How safe is Brazil? Do's and don'ts?

james5 · September 2012

Brazil is safe for travel.you can travel and enjoy the trip without any problem.

Guest · February 2013

Go to Brazil at your own peril...be it be robbed, tortured, killed or raped.

Play with fire and you will soon get burnt.

Women travelers who get raped in spite of the warnings...people who get mugged and hurt in spite of the warnings must not whinge about being victimised. They must be secretly seeking it.

Brazil may be a nice place but I do not like the fact how I'm, probability-speaking, going to be violated while I'm there.

No thanks!! There are so many other beautiful places around the world where being harmed is not as (almost) guaranteed as in Brazil.

And yeah, funny how it seems those here who try to downplay the situation and even encourage people not to be too concerned are like barkers for the muggers, rapists and killers.

Anya K · February 2013

What a negative view! And utter nonsense. I have many (female) friends who have both lived and travelled in Brazil and found the country warm and wonderful.

As a South African especially, I can say that there will always be doomsayers bent on destroying a country's reputation entirely, while completely ignoring the best parts of it.

threetogo · February 2013

Poor Bert.

I've heard in Thailand, keeping your belongings in your hotel/hostel to avoid being robbed on the beach results in... your hotel room being robbed. Having heard this story, I never know where I should keep my money/passport. Better on my person or locked up somewhere? It sounds paranoid, but it's hard to know such things before u get there hey? I am guessing it is nothing like this in Brazil?

As for the oh-so-cool Americans, there is some fascination because of your overrepresentation on TV. But arrogance is the thing that bothers people. Pay attention to the local culture, simmer down and try to follow the rules of the space. The one thing I noticed that really frustrates me is how loud they insist on speaking. It's worse when they feel their liberal rules of discussion subjects which might be sensitive in the local country, out loud just because hey it's ok in America. U have to play by the local rules, that's why you are travelling. U don't have to pretend to be somebody else, just pay attention and don't be too stubborn abt doing things your way. Not all Americans are like that of course, this is just the most obvious/common bad trait that we come across. So just keep that in mind.

Guest · March 2013

Im an American from California, and I have traveled to Brazil various times over the years, to São Paulo, Rio, Bahia, Paraty, Parana, Porto Alegre, among other places. Generally speaking, you need to watch yourself anywhere you go in Brazil. Always stay aware of your surroundings, day or night, inside or out. Now, some regions are more dangerous than others. The city that I really felt this the most was in Sao Paulo. Honestly, São Paulo is very dangerous, even in the best neighborhoods like Jardins, where I always stayed in the finest hotels. Unless you have local friends to drive you around to clubs, restaurants, etc, you will be in your hotel, in a taxi, and at your final destinations, and thats it! Its isnt safe to walk around too much on your own in Sao Paulo. Its so easy to get mugged there. If youre with a group of locals walking around, thats a different story. Your friends will keep the muggers away, just by being locals. But a lot of crazy things happen in São Paulo: fancy restaurants getting robbed, with all customers being robbed at gunpoint, express kidnappings (where one is forced to withdraw cash from an atm), credit card numbers being stolen by workers in stores, among other things. In fact, I really dont recommend staying in Sao Paulo for more than 3 or 4 days. There are much nicer places in Brazil to see. However, like I said, crime is everywhere in Brazil, so even in the most remote and picturesque places, you need to always be on guard. Trust me, you need to.

Make sure that at EVERY HOTEL that you stay at, that it as a cofre, or safe (to store valuables, money, passport, etc) IN THE HOTEL ROOM. If the hotel does not have a lockable safe in the room, do not stay there. Some hotels only have a safe at the front desk reception area; stay away from these hotels!

Cjbarros2012 · June 2013

How cute that there are people who think Brazil is as safe as Paris or New York! I've been all over Europe and I've been to Brazil. I feel safer driving through Oakland at night than I do in the daytime in Brazil.

Brazil IS extremely dangerous, in many ways. Call the police or an ambulance there for an energency, and it could take them up to 45 minutes before they arrive. Oh, and watch out for dangling live electric wires left unattended by the electric company: a cousin of mine who lives in Recife was electrocuted and killed this last Tuesday while walking his dog when a broken wire fell on him. Muggings of tourists are commonplace in all big cities in Brazil...and while you might get pickpocketed in tourist spots in Paris, Barcelona, and (maybe) in New York, Brazil is different in that in Rio, Recife, Fortaleza or São Paulo they won't just pickpocket you...they may just put a knife or other sharp object like a shard of glass up to your neck and demand all your money and jewelry. Watch your camera...or better yet, don't take it out to take pictures unless you are with a tour guide in a large group who says it is ok.(We don't have to worry about that in New York, Barcelona, Rome, or Paris).

