ambush in guatemala filmed
 

I saw this earlier on youtube. It made me wonder what I would do, but also what is the best thing to do in this situation?

Anyone encountered a similar situation?

Interested to hear some of your experiences.

Jaime

Yes it would be interesting the discuss what to do in a similar situation, and what preventive action should be taken to avoid a complete rip-off!

A few thoughts come to mind:

- don't ever resist or put up a fight.
If you don't walk away with your life it's going to be difficult to carry on travelling - if your dead!!! :taz:

Preventively:

- use a "fake wallet" in the place were most people normally carry their wallet...inside jacket pocket.
- don't stow all your cash and docs in the same place.
- don't carry original docs in the tank bag - if practical or possible carry photocopies in your tank bag and the originals somewhere else not so readily acessible.
- keep in your tank bag or a easily available bag some "valuables" to "throw" at the guys! They should normally be nervous and in a hurry (see the guy cut the tank bag so that he could get going!)

Cheers,
Rui Nuno

Having watched the video I think it's clear that they did exactly the right thing. They gave them what they wanted and lived through it. They also say that they had fake wallets and weren't carrying important documents in the tank bag. Excellent advice to anyone travelling I think.

That stretch of road has been known for robberies for over a decade, that I know of. The first time I went to Guatemala, in 2003, I was warned about it. Probably the same guys at work. There are only a few km's that are not paved on this road between San Pedro and Santiago. They pick a spot where you are going slow, and you saw the rest.

I have been down this road twice, in the San Pedro to Santiago direction, and the San Pedro police will escort you through the danger area if you ask. Don't know about the other way. You'd think it would be easier to catch the crooks, than babysit tourists through there, but I'm sure there is a lot of drama behind the scenes that I don't see.

I haven't let it stop me from going back. It does make me wonder how many other risky roads I've taken and didn't know it. Haven't been robbed yet, knock wood.

Saw this today.

Pretty scary for the riders I'm sure, but the robbers seemed professional enough not to hurt anyone.

The only thing I would do differently in that situation is (other than follow security advice to begin with) is to try and keep my tank bag. I'd offer the contents, but I'd want to keep the bag.

I wonder why they didn't raid his panniers?

I'd have lost my phone, laptop and camera, which makes me wonder about how to secure my photos when travelling. No doubt my spare memory cards would have been in the tank bag.

When I travel, I make a point of uploading photos whenever I have access to internet in case my camera is lost or stolen.

I'd like to do that but I shoot RAW so each image is over 20mb.

Over the Easter weekend I shot 200 frames while climbing Mount Snowdon and Tryfan.

That's a lot of data. :-(

Mmmm, yes - point taken. Not quite the same as me snapping pics with my iPhone.

I usually keep my DSLR in my tank bag for easy access to capture that opportune shot.

I was thinking that I wouldn't want to loose my camera and photos but suppose I'd rather keep my life!

I'd definitely be keeping my memory cards in my alu panniers.

Jaime

With respects to their choice to take that road as they did, my first reaction was that they didn't do their research, and that it was a silly, high risk move. If I am not mistaken, even the Lonely Planet warns of this specific stretch of road.

I had a poke around the blog of one of the people involved at it turns out they they had attempted to research whether their security concerns were still valid and felt that it had been a couple of years since since the last robbery report. The rider in question, without the pillion, travelled the road a couple of weeks prior without incident.

2014 Travels <-blog

Having spent New Years on Lake Atitlán, we were told later that the road we took back to the main highway, which wasn't the direct route, was also "dangerous", which is to say, we travellers probably end up on more high risk roads than we realize. To me, this road seemed to have too much car traffic to be of serious concern, but surely something must have happened at some point.

With respects to not loosing your valuables, I try to think about the spectrum of security versus convenience, and that you don't really get to have both at the same time.

In Salento, Colombia we "narrowly missed" be victims of robbery via knife point. Several hours having already returned to where we were staying, four other guests were accosted by four young men in balaclavas wielding kitchen knives. The "victims" (no one was hurt) received full pat downs, and how they explained it, it would have been pretty hard to conceal any item, including money belts, etc.

From our understanding, this robbery was very rare for the area, being a quaint rural town, and local people were genuinely embarrassed by the act. Police presence increased immediately. As it turns out, even in "safe", moderate traffic areas there are opportunists.

Too close encounters
 

Had this trouble a few years ago in Turkey, had a false wallet, crap bag with a cheap camera and false phone in it, 2 guys had a big screw driver and a bar.
I have a particular skill set different to others of which I used to get well paid for. Easier to give them rubbish and walk away but they started to man handle my companion and things turned for the worst of which I got arrested for excessive force and they required hospital attention.

Best to be prepared to be the grey man and get away with giving them as little as possible, I hide things of high value on the bike which would take time to find and in extreme circumstances where my life would be threatened with no other alternative including running away I have items built into the bike which shall we say would be useful ?

But these things do happen and are extremely rare and should not put anyone off travelling.

Look on the bright side of all the nice things that happen and remember stuff is just stuff.

Thefastone.

ambush in guatemala filmed
 

I've always kept a spare credit card duct taped to my airbox under my tank.
Having something in a position like that is better than nothing.
Id hate to have no money.

I am not fussed by material objects like a camera or gps or tools. That stuff comes and goes. Give it to them and just buy some new ones.

Ok so you lost your pictures? Big woop, you didn't lose your life. You could spend your life thinking 'i wish i put my sd card somewhere safe'
Instead of spending time dwelling on it, plan on doing it again, but better. 1/3 the fun is in planning a trip!! 1/3 is prepping the bike, and 1/3 is actually going!!

