Welcome to the TravelPod forums

[davidroyer]

I feel like there are many different types of travelers out there. i categorize myself as one that has nothing left to lose. i recently made some mistakes and put myself in a tough situation. in the next couple months i plan on taking off on the road from Sacramento, CA and hoping to get to Tilapa, Guatemala or central/south america in general. My main goal is to fly to another country but the cost of plane tickets has made me think about driving. I realize it is dangerous in Mexico and south. people have been trying to point that fact out to me a lot lately. i keep thinking tho, buddha didn't let the dangers or fear of his time period stop him from going on his pilgrimage. other travelers from the past didn't not go bcs they were afraid. i can't do anything about the world's current unrest and maybe the south hates americans but i'm at the point where i'll never know unless i go and i'm going. basically what I want to know is:
Certain Areas to stay away from?
How much money would I need? (I calculated that i could make it to guatemala with 600 dollars for gas money, but thats without paying for food i would need or fees to cross borders and tolls)
how hard is it to find work in central and south america if i needed to make some money to go further on my travels?
safe spots to camp out? (not going to bring enough dough for hotels so looking at taking a tent and sleeping bag with me)
I had this idea to stay along the coast; is that a good idea?
spots to stop at along the way?

Any advice would be awesome especially from someone who has made this trip. Just to give a little information about myself I am originally from PA and now I'm living in CA. I'm 23 years old, white, about 5'8", not wealthy at all and actually about to cross the line into poor as f**k. I consider myself a relaxed chill guy cut from the mold of the bob marleys of the world, basically not someone that people usually F*#$ with bcs i don't cause trouble for others. i can hold a conversation be polite. i feel that i'm very athletic (i actually box) and i can handle myself in rough situations if it comes to violence but i have never been in a situation i couldnt settle with words. one big thing and the last the thing my spanish experience consists of two lackluster years of high school. what books should i take for learning and translation?