Be careful crossing the street. Oh, and don't think a red light will keep cars from running you over in a crosswalk. RUN across the street. Cars have the right of way. (We don't have to worry about that in New York, Barcelona, Rome, or Paris).And watch out for drive-by shootings and stray bullets in places like São Paulo and Rio. (We don't have to worry about that in New York, Barcelona, Rome, or Paris).

At night, drivers in cities like Recife won't remain waiting stopped at a red light if there is no on-coming cross traffic...they will stop and then go, running the red light. Why? Because sitting at a red light at night in most cities is much too dangerous and one risks getting mugged (thieves have been known to come up to car windows and point a gun at the driver)...(We don't have to worry about that in New York, Barcelona, Rome, or Paris).

Unless you are staying with a local, Brazil is best visited on an organized tour. Unlike Florence, Tokyo, Paris, San Francisco, Rome, and New York, Brazil is no place for a foreigner to visit on his/her own...there are very few cities there where the average tourist can just leave the hotel and go "exploring"...I was born there and speak Portuguese fluently (but have lived here in California most of my life and am very thankful for that), and I won't go out by myself when I am there visiting family.

If you MUST go to Brazil, either stay with locals (if you know any) or go on an organized tour....otherwise, the world has many other equallly (if not more) beautiful places to see which are also much safer

Susee_lee · July 2013

I want to ask a question here?? Is that true that Brazil are violence area... Actually i am moving Brazil in this month north and Even I Order mudancasemgoiania.com to pack or move my all accessories for moving to my new address... Is this safe for me and my family or not give me advice?????

MoocaHostel · August 2013

Hello Everyone! Brazil is one of the best places in the world to visit. As for safety, its all about your city and your neighborhood, just like any other country. Mooca, for example, is a very safe neighborhood in São Paulo, even for foreigners.

ixke · December 2013

Safety is much depending on yourself.

Here in Salvador da Bahia for example one needs to be as discrete as possible, in other words : do not show off in any possible way and you'll be pretty safe.

Also : do not walk where you are having doubts, in case of doubts just take a guide.

Greetz from Salvador da Bahia

ptmaluf · January 2014

OK, it looks that the main doubts about Brazil concern to safety, that's right?

Starting with the good news, Brazil is gifted with a very extensive coast where beautiful beaches excel. In addition to the sea shore, it is rewarding traveling to places like Iguaçu Falls, Pantanal, Amazon, and many other attractions deserving a stay. This is all to say that if safety real matters, one can find worthwhile touristic spots skipping big cities like Rio, Sao Paulo, Salvador, Recife, to mention places where the odds to face mugging are unfavourable, even though these areas are visited by lots of foreigners who have felt unbothered all the time. In the nice state of Santa Catarina it is possible to find beaches and nature as beautiful as those in Rio or in the northeast, and there one can enjoy the trip with much less concerns. The islands of Fernando de Noronha are environmental protected and far away from mainland, therefore their maritim treasures can be explored peacefully.

Now the bad news. Rio has been considered one of the most wonderful cities in Earth, with breathtaking landscapes from its mountains, wilderness, beaches, not to mention the beauty of the girls sunbathing in Ipanema beach. Although crime may ocurr everywhere in town, and having fearful figures about that, it would be a pity preventing oneself to be indulged in this unique place, provided that rules and advices are followed. Sao Paulo is the brazilian powerhouse, and the main finantial center. It is a big city, ugly at first sight, but very sophisticated, with a broad array of restaurants, clubs, music halls, theaters, and imposing malls, but very unsafe to hanging out far from the most populated areas; it is not surprising that luxury shopping is conveniently located into its flourish net of malls, where people fill safer than anywhere in town.

To summarize, even with all the drawbacks Brazil is a touristic destination to be seriously taken into account, for those who want to experience the tropical atmosphere, multicultured and ethnic diverse population, who is friendly and nice with people coming from abroad, and to make their best to network even with their lack of ability to speak other tongues but portuguese

lukasz · February 2014

Hello everyone!

