I’m planning to travel abroad to learn Spanish for 4 weeks and I’m not exactly the most feminine chick around, so I want to make sure that my gayness isn’t going to make me a target. I just want to make sure I’m safe in my travels.
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Neither.
Nicaragua is very unsafe to visit. Guatemala is also going through a lot of street crimes as gangs are now a common sight. For some time there were many women being beheaded by some wacko in the capital.
I would go to Costa Rica, Panama, or Colombia. Costa Rican Spanish is very good and Colombian Spanish is one of the most purest forms still left (especially in Bogota). I am not Colombian, but those would be my three choices in the Central America/northern South America region.
Nicaragua is the safest country in Central America at this time, but Managua is a bit of a problem as it is dirty and crime ridden and streets are full of potholes. Once you leave Managua airport leave town immediately and it will be it is safe. Granada is a colonial and cultural town with lots of tourist(every year they host International Poetry week in February where people from all over the world gather there for a week of festivities and poetry) and I don’t think they give a hoot as to how anyone looks, same goes for Leon another old colonial town. Matagalpa and Esteli are cool mountenous regions. I know that Guatemala city is like Managua riddled with crime so bottom line, stay out the capital in each of those countries (Nicaragua and Guatemala City). As always no matter who you are and where you go use good judgement and caution. you may be on vacation but thieves never are. I am saying this because I grew up in Nicaragua and I’ve also visited other Central American countries.
A safety tip: Best and safest way to travel is renting a car from the airport. If you must travel by taxi be very careful. A) Ask for their ID. Make sure there are serial numbers and the name of the company marked on the side of the taxi. B) Ask them to not pick up anyone else. Even if you have to give a little extra tip. Cops will very seldom stop you for speeding, but they will stop you for passing a double line. They are very strict about this.
I went to Guatemala to learn spanish and it’s a very cool place. lots of “particular” people there. As for Nicaragua Mom went there some time ago and she says is kinda poor, so i would recommend Guatemala. If you want to “fit” antigua Guatemala is a good place.
source: Spanish student.
(lol, costa rica is not a good place to learn spanish, people there have a funny accent because they can not pronounce the “R”)
No offense, but I wouldn’t tell or show anything that will let people know I’m gay. Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, or any other Latin American county, are not very gay friendly. The main religion in these countries is Christianity, and lots of people get killed for being gay.