How to Travel Safe and Healthy in Central America

Central America is one of the most interesting regions in the world. So when travelling there there you don't want to spend your entire time worried about health and safety or you'll miss out on the experience.

But there are a few of simple things you can do to ensure you enjoy your time there:

Water
For the most part, water in Central America is not safe to drink from the taps. Luckily, a giant bottle of water is very cheap. I recommend that you go to the market when you arrive and buy a couple bottles of water. This water is obviously safe to drink, but check the seal to make sure it hasn't been opened first. Also a lot of people use bottled water to brush their teeth; it's not 100% necessary, but if you want to be sure it's a good idea. Also, ice and be tricky as it is sometimes made from tap water. Make sure your ice is made from purified water.

Food
Restaurant food is mostly safe to eat, but you need to do a couple things before eating at a restaurant in Central America. Firstly ask if the water they use to clean the food is purified. It doesn't make much sense to clean lettuce with tap water if it has bacteria in it, does it? Generally, the biggest culprit for stomach illness is uncleaned vegetables. If you're not sure how the fruit and veggies have been cleaned, then don't eat anything that can't be peeled. As long as meats are well cooked they are generally safe. 

Try to avoid buying food that can be bought directly along the roadsides in Central America. All the exhaust from the passing cars can end up in the sauces and do serious damage to your health. Street food is always a risk, but it's up to you if you want to take part in this part of the experience.

Medication
You may want to take some medication with you from home, especially your prescription drugs. However, the truth is that you can get just about any drug from local pharmacies in Central America without even having a prescription. Also, the prices of drugs in Central America is much lower than in the “western world.” If you are worried about malaria, check if the region you are going to is at risk before taking medication. The truth is that only the Caribbean coast of Central America is a risk zone. The coast of Belize, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama are all minor risk zones. Ask your travel doctor at home for advice. Again, you can buy malaria tablets for very cheap in Central America just remember that you need to start taking some of these meds well in advance of your trip.

Money
For your safety in Central America, you need to watch your cash. The biggest piece of advice I can give is to not carry too much around when you're out and about. Pack just about as much cash as you think you'll need for the day and leave the rest in a hotel safe. Most crime in Central America is very petty and basically just means losing your wallet. As such, pack very little money in your wallet and leave your credit cards, debit cards and passport at the hotel. There are ATMs nearly everywhere in the world now, so you don't really need to worry about bringing traveller's cheques. Also, bring cards for multiple banks if possible. That way if you lose one card you aren't stuck.

Transportation
There was a time when travelling cross-country in parts of Central America was quite risky. Today most of those risks have been lessened. However, there are still areas that you should only travel during the day. Ask locally about the risks of certain routes. While on a bus you'll also want to be aware of your surroundings and to guard your stuff. Keep valuables at your feet and not in the overhead storage area. You can easily fall asleep and someone can leave the bus with your bag. The likelihood of a bus hijacking is extremely low these days but if you are worried you can check out my tips for protecting yourself during a bus hijacking.

Enjoy yourself
Don't spend all your time worrying. If you spend your entire trip worrying you'll miss out on the great experience. Let loose a little bit and enjoy your time. Be confident in your travels and remember to always see the good in the world. The world will protect you as long as you allow it to.

Got any other tips to add to Brendan's list? Leave it in the comments section below. Then head to Twitter and Facebook to share your ideas with the rest of the Gecko's community.

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