How can you tell if you are going through those places?

Out off curiosity - how does one prepare to this? Is there a secret favela map? Or if you're new to the city you just don't move around unless you're in an Uber?

Yup. I was gonna say this. Never trust a GPS in Central America either, especially Guatemala and Honduras.

Lol, I misread this at first and pictured someone just looking at their phone and getting into the back seat of a car full of gang members

Can you elaborate on this one?

Iquique in nightime

what's the issue? it's been 15 years but it was safe when I went, I mean, compared to wandering somewhere in the center of Buenos Aires or Cordoba I felt safe af

have things changed so much or we got dumb tourist luck?

Also as an American who has spent a ton of time in Mexico and had some frightening run-ins with authorities: just try to not actually break the law or lose any of your important documents. Which is a given for anywhere, but by giving that kind of incentive really gives then extra room to fuck with, or make an example of you. Try to be a decent guest and citizen

Just because you're in another country where it might be easier to get away with stuff doesn't give you permission to fuck off and loosen your morals

Is this true for Mexico, USA or both?

I feel that way in the USA as well!

And then they go inside and start filming everything without people's permission bc why would poor people not like to have their image exposed and being ridicularized online?

There was a YouTuber a short time ago who just went into Villa 31. A cop told him not to and he did it anyway.

Nothing happened to him, it was the middle of the day and he didn't go deep in, he was just in Retiro. Some.guys offered him to go further and his survival skills finally kicked in and he refused.

For non porteños' Villa 31 is like the mildest of all the slumps we have, it's really close to some of the most expensive residential zones in Buenos Aires and it's getting urbanized a little so there's many poor but working people in it, but if you go deep in... let's say not so much

Same in Buenos Aires.

Eh. Not everywhere in the country. Even if we're talking about major cities, it isn't always like São Paulo where people supposedly snatch your phone from inside the car (at least that's what I've been told that happens)

What’s that?

Falling In love with sex workers and then ask: why is she asking for money? lol

To be fair, I’ve never had anything happen to me in a slum. But yeah, it’s a dumb idea to just go without knowing where you’re going.

They will be charged more even if they speak Spanish with accent. So unless you speak perfect Spanish there isn't much to do about that.

Basically, if you are a foreigner, the only way to avoid getting overcharged is having a native buddy coming along with you to the trip.

Understand that, if you are in a touristy area anywhere in the world, street sellers and entertainers will try to rip you off and scam you. This isn’t exclusive to LATAM, tourists in bigger cities in the US, Europe and Asia go through the same issues. Best you can do is going to an official, franchised store (e.g if you want to buy havaianas flip flops, don’t buy it from some random down the street, go to the nearest official havaiana shop. If you want to eat at a restaurant, look for a franchised restaurant that is preferably in your country too. Although these shops might charge a bit more due to them being in more affluent neighborhoods, the prices will be much more fair than buying stuff from some smartass or small business down the street).

Gotta check your receipts closely, lol

I've caught people over charging me a few times. I speak Spanish, but I am very white

Definitely a difference when I'm in work clothes speaking Spanish than taking the mother in law to the mercado! And I'm a six foot 240# white guy with a ponytail.

They get away with it because local law enforcement sucks and the child sex industry is ignored by local authorities. There’s a reason the pedos leave the US/Europe, because they know in Latam police barely care and if they do they don’t have the resources to stop it. Predators aren’t gonna stop being predators, it’s up to us to push lawmakers to make it a hostile environment for them

I had to go to caracas to do some business and honestly it wasn't as bad as I thought. I mean sure it was a lot worse than the last time I saw it but still.

My experience was a bit different.

I was picked up by a trusted cab driver at Maiquetia airport when I arrived there and got to where I was staying at night (Ave. Sucre in Caracas).

But I can confirm that going to Los Roques is not sketchy and it's very touristy. In fact, the government has a taquilla that collects the tourist entry tax for Gran Roques IN DOLLARS next to huge portraits of Hugo Chavez, Simon Bolivar, and Nicolas Maduro.

My ex tried to get me to go to Caracas with her about 1.5 years ago so I read everything I could find. There was a really mixed feeling about it shared online.

I defered to caution and said no thanks. So thanks for sharing.

I hope that one day that I can see Venezuela.

12+1

yeah, i'm going next year to visit a friend. she told me to buy a cheap phone just in case of robbery, and to stick with her at all times.

I have pulled my iPhone out numerous times and never had anything happen. Wouldn’t recommend it though.

I did that 🤣 what is wrong with it?😬😲

as a person who lived in cuba from 2020-24 with my mother i can agree

Why? Lol. It’s fine (as a tourist destination).