What are some recommendations for staying safe in Brazil as a traveller?

Question

I hear it can be pretty dangerous, especially in Rio

Answer 1

go to ( Natal) it s a beautiful city, one of the best place in Brazil

i m Brazilian, but i live in US, my personal opinion: never go to Rio or Sao paulo.

Answer 2

i was in Rio from 2 weeks, i have stayed for 4 days and nothing is dangerous there, just keep yourself away from the poor neighborhood, and don't show that u carry an expensive things, if u see a little boy offer u to clean ur shoes just say no and stay away from him, otherwise Rio is more safe than newyork

Answer 3

Try to never make it obvious that you are a tourist, such as by not wearing hawaian shirts and cameras around your neck. Don't wear expensive or flashy jewlery, clothing, or sneakers. If possible, try to learn a little portuguese before going. hope this helps.

Answer 4

What'd you watch Turistas or something? (haha j/k)

A general rule though, stay in the "tourist areas" of any place you travel. A lot of the countries people go on vacation to are actually quite dangerous and in bad condition in the "other" parts that are not advertised on TV. So just don't go out of the nice parts and you should be fine.

Answer 5

Here are some great recommendations from a guy in the Lonely Planet forum:

1. When taking taxis from an airport to your hotel, travel in the more expensive airport taxis and ensure that the drivers have official identification. Never take a taxi waiting outside the airport grounds.

2. When traveling from your hotel to the airport, go with a taxi recommended by the hotel.

3. Try not to arrive in a new city or town late at night.

4. Travel in a group if possible.

5. Learn the basics in Spanish/Portoguese before you arrive . Don't expect that people will speak English.

6. Keep your valuables hidden.

7. Avoid going on your own to remote areas/ruins where tourist would be expected to go. Seek local advice or take a guide.

8. Read the guide books and talk with other tourists to find out which areas are best avoided.

9. When leaving discos late at night take a taxi home no matter how close your hostel is. Outside most discos you'll find a street vendor selling cigarettes. Usually these people know all the taxi drivers and can recommend a safe one.

10. When arriving in a new town, keep to your original plan and stay in the hostel that you have decided on. Don't let the taxi driver persuade you that your hostel is fully booked and that he knows a cheaper and better one. He'll be working on commission and the hostel probably won't be in a safe part of town.

11. Even better, when arriving lane/train in a new city, try to reserve your hotel in advance, preferably with a hotel that has an airport/station collection service.

12. Don't wear expensive looking jewelry.

13. On public transport have your day pack close to you at all times, preferably with the straps around your legs or padlocked to the luggage rack. On buses your backpack will normally go outside, either on top of the roof or in the external luggage compartments. On long distance buses ask for a receipt for your bags. On short rides just keep a careful eye out each time the bus stops to off-load bags. In the event of having your bags stolen, stay with the bus – you will probably require a declaration from the bus company accepting responsibility for the loss in order to claim any money from your insurance company.

14. Leave your valuables in your hotel safe when making day trips or longer tours. Obtain a receipt not just for your money belt/wallet etc. but for its contents, with each item listed.

15. If you have to leave your passport and credits cards together place the credit card in a sealed envelope and sign your name across the flap. At least when you return you know for sure no-one else has been using it.

16. If planning on going to market areas, crowded streets, fiestas etc. don't go with all your valuables. Leave them in the hotel. If your planning on buying something expensive keep your money safely in a money belt. Try to be discreet when opening it! To protect small change in your pockets you can stuff a handkerchief in after.

17. If the pavements are really crowded, especially in market areas, walk in the road.

18. If you suspect someone is following you, stop and stare them in the eye until they go. If you really get a bad feeling about a place, go with your first instincts and leave.

Bag slashing is rare nowadays but for added safety you can wear your day pack on your chest.

19. If it's on your back try to walk without stopping. If you need to stop, sway your pack gently from side to side so that you can feel if anyone is tampering with it.

20. When putting your bag down on the floor, to take a photo or just to sit in a café, remember to put your foot through the strap. Not only will it be impossible to snatch, you also won't forget it! This is the most common type of theft – tourists forgetting bags in cafes and on returning to ask if anyone has seen it, you've guessed it, it's gone.

Answer 6

Rio is a wonderful city, people are nice and the beautiful nature is still marvelous. But yeah, you should be carefull. I would recommend you join a tour, or if you have a friend living there, he/she may help you telling you lots about the city.

It's not that something bad will surely happen to you if you walk around the city by yourself, but the possibility exists.

Don't wear Adidas or any other expensive/famous brand snickers or clothes.... don't walk around with a map in your hands... don't look scared... don't go to downtown area on the weekends unless you are in a tour!

And read a lot about the city before you go...

And... if something happens and even though you're being carefull someone comes to you like they want something from you, let them have ALL you have!

NEVER ARGUE! Because your life is more important!

Give them everything, don't hesitate!

