Is it safe to travel to Brazil?

Safe Travel in Brazil/Peru?

• Hi! A friend and I are considering taking a trip to south America (mostly considering Brazil or Peru) this summer for the whole summer, just to be there and enjoy I guess. We've saved like mad to go somewhere and I think this will be fine. But I always worry about safety when leaving the comfort of my own, familiar country. Every time I see anything about Mexico/South America on Television or anywhere it's about immigration and drug wars...What are some general safety rules and places to stay away from in those countries? Thanks.

• Answer:

  Good question - the answer is complex and involves where and how you travel. I will speak for the Spanish-speaking countries since I haven't lived in Brazil, just Ecuador, Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Peru (citizen of Peru). In general, small crime (pickpocketing, non-violent robbery) is more common than in "developed"countries. On the other hand, mass murders, drive-bys, road rage, are just about unknown. More specifically, big cities can be very dangerous in certain nieghborhoods (just like NYC or Savannah, Georgia) and small towns are much, much safer. If you dress in designer clothes, carry the latest tech toys, and wear jewelry, you are a target. Remember, there are fathers out there whose children are crying at home because they haven't had a good meal in weeks - desperation leads to theft (no excuse and this is just one factor behind crime). There is less police protection - if any. Tourist areas like Cusco are where the bad guys go to pick your pockets (I lost $100.00 there, the only significant crime I have experienced in the last 20 years in South America). On the other hand, small towns are pretty safe. We lived in a small town in Ecuador for a couple of years and had a house that was very easy to break into - but even leaving it unguarded for weeks at a time, we never had a robbery. In Peru, we live in a small town and feel comfortable walking on back streets late at night; of course, being known in the town as not walking around with expensive things on our person. For a woman, there are concerns about what how you dress. American standards are looser than South American dress in many cases and may invite unwanted attention and perhaps worse. Overall, read info and use common sense and you should be very safe (my wife and daughter have many times used public transportation and never been robbed or accosted). South America is a great country and 99% of the people are friendly and will bend over backward to help you :-) You will have a great time!