How safe is it REALLY...?

Question

...to travel to and around South America? What are the odds of being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time...?

A family member is considering going with part of a group, and it just so happens today on the History Channel, is the story of the kidnapping in May of 2001 of a missionary couple, Martian and Gracia Burnham, who was celebrating their 18th wedding anniversay...and they ended up killing her husband..

Answer 1

I've talked to two different people that have travelled in S. America.  Both went with their spouses. one had no troubles whatsoever. The second was riding on a bus that was boarded by armed gunmen who held everybody hostage until all of them had surrendered their ATM and credit cards and the thieves had withdrawn as much as they could from each of their accounts.

I think, that if you were to go, stick to a group that is associated with a well known travel company. they will know which places are safe and which aren't and steer you away as necessary. It is not good business to send your clients into danger after all.

Answer 2

My fiance is Brazilain and I have traveled there. While I can understand the danger that exist it is mostly from unfamiliarity. Using normal judgement and sticking with groups will cause no concern or problems

Answer 3

Depends where you go.

I've traveled to Peru with a group from my university and felt safe 100% of the time... In Cusco, they even let us into discos for free. In the capital of Peru, Lima, we weren't allowed out past 6pm.

Costa Rica and Panama are very safe, just act like you would here. (Those aren't actually South America). These are awesome and the only countries in Latin America where you'd be perfectly safe renting a vehicle and traveling yourself (besides maybe Chile as well).

Brazil's cities are relatively dangerous, at any time of day. You'll see police swat teams with loaded guns running along highways in mid-day... But chances are, nothing will happen to you.

Argentina is safe. A lot of pick-pocketers, but not much violent crime vs. tourists.

Caracas, Venezuela is dangerous, like a Brazilian city.

Columbia is actually safe as long as you don't travel country roads.

Chile is safe.