Serious question about Rio de Janeiro safety?

Question

Okay, so no jewelery or flashy watches, no f***y packs ("Hello, I'm wearing plain clothes to fit in and this is my f***y pack!"), take the taxi, keep an eye out, try to be around or people, try to get around with a friend if you're bringing one. Easy.

But I'm wondering:

1.) If I'm in Copacabana, Leblon, or Ipanema, is it still as dangerous? Even in these upscale neighborhoods, I still can't go about shopping, in Ipanema for example, and be more relaxed?

2.) There's a jogging/biking trail running along those beaches, right? When I'm jogging, will I still be a target? Assume I obviously won't be jogging with an MP3 player or anything.. just shorts, socks,shoes, what's there to rob?

3.) So there's the Parque Nacional De Tijuca in Rio. And they have trails. Will I be a target to get mugged, also?

4.) In general, if I'm outside of Rio, Sao Paulo, and Salvador, is crime rate still high?

5.) How do I go about actually taking a photo?

Answer 1

First of all, im a young guy...only 22 years old. my girlfriends from brazil i visit whenever i get a chance.

in brazil in general the average foreighner is thought of as blonde haired blue eyed. so if you have these features youll probably get herassed like "please buy my items......ill do you a deal...if you say no, theyll walk after you and start telling you what else theyll add in for free".

youll be left alone if youve got dark hair n olive-ish skin. or if your a black tourist.

safety in brazil is like everywhere in the world, watch your mouth. dont carry expensive stuff on you. apart from that.....brazils great, the women are even greater. enjoy the food and try a caipirinha drink....made with rum & lime.

enjoy! its a cool place with friendly people

Answer 2

1- Copacabana, yes, Ipanema, less, Leblon much better.

For shopping, the malls are better, more varied etc.

Copacabana is a tourist trap, be careful.

2- There is a jogging/biking track that begins in Leblon, goes trhu Ipanema, Copacabana, Botafogo, Flamengo. You dont want to go any further than Copacabana. You can use an MP# player, no problem, but try to run/job during daytime. There will be a lot of people around. People in movement are not considered targets. No problem at all.

3- Plenty of trails there, amazing place, DONT GO WITHOUTH A GUIDED TOUR. There are trails in Gavea, Horto, Botanical Gardens or other places, they are safe, but only if you go with locals.

4- yes, the crime is high in the outskirts of those cities, generally speaking the sourounding areas are much more dangerous than the city themselves. Of course the smaller the city, safer you are. I live 1 hour from Rio and there no crime at all. Salvador sucks. São Paulo has improved a lot in the last year, crimewise.

5- it´s ok to use a digital camera, just dont hang it around your neck. Also a good alternative are disposable cams.

a nice place to go is Buzios, 2 hours from Rio, fine dinning, beaches, nightlife and amazing B&Bs.

www.buziosonline.com.br

check

www.abracadabrapousada.com.br

The B&Bs can provide transfer to and from Rio.

Dont take the bus at the bus station.

if you have more Qs email me.

Answer 3

Stay in the upscale neighborhoods, dress and act like the locals..............Outside of Rio an Sao Paulo crime is low.

Answer 4

Thanks for asking this question, I too have been considering a trip to Brazil in the near future and if it weren't for my wife, I would just go right ahead.  But if anything ever happened to her while we were there I would go insane, so, I hope someone releaves my stresses by answering your question.

I heard that when out and about you should always carry at least a little something to give when you get robbed, like 30 US dollars or so, because if you do like a lot of people tell you, and don't carry anything, the muggers get pissed and are more likely to hurt you.

I have a friend who spent 6 monhs in Buenos Aires and even though its a different country, the conditions are somewhat comprable.  He said he never had any problems, just good times.  But he fits in physically.  I'm blonde, blue eyed with a red beard.  Brazilians have told me I would be a constant target.

Good luck.

Answer 5

Try to dress & look like you live there... know where you're going. Don't talk English or mangle their language LOUDLY etc. like a happy-tourist, and not expect signals to go other ways, some of the time. (Like, "kuantas costas for the coconut?")

Like anywhere else in latin america, or anywhere that's poor really... there can be crime. Rio isn't as bad as Kenya -- take it easy. There's 12 million people living there, how much crime do you think would be tolerated? (anyways, the police carry machine guns... and that usually works as a deterent)

But, don't be fearful of it... just know that you, as a tourist are walking into places that are akin to walking through the Projects of upper Manhattan... etc. if there's people that see you as a rube, or an easy mark... they'll simply take what you have. So, don't make it obvious.

The beaches you mention are where the MOST crime would be, like pick-pockets in Times Square or on a Sicilian train or crowded marketplace. Don't leave anything, and go to the water -- unprotected. Watch. The people who live there, wear f***y-packs.. and by the way -- I don't know who gave you that information, because f***y-packs were INVENTED in Rio about 20 years ago!!! They travel light, down there. It's freaking hot. And because of crime, you want mini-bags that are attached to you vs. those you set down, right?

Unless you already know people there, I'd stay out of the favelas -- remember, there's not a whole of Public Assistance going on, in Brazil... once again, would you walk through the Projects of Brownsville, Brooklyn to see where Jay-Z was born? asking people questions about him? and expect not to have your things lifted from you?