Thread: Latin Greetings – Kiss, Hug or Handshake?

Westerners are often times confused with what greeting gesture to use while in Latin America. Generally, Western cultures utilize handshakes and hugs – handshakes for business and unfamiliar acquaintances, and hugs for close family and friends. On the other hand, Latin cultures rarely use hugs for their embrace of choice. Rather it is customary to give a lipless kiss on the right check, even if it’s your first time meeting a person through a mutual friend, but not in a business setting.

http://www.eyeonpanama.com/latin-gre...-or-handshake/

I avoid all three. Just saying "hello" seems suffiicient. My "Howard Hughes approach" is because after all these years here, I have come to see how easily germs are transfered in this tropical climate.
Keep your kisses and handshakes and definately don't hug me.