Is it safe to travel alone as a female in Brazil?

Question

I'm a 20 year old pretty female who wants to travel alone to Brazil and wondering if this is safe. Are there places that anyone would suggest that are more safe than others? I'm becoming very discouraged when everyone that I talk to says that it's incredibly dangerous and I would be crazy to go alone.

Answer 1

It is important to remark that Brazil is a country roughly as big as the US, and things there vary from region to region even more than they do here.

Your concern about being young an pretty, and that it would attract unwanted attention isn't at all justified. Actually, the other way around is the usual scenario.

Brazilian parents, especially in the poorer outskirts of Brazil, are often wary about their children falling prey to sexual predators with a disturbing definition of tourism: they offer local kids presents or money in exchange for sexual favors.

Like or Paris or Ibiza or LA, tourist crimes in Brazil tend to be property crimes: pickpocketing, money "rip-offs" in the form of services otherwise inexpensive or free, or robbery.

Crime rates in Brazil are higher than in Europe or the US, but with some precautions you'll barely notice it, and will definitely have the time of your life.

  In every trip, planning is the key. Avoid undesired uncertainties. When encountering a different culture, you shouldn't trust only your senses and just wander around: I ended up by mistake in a prostitution joint in Paris once because I didn't follow that advice, and it cost me $50 just to leave the place as fast as I could.

  The same applies to Brazil, get a good travel book, search the Internet, plan where you want to go and avoid places that have a bad reputation, like Copacabana beach after 10:00 PM, and you'll do just fine.

Here are my suggestions: you must go to Rio, lots of things to do there. If you're planning a longer trip, you can extend it to somewhere in northeastern Brazil: Bahia (Salvador, Porto Seguro, Morro de Sao Paulo, among other places), Pernambuco (Recife, Olinda) and others. There are some interesting travel packages to the Amazon, but they tend to be expensive, and you won't have so much fun, though the forest and the rivers themselves are an eye-popping spectacle. Lastly, my suggestion to everyone going to Brazil: start and/or end your trip in Sao Paulo, 20 million people, more restaurants than anywhere else in the world. Stay some two days there, just to feel its intense and chaotic atmosphere, enjoy the incomparable night scene and have excellent meals.

Answer 2

You should be wise no matter where are you travelling...it there always some risk in travelling alone, and it does increase if you are female.

Nevertheless, in small / mid town you should have no problems, and as south as you go the less problem you should have.

Answer 3

I don´t think its dangerous to visit our country. If you watch CNN, they simply destroy the image of any third world country, exploring at the highest level all the negative face of the victim. But the reality doesn´t fit these news. Of course, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have a high crime rate, but It doesn´t mean that you´ll be stolen just because you are there. In any other place you go, Brazil is very calm and secure. You should visit cities like Fortaleza, Florianópolis, Foz do Iguaçú, Brasília and many other cities on the coast. I live in São Paulo, and there are places where there is no criminality, and other with more problems. But it´s very ease to identify a unsecure place. I think Canada is a perfect country and there is no criminality there.

Answer 4

Yes it is always dangerous for a single female traveler to travel alone in a third world country but if you really want to go stick to the basics and stick to big cities

Answer 5

I did it.  I went, didn't speak Portuguese, kept my mouth shut when the situation dictated and dressed like a local. I was fine and I have been from state to state in Brasil. :)

I have traveled there many times.

Alone!

Carry a debit card, stay in a youth hostel & no jewerly and flashy dress.

Good luck! you'll have a blast

Answer 6

Take ya sawnoff...

Answer 7

i travelled through Brasil with my friend but met a few girls travellig alone there..

What i can recommend you:

1.  is to protect yourself once its dark! Never arrive in a city when its dark.  Only walk through the main squares where there are a lot of people..

2. Never go to hostels not indicated in your guide.

3. and never never go to Salvador. i have never been to a more dangerous place (and i travelled a lot!!)

4. learn a bit of spannish or portugese.. it helps incredibly, since they don't speak a word of english at some places

learn numbers, how to ask where things are, how to ask "please drop me off here", or " i need a room for one"..

I can recommend you a few places like jericocoara (go through fortaleza)-its the best spot i visited in brasil and very safe as well, recife/olinda, manaus for the jungle, but dont expect much.. the best jungle is in ecuador..

and ofcourse rio..

You meet a lot of people in hostels (especially hostelling international hostels). So you won't stay alone.. if you make your plans flexible you can join others when you are travelling..

hope this helps..

Answer 8

Depends a lot on you, the way you behave and what you are looking for.

I would suggest Buzios

www.buziosonline.com.br

Its a beach resort, about 2 hours north of Rio, safe, very nice, great hotels, etc

check www.abracadabrapousada.com.br

or www.casasbrancas.com

both are very nice, and can provide transportation to and from Rio.

A week there should be nice or even more and it will give you an idea of how Brazilians are etc.

A few days in Rio are nice as well, but being carefull, dont walk around showing eletronics etc... the basics.

Choose a less touristy area, such as Leblon.

Its close to everything, but not a tourist trap such as Copacabana and Ipanema.

Local guides are good and safe, provided they have an EMBRATUR registry.

Also use RADIO-TAXI, they are safer, better, and a just a little bit more pricey than yellow cabs.

They will give you prices in advance, will pick you up from anywhere, if you call and can have translator services.

Its not even close to summer and the city is crowded with young tourists from all over, just yesterday I bumped into 3 girls from Canada in Rio, they were walking from the Botical Gardens into the Jockey Club and asked for directions...

They were in their early 20s...

But its always more fun to travel with friends...

Answer 9

Female Travelers:

There aren’t many problems as would be anticipated for female travelers to Brazil especially those on their own. There are no “social restrictions” for clothes especially in the coastal cities where women can dress in bikinis. So you should wear what you are comfortable with. This however may not be the case in the interior regions.

Gender bias and stereotype is not common in Brazilian culture. Though women traveling alone can attract attention, there are a number of precautions you can take to assist you while on holiday.

Travel tips:

If possible carry credit cards instead of large amounts of cash. Though not many restaurants and shops cater for credit card transactions, you can withdraw money if you need it at some ATMs.

Travel light, heavy luggage can be cumbersome and a hustle especially when traveling by bus. Tip hotel staff to take care of your luggage and hotel room.

Do not walk around with valuables as women can prove to be easy targets for robbery.

Avoid isolated locations and when you can travel with a group. Carry personal hygiene products for use while on the road.

Personally, I believe that if you travel smart and are aware and careful, you should have no problems in Brazil -- It would probably be best to stay and visit places with a lot of people or hook up with tour groups.

Have a great time!  I love Brasil and think you'll find it a beautiful place with friendly people, good food, music and culture!

Answer 10

I would go with someone who knows the language & the attitudes there.  I'm a guy & if it weren't for my wife (she is Brasilian) I would be scared for my own safety.  That doesn't make Brasil a bad country, it just means it pays to be cautious.