I lived in Brazil for 16 years, I'm 33 now. I'm half Brazilian and half Polish. Well, definitely Brazil in not a safe country. Off course there is a normal life going on there. I mean in Brazil a lot of people never got in touch the local violence and they are living a normal life. I was robbed already 3 times in Brazil. The last time my house was robbed by a group of fully armed trollers. I was inside in my house with my mother and 3 more people. They closed us in my room, got everything they could and left. The Police couldn't do to much and to be honest the Police does not care that much about violence, cause this is common here for them and they are kinda involved in all this sh...t. So, it is not easy to live in Brazil for longer. But if you want to travel, visit then this is a totally different story

I would always recommend Brazil for everyone. This is just the best place to travel. You just need to avoid to travel without plan in Brazil. Is better to book all your tickets, hostel or hotel before travelling to Brazil. You can use a very well known and safe website: www.queropassagem.com.br. They have the English version also and you can write them to help you with your plan. Well, off course try to find as much information about Brazil, maps, local city tips and may try to find some Brazilian friends on facebook. You know, the more you search you can travel better and safe!

gal3000 · March 2014

Well, do you know how many people were murdered in Brazil along 2012? 52.000 people! Do you know how many murders were not officialy registered? about 8.600. So there were about 60.000 murders just in a single year. I hope you can have an idea of how safe is Brazil! Ah, take this tip: take care with pickpockets in the streets. These criminals are usually teens and here they are not punished by laws. Yeah, you´ve read right: criminals teens are not punished by brazilian laws. At the most, I wish God protect you in Brazil!

Cansada65 · March 2014

Not safe at all. I´m brazilian and don´t feel safe here. 2014 is the worst year to come here. Do not come.

If you HAVE to come, stay in contact with local friends before coming. Women please, do not travel alone. I wish lucky to you all, God bless you.

MrClaims · March 2014

I also thought that South America is generally dangerous but recently I had a couple of friends staying in Colombia for a year. According to them it is not that dangerouos if you know where to go and where don't. Of course, it is highly probable that you will be shot while visiting some particulary danegerous neighbourhoods but still, it is possible for two young ladies to survive a year without any particular harm;)

jairpiai · April 2014

I'm brazilian, i've been traveling to many countries, Brazil is by far the most dangerous place i know. We have beautiful places, but you want to come, take care, mainly in big cities, criminals are really cruel and evil, they kill for no reason.
Never walk or drive alone during the night.
The south is safer, clean, and beautiful, people are polite and educated, but during the winter (may to august) its cold, but can be even better in the mountains.
Brazil is not just soccer, sex and carnival, in the south we have a wonderful beaches, mountains and amazing and safety cities.
Rio is really beautiful, but if i were you i will to another and safety place.

augussto · April 2014

Now a days cities like Fortaleza, Recife, Natal and Maceio are more dangerous then Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, due to the low education level.

ayan05 · April 2014

I'm actually from Rio but I have a friend who lives in the area. And I
guess you'll be as safe there as anywhere. But don't worry too much
about you safeness. Brazil is really not as dangerous as it's pictured.

kattyfluentglobe · April 2014

Hi,

Generally Brazilians don't wear anything that shows wealth. This includes expensive watches, trainers, handbags and phones. You should do the same. Also, make sure you don't carry a lot of money on you, just enough for the day. I wouldn't recommend taking the bus at night. It is safer to take a taxi. Do leave your documents, including your passport at the hotel or in a safe place. Carrying a copy of your I.D should be okay.

I've written a blog post about this

http://travelblender.tumblr.com/post/83656417312/is-brazil-a-safe-country-to-visit

sannaphilips · May 2014

I am completely agreed to Kattyfluentglobe 'While in Roam do the Roman's'. Your safety almost depends upon you how you show yourself among the others. Showing your richness may lead you to danger. So Enjoy very wisely.

aditij29 · October 2014

hi,

being a young girl traveler, i wanted to know if the city chapeco is safe?
and any important things that i should keep in mind while travelling.

Scottish1875 · November 2014

Hi i tend to go traveling round all over the place to see what situations I get in for the rush and also the love of seeing the world ....I go with nothing but few clothes and money that is well hidden....I almost got kidnaped in the Dominican and at the same time the most scariest moment of my life one of the most adrenaline packed experiences I have had ... Am gonna take a chance and walk about into the heart and see how Long it is before I have trouble I have nothing to rob so can someone advise me on there thoughts on how long i would last before I get trouble or do you think a white man can just cut about where ever if he has nothing to lose ...

CheersTerry · November 2014

Whatever you're drinking... please order me a case.

Muchas gracias amigo.

Cheers,
Terry

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How safe is Brazil? Do's and don'ts?

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