While south America is a great place, and many travel there for fun each year and they enjoy their time there immensely. While we want to have fun while there, we also want to have fun. The following tips will help you stay safe while you visit South America.
Stay Informed
Every place has something it is known for and you will be safer if you find out what dangers the city you are traveling has. Some places are notorious for stealing, mosquito-related illnesses, or unhealthy drinking water. Whatever it is, make sure you research to know what peculiar dangers your destination poses.
Also, get acquainted with the happenings in the political and social arenas of the country and make sure you do not join any form of protest no matter how legitimate it seems. Avoid anything that will put you in real danger if you want to enjoy your traveling.
Use an Organized Tour
The best way to travel in places like South America is by joining organized travel group. This keeps you from the dangers you might face alone, and the bad road network associated in most of the cities. The possibility of being mobbed or stranded on the road due to lack of transportation is removed as well. Accidents are the greatest threats to tourists, but an organized tour helps eradicates such possible dangers.
Be Careful but Not Afraid
While there is need to be very careful and aware of your surroundings when you travel, you should not be scared of everyone and everything. It is possible to begin to look at people with suspicion and think they want to rob you of your belongings. The thing is that most people are kind and helpful to tourists. If you do not feel comfortable with any stranger, simply move away from the environment. Make any inquiries directly from your tourists guide about where you want to go or board a taxi.
Naturally, these guides are against the troubles people cause to the future of their jobs, so they handle tourists more carefully. Take time when choosing the taxis, you board as some of them are out to rob passengers, especially tourists, of their money. Find a taxi with the proper logo and use it all through your traveling in the country.
Know Your Limits
Sometimes some tourists may go beyond their limits and cause more problems to themselves and, perhaps, to others. Even though you are touring the country, there are places you should not go to avoid possible dangers which you may not know or see at the time. For instance, going kayaking on Amazon River for days or a week stay across the Andes, without a guide or permission of the tourist guides can be a dangerous venture. Never try to do it alone even though you think you can.
As long as you are not used to the environment, there is no way you can foresee the dangers you may face. It is better you join a group and get the first experience before you make decisions to do it alone. If you come across some people with a wrong motive, do not attempt to fight them except you are good at martial arts and can take them down easily. Always apply common sense so that you will stay out trouble. You are not home, so some risks should be suspended till you get back.
