He did the right thing. The only thing he could have done better was to not go there in the first place. Certainly puts the "adventure" into it. No doubt he's having the time of his and experiencing many great things ... perhaps 15 years ago I could have done that too. Today I have a wife and a son to think about that precludes taking those types of risks.
I've worked in several countries south of the border (and a few placed in Asia) and I always carry a fake wallet too. Passport locked in the hotel safe, a "passport card" (for id) and a $20 bill in in my shoe. And maybe a credit card.
I worked in Guatemala City a couple years ago. I arrived a day or two after the local police and a drug gang had a shootout, and the gang won. My evenings were spent inside the hotel; even in the "tourist zone" (Zonas diez??) they strongly suggested that we stay indoors after dark. It sort of bummed me out because the personnel I was training (from El Salvador and Costa Rica) fit right in, and invited me go with them on a day trip over the mountains to Antigua. The problem was the return route was also over the mountains, and at night (est. 10pm), would not be a good idea. As a 100% Scandinavian (with red hair and all) I stand out like a sore thumb - and that means I look like a wealthy target to most criminals.
The other thing about Central America is that the governments are outgunned and outspent by the drug gangs. Something about the drug gang's PROFITS exceed Gautemala's entire GDP. I have no clue how they can possibility prevail against that, when there are drugs flowing north and dollars flowing south. It's just too bad - there are so many skilled, talented, intelligent and nice people there, trying to make an living for themselves and their family amid crime and corruption.
