Hi, all! It's Erik from SF
 

Hi! I'm Erik and I'm planning a trip to Central and South America starting in early-mid 2012 and going on for maybe six months. I've got a prepped KLR650 but no off-road experience and no travel experience outside of US and Europe, so it's going to be an… *adventure*. I'll be going with a friend, a former Peace Corps volunteer who speaks Spanish, so it won't be a total fiasco.

I'm planning the route right now and am mostly interested in go/no-go zones. I'm getting a lot from both sides -- the news and all my friends are saying murder rates are super high in Central America, and forum people like you guys are saying it's all blown out of proportion. I want the facts, which are somewhere in between. After all, the USA is worth touring, but there are places I'd advise people to avoid. The question is just where, and usually this comes down to neighborhoods and blocks, not cities and much less countries.

Also, I'm in the SF Bay Area, so if you want to chat at me about your S.A. experiences, I'll buy you a beer to hear your advice :thumbup1: And I'd also like to hear about must-go zones, of course.

Cheers,
Erik

Hi Erik,

Welcome to HU! The reality is that it IS all blown out of proportion! Your risk is actually very low - even lower than it is for a local where there is a problem. You're not pissing off the drug gangs, so that removes 90% of the issues. Past that, it's pretty much normal - you wander into an area, keep your eyes open, and if you get a bad vibe, you leave. Sure, ship happens - but it does at home too. Great example - a couple rode their bicycles around the world over two years, and when they got home you can be sure everyone was delighted the the "danger" was over. She was killed riding her bicycle to work a few months later. Don't let what "everyone says" stop you from going - just use your head and trust your gut and you'll (probably!) be fine.

Also join your local HU Community and suggest a get-together for a beer - there's 60 or 70 people in the SF Community, and they do get together occasionally!

Keep us posted on your trip - hit the Ride Tales forum when you start rolling.

best of luck!

Hi Erik, welcome to the HUBB!

Funny thing, I'm doing a road trip SF to DC via Nola and ATL, and my dad's really worried b/c Nola has the highest murder rate in the US, and ATL "is really dangerous in certain neighborhoods". True, but the key as always is to know where to go and not to go. People live in these places and manage to get by, but some places are rougher than others while other zones have their chic districts or their gentry. It's all about situational awareness and learning from the scouting of others. And I'm hoping the same will apply on my SF-TdF voyage =)

Also, thanks for the warm welcome!

Welcome
 

Hi Erik,

Don't be put off because countries seem to be dangerous.

I was in Belize City in 2009 and I was fine, other tourists got robbed. When I was home I saw Ross Kemp on television with his program 'Ross Kemp on gangs'. Many, many gangs and gang related violence in Belize City! Oeps.
In the end it is all up to you, just be alert and vigilant in riskier places (like anywhere else in the world).

Good luck with your trip to SA. Perhaps we will meet along the way. I will be starting my SA trip in California in Juli 2012. Like you, no off road experience, will be great fun (practice makes perfect)!

Lucien

To Panama
 

Nice to hear that its not that bad as it sound when for ex reading reports from
the Swedish Ambassad. Those reports more or less tell you: Do Not Leave Your
Hotel. I´ll be on my way down middle of mars.
Question: SF means : Soumi Finland or San Francisco ??:thumbup1: