A typical query seen on many journey boards is “how safe is it to travel to X (one on the Latin American countries) as a solo female traveller?” It is totally comprehensible why travelling alone to Latin America can appear an intimidating prospect, significantly if you’re a lady. However, girls who’ve already been to this area of the world know there isn’t a have to publish any such query. All of the international locations in Central and South America are typically protected to go to as a solo feminine traveller. There are, nonetheless, some areas that pose a danger and these must be prevented.
Many of the massive cities in Latin America have areas that are not significantly fascinating and it’s best to follow the primary vacationer or fashionable elements of those cities if you happen to go to them. This consists of all the main cities in Central America (i.e. Belize City, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, Panama City, San Jose, San Salvador and Tegucigalpa). There are additionally sure elements of South American cities that must be prevented corresponding to Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, and Sao Paulo in Brazil, and Caracas in Venezuela. As with the massive cities in Central America, follow the touristy areas and you will be positive. You also needs to take care when visiting explicit areas of sure international locations corresponding to in Colombia and Venezuela. For instance, it is not a good suggestion to hold across the border areas of Colombia or journey to obscure, off the overwhelmed observe locations. Although Colombia and Venezuela get some unhealthy press they’re each comparatively protected to go to if you happen to follow the highest vacationer locations talked about in respected journey guides. If someplace is talked about in a good guidebook, it’s nearly definitely protected to go to.
This results in an necessary level in the dialogue. It may be very simple to get paranoid about visiting sure international locations and cities however that is completely unwarranted. Remember, it is solely sure elements of those international locations and cities which are greatest prevented, simply as sure elements of cities in Europe or North America are greatest prevented. In reality, travelling round most of Latin America is much safer, and extra nice, than travelling round many elements of Europe or North America. Additionally, as Susan Griffith rightly factors out in ‘Travelling Solo as a Woman in Asia’ “there is a pernicious mythology surrounding the lone female traveller, whether it be as a hitchhiker around Britain or a traveller in Southeast Asia. Many people instantly exaggerate the perils and dwell on a single woman’s vulnerability. Often this doom-ridden response is just an excuse for their own timidity of spirit.” Don’t get paranoid: the international locations of Latin America are not any extra harmful than many different international locations in this world, and in actuality you usually tend to encounter issues in some European international locations or North American states.
Referring again to the basic query seen on journey boards (i.e. how protected is it to journey to X as a solo feminine traveller) it’s price mentioning the obligations and talents of the person. Safety is inherently linked to data and expertise. Whenever planning a visit to Latin America or anyplace else in the world, it’s completely important you do your analysis. Try and discover out as a lot data as you may concerning the nation or international locations you want to go to. Travel guides corresponding to these produced by Lonely Planet and Footprint will make it easier to determine which locations you need to go to and people you may want or ought to keep away from. The web can also be a useful supply of knowledge and there are lots of web sites devoted to the considerations of solo feminine travellers. We typically hear individuals described as being ‘streetwise;’ if the definition was utilized to journey fairly than the city atmosphere, some travellers might be simply be labelled as ‘travelwise’ (i.e. having the shrewd consciousness, expertise, and resourcefulness wanted for survival in a troublesome, typically harmful abroad atmosphere). Travel expertise (significantly in the third world) goes a good distance in guaranteeing security. This is as a result of individuals with in depth journey expertise consider danger extra successfully and dimension up conditions extra efficiently. Thus, it is truthful to say that total security is partly depending on the {qualifications} (age, data and expertise) of the particular person posing the query.
To a big diploma security is just a case of being wise and staying alert. For instance, flaunting gadgets corresponding to costly cameras, jewelry, or cell phones is prone to entice opportunist thieves. Similarly, placing your day pack on the baggage rack of a public bus fairly than conserving it in your lap or by your ft is asking for bother. The key message right here is do not take any pointless dangers. You would possibly fancy a late paddle on Copacabana seashore (Rio de Janeiro) however any guidebook will inform you to not go to this space after darkish. You would possibly need to hit the bars and golf equipment in Quito however go away your valuables in your resort. You would possibly need to get drunk in the closest disco however do not strive strolling again to your resort late at night time. It’s all a matter of widespread sense actually.
The principal challenge for solo feminine travellers is the specter of sexual harassment from native males and even male travellers. While male travellers is perhaps an issue on events, you want to pay attention to the tradition variations between Latin American males and people from your individual nation. Machismo attitudes are pretty widespread amongst Latin American males and it’s advisable to observe native apply and take your cues (i.e. how do native girls take care of extended eye contact, and many others) from native girl if you happen to do not need to be the thing of curiosity. Appropriate gown and conduct will entice much less undesirable consideration from the native males. It is a tragic indisputable fact that many native males view Western girls as promiscuous. This impression is essentially as a result of how some girls gown. Acting drunk and a bit wild can also be certain to create the form of curiosity you are attempting to keep away from. You have to steadiness your sense of journey with an consciousness of cultural variations. It can also be necessary that you simply hearken to and belief your instincts. If you might be in a scenario that makes you’re feeling uncomfortable as a lady, you must observe your instincts and go away.
Most international locations in Latin America are nicely established on the ‘gringo path,’ therefore, there’ll all the time be alternatives to hook up with different travellers. This will significantly scale back any trouble you would possibly get. This mustn’t deter any girl from travelling alone as this is usually a rewarding and empowering expertise. There might be nothing extra satisfying to a solo feminine traveller than realizing she solid her personal path.
While it is true that there are particular considerations for feminine travellers, the dangers which are on the market should not cease you from hitting the street. There are 1000’s of solo feminine travellers at the moment exploring Latin America and you possibly can be one in every of them.
