I spent a few weeks at lake Atitlan last year. Your comment that travellers
are being mugged on a regular basis on the volcano was well known when I was
there. Despite this, people still go up on their own or in pairs or without
any protection. It is largely these reckless idiots that get themselves
into trouble.
It really doesn't take much to find out what and where is dangerous - the
locals are falling over themselves to warn you. If you decide you are
feeling lucky or just plain stupid then you must accept the consequences.
As regards travel books - how often do you think these are updated? To
trust that they contain all relevent up to date information is a little
naieve, in my opinion, given that things can change on a daily basis. Wise
up.
Gareth.
wrote in message
news:1103134125.940962.271610@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I too am concerned about the safety in Guatemala, specifically in the
> Lake Atitlan area. What do people think about the below comment left by
> a reviewer of the Lonely Planet "Guatemala" guide on Amazon.com?
>
> "Things didn't improve much in Lago de Atitlan, where I also studied
> for week. There are now five Spanish schools in San Pedro, though the
> book only mentions one. Also the book seems to have a rather naive,
> hippy-dippy sensibility towards the nature of the village, talking
> about "being greeted by the sweet waft of marijuana" and so on. Yes,
> San Pedro has a dope-smoking scene, but several travellers were being
> busted (some set up) for a joint or two while I was there, and there
> was also a (un) healthy cocaine (including crack) "scene". The LP
> seemed be blissfully ignorant of all this, locked in some sixties
> nostalgia timewarp. There are also serious social problems, gangs and
> abject poverty in San Pedro. Travellers are being mugged on a very
> regular basis on the volcano. A warning wouldn't have gone amiss."
> Thanks in advance for your comments?
>
> Jakers
>
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