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French Guiana
French Guiana, which is an overseas department of France, is
a sparsely populated wilderness. Tourist facilities are available,
but in some instances are not highly developed.
Guatemala
Guatemala has a developing economy. Except for luxury hotels
in major cities and tourist destinations, tourist facilities are
not fully developed. U.S. citizens whose passports are lost or
stolen in Guatemala must obtain a new passport and present it
along with a police report of the loss or theft to the main immigration
office in Guatemala City to obtain permission to depart. Identification
must be carried at all times.
In the past, unfounded rumors that foreigners are involved in
the theft of children for the purpose of using their organs in
transplants have led to threats and incidents of mob violence
in parts of Guatemala. If you visit areas outside of the major
tourist and business destinations, there is a greater likelihood,
albeit small, of such an incident. The risk is also increased
for tourists who have contact with Guatemalan children. Adoptive
parents, in particular, are encouraged to travel within Guatemala
without their adoptive children or to limit such travel when possible.
There have been sporadic terrorist incidents during periods
surrounding key political events. Violent crime is a very serious
and growing problem throughout the country, including murder,
rape and kidnapping. U.S. citizens have been among the victims.
Night travel between cities anywhere in Guatemala is extremely
dangerous.
Guyana
Guyana is a developing nation. Except for hotels in the capital
city of Georgetown, tourist facilities are not fully developed.
Road conditions throughout the country are poor. Bring prescription
medicine sufficient for your length of stay and be aware that
Guyana's humid climate may affect some medicines. Many birds are
protected species. Visitors wishing to take a tropical bird back
to the U.S. need to obtain quarantine space in advance from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Inspection Service.
Proof that space has been reserved for the bird in the U.S. must
be presented to the Guyana Ministry of Agriculture before permission
for export will be given.
Honduras
Honduras has a developing economy. Tourist facilities are generally
adequate, but vary in quality. Judicial delays are common. Suspected
criminals, including U.S. citizens, have been detained for years
without trial or sentencing. Although safe bottled water is widely
available, tap water is not potable in Honduras and should be
boiled or chemically treated to help prevent cholera and gastrointestinal
disorders. Medical care is limited, particularly outside of Tegucigalpa
and San Pedro Sula. It is usually impossible for visitors to cash
personal checks in Honduras. It is also extremely difficult to
arrange for the transfer of funds from abroad to Honduras, especially
to the Bay Islands, where banking facilities are limited. If you
travel to rural areas and to the border regions near Guatemala,
El Salvador and Nicaragua, exercise caution because armed bands
have operated in these areas.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua has a developing economy and lacks an extensive tourist
infrastructure. Travelers checks are accepted at a few major hotels
and may be exchanged for local currency at authorized exchange
facilities. Although many restaurants and hotels now accept credit
cards, acceptance is not as widespread as in the U.S. Travel in
remote areas in the northern and central departments is strongly
discouraged because of violent crime.
Panama
Panama has a developing economy. Outside the Panama City area,
tourist facilities vary in quality. The Pan American Highway ends
at Yaviza in the Darien Province, and the final portion from Chepo
to Yaviza is reasonably passable only during the dry season (January-April).
If you plan to travel to South America by car, you may wish to
take the automobile ferry "Crucero-Express" to Cartagena, Colombia,
or ship your car on a freighter. Travel beyond Yaviza may be dangerous,
and there is no Panamanian police presence in much of Darien Province,
which is known to be frequented by guerrillas, smugglers, and
undocumented aliens.
Paraguay
Paraguay is a medium income nation with a developing economy.
Tourist facilities are good in Asuncion, poor in other major cities
and almost nonexistent in remote areas. Minors under 20 traveling
alone, with one parent or with a third party must present written
authorization from the absent parent(s) or legal guardian, which
grants permission to travel alone, with one parent or a third
party. The authorization will need to be notarized and translated
into Spanish. Due to serious problems in the international adoption
process in Paraguay, including chronic unpredictability in the
issuance of final decrees, uncertainty over case processing and
prospects for proposed new adoption regulations, prospective adoptive
parents are strongly urged to postpone any commitment to adopt
a Paraguayan child until such time as the adoption situation is
clarified.
Peru
Peru is a developing country with significant tourist and commercial
activity. The quality of tourist facilities varies, depending
on cost and location. The U.S. Embassy has placed restrictions
on official travel of U.S. government employees to several areas
because terrorist groups and narcotics traffickers continue to
use violence. (For information on the restricted areas, please
consult the Consular Information Sheet on Peru.) If you visit
places high in the Andes, such as Cuzco and Puno, you should be
aware of the effects of high altitude and the sickness it can
cause. In addition to the American Embassy in Lima, you may seek
assistance at the Consular Agency located in Cuzco.
Suriname
Suriname is a developing nation. Transportation, communications
and other infrastructure elements do not meet U.S. standards.
Roads in the interior are poorly maintained and often impassable.
Tourist facilities vary, depending on price and area. The government
of Suriname and private tourism companies have expanded tourism
in the interior by establishing several guest houses and tour
packages. Visitors to Suriname who are injured or become ill during
their visit will not be admitted to the only hospital with emergency
and intensive care facilities unless they pay an advance deposit
equal to ten days stay (payable only in U.S. dollars) or provide
proof of adequate insurance coverage in a form the hospital will
accept. You may experience disruptions in travel plans due to
the varying scheduled airline service to and from Suriname.
Uruguay
Uruguay is a medium income nation with a developing economy.
The quality of tourist facilities varies according to price and
area.
Venezuela
Venezuela is a middle income country with a well developed transportation
infrastructure. Scheduled air service and good all-weather roads,
some poorly marked and congested around urban centers, connect
major cities and all regions of the country. Its tourism infrastructure
varies in quality according to location and price. If you do not
have a Venezuelan identity card, you will need to carry your U.S.
passport with you at all times. Certain areas along the border
with Colombia have travel restrictions. If you visit those areas,
you may be subject to search and seizure. Foreign exchange transactions
must take place through commercial banks and exchange houses at
the official rate. Credit cards are accepted at most tourist establishments.
Outside of major cities, Venezuelan currency is required for most
transactions. Visitors departing Venezuela can exchange local
currency up to $5,000.
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