Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we’re talking about safety precautions you should take when you visit Brazil. There’s a lot of bad press about Brazil, and it scares people who don’t think Brazil is safe to travel. Brazil is one of my favorite countries, and it can be a safe place. However, it’s not the safest place, so knowing a few Brazil travel tips before you go can help you stay safe in Brazil. If you are wondering if it is safe to travel to Brazil, keep reading!
No Fancy Clothes or Jewelry: Dress Like a Local
The best way to stay safe in Brazil is not to stand out as a target. If you are dressed like locals, in shorts, t-shirts, and sandals, you’ll blend in a little easier. Do not wear fancy clothes; even collared shirts and jeans will set you apart. When it comes to jewelry, I don’t even wear my wedding ring to Brazil.
Watch: Five Tips for Visiting Brazil
Stay Out of Favelas
Suddenly, visiting the favelas, or shantytowns, has become trendy. I do not recommend just wandering into the favelas on your own. If you really want to visit, there are many tour groups that will take you through, but make sure to do your research ahead of time to find out which tours are good. Personally, we do not recommend doing Favela tours. They are people, not an attraction.
Pre-Arrange Your Taxis
Taxis in Brazil can be dangerous, but there are steps you can take to stay safe. I recommend calling to schedule a taxi ahead of time, or having your hotel arrange a taxi. Do not hail a taxi on the street; this is a good way to be kidnapped or taken to an ATM to get all of your cash out.
Uber is Your Friend
When in Brazil the locals use Uber and other ridesharing services. Though Uber is the most popular. Knowing who the driver is and that they can track the car has made locals feel a lot safe traveling with Uber than other services.
Pay Attention to Your Surroundings
If you are walking around, lost in space, or looking like a tourist, it’s a good way to get robbed. Do not walk down the street consulting your guidebook or a map. Don’t be on your phone. Pay attention to your surroundings at all times. If it’s obvious you are paying attention and not going to be an easy target, they will find an easier target to go after. This also applies to anyone riding public transportation; like in any city, it’s a common target for pickpockets.
If You Get Robbed in Brazil….Don’t Fight
If you follow all these precautions and still manage to get robbed in Brazil, give them whatever they want. Don’t look at them directly, just hand over your money or your watch or whatever. Nothing is worth your life. If you’re following our travel tips, you’ll be wearing a cheap watch, carrying a cheap cell phone and won’t have a bunch of cash anyway, so it’s not a huge loss. (this applies anywhere, not just in Brazil!)
Don’t Bring Anything to the Beach
Going to the beach is a Brazil must-do, but when you go, take as little as possible. You want to be able to enjoy the beach, not have to stand guard over your belongings. Bring your towel, swimsuit and a few bucks to buy a drink, but leave everything else locked up at your hotel. If you want to take photos of the beach, do it another time and leave your camera and phone at the hotel.
ATM Safety in Brazil
At some point, you’ll need to withdraw cash in Brazil. If you see an ATM that is outside of a bank, don’t use it. Always go inside the bank to use an ATM. This is a prime place to be robbed in Brazil, so just don’t do it. Of course, this may mean planning ahead to get cash out during business hours, but it’s worth it for the security. Once you’ve got money out, split it up at your hotel and only carry around what you need for that day. Leave the rest in the safe.
Consider a Disposable Camera for Events
If you are visiting Brazil for Carnival, or the Olympics, or any big event that brings in lots of tourists, consider getting a disposable camera to carry around. You can still get digital copies of the photos, but you won’t risk having your camera or phone stolen.
Watch: When Should You Visit Brazil?
Don’t Let Your Drinks Out of Sight
Most women know this by now, but it applies to anyone. If your drink leaves your sight, do not finish it. It is so easy to slip something in a drink, and it’s not worth the risk. Just buy a new drink. If you have local friends, try to go out with them, or in a group.
I hope
these tips help you be aware of the safety problems in Brazil, without scaring
you away from visiting. It’s such a wonderful place, but you just have to take
some extra precautions to ensure you have an amazing time. For more travel tips
about Brazil, check out these blog posts and videos:
