Rio de Janeiro? How safe/dangerous is it?
Replies: 12 - Last Post: Mar 2, 2013 9:04 PM Last Post By: danizim23
jump to
Rio de Janeiro? How safe/dangerous is it?
hey everyone!I am portuguese 8so I speak the local language) and am thinking about spending a month in Rio de Janeiro doing an internship. While I am sure it's one of the most beautiful cities in the world, I am very concerned about safety.
How is it there these days? For tourists in the most posh and touristic places? How can I stay safe? How likely is it that something ill happen to me? (Get robbed, lost bullet, etc...)
Looking forwards to some reviews and updates on the situation. thanks :)
2
I've been here twice, speak only basic portuguese and would recommend it to everyone! As long as you have general safety common sense (just the normal stuff that applies in any city worldwide - don't flash a big camera around / don't walk around looking extremely lost / not wearing flashy jewellery / don't walk around dangerous neighbourhoods etc!) you'll have a fantastic trip!Please don't let the scare moungerers put you off, it is an incredible city with amazing scenery, great people, and you must go!! Any questions do get in touch - but don't be over concerned you'll have a great time!
3
"RIO DE JANEIRO: The city continues to experience a high incidence of crime. Tourists are particularly vulnerable to street thefts and robberies in areas adjacent to major tourist attractions and on the main beaches in the city. "Source: Travel.state.gov
And if you drive a car at night (between 10 pm and 6 am) you don't have to stop at red lights to avoid assaults.
5
You should not hang a camera on your neck in Rio. You should not wear expensive jewelry. There are streets you should not walk after dark then again there are many others you can. More than 6 million people live in the city. You would not think they live their daily lives in fear. Would you? It is not the safest place in the world but plenty many tourists visited without any problems. We did. You should also.6
Rio has become a lot safer over the past few years, it still has problems and just like many other big cities in Latin America and elsewhere you need to use common sense. Just yesterday a top-end hotel in Santa Teresa was robbed thereby demonstrating that these things still happen.Generally though, I think the risks are minimal - don't walk down dark alleys alone at night flashing wads of cash whilst in a drunken stupor and you will probably be ok.
Rio is a great city and the chance to spend a month there is a great opportunity.
8
It's an amazing city.. sophisticated, cultured, fun loving. Enjoy it. As others said, if you're going to use common sense, it is a safe stay. Ipanema and Leblon are good choices to stay. Some long term travelers like Santa Teresa. I like Ipanema as it has nice beaches, good restaurants and night life, great sucos bars, and the opportunity to make many friends - Brazilian and international. Go to Lapa for samba and dance clubs.9
runwildrunfree is completely right... Rio is a amazing city!Now, As a brazilian woman, and a Rio de Janeiro habitant, I gotta say: proper common sense is mandatory, more than proper common sense is advisible. Stay in places like Ipanema and Leblon. Try to do not show cameras, jewelery, etc. around... I saw some tourists last week with huge cameras taking a stroll downtown I was quite shocked... At late night, do get taxis, instead of walking.
And a good thing is to dress like the locals... Anyone can look brazilian (black, blond, japanese, chinese, indian...), so Cariocas know you are a foreigner mainly because of what you dress. Try to mingle and you'll be fine.
Women should be more careful then men, as usual.
10
carioca, thanks. yes, rio is amazing .... and i do agree that dressing down is good.the only instance i've known of of trouble on the many trips i've made, and make, to rio, was when some guys from my hostel were walking around in lapa completely drunk at 4 am, and got roughed up and robbed.
there's a vast lot more to rio, and to brasil, than most visitors will ever experience or try to understand.
i often stay with a friend in a favela - vidigal - so have an understanding of rio's culture from different aspects.
pics
http://runwildrunfreefilms.blogspot.com/2011/09/brazilian-beach-life-naturally-athletic.html
11
Nice Pictures! Quite liked the high school grads asking for money... I did that myself at Copacabana Beach!Lapa is a place people should be careful - stay in the touristic areas! Nowadays there's lots of police officers around Lapa, so is much safer then about 2 years ago.
By the way, is an important thing to say that Rio now is much safer then sometime ago, with new security policies.... In two years almost all Favelas in the south area were taken back from drugdealers by the State, and we dont see violent scenes as we used to. We are getting ready for the World Cup and the Olympics, the town is cleaner, safer, more self-confident! Is a great time to visit Rio!!!
12
I'm going to Brasil in April and wanted to go visit Rio De Janeiro too but i'm a bit scared to go, don't feel it's safe, specially going with my 2 young children, although i was born in Brasil and raised in Sao Paulo i always heard bad things about Rio, a lot of kidnapping and robberies, lost bullets and etc...I've been living in Australia for the last 8 years but have my family in Brasil so we are going to visit but my grandfather wants us to go visit him in Rio and i'm so worried, i think because the kids speak english maybe someone will kidnap them or rob us or whatever, even though i know i shouldn't wear jewelery, cameras and expencive things on me i still get scared, i was robbed when i was younger and since then i get really anxious about going back to Brasil...My husband says that is all in my head but how do i get over my fears?
