Puerto Barrios Travel Guide

the only 'authentic' place it´s reasonably safe for a female to go dancing is la colombina, ask any local, they´ll know, you´ll get a good impression of carribean non-tourist life. If you´re up for more action try on of the bars near the safari, oh and nightclub means brothel in spanglish!

Dress Code: Jeans and a t-shirt, a slightly neater version of what you´ll see during the day, oh and do make the effort 'hippie' tourists have umm an reputation

I was walking, at night, down a long dark road to a historic hotel on the oceanfront. Minding my own business, carrying my South American Handbook and a pretty umbrella a friend had bought for me in a quaint umbrella shop the day before - my birthday - in Antigua, when I heard footsteps behind me. I walked faster. They sped up. I sped up. They sped up. I turned in confrontation with "Que quieres?" to find a man leering at me with his fists raised. He ran towards me. I raised my arm, bent at the elbow, to protect my face. His fist hit my elbow. He stepped back in pain and came at me again. I handled that umbrella like a baseball bat (it had a wooden handle) - I was always a good hitter - and drove it hard against his head. I heard a crack as it connected and he landed on his rear end about 10 feet away. I looked at him, reality dawned on me, and I started running for my life, in flip flops. How did I still have my South American handbook? I don't know. Can't remember putting it down but I can't remember picking it up either and you can't be a slugger with a handbook in one hand. Anyway, I survived. Puerto Barrios is hot and humid by day. At night residents stay up late, enjoying the cool evening, eating and drinking alcohol. After all, it is a port and, as such, rather rough, so please be careful there.

I doubt you'll find too many tourists here. And when you do...it's too late.
They do have a Shell Station...

Luggage and bags: a backpack is best, seeing that you´re likely to be getting off the a coach and will then have to walk a bit

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: shorts, t-shirts, especially around easter it can get HOT! But do take a thin (but water, not shower´, proof) rain coat and long trousers as sudden cloudbursts can occur. And you should consider waterproof shoes as the streets are mainly dirt tracks and if it rains ...

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: bring any kind of repelant and sun sunscreen! and don´t buy shampoo or medical supplies of and description unless you´re in a farmacia or supermarket with airconditioning, the local ripoff brands look the same but can have interesting effects

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: just don´t do it. You´re going to be seen as incredibly rich stupid gringos who are too stupid to enjoy their money. You are going to be robbed. It is understandable, these people are struggling to feed their families and you´re going to look like a walking wallet.

try going to church in pto barrios, go for the evangelicos and you´re sure of an authentic memory more, spotting a church is not hard, guatemaltecan evangelicos like bold colours. Although not known to be particularly honest etc it is interesting to see what us tv-missionaries have acheived!