Rio de Janeiro Safety Tips
Tips for Staying Safe on Vacation in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro safety is a concern, as the city of more than 8 million people has a large amount of crime and is reported to have some of the highest homicide rates in the world. Most violent crimes occur far away from the areas frequented by tourists, but aggravated robberies do occur in the Copacabana and Ipanema Beach neighborhoods. These tourist areas are also known for occasional purse snatchings, pickpocketing, and muggings.
Precautions and Rio de Janeiro Safety Tips
- Leave expensive or expensive looking watches and jewelry at home. Wear a cheap watch and never have gold chains or pendants visible.
- Keep your camera deep in a zippered pocket, or attached in a small pouch to your belt and covered by your shirt. For more information see our photo and camera tips page.
- Make copies of your passport and credit cards. When possible leave passports locked up in the hotel room safe and take a photocopy out with you.
- If possible, don't carry large amounts of cash with you on the street. You might carry small amounts in a pocket that's easy to reach, and keep larger bills deeper in zippered pockets.
- Women: a purse is OK to carry, just make it a cheap one, and keep most of your cash and cards in a money belt under your blouse.
- Some people carry a "mugger's wallet" in their front pocket, which is a small amount of paper money and an expired credit card clipped together or held with a rubber band. The theory is that if you are held up, the mugger will accept this "wallet", while your real wallet is hidden away. Note: we cannot vouch for the effectiveness of this strategy!
- Avoid walking on the beaches after dark, unless you are with a large group of people. Tourist robberies occur with great frequency on the beaches adjacent to the nightclubs and hotels on Copacabana beach. Also avoid walking down streets near the smaller Favelas (shanty towns) that border Ipanema and Copacabana.
- Resist the any temptation to bring strangers back to your room, as after a night of partying you could be robbed or assaulted. Many of the guys and girls who cozy up to tourists in nightclubs are actually prostitutes and some are criminals. Avoid the late night stolen cash, credit cards, and passport drama!
- Be careful when visiting Lapa, Santa Teresa, and Centro neighborhoods after dark. Stick to the well lit and busy restaurant and nightclub areas.
- Don't ride the city buses later at night, when robberies may occur. Walk on well lit streets and take taxi cabs to further away destinations.
- If you are held up or are the victim of a purse snatcher or pickpocket, cooperate and don't give chase. Many thieves in Rio de Janeiro carry knives or guns and are quick to use them when challenged.
- Don't take valuables to the beach. In addition to reading these Rio de Janeiro safety tips, visit our Rio de Janeiro Beach Tips page.
- Dress down whenever possible if you are walking on the street at night. Don't make it a fashion show while on your Rio de Janeiro vacation.
Above all, like in any large city, exercise caution and common sense when being out on the street in Rio de Janeiro. Maintain a low profile and have a great time!
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