Pics
 

Some good points, loose your pics and that is a good excuse to do it all again

Just remember all fake credit cards could get you into trouble if you are a victim of the old 'stuff them into a van and take them to the ATM trick' (happens in taxis ad well) which is a common type of robbery in parts of Latin America. My point being you might have a hard time convincing them its a fake and you might lose some toes in the process :o

It would be interesting to know what would have happened if they just kept going.

This isn't the middle east (or mexico) and these guys aren't ISIS, shooting and possibly killing a trourist probably isn't in their best interest at all.

Shame you can't save playback real life to find out what would happen.

I rode that exact road in December 2013 with no difficulty, it was eerie seeing that video. We didn't have the LonelyPlanet to check before the ride, as some posters had suggested. I guess we were lucky...

It was a great ride though.

That's one thing that puts me off South America, everyone seems to get robbed. Not a big deal if on your own, but I wouldn't like it with my girlfriend.

Still it's not worth missing such a great continent.

That's just silly. Most do not get robbed. A few do. Most of those who do contribute in one way or another (which is not the same thing as saying they "deserve it").

All IMHO, as usual.

Mark

There are no gurantees of if you if this or that things will be ok. Every person has their own priorities.
For me first it would be save life first. Second my photo which I transfer to my ipad wvery single evening and also copy my photos on my memory stick. I woukd also instantly remove the keys.
Resisit as little possible and be alert as these are petty thieves. Thats the reason they did not touch the panniers. They want a quick buck.
I apprexiate the idea of a fake purse which one can throw far from the scene which shall shorten their time to rob.
And they generally want to be quick at it for they too are scared to run away with what they get.
Rest all is luck.

Has anyone thought that some of these 'banditos' may also have access to the internet and Horizons Hubb and ADV? So if you mention fake wallets and places to stash valuables they have an idea where to look.

We are adults everyone should be smart enough to figure things out and where to stash.

I am into my third year of riding from California through Mexico,Central & South America...95% of the time solo. So far I have not had a problem...even taking roads that were virtually untraveled.
In Colombia, I stopped at the side of the road to get something to eat from a roadside vendor. Some kids came up then some hard looking hombres,that were up to no good. Gave them the Delta 9 smile and then put one of the kids on the bike and took a picture. The next thing they all wanted their picture next to the bike. Lots of smiles and hand gestures. My point is this...smile, be friendly, show NO fear,be firm yet not aggressive,don't treat them like fools, don't carry a big knife( as I have read some guys do)unless you know how and are willing to use it. If not it may very well be used against you.
I start early morning and shut it down by 3 or 4 pm. No riding in the dark.

Alaska to Argentina
 

Currently near Solona rethinking what's in my tank bag and what I can give bad guys to satisfy their need. Some local currency, fake wallet, throw away cell phone is our current minimum although it is a nice place to stow gloves, sun glasses, etc. the main thing is not to stow main money, credit cards, and original documents. I'm not fond of my tank bag anyway. Marco and Zen

Just stick to 'known' good routes, ask people, most people will tell you if there are any roads or areas to avoid.

If you can't avoid it, travel in a convoy with other traffic.

Controversial maybe, but that guy with the gun doesn't keep it pointed the whole time and seems more nervous than the victims. Wander what they would have done if the victim would have grabbed it.

Maybe I need to watch rom-com movies instead.

had it happen in Manaus, Brazil
 

i went across the street to get a drink in Manaus one night , silly me took out my camera , even got a pic of the robber , I called him out when he pulled a knife , he wore my can of coke in the temple , knife was plastic , the security guard , beat the shit out of him, big time with a big baton, I went back to my room
I usually stay in at night in cities, this is why

Which is why I sometimes put money and passport in my boots. ;-)

Manila
 

For Jaime who wanted to hear such stories:

I tried (just for the experience) to get mugged in Manila, back in the old days.

Took a 10 USD bill in my pocket, nothing else. Left everything else in my cheap hotel room.
Wandered around for nearly an hour at 1 a.m. in exactly the same dark places where everybody said "don't go there or you'll get robbed".

I failed miserably.
No one wanted the booty. :confused2:
Spent the $$ in a nearby bar upon my return. beer

A Filipine NeckTie would not go so good with your Tapout shirt anyhow.

Been all over Manila, Luzon and Cebu for that matter at all hours. Not always smart, not always how I wanted it to be but it is what it is.
I am however smart enough to realize that simply because I made it out of one area unscathed, does not mean someone else will. I also realize in a country where human cockfight with knives still occur it is not a place to look for trouble.

Getting a tube vulcanized late at night in Cebu.
Attachment 18149
:taz:

Odds are in any of these places you will make it home with a story, if you are dead then authorities have cause to look for the murderer, and one thing a thief does not want is the attention of the law, regardless of how corrupt they indeed may be.
IF you look for trouble in a developing nation and think you are going to go all Jason Statham on some bandits, you are sadly mistaken.
Being on the receiving end of a firearm is not a fine point in life, nor do you forget the taste of a blade. That krav maga class you took suddenly seems worthless, your arms feel like they have weights tied to them and you realize doing it wrong is indeed the end.

Keep your travel plans and especially times and dates quiet except to those who need to know. As mentioned bad guys visit travel forums as well. Not all the friendly people you meet and ask directions will keep it quiet. People in desperate situations are forced to do desperate things.

Only fight if there is absolutely no other option and then do so as if it is to your last breath, as likely it will be at that point.



Good job to those in the video, they made it home. Objects, money even your bike can be replaced.

Getting a camera stolen sucks, but I just remind myself that 30 years ago a 36 exposure roll of film would be dragged out for days, if not months :P


Travel safe, be smart and you get to grow old and tell some kick ass stories.

The problem ones are the ones frequently travelled... Why sbdy should be at a untraveled road and looking for tourists....?