re: Would you visit anywhere in Central/South America right now as an American?

I've been to Colombia, Brazil, Panama, Mexico, and Ecuador. Headed to Peru in a few weeks. Always felt safer than New Orleans.

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Guatemala

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Just got back last week. You're missing out. Of course, Guatemala City isn't very safe, especially at night, but Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and Tikal most definitely are. They have special Tourist Police (who all speak English) in those areas to protect them.

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You are better than this

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He's not. He's really not.

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Of course, Guatemala City isn't very safe

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Same with Honduras, but if you stay away from the really poor, rural areas and the bad neighborhoods in the big cities it isn't that bad. I wouldn't live there, but you aren't getting robbed and shot on sight. The crime that ruins Central American countries are because everyone is poor and gangs allow them a chance to make money, and their is no real police presence to stop the extortion and robbery of the citizens of those countries.

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Would you visit anywhere in Central/South America right now as an American?
Seems more dangerous than anywhere overseas including South Africa, Egypt, and Dubai.

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This has to be a joke.

Central America i can understand your concerns..,,but south? Sad.

Chile is crazy safe. Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay are as well. Peru is to an extent.

Brazil it just depends where you’re at, but if you’re smart about things, you should be fine

Colombia is the same

Venezuela however is a bit of a shitshow. I tried getting in earlier this year while in Colombia, and wasn’t able

Panama is fantastic, just treat the cities like...well...cities. I’m usually feeling better there than in Nola

The other part to this is that travel, in general, really isn't dangerous at all. Flying is far, far safer than driving, yet so many are afraid.

And the perceived risks from terrorism are particularly overhyped. As an example, there was a stabbing attack yesterday at the Roman ruins of Jerash, in Jordan. That's sad, because Jerash is an amazing place that I loved visiting. But that's the first attack in Jordan in a couple of years, and Jordan gets about 5 million tourists a year. It's terrible for the six tourists who were stabbed yesterday, but, if you go to Jordan, the odds of being a victim of terrorism are less than one in a million. That's essentially zero. In the USA, your chances of getting struck by lightning are worse than that. But there will be a lot of people who'll be scared to go to Jordan now.

Heading to Recife next week.

Costa Rica is super safe.

Colombia is also safe despite its reputation.

Continuing on what GOP Tiger is talking about, South America and the Middle East are far safer places than what the common perceptions would have you believe.

Sure, headed to Colombia for 2.5 weeks in January. Traveling fairly slowly from Bogota to Santa Marta. Almost every place in the world is safer than Americans believe. I've never felt unsafe in central/south America.