I've been reading about an increase in Dengue fever in Mexico. This is in addition to concerns about Malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis and the very nasty-sounding Chagas disease. We're roughing it, going to be in the jungle, etc. and now I'm worried that we're risking our lives!! What recommendations do you have for us prior to going to Chiapas and the Yucatan?

Have whatever injections are necessary before going (you need to start early with hepatitis). Follow instrucions with malaria tablets. Only drink bottled water where you have had to break a seal to open it. Buy a can of fly/mosquito spray when you arrive and spray around at the end of the day so any insects in the room will be killed. There are insect repellants you can use when out and about but insects are notably worst in the evening and night. Not too close contact with any locals and keep away from any water that looks like insects might lurk there. Buy a mosquito net and use it. Some come with Deet or something on them which will kill insects wheen they land on them. A quick puff of insect spray on your clothes helps too. Also check and wipe toilet seats before use. If you use a bush, make sure it's some distance from the tents and give your hands a good wash afterwards with soap.

A good cure for diarrhoea is a small spoonful off salt washed down with a sugary drink. Toothpaste is good on mosquito bites. They don't swell if you get it on quick enough.

While I think of it, eating or drinking from something that has been washed in dirty/contaminated water is the easiest way of getting hepatitis.

Indeed you are risking your lives:
Hep A/B and Yellow Fever immunizations; insect repellants (we use Ultrathon as most local stuff is pretty toxic and would never be approved by the FDA); def a mosquito net - should also keep out the Reduvid bugs which poop in your eyes to transmit Chaga Disease.
We use Yerba de Perro (as a herbal tea) for afebrile diarrhea.
Buen viaje.
M (SMdA, Gto.)

"Indeed, you are risking your lives"

Mikemo, are you serious? I mean, I know that just driving home today will be a risk, but are you saying I shouldn't go to Chiapas? I plan to take all of the precautions you and kaneda mentioned and to consult with my doctor, but is it really worth it???

Sort of, as there is still some revolutionary activity, but I would not be overly concerned.
Lots of very nice amber there.
My jungle adventures are usually limited to day trips (Panama's Darien; Chiapas; Costa Rica's many forests).
Buen viaje.
M

Oh, guerillas don't scare me. Diseases you don't know you have that can kill you after twenty years by slowly eating away at your heart do.

Actually, our itinerary isn't super exotic:

San Cristobal
Palenque
Merida
Isla Mujeres

We'll be staying in El Panchan near Palenque, which is in the jungle. But it's not like we're going to Frontera Corozal as we originally planned (on the Guatemala border). But I hear that Dengue has reared its ugly head even in Puerto Vallarta. Oh well, we'll just bathe in Deet.

I just got back from San Cristobal, Palenque, Villahermosa . . . had a GREAT time! I took a can of Deep Woods Off and didn't spray a drop until we went to La Venta park/zoo in Villahermosa and then we only only saw a few mosquitoes.

I think you are being a little bit paranoid . . . are you going to be roughing it in the jungle (low lands) for weeks? If not and you are in good health, you won't need anything other than a little insect repellant.

We stayed in town in Palenque but talked to quite a few people who stayed out at El Panchan . . . none had anything good to say about it. The accommodations were bad and partying (w/soft drugs) went on all night. There's some talk about El Panchan over on the Lonely Planet's Thorntree, Mexico section.

We didn't consider staying there as we're 60-ish and too old for that.

We went all over the Yucatan several years ago and all we took on that trip was a small can of DW Off too. You're only going to Mexico, not the ends of the earth . . . relax . . . and have a wonderful time.

I typed up my travelog from this latest trip and if you're interested, email me ([email protected]) and I'll send it to you.

Buen viaje,
Sandy (in Denton)

Hi Sandy. Thanks for the reassurance. So you didn't even do the malaria pills? I've seen that recommended in several places.

Thanks also for the heads up on El Panchan. I think we're up for that kind of an adventure (not the drugs, but the music and meeting international travelers). Definitely something to think about though.

And I'm absolutely interested in your travelogue. I'll email you. Thanks!

You have probably seen this article but just in case:

http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/apr...ases-increase/

The changes of contracting Dengue are small and even if you do there a 99% chance you will recover but staying in areas where it's present is not without risk of life.

We were in Chiapas (San Cristobal and Palenque) just before Sandy, and then went on to Campeche and Puerto Morelos. Absolutely no health concerns. We actually get any insect bites until near the end of the trip, and I think it may have been sand fleas in PM.

Susan, what did you think of Campeche? We thought of stopping there as well.

Cimbrone, we really enjoyed Campeche. We spent 5 nights in San Cristobal, 2 nights in Palenque, then just overnight in Campeche on our way to Puerto Morelos. We both thought that 2 nights were enough in Palenque (arrive in town mid-afternoon, spend the night, 1 day to see the ruins and then spend the night before moving on the next morning).

Anyway, we arrived in Campeche in the early afternoon and spent the day wandering around town. It was very quiet in the historic area. It was Sunday, and we had a wonderful seafood dinner later in the afternoon (the restaurant was packed) and then checked out the 'action' on the zocalo. A band was playing and they had bingo tables set up on a couple of the streets and the area was busy.

We both agreed that we could have spent more time there. We hadn't really booked a hotel in advance - I had sent an email to the Maya Campeche the day before, but didn't get an answer and I realized when we got to the hotel that no one spoke English. It's a small hotel and fortunately they had 1 room (and just 1 room) still available. The hotel was surprisingly good for the price - we had excellent A/C, satellite TV (which I admit we used to watch the Academy Awards later that night) and it was very clean.

Our entire trip was great - I envy you!

Thanks Susan. It sounds like a great place. If we can't fit it in this time, there's always next...

Susan and Sandy, so no malaria tablets for either of you?

Definitely no malaria tablets. I've been to Mexico 17 times and never taken malaria tablets.

None for me, either . . . you're going to be very pleasantly surprised at how clean, nice, beautiful San Cristobal is.

Sandy (in Denton)

We just returned (tonight) from 12 days is this area. Mosquitoes were few--used the new stuff (permethrin) a few nights--just on the legs. The reports about Panchan are pretty right on--we stayed nearby at Chan Kah and took a cab to Panchan (Don Muchos--excellent). We were four days in Palenque--one full day to travel to Yaxchitlan and Bonampak--great adventure! San Cristobal over Santo Domigo weekend was the best. Have tour recommendations if needed.

TravelMavn, can you elaborate on el Panchan? Yes, I'd love tour recommendations.

Do you (or does anyone else) know about trips from San Cristobal into the mountains to either hike or tour coffee plantations?

Oh come on!!

Actually, our itinerary isn't super exotic:

San Cristobal
Palenque
Merida
Isla Mujeres


Not quite sure where the roughing it and the jungle come in.

Hundreds and hundreds of foreign travellers go to those "so on the beaten track" places every day.

Re your subsequent question about trips from San Cris to hike - best checked out once you are there.

chimani, I think I explained all of this above and, by saying "not super exotic", admitted to having over-stated the roughing it part.

And the Palenque ruins, El Panchan, and other natural sites we'll be visiting ARE in the jungle. There could certainly be disease-bearing mosquitoes there. They're increasingly found in Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, and other far more touristed places than I'm going to. Hope that explains it. Thanks for the tip on tours.