Staying Safe on Your Trip to Rio de Janeiro

Is it safe to visit Brazil?  Yes, and millions of tourists do every year.  It is typical of news agencies to report the most spectacular events and gruesome crime and it is easy to get the wrong impression.  This works both ways.  I remember that my Brazilian friends asked how anyone had the nerve in the US to go to the shopping malls since people were being killed by snipers hiding in the trunks of cars.

Think Manhattan and you should be OK in most tourist areas of Rio.  Don’t go staring at the tall buildings or wearing a camera about your neck.  This behavior attracts pick pockets.   Don’t wear any jewelry, fancy watches, or the like.  See the Dress Guide for tips on how to blend in.

Common sense is the best precaution.  Don’t allow strangers to assist you at the cash machine and don’t follow them on foot as they guide you to a special bar or restaurant.  They may be perfectly fine, but why not be a little more cautious.

When going to the beach, leave everything in the hotel safe except for a few Reais for beach food.  R$20 - R$40 in small bills will get you soft drinks, beer, and snacks a plenty from a beach vendor.  If you plan to buy a full meal or lots of cocktails, take more.

One saying in the Copacabana area is not to let your feet touch sand at night.  This means no midnight strolls on the beach in this area.  There are other places in Rio and Brazil where this is fine, but the high tourist area is not one of them.

Don’t walk alone at night, especially if you have been drinking.  I am referring here to couples as well.  Larger groups are generally much safer.  Use taxis to bar-hop at night, especially if you are going more than one or two blocks.  If you want to dine in Ipanema but you are staying in Copacabana, take a taxi to and from the restaurant at night.  Never walk in the tunnels that join Copacabana to Ipanema.

Do not leave any luggage or other possessions out of your site at any time.  If possible, don’t leave let them out of your hand.  Try to watch your luggage being placed in a taxi trunk before you get in yourself.  If you arrive in a large party and need to take several taxis to the hotel, try to put at least two people in each taxi and separate the luggage between the two.  I have heard of luggage being stolen while the taxi driver is being paid.  Inside a hotel is generally fine if the luggage is in the position of a bell hop.

Things to carry around with you.

• A copy of your passport and driver’s license.

• Pocket money - R$ 20 to R$ 40 in small bills.  If you are going to make a purchase or go out to dinner, take more and take a credit card as well.  Use the card only if you don’t have enough cash.

• Your emergency telephone list of phone numbers from back home.

• A business card showing the phone and address of your hotel.

• A business card of your favorite taxi driver if you have one.

• A R$ 5 public telephone card.  This is for emergencies since public phones do not take money.

• A cell phone if you are renting one.  Place this in your pocket or purse, not on your hip.

• Sunscreen if you plan to be out in the sun a lot.

• Cash cards only if you plan to go to the bank.

• Credit cards only if you plan to go to the bank, major shopping, or to a nice restaurant.