Do's and Don'ts for Travelers in Central America

November 3, 9:18 PMCentral American Travel ExaminerMichael Sherer

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1. Lose the attitude: you’re in a land where the Mayan culture is over 2000 years old and the Spanish way of life is over 450 years old. The United States wasn’t born for at least two hundred years later.
2. Taking photographs: ask for permission, as many Mayans and other indigenous peoples will not allow that. I’ve been refused in San Cristobal de las Casas(Chiapas, Mexico)and the Gran Mercado in Guatemala City. Offering money will not change that. This is their land and their way of life.
3. Courtesy: a smile and an attempt to engage, combined with a few words of broken Spanish will take you a long way. People smile and greet each other, eye contact is made and the greetings of the day are exchanged.
 

4. Dress: Latin America is predominantly Catholic and the Mayans are equally shy, if not prudish. Short clothes, tattoos and piercings are not typical. The younger women may wear slightly revealing clothing, but they’re in the marriage market. The bare midriff look, the bra-less style or the latest faux hair color is not going to make any new friends, outside of the hostel.
 

5. You’re a foot higher and weigh 100 pounds more than the ‘natives’ and you spend more in a day than they make in a month. Don’t apologize but don’t claim this as your right to do whatever you want to do.
6. Service and tips:  most restaurants include the ‘propina’ as part of the charge, usually ten per cent of the total. If the service was good, add another ten percent. That may be their taxi or bus fare to go home.
 

7. Make an attempt to learn and understand the culture: buy two good guidebooks, leave the security of the tour group or the hostel and try to understand what it’s like being a minority and/or a disadvantaged culture. Don’t expect to accomplish much: the reward is in the effort and the attempt to engage and empathize.
8. Ditch the water bottle and the Crocs. Neither is necessary and both brand you as a gringo. Dress sensibly and rest often. The altitudes and the humidity are more than you’re used to.
9. Drugs: never, under any circumstances. The grief isn’t worth the high.
10. Latins and the indigenous cultures are a happy and smiling group of people, even if poverty is their lot. Loud voices, boisterous behavior and obnoxious remarks made in the tour bus are understood, more than you realize. Remember, first and last, that you are the face of your country and that you represent everything they’ve ever heard or read of. Leave a good impression.