March 29, 2010
I think the recent crime reports from Antigua are blown a little out of proportion compared with other ports of call that are very dangerous.
Antigua is not even close to being on the top 10 list. The most dangerous countries down south are Colombia, Jamaica, Belize, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Haiti, Trinidad, Tobago and Mexico.
Most yacht crew are travellers by choice. A little common sense, intuition and reasonable precaution can go a long way in increasing personnal safety. The “Gift of Fear” by Gavin de Becker should be required reading for yacht crew and travelers.
Comments
Mexico most dangerous?
Please remember that Mexico is a large country, and some areas are safer than others. I can't speak for the entire country, but I lived in Puerto Vallarta for almost 5 years and bartended at "the Pink Place" at Marina Vallarta for a while - it certainly wasn't dangerous there. The yacht crew I knew who enjoyed their stay there the most were the ones who spent some time off outside the Marina - day or weekend trips to Sayulita and Yelapa, etc. Please don't judge the entire country by the alarming rates of violence in some cities!