Comments on: A Road Trip, Some Banditos, and a Dose of Fear

By: Chuck Ware

Chuck Ware — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 20:50:52 +0000

In reply to Lisa Munro. Hey Lisa, The book The Brothers by Stephen Kinzer may give you a bit more insight I suggest you read the Chapter on Guatemala and maybe Iran and Indonesia . Not pretty what they did. Happy Trails.....

By: Chuck Ware

Chuck Ware — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 20:42:27 +0000

In reply to Norman Avila.

Hey Folks, Guatemala is a beautiful place with many wonderful people.. Anyone with interests in Central America might want to read the chapter on Guatemala in Stephen Kinzer’s book “The Brothers”

It is about the Dulles brother’s and their misuse of power while employed very high up with the US government AND
sitting on some BIG corporations (United Fruit) . Also check out torture manuals printed in Spanish that were given out to Latino soldiers while training here in the USA (Ft Benning Georgia School of the Americas).

I drove the distance from Oregon to Guatemala three times in the late 80’s into the mid 90’s. I took the bus or train through Mexico another 6 to 10 times during those years.

Wander safe, look for the truth.

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Fri, 21 Feb 2014 10:48:07 +0000

@Dave: During our visit to Guatemala in 2009 there was an added element of drug crime in addition to regular robberies. Like you, we heard reports of people getting robbed and busjackings, but fortunately never experienced anything ourselves. Using common sense and staying aware of surroundings certainly helps a lot!

Sorry to hear of what happened in France and Germany. Goes to show that bad things happen in “safe” countries. We’ve been fortunate to never have any issues in any of the places considered “dangerous.”

By: Dave Braun

Dave Braun — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:59:51 +0000

I was in Guatemala for 6 weeks in 2007. Although there were daily reports of people being robbed. I never once felt threaten. Judging by the poverty, I would imagine most robbers are just trying to survive. It is a country where for most of the population the main goal of any day, is to earn enough to eat. I like to tell people who ask me about danger and fear during my travels, that if you use common sense and are friendly probably nothing will happen. I have been up ducted once and robbed 3 times in my life. I was up ducted in Germany where I live, and robbed all 3 times in France. Never in any of the so called “dangerous” countries I have visited.

By: CASSALONA WILKIN

CASSALONA WILKIN — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 16:38:42 +0000

July 2011 – Feb 2012

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 10:58:02 +0000

@Cassalona: When did you stay in the area of San Pedro Volcano? Thanks for your comment, perspective and addition to the discussion.

By: CASSALONA WILKIN

CASSALONA WILKIN — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 13:46:54 +0000

Yes, I can say with absolute confidence there really are banditos along that stretch of road. I spent seven months on the east flank of San Pedro Volcano and banditos frequently came down from higher elevations to rob the Santiago farmers of their crops and passed through the property we cared for during the night prowling for anything of value. We were warned by close Guatemalan friends (both Tz’utujil and Spanish) to avoid climbing the volcano and that the safest area was to stay near the lake.

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 13:10:14 +0000

@Elizabeth: What a fantastic overland journey! As for recommendations, I’d say Lake Atitlan, Antigua, hills around Xela (great weekly markets), Tikal and perhaps over to the Carribean side. Good luck and safe travels!

By: Elizabeth Burns

Elizabeth Burns — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 06:32:23 +0000

Great info! 6 of us, in our own 3 off road RV/trucks head there in August 2011, driving from southern USA to Panama. We would love to know of recommendations of “Things Not To Be Missed!” We are all coming from Australia, and hard to get first hand info from here. Appreciate any ideas. Expect to see Lake Atitlan, Chichicastenango, & up to Tikal, then towards Belize.
If you have time, would appreciate any info. Thanks.

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 05:00:28 +0000

@Lach: Thanks for catching the mis-label on the photo. We’ve corrected it.

Thanks also for the added context of communities and languages around Lake Atitlan. For certain, a culturally very rich pocket of the world.