This is an advise that even Brazilian people give to their friends/ children...

One more thing: don't walk around with a lot of money, but DO walk with SOME money, just in case something happens.

Coz if you have no money at all, the "bad guy" can get nervous... this is also an old advise every Brazilian knows...

But, as I told you, try to just go places with a tour or guide...

In case you don't know yet, there's a very good site about Rio in English:

I recommend you to take a look, they have lots of information about many things...

http://www.ipanema.com/

hmmm they also have some "safety tips", I'll past here just to save you the trouble lol

"Rio de Janeiro, with a population of over 6 million people, is a big city by any standards. Working class and the upper middle class often share the same neighborhood, the same beach. Social contrasts are quite evident.

OK, Rio de Janeiro may not be safe as Copenhagen, but thinking of the city as violent would be completely unfair. Most areas of interest to visitors are located either on the South Side, or the historical strip from Flamengo to Downtown. The high criminality rates happen in areas of the West Side that hold little interest to visitors.

The city is doing a serious effort to deal with the safety issue, and results are starting to show. In addition to the federal and military police, municipal guards help control traffic, and keep the sidewalks relatively free of vendors. At the beach cops on shorts patrol on foot and on sand-mobiles. Powerful police cameras have been recently installed in Copacabana, and Ipanema is the next in line.

Having said that, there are of course a few common sense rules you should follow to stay out of trouble. We have lined up some basic guidelines we try to follow ourselves.

#Do not even bother packing flashy jewelry, gold, or platinum and diamond-studded watches. If you've got it or like it, this is place to buy them but not the place to flaunt it...

Your invaluable valuables belong in the safety box of your hotel room.

#Carry along a photocopy of your passport, in case you are asked to show some ID. Leave the original together with your driver's license in your safety box (unless you're driving, of course).

#Do not take along more cash than you need. Most restaurants and stores take plastic, anyway, and you use your debit cards ATM's at selected banks.

#Stay on the South side of Rio, or at areas specifically recommend by our insider's guide.

#Avoid dark or isolated areas where you do not see a single soul at night (duhh), such as the Flamengo Park, or the Financial District.

#Walk with a sense of purpose, as if you knew where you are going to. Looking like a victim is the first step to becoming one.

#Don't leave your camcorder or state-of-the-art camera swinging from your limp hand, like a shopping bag. Wear shoulder straps.

#If you bring along expensive cameras, camcorders or laptops, consider an insurance.

#At the beach, do not leave your expensive camera, passport and/or cash laying around on the sand unattended while you go for a few laps. Do not hide your money in your $200 sneakers either, or you will lose both (that's an old one).

#Don't take off your watch and leave it laying on the sand behind your back while you are sitting on the sand distracted by the girls or boys that pass by (we've seen saw someone do this...)

#Do not take regular buses alone (see getting around), taxis cost much less than you expect. If you must take a bus (at your own risk), avoid the window seats and the back rows.

#Keep the exact change in hand, so you don't have to mess with your wallet (which is obviously in your front pocket).

#Good Night Cinderella is an old trick that still works. You take a drink offered by a friendly stranger (men or woman). It contains powerful sleeping drugs. You will need help to get back to your hotel room, and this caring and friendly person will gain access to your valuables while you are helpless. Do not leave your drink unattended at bars or discos, for the same reason.

#Don't take strangers you've just met back to your hotel room - even if you think you are in love! This is the easiest way to become a victim of violence or theft. Say that your hotel does not allow visitors (which may well be true) and go to a honeymoon motel, instead. Everybody knows where to find them.

#If someone accidentally spills something on you in the street, and offers to clean it say thank you, and walk away. They may have a partner waiting for a chance to pick your wallet while you are distracted with the action.

#At nightclubs and rock shows, stay away from pitboys. These muscular guys, nicknamed after their pitbulls, tend to hang out in boys-only groups. They may pick up fights for no apparent reason (we know it's the steroids speaking). Their favorite victims are members of other pitboy groups, or with security guards.

#Don't get involved with the drug scene, even if you think you know what you're doing.

#If you get in trouble with the police, do not offer a bribe. It could make things go from bad to sour. Underhanded cops are usually very open when they are creating a problem to sell the solution. They will take the initiative of asking for the cervejinha (i.e. tip).

#If the worse happens and you are approached by some criminal element, try and keep calm. Never fight back. They may have guns, be on drugs, could react violently. You certainly have more to lose than they do.

#Though police officers in the street try to be helpful, most do not speak other languages. If you need to report something was stolen for insurance purposes, go directly to the tourist police (DEAT). Their office is located in Leblon, on Av. Afrânio de Mello Franco s/n, across from nightclub Scala. "

Have a nice (and safe!) trip! :)

PS* I'm Brazilian too and I think you should definitely go to as many places as you can in Brazil, but NEVER miss Rio or Sao Paulo. :)