Be sure to take the necessary precautions regarding public safety and also keep your eyes ahead of your feet, as open manholes and other obstacles are distressingly common. Those interested in trekking and day-hiking will find ample opportunities to practice these activities both in and outside of national parks and designated natural areas. Subways, city busses and taxis. Public transportation is the mainstay of all Latin American cities. Several of the larger metropolises, including Buenos Aires, Santiago, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Mexico City, have excellent subway systems and other forms of urban rapid transit are being built.
City busses are very abundant during the daytime, extremely economical and go everywhere.
Taxis are also very common, generally inexpensive and an excellent option for the visitor. Where taximeters exist you should insist that they be used, otherwise be sure to agree on a price beforehand. Radio dispatched taxicabs tend to be the most reliable and are recommended for nighttime use. Be especially careful about overcharging when taking a cab from an airport, bus or train station, but remember that the vast majority of taxi drivers are honest, friendly and helpful. Some airports and bus stations have taxi booths where you can pre-pay a fare on a zone basis, avoiding any hassles with the driver.