INTRODUCTION
Others are drawn by the stunning scenery: the immense, wildlife-rich rainforests of the Amazon; the soaring snowcapped peaks of the Andes; the idyllic beaches and kaleidoscopic coral reefs of the Caribbean; the dramatic glaciers and fjords of Patagonia.
But perhaps the greatest attractions are the sheer vitality of daily life in Latin America and the rich and varied lifestyles of its inhabitants. For though from the outside the region may appear to have a relatively uniform culture, in fact each country is made up of a diverse and compelling blend of indigenous, European, African and (to a lesser extent) Asian cultural influences, the product of Latin America’s complex and extraordinary history. Even within individual countries, regional differences in human experience can be remarkable, ranging from bankers working in high-rise city centres to semi-nomadic tribes hunting for their supper with bows and arrows. During your travels you may find yourself sipping caipirinhas on Copacabana beach or salsa-dancing the night away in the steamy nightclubs of Cali; eating barbecue at a rodeo on the Argentine pampas or chewing coca leaves with llama herders in the high Andes; searching for turtles by moonlight on the shores of the Caribbean or watching the sun rise over ancient Maya pyramids in the jungles of Central America.
Nearly all these things are affordable even for travellers on a tight budget, because most of Latin America is inexpensive compared to Europe or the United States (though generally a more expensive place to travel than Africa or Asia). Managed carefully, your money will go much further than it does back home, allowing you to travel for longer and take in sights and experiences you might not be able to afford elsewhere. Unsurprisingly, a growing number of young adventurers from all over the world are visiting the region, and there’s now a well-established "Gringo Trail" linking the main attractions in each country, with many cities and towns home to a lively travellers’ scene. This is nowhere near as intense as on the backpackers’ trail in Asia, however, and one of the joys of travel in Latin America is that it’s so easy to get off the beaten track and visit regions that as yet see few or no tourists. This becomes even easier if you learn a little Spanish (or Portuguese if you’re travelling in Brazil). The linguistic uniformity of the region is a massive advantage for travellers: picking up just one European language allows you to speak to and understand almost everyone you meet, making it far easier to get close to the local culture and people in a way that (unless you are a brilliant linguist) you just can’t do on a trip to other continents.
However, travel in Latin America can also be a disquieting experience. It’s not unusual to be shocked by your first sight of a sprawling slum and upset by your first encounter with a malnourished child begging for change. Many first-timers are distressed by the chaos and squalor of some Latin American cities and by the often appalling poverty and inequality. Some get frustrated by the sometimes labyrinthine bureaucracy that can complicate even the simplest transaction and by the locals’ flagrant disregard for punctuality. Others feel unnerved by suddenly being a relatively wealthy person in a poor country and paranoid about the risks of rip-offs and violent crime that await the unwary. And then there are climatic factors like oppressive heat or extreme altitude to deal with, not to mention the unfamiliar food and strange local customs and attitudes. The truth is, every trip involves a degree of hassle, and on reflection travel would be rather dull if everything always went as planned. Adventures are by definition unpredictable affairs, and it’s often the dramas and surprises that make for the most memorable experiences.
Excerpted from A Rough Guide Special First Time Latin America (Rough Guides) by Rough Guides. Copyright © 2003. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
This book is intended to prepare you for your trip, whether it’s a couple of weeks on the beach in Cancún or a twelve-month journey from Mexico down to Tierra del Fuego. It’s a book to read before you go rather than an on-the-road guide, a planning handbook to help you decide on the kind of trip you’d like to make and prepare you for your journey. The first thing you’ll need to decide is which countries and regions in Latin America you want to visit and which places to skip: the possibilities are outlined in Where To Go, the opening section of the book. The book focuses on the twenty countries of Central and South America plus Mexico, and thus includes several countries – Belize, Guyana, Suriname – that are not strictly speaking part of Latin America, and excludes others – namely Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Puerto Rico – that are. We’ve chosen to do this because travellers visiting several countries on the mainland may well include non-Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking countries on their itinerary, while most people visiting the Caribbean island nations tend to do so without visiting the mainland. If you’re intending to visit one of the Latin American Caribbean islands mentioned above, however, you’ll find much of the general information and advice we give is also relevant there. For each country covered, you’ll find a profile outlining what the destination offers first-timers, including a roundup of the main highlights and suggested itineraries, as well as a selection of personal recommendations and more out-of-the-way attractions.
The middle section of First-Time Latin America, The Big Adventure, deals with the practical details of travel in the region. This is where you’ll find chapters on how to choose the right ticket and which guidebook to use, advice on how long you can afford to stay away and what you need to take with you when you go, and a selection of books and films to inspire your travels, along with lists of useful websites to consult. This section also looks at life on the road in Latin America, giving you an idea of what to expect in terms of transport and accommodation, advice on how to stay safe and healthy while you’re away, and tips on how to avoid the potential hassles and hazards that await the unwary traveller. Finally, the Basics section at the back of the book is packed with useful addresses, websites and phone numbers for further information on everything from discount flight agents and specialist tour operators to jungle equipment suppliers and volunteer work opportunities. Even after you’ve read through this book, we can’t guarantee that you’ll avoid every potential pitfall on the road, but hopefully you’ll feel well prepared for what awaits you and excited at the prospect of travelling in Latin America. When you return home, be sure to send in your own anecdotes and travellers’ tales for inclusion in the next edition.
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