Take a deep breath.  The world has changed.  Solo women travelers are no longer bizarre object of pity.  It’s perfectly OK to go to Latin America by yourself, and you will have a great time doing it.  Here are a few tips from the intrepid women of Exito, who have traversed Latin America from top to bottom.

- Trust your instincts.  If something feels off, it probably is.  Remove yourself from the situation so you can think clearly.  People sometimes worry that, by being cautious, they will miss out on some amazing, authentic local experience.  Don’t worry about that.  You will have plenty of authentic local experiences that don’t endanger you.  If it’s something you wouldn’t do at home, don’t do it in another country.  And if it feels bad, it probably is!

- Beaches and alcohol are a dangerous combination.  Most people in Latin America are kind, generous, and respectful.  Some are not, and unfortunately they tend to be drawn to beach scenes.  After a few drinks, your wits and reactions are both slow.  Something as simple as going outside to pee may end horribly.  One Exito employee spent 5 years working with tourists in South America.  She estimates that 95% of the rapes and assaults that she heard of took place at beaches, usually with alcohol involved.  Be careful where you drink and with whom.  Party at your hotel’s bar, so you don’t have to walk home.  Or find a group of other women to go out with, so you can all keep an eye out for each other.  While this is good advice anywhere, it’s especially important in a beach setting.

- Be aware of cultural norms.  These can vary widely from country to country, or even from city to rural areas of the same nation.  Tight skirts and revealing shirts are commonplace in Brazil, but would be quite inappropriate in Bolivia.  Look at the local women.  How are they dressed?  You don’t need to adopt local dress (and honestly, foreigners often look ridiculous in local garb), but check the level of modesty.  Do they generally cover their legs and arms?  If so, do likewise – it will save you a lot of unwanted attention.  While you are looking around, note where you do or do not see women.  If there are no women on a particular street at night, that’s a very good indication that you shouldn’t be there either.

- Be willing to start the conversation.  As a solo woman traveler, you have a unique opportunity to connect with people who would normally never talk to foreigners – elderly women,  mothers with children, young women.   They may assume you are not interested, don’t speak Spanish, or they might just be shy.  Break the ice, and see what happens.  You get a whole different perspective on a place when you learn about it from a 70 year old woman!

- On that note, learn as much Spanish (or Portuguese, in Brazil) as you can.  You don’t have to be fluent to have a great trip, but it’s easy to learn enough to have basic language survival skills.  Be able to shop, ask for directions, get a hotel room, and order food in a restaurant.  Consider doing a quick week (or more, if you have the time) at a language school when you first arrive, just to get yourself up to speed.

- And on the flip side, know when to forget all your Spanish.  When some annoying guy is trying to chat you up, a blank look and an apologetic shrug can do wonders for getting rid of him.

- Ignore, ignore, ignore!  Men in Latin America often will call out to women walking by.  Just ignore it and keep moving.  Yes, it’s annoying, but you aren’t going to change an entire culture single handed.  Avoid making eye contact, keep going, and act as if they don’t exist.

- if that doesn’t work, be willing to make a scene.  If someone is really bothering you, yell at them as loudly as you can, in whatever language comes to mind.  This is not what they want or expect, and on the street they will usually melt quickly away.  If someone gropes you in the subway, grab their hand and bend their fingers backwards until they start screaming.  Then yell at them. Tell him what a pathetic, miserable little twit he is, who can’t even…..ok, ok, you get the picture.  Yeah, it makes a huge scene, but it’s a lot more gratifying than just moving away.

Finally, be your adventurous self!  Revel in the fact that you can do whatever you want, when you want.  You always get to choose the restaurant, and no one will drag you through a museum or ruin that you’d really rather skip.  Enjoy every minute, knowing that you will have great memories and more self-confidence for the rest of your life.

Exito Travel recommends postponing non-essential travel to Honduras until the situation stablizes.  While tourist destinations such as Roatan remain peaceful, travel disruptions are likely.  Furthermore, the situation may deteriorate, and it might be difficult to leave quickly.

Most carriers are allowing travellers holding tickets for travel in early October to reschedule with no change fee.  If you have already purchased tickets for travel to Honduras in the next two weeks, contact your Exito travel agent to discuss your options.

At this points flights to and from Honduras are operating normally, but all carriers are monitoring the situation, which is volatile.  Roads to and from the airports are sporadically blocked by prostesters.  Travellers are advised to allow plenty of time to reach the airport for their flights.

If you are scheduled to travel to Honduras within the next week, contact your Exito agent to review your options.  While the airlines are not currently allowing free date changes, that may change as the situation develops.

Argentina: (Buenos Aires EZE) $18 to be paid in USD upon checking in for international flight from Argentina.

• El Calafate: $18 to be paid in USD at local airport for domestic flights.
• Trelew: $6.05 to be paid in USD at local airport for domestic flights.
• Ushuaia: $15 to be paid in USD at local airport for domestic flights.

Belize: (Belize City BZE) $20 Paid in cash at the airport prior to departure.

Bolivia: (La Paz LPB) and (Santa Cruz VVI) $16 airport toll plus $25 traveler tax. ($100 USD reciprocal VISA fee now required for US citizens… check before you fly)

Brazil: (Rio de Janeiro GIG) or (Sao Paulo GRU) None (Included in ticket price). Visa required in advance including $100 reciprocal fee for US citizens.

Chile: (Santiago SCL) $100 to be paid in USD, Visa, Master Card or American Express upon arrival at customs. (This is actually a reciprocal Visa fee)

Costa Rica: (San Jose SJO) and (Liberia LIR) $26 to be paid in USD or local currency prior to checking in with the ticketing booth. Costa Rica now accepts credit cards… however a cash advance fee may apply. Use your debit card to avoid the fee.

Ecuador: (Quito UIO) and (Guayaquil GYE)

• Guayaquil: $27.15 to be paid in USD upon checking in for international flight.n (Cash only)
• Quito: $40.80 to be paid in USD upon checking in for international flight. (Cash only)
• Shell: $3 to be paid in USD upon checking in for domestic flight to & from Kapawi.
• Galapagos: $10 to be paid in USD for Galapagos Transit Control Card upon checking in for domestic flight to Galapagos. National park fee currently USD 80 per person

Guatemala: (Guatemala City GUA) $30 for international departure, plus $5 per domestic flight, plus $5 fuel surcharge per domestic flight.

Mexico; (Mexico City MEX) Included in ticket price (but over $70… paid when you buy your ticket). The same tax applies to all airports in Mexico

Panama: (Panama City PTY) $20 paid at airport upon departure

Peru: (Lima LIM) $30.25 for international departures, $6.05 for each domestic flight to be paid in USD or local currency after check-in before entering gate area. (cash only)

Uruguay: (Montevideo MVD) $29 to be paid in USD after check-in, before entering gate area.

This information is estimated and is subject to change. Check with the appropriate embassy prior to confirm accuracy prior to departure

After the Tragic accident on May 30, 2008 at Toncontín International Airport (MHTG) in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, TACA has reestablished flight service to/from Tegucigalpa trough San Pedro Sula, Honduras with 42-seat ATR type aircraft, The ATR 42 is a twin-turboprop short-haul regional airline built in France and Italy by the company known as ATR. The name “42″ comes from the aircraft’s seating, which varies from 40 to 50

All tickets purchased after June 1st for travel to/from Tegucigalpa on TACA will fly via San Pedro Sula, Honduras on TACA’s ATR service.