this topic is toxic but this is my opinion - i try very hard not to make it worse than it is but to see it how it really is.
competition to be the most violent country in Central America is fierce. the top contenders of the moment are El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Honduras has been in the news at the moment because of the violence and protests surrounding the recent elections. in my time there i was cautious but did not see any evidence of violent crimes in the area i visited.
from my short time talking to people in Honduras there are bigger problems than the protests around the elections. it's the narcotics industry that is impacting the country. due to flight logistics the major drug producing countries of south america need to land their planes in Honduras then move the drugs over land from there to the US. hundreds of airstrips have popped up creating a new crop of narco warlords.
likewise, the same trends are visible in Guatemala as that money creeps north. they aren't going to target expats or tourists but it is still possible to get caught in the crossfire.
the narcotics industry and ultimately poverty are systemic problems that need to be addressed by sustainable economic solutions in developing countries.
on security, i don't trust expats or other travelers because everyone's security experience, exposure and risk tolerance is different and just as important every culture has it's own nuances.
the real experts on the level of danger in a country are the insurance guys [and the O&G sector]. they pay people to evaluate the social, political and economic stability of a country to make sure they aren't overexposed. in my experience that list is far more valuable than what comes out of the state department in the US.
asked recently by a Canadian about security in Guatemala this is what i said:
death, violent attacks and sexual assault - yes, it's possible but easy to minimize this risk by not going into the specific regions known to have high levels of related activities. specific zones in Guat City and a few rural areas.
home property theft - yep. expats are a big target here and the longer you live here the risk increases. in my opinion, this is usually not random so it's just makes sense the longer you are here to more service providers will be in the house and it's just a matter of time.
street crime - more than most countries and being a gringo i know that i am a bigger target. i minimize risk by carrying limited amounts of cash, don't wear expensive jewelry, expose my camera or phone on the street, carry technology [other than a phone] or walk alone after dark. where i live it's easy and safe to use taxis/ubers after dark. risk goes up during holidays.
in Guatemala i feel more safe here than in Africa, less safe than in Asia or the US. still, the only place i have ever been robbed at gunpoint or had my home robbed is in the US.
competition to be the most violent country in Central America is fierce. the top contenders of the moment are El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Honduras has been in the news at the moment because of the violence and protests surrounding the recent elections. in my time there i was cautious but did not see any evidence of violent crimes in the area i visited.
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| image from theindependent.co.uk |
likewise, the same trends are visible in Guatemala as that money creeps north. they aren't going to target expats or tourists but it is still possible to get caught in the crossfire.
the narcotics industry and ultimately poverty are systemic problems that need to be addressed by sustainable economic solutions in developing countries.
on security, i don't trust expats or other travelers because everyone's security experience, exposure and risk tolerance is different and just as important every culture has it's own nuances.
the real experts on the level of danger in a country are the insurance guys [and the O&G sector]. they pay people to evaluate the social, political and economic stability of a country to make sure they aren't overexposed. in my experience that list is far more valuable than what comes out of the state department in the US.
asked recently by a Canadian about security in Guatemala this is what i said:
death, violent attacks and sexual assault - yes, it's possible but easy to minimize this risk by not going into the specific regions known to have high levels of related activities. specific zones in Guat City and a few rural areas.
home property theft - yep. expats are a big target here and the longer you live here the risk increases. in my opinion, this is usually not random so it's just makes sense the longer you are here to more service providers will be in the house and it's just a matter of time.
street crime - more than most countries and being a gringo i know that i am a bigger target. i minimize risk by carrying limited amounts of cash, don't wear expensive jewelry, expose my camera or phone on the street, carry technology [other than a phone] or walk alone after dark. where i live it's easy and safe to use taxis/ubers after dark. risk goes up during holidays.
in Guatemala i feel more safe here than in Africa, less safe than in Asia or the US. still, the only place i have ever been robbed at gunpoint or had my home robbed is in the US.
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