atufft@sbcglobal.net (Alan) wrote in message news:<76ebadd8.0312142256.33898e99@posting.google.com>...
> I've traveled to South America before, and although I've taken the
> pills along, I've never used them. The locals always found silly what
> alarmed my doctor back home. Naturally, I took their advice not his.
> I avoided dawn and dusk mesquito swarms, and managed to avoid malaria.
> Even so, it's obviously not a disease I want to get, but the pills do
> have their side effects.
>
> What's the malaria reality in Palenque, Tikal/Flores, Sayaxche, and
> south in the Mayan highlands?
I don't know the actual malaria infection numbers in Tikal/Flores, but
I remember that place being one of the only places in Guatemala that I
was actually bitten by mosquitoes, regardless of what the guides will
tell you. Take your chloroquine; avoid the risk.
> Also, what's the exchange situation in these towns during the x-mas
> holidays? Can we exchange traveler's checks, use credit cards, etc?
Cash is king (well hidden, of course). Traveler's checks can be
difficult to exchange outside of Guatemala City and Antigua. I found
credit cards to be fairly useless outside of the major metropolitain
areas, but then it's been a couple of years since I've been back.
Have a great time! I heard Christmas is a great time of year to be
there.
-Ben |