Travel Forum / Destinations / Latin America / February 2005

Any one have any idea as to a good reasonable hotel in Guadalajara
Mex..downtown area?  Clean and safe?
Thanks so much

Can anyone recommend from personal experience a good language school in
Brazil, preferably somewhere along the coast?  Rio would be fine.  Bahia,
Florianopolis... I don't know, I've never been there.  I want to see
Brazilian music -- choro, bossa nova, samba.  I play guitar and ...

A friend of mine is leaving the US and moving back to Britain at the
end of March, but would like to travel to Lima, Peru for a couple of
weeks before he goes.  Ideally, he would like to fly out of somewhere
on the east coast of the US to Lima, and then from there to London.

What insurance should I get? Alamo offers 4 things:
-Collision Damage/Theft Protection
-Deductible protection
-Personal accident insurance

Is Maracaibo worth visiting?
Why (not)?

I am planning to go to Buenos Aires from about  6 April to 15  April. How do
I find inexpensive lodging for one man in town, close to the old section?
Any practical suggestions appreciated.
Arthur Hornig

...I read elsewhere that someone suggested not taking a backpack to
Central America.  But this was my plan for my stay in Costa Rica,
otherwise it'll be two pieces of luggage I'm hauling on four separate
bus trips (two by Interbus, though).

Can anyone tell me which countries currently do not have visa requirements
for Colombian nationals? I know Panama and until recently Venezuela did not
require visas for Colombian tourists, but can anyone give me a complete
list. Ecuador, etc?? Thanks.

The resort is in a unique secluded location with a private beach,
nature trails, on-site health spa and saunas, luxurious accommodations,
several restaurants, and a variety of local attractions (diving,
fishing, eco-tours, canopy tours, bird watching, sea turtle excursions,

I am planning on flying from the US overnight to Santiago, arriving in
the AM.  The plan is then to go to Mendoza and on to BA via the andes
for the spectacular view.  Here are my questions -
1.  We have limited time (11 days) and our focus is really on

Mazatlan is the only Mexican Riviera city that boasts a historic
section.  The old buildings offer an opera house, symphony concerts,
jazz
cafes, fine dining...and a nice beach.  And a collection of luxurious

MEXICAN SLANG 101
The definitive, pocketsized book on Mexican slang, it's a must for
students of Spanish and travelers in Mexico.  Not just a guide to
talking hip or understanding what people are yelling at you, it's a

Hello. I wonder if anyone here can tell me how reasonable the idea of
travelling, mostly by rail, from Santiago to Lima via Bolivia is?
Would three months give me enough time to actually see things along

IN Jan and Feb of 2005. My friend and I will travel to Peru and
Bolivia. Is it safe to carry my back pack on my back. How great is the
chance that someone may come up behind me and cut open me backpack?
Any tips on how to stay safe traveling in Peru and Bolivia.  I

Has anyone recently returned from Peru?
Is the crime situation (robbery, muggings, pickpocketing) as bad as the
press make out to be in Lima, Arequipa, Cusco?
Is it OK to take the local buses in Lima, Arequipa, Cusco?