How safe is Brazil? Do's and don'ts?
I plan on spending 3 months in Brazil this summer but am increasingly concerned about safety. I have heard there is hostility and even aggression towwards Americans, and plenty of mugging and violent crime in the big cities. For example if go the beach myself is it crazy to leave my stuff under my towel on the sand whilei swim?? Walking about walking alone at night exploring the city? I also want to drive a car down the coast - is hijacking and bad driving a big problem? Any advice or tips and do's and don'ts much appreciated. Thanks.
0
Comments
Lilliam Larsen
www.monarchtours.net
I came across your post while browsing the net, I'm am planning to make a 2 - 3 week trip over Argentina and Brazil and was planning to spend 5 days in rio. As a lone female traveller, by reading your comments it seems this isn't too wise?
:(
Although crime exists everywhere, it is good to be aware and SMART but not paranoid..
As somebody who grew up in Rio, I never had a problem. Being that I grew up in a favela, I have a little more fears of places like Copacabana because the criminals will look for victims there. They are going to go to tourist areas first because that is where the money is.
But many people have been to Rio and had a wonderful time..so, be aware and smart, but please do not be paranoid...Rio has lots to offer..
don't be concerned about the safety! very nice palce you will not forget
I just came from Rio, only take care like in any big city and that is it
go walk in Copa at night and drink beer wonderfull!
Next week Im traveling to Sao Paulo on a business trip for 4 week.
So I want to know the posible way to spend my weekends thr with low cost.
and aslo im planning to visit Rio for 2days 1 night.
Please suggest me on the same
Tyou to anyone for read me and help me. Mouchette xx
My Email is beccsine@hotmail.com
If you want more info on travelling safely in Brazil check out this posting on my blog: http://hiddenpousadasbrazil.blogspot.com/2009/08/25-tips-for-travelling-safely-in-brazil.html
Cheers
Alison
always !
but not necessarily more here in Brazil than in the rest of the world
always the same basic rule (in the whole world) : stay out of the spotlight, do not attract / create any attention
and you will automatically feel a lot safer
I am living in Bahia for 5 years now (www.basix.cc)
and never had major problems, of course I have been robbed, of course the my ship has been burglared but could happen at any place where I went ...
greetz from the tropIX
So any help or experiences???
So what is the experience of others for these two cities?? And, by the way, I can well appreciate the advise of being careful; don't flash cash or valuables, etc., etc. I'm looking for for people's experience and feelings while they were there. In other words, what was your level of comfort?? Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.
So what is the experience of others for these two cities?? And, by the way, I can well appreciate the advise of being careful; don't flash cash or valuables, etc., etc. I'm looking for for people's experience and feelings while they were there. In other words, what was your level of comfort?? Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.
So what is the experience of others for these two cities?? And, by the way, I can well appreciate the advise of being careful; don't flash cash or valuables, etc., etc. I'm looking for for people's experience and feelings while they were there. In other words, what was your level of comfort?? Any help or advice would be gratefully accepted.
Thanks
Most murder cases in Brazil are related to consumption of drugs.
Those who walk in the light will have no problem, even in slums.
I am sure 99% of people in slums are simple and honest workers.
It is simple, pay attention to your belongs and stay in the light.
I am going on a holiday to Brazil in 2014..
my family doesnt know exactly which places we are going to in Brazil but i dont want to go anywhere that if i walk outside i will get mugged!!
so can someone please tell me where the SAFEST place is in Brazil to help my family out.. we have a big family, young kids and i dont want them to be kidnapped if i take my eye off them for 5 seconds! PLEASE HELP ME!
just dont go alone at night
stay in populated places at night
dress laid back
keep that u r american on the down lo (some people say they dont like americans, that is not true, they are obsessed with us. they may even ask funny questions, like "do u really have this there?) the only ones who "dont like" us is the thieves because they think all americans are rich spoiled...theyre basically jealous.
dont let your children talk to strangers, make sure they are well behaved enough to listen to u...if it was me i would start talking to them about 6 months before the trip, telling them cool facts about brazil, such as they dont speak english, etc. so they can get a gist of what it will be like. and go over safety rules with them...like no talking to strangers, etc. u should make a code word if anything happens.
PS: if i could i would love to buy a house there.
Cheers.
Allan
The only time I had a scary encounter was in Marrakesh when a group of teenagers started following me then eventually surrounded me. When their demand for money wasn't met I simply shouted very loudly at them and they backed off. I suppose it's all about calling their bluff. If you start to show weakness, people will exploit it.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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