Is Brazil Safe To Travel?

Brazil is a country with a very wide spectrum of opportunities for the tourist starting with the famous beach of Rio and ending with the Amazon forest. Nonetheless, due to the rising cases of crime in some parts of the world, the issue of security becomes a factor for those who are planning to go there.

The fact of the matter is that there are parts of Brazil that are perfectly safe for tourists as well as areas that are relatively dangerous. Thus, by employing basic logic, keeping an eye on surroundings, and avoiding the areas with high crime rates, tourism in Brazil can be relatively safe.

In the main towns such as São Paulo and Rio, small crimes such as theft, pick pocketing and bag snatching are on the rise. There is also the possibility of getting mugged, especially at night and in the deserted places. Tourists can be attacked because they may look like they have no idea of what is going on around them. Wearing a hat, not flashing valuables like jewelry or wristwatches, and walking through major streets at night are important considerations.

Violent crimes are more prevalent in the favelas, but occasionally, law-abiding travelers may become victims of shootings or police operations. The most advisable thing for someone who wishes to visit a favela is to organize for the tour with an accredited tour company if not, there is a high tendency of ending up in a favela by default.

You should avoid marked cabs and attend to unmarked ones, particularly during the night, opting for Uber instead. And avoid placing valuables within easy reach and if possible keep them concealed when traveling in a car or bus.

In areas outside the large cities, the dangers are considerably smaller for tourists. Locations such as the Pantanal, Iguazu Falls, Paraty, the Fernando de Noronha islands, and the southern coast are considered safe for tourists.

Florianópolis, a friendly city in southern Brazil, registered only thirty-five homicides for a population of nearly half a million in 2021. In the same year, São Paulo has 12 million people and had more than 2000 murders. Therefore, the security situation depends on the geographical area.

When comparing most dangerous regions in terms of number of homicides, northern states such as Amapá, Roraima, Pará, and Ceara are among of the tops of states in per capita homicide rates. People do not visit these areas of the Amazon basin often and, if traveling through these areas, should be cautious.

Similar to many countries, defrauding tourists is not a strange practice in Brazil at all. This ranges from fixed ATMs to corrupt police officers waiting for their next fix. It is advisable to withdraw cash from ATMs that are located inside banks which provide security guards’ services. And do not court police who are merely looking for a payoff.

Tourism security is a priority as Brazil has specialized Tourist Police in the main cities, however, bribery and corruption allow for many offenses to occur with little justice. Well, it just goes to show that thus keeping an eye on your own back, as it were, is still paramount.

With simple precautions regarding the environment, refraining from ostentatious displays of affluence, and not getting so drunk that one cannot assess conditions, tourism in Brazil can be perfectly safe. Of course, it is important for the intelligent tourist who wants to capture such an interesting culture to take the risk.

The point to be understood is that Brazil still has safety risks as a developing country with income disparity concerns. Still, violent crime has declined by more than half within the last twenty years. And those tourists who take certain necessary measures, which should be within reasonable limits, usually do not face any emergencies during their stay. Thus, instead of labeling Brazil as a dangerous country to visit, it is wise to be an informed tourist.

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