Health & Safety:

General Health Info:

Travel in foreign countries can be hard on your body. The warmer temperatures and high humidity can at times make you quite ill. Many people travel and never get sick, and then there are those poor folks that seem to catch every sickness and bug along the way. So what can you do to prevent or at least minimize the chances of getting sick while on the road? To start, you should be good physical condition before starting your trip. By this I mean you don't have to be in IRON MAN condition, just healthy. If you have any problems or disabilities, check with your Doctor prior to venturing into the jungles, or beaches. Before you go you should have your teeth checked. Having the local witch doctor prod inside your mouth with who knows what kind of dentistry tools and where they have been prior, should be enough to make you get checked out before hand. If you need any special prescriptions, take them and a note from your Doctor with you. Sure you can buy some drugs far cheaper then back home, but sometimes you don't get what you are supposed to. A first-aid kit is also something you should bring along. It only needs to be a small pocket type, Band-Aids, gauze, salve, etc.. For those of us who wear glasses, bring along an extra pair, or better yet, bring along a pair of prescription sunglasses. Aside from having a spare pair, they will be invaluable when on the beaches, or at higher elevations. Health insurance is a definite must have item. Check with you travel agent as to types of coverage, etc.. Immunization and preventive medicines are something you should consider before heading abroad. Malaria is common in Central America, and taking a malaria contraceptive is a good idea. Check with your Doctor, or better yet consult a travel Doctor for specific info on the country you are planning on visiting. Check out the links section for special health travel sites. Now that you have the most important items, it's time to talk about getting sick or injured.

Illness can occur at any time while on the road. The type and severity of the illness varies from person to person, and country to country. Most illness is caused by lack of basic hygiene. The simple act of keeping you hands away from your mouth may seem trivial, but after touching so many different things, and then putting something into your mouth will in most cases give you something of a problem. This is most evident with children. Washing your hands before eating is always a good idea. While on the topic of eating, some simple but basic protocols are in order. The standard travelers motto is don't eat anything that hasn't been cooked. This means that things like salads, unless properly prepared, can harbor many different micro-organisms which upon ingesting will quite literally turn your guts. Meats & vegetables should be well cooked. Drinks should be bottled, or prepared from fresh fruits with the peel on! Many places serve fruit drinks made from fruit that has had the skin removed, and is sitting in some dubious bowl of unknown cleanliness. Avoid drinks with ice.

Sickness from insects is a major problems in the tropics. Mosquitoes are the most notorious. They carry many diseases, most notably Malaria. Using a mosquito repellent with DEET is a good way to keep the little devils away. At night, use mosquito netting to help keep them of you while asleep. Ticks, bed bugs, flies, wasps, etc. are all possible carriers of disease. Using a repellent with DEET will help to reduce infection from these sources. If you are planning on spending much of your time at the beaches, there are some precautions that you should take. The waters off the coasts of Central America harbor many different marine organisms. some of these can give you a nasty bite or sting if you inadvertently bother or step on them. Watch out for Urchins, Jellyfish, Rays, Sharks, etc. when swimming on the reefs and beaches. Coral can cause some very nasty cuts and abrasions. Never stand on or touch living Coral, since it can kill the organism. let alone hurt you.

The jungles of Central America have many hazards which can hurt, or injure you. Watch out for holes (cenotes) while trekking. These are formed from water dissolving the native limestone and producing holes large enough to swallow whole houses. Wild animals are another point. Chances are you will never see a Jaguar, but they do exist. Most people visiting the jungles get injured due to tripping or falling on wet slippery ground or brush. Watch where you step and wear good sturdy boots while trekking.

General Safety Info:

Travel brings you into contact with many different peoples and customs. What we may consider un-normal may in another country be common place. Aggressive behavior and or harassment are many times just the way things are! Machismo is the way of life for most men in Central America. It comes from the Spanish, and means masculine pride. Men tend to portray themselves as being tough, and might treat women with disrespect. As with any country, alcohol plays an important social part. Drinking to excess is common, and with it go the problems associated with such. If you find yourself in such a situation, don't argue, try to calm the aggressor, and if worst comes to worst, get the heck out! Violent crimes are not as common in Central America. While they do occur, chances are you might only be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like New York, LA, or Toronto, the larger cities in Central America have their share of crime. Care should be taken when staying out at night. don't walk alone on dark deserted streets, or beaches. Avoid conflicts, and areas where civil unrest are occurring. If you find yourself in a problem situation, try to get out!

Belize:

Health problems in Belize vary as much as the customs and geography. See the preceding section for general health info.

Robbery and theft are common place in Belize City. Avoid staying out at night, and walking alone on dark streets. The Swing bridge has been know as a favorite haunt of muggers. Drugs are common in Belize, and Belize City is a major center for buying drugs. Watch out!

In San Pedro on Ambergis Caye, The US & UK military lads like to come and visit during their R&R. Both countries use Belize as training for jungle warfare. The parties can go all night. These guys are tough and they know it. I wouldn't recommend calling them fairies unless you like pain! Watch out for the locals on Ambergris who like to be-friend the tourists in the bars. The encounter starts out with them buying you a drink, usually something cheap like beer, and welcoming you to their country. After a while they ask for a drink in return, usually something expensive, and expect you to pay. Since they work in groups, you have to pay for a round! This can cost quite a bit when the drinks are imported Scotch or Brandy. The act is well know by the bartenders, and they tend to keep an eye open for these guys. If you feel that you are getting ripped off, just leave and take your business elsewhere.

Health problems in Guatemala vary as much as the customs and geography. See the preceding section for general health info.

Guatemala City is a large dirty place. Crime is common here so be careful. Antigua has had some crime lately. Muggings are becoming more common these days.Many of the other larger towns are starting to see more crime. Extra care should be exercised when traveling in the Guatemalan Highlands (The area west and northwest of Antigua to the Mexican border) Lately many violent crimes have been committed here involving travelers. Check with the consular offices for the latest information regarding this area.

Health problems in Honduras vary as much as the customs and geography. See the preceding section for general health info.

Like it's Central American Neighbors, Honduras is seeing more crimes committed. The larger centers like Tegucigalpa, and San Pedro Sula have their share of problems. Avoid walking alone late at night. The Islands offshore are safer, but you might still find yourself in a pinch. Watch out if you planning on camping on the beaches on the mainland, robberies are common here. Better is to stay in a campground, or a cheaper hotel. When on Roatan, watch yourself in the town of Punta Gorda. This small fishing village on the north coast is a Gurifuna town. The locals can at times be un-friendly, to the point of obnoxious. Alcohol seems to be the cause of most confrontations. In Copan due to the large number of fly in tourists, theft is a problem. Recently Honduras suffered from the devastating Hurricane Mitch. For many places, water, electricity and food are rare. Crime tends to grow following with the damage. Extra care should be taken when traveling to these areas.