Review: Rough Guides First-Time Latin America
October 6, 2009 in Travel Books
I don’t have much free time these days, but what little I have is spent soaking up the beginnings of Spanish and reading widely in preparation for six months in South America next year. The Rough Guide to First-Time Latin America
With the tag-line “Everything you need to know before you go” I was anticipating a practical and comprehensive guide to the continent, especially detailing country highlights and all the annoying practical minutiae that confronts a first-time visitor to a new place. I’m often disappointed by such promises with flowery prose hiding the fact very little is being said. I’m glad to report success: I found what I was looking for. Kind of.
The book is roughly divided into two sections, the first covering each Latin American country in as little as four pages. The second half is filled with tips from pack light through to navigating visa and border formalities. Additional features include an inspirational “21 reasons to go” and a directory of websites, resources and sales information for related products.
An obvious challenge — and one that is somewhat difficult to overcome — is the brevity of each country’s section. The over-arching feeling I came away with was that I had encountered a rather bland overview of each place which left me far from excited about visiting. That said, they cover their bases with overviews, main attractions, routes in and out, and a list of websites for further reading. It’s all that can be expected within the constraints of page and weight.
Chapter titles in the second half of the guide (entitled “The big adventure”) include:
- Planning your route
- Studying, volunteering and working
- Documents and insurance
- When to go
- How much will it cost
- Guidebooks and other resources
- What to take
- Your first night
- Culture shock
- Getting around
- Accommodation
- Staying healthy
- Keeping in touch
- Crime, safety and sleeze, and
- Coming home
I tend to use things I know about as a measure of how much I agree with a book’s author or editor, so got straight into sections on documentation, resources and general health-and-safety tips. Nothing earth-shattering, but the solid type of advice one would expect … and certainly some very useful advice for first-time travellers. Some advice seemed very out of date — even for the 2006 version I was reading. Anybody who suggests using travellers’ cheques just seems so last century to me.
Since I’ve never been to Latin America or even read much about travelling there, I was most interested in the location-specific, on-the-ground sections covering route- and time-planning, visas, working and local crime. I feel like I’ve got a rough idea of what it’ll be like, but will have to hold off any judgement until I’ve been travelling around for a few months, by which time any good guidebook will have become a distant dream.
The Rough Guide to First-Time Latin America
This article was written by Craig and Linda
Craig and Linda Martin have been living on the road since February 2006. Both born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand they are ... somewhere in the world! Craig and Linda host the Indie Travel Podcast - you can get in touch with them here.
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Since November 2006 the Indie Travel Podcast has evolved into an independent travel hub with regular audio and video podcasts along with articles by travellers from all over the world. 
Hosts Craig and Linda Martin started travelling in February 2006 and have been to over 50 countries. They were 
Michael Brown said on March 8, 2010
Although for me any travel publication is good reading, sometimes we are overloaded with information and when arrive at a specific destination we are so fixed on what we read that the experience of the arrival is often delayed by our need to experience literally what was in print. This is often not the case; as some books romanticize and promote levels of propaganda. I am not suggesting this book is not worthy as traveling guide, but nothing beats experiencing for yourself the real thing and adopting an opinion based on your involvement. Talk to the indigenous people to obtain their advice. If you don’t speak the language; find someone who does. This is enriching. Speak to expatriates who live in the area, there is always someone from your country that is always willing to assist. What is particularly relevant is often the section about crime and safety. In my experience, you practice the same safety standards as you would do in your own country. Too often people arrive in some wonderful t town, forget all of their learned safety practices, common sense and then wonder why a local, who probably earns the equivalent of 1 day of your salary per month, takes liberty to charge you more. Then there is the known community criminals, you would not do business with them at home, so why do it knowingly when you are abroad. Criminal activities are a world happening and it does not take long to know who is involved in corrupt behaviors. If they have a product or service you would buy with caution and ensure boundaries are maintained with back up evidence. Traveling and living in other countries is one of the life changing events that any one can experience. By all means, savior the literature available, but most of all do not loose sight of what you know to be safe practice and experience the natural wonders of the world and its people in it.
Phillip said on April 14, 2010
Craig and Linda, your continued dedication to enlightening potential and seasoned travelers is fantastic. This particular article again reminds me of the many hours spent reading about my, or my clients, next traveling destination. Buying books is an expensive hobby and often pushes the travel over their budget. However, reading your site improves the reading selection and ensures that our money is well spent. To be truthful, we believe the information you provide is actually as good, if not better than some books.
Jonathan White said on May 13, 2010
There is a reason you have won the accolades as your articles are so well written and factual. I particularly like the emphasis on the joy of travel rather than the challenges. The challenges in my experience actually make up the story of life.