying border entry or exit fees for who knows what, and often no change is provided. Unfortunately, Canadian dollars is useless outside of Mexico and Cuba. The American dinero is king here.

3) Bring a smart phone or buy a cheap one here. There is plenty of WIFI here though the internet connection can be spotty in places but it is handy to do your banking, book flights and rooms, check currency rates and emails, and many other things.

4) Have more than one bank account. Have a back up bank account/ card as the not all the banks here accept certain cards (For example, the 5B ATMs in Guatemela) and worse yet, if the ATM swallows your card.

5) Scan all your important documents (passport, credit cards, drivers license, etc.) and either save it on your email or I-Cloud just in case it gets lost or stolen.

6) When you bring money, hide it in different places. Pick pockets, muggings and "grab and runs" are realities here and I am amazed that people keep everything in one place or bag. There was a medical student I helped out in San Juan De Sur who lost about 3000-4000 euros in money, camera, laptop and documents as he had his bag snatched at the beach and he had no money, bank or credit card, or anything to tie him over.

7) Heed the warnings from the guide books, locals and travellers. This advice is likely the result of some unfortunate personal mishap that has happened. Spend a few shekels and take a taxi at night in some of the cities as you are pretty big target and stick out with your backpack. Mimic locals and just observe your surroundings. If there's there women and children around at the shops are open and it looks normal, it's safe but ask people if you are not sure. In some ways, this reminds me of some African cities I visited. Don't walk around with a camera, phone or bag out unless you see the locals doing it.

8) Eat Meat. My apologies to you vegetarians but the vegetarian options are often limited (beans, rice and friend plantans). I have been nuturing a fried chicken addiction from Guatemela. Sit and eat at the public markets to get a feel of the city and people and eat some wonderful and cheap food there which usually consists of some cooked meat in a stew or soup, grilled or lovingly deep fried.

9) Bring sun screen. Locals do not use sunscreen so there are no domestic brands. Only tourists use it so that translates to expensive.

10) Accept the fact that you can not do everything here but bring your swim trunks and hikers. Mix up your activities... climb a volcano then go kayaking on a lake or visit a colonial city then go surfing on the Pacific side or diving / snorkeling in the Carribean side. I do regret not knowing how to swim though so I had to be content with relaxing on the beach.