Solo traveled to nearly a dozen countries in Latin America(Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, PR)
I don’t do resorts and I’m not afraid to go out of tourist areas.
I leave my IPhone 13 at wherever I’m staying and go outside with my old android
Travel with a money belt if Im moving around in the streets
Dress like a local. I’m a darker complexion breh and when I’m in panama or Colombia you couldn’t tell me from a local. Faded cargo pants, ball cap, plain t shirt and some adidas shoes. Only time you can point me out as an American is when I step out at night.
Knowing conversational Spanish goes a long way, otherwise you will be taken advantage of or be lost in the sauce
Make local connects…bumble and Instagram are great for this.