Editor’s Note
This travel advisory has been updated to reflect current risk levels, including specific warnings for certain neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro. Travelers are urged to exercise a high degree of caution and review the full advisory for detailed safety information on urban centers and other risks.
Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).
Risk Levels – Certain neighborhoods of Rio de Janeiro – Avoid all travel; Safety – Updated information on major urban centers, drugged food and drinks, fraud, and transportation.
Exercise a high degree of caution in Brazil due to the high crime rate and regular incidents involving gangs and other forms of violence in urban areas.
Avoid non-essential travel to the following border areas due to criminal activities related to drug trafficking and arms smuggling by illegal armed groups and other criminal organizations:
within 20 km of the border with Argentina, except for Iguaçu National Park;
within 20 km of the border with Bolivia, except for Pantanal National Park;
within 20 km of the border with Colombia;
within 20 km of the border with French Guiana;
within 20 km of the border with Guyana;
within 20 km of the border with Paraguay;
within 20 km of the border with Peru;
within 20 km of the border with Suriname;
within 50 km of the border with Venezuela.
Avoid all travel to the following vulnerable neighborhoods (favela complexes) in Rio de Janeiro due to the very high rate of violent crime, frequent large-scale police operations, and difficulty in obtaining emergency assistance:
Complexo da Maré;
Complexo da Penha.
Criminal activities related to drug trafficking and arms smuggling pose a threat to your personal safety.
If you decide to travel near border areas:
exercise caution at all times;
monitor local media for the latest information;
follow the instructions of local authorities and law enforcement.
Vulnerable neighborhoods, commonly referred to as “favelas” or “comunidades,” are characterized by informal housing, overcrowded areas, less favorable conditions, and/or irregular construction. They are located throughout major cities.
Gang-related violence and organized crime are widespread in these neighborhoods. Armed clashes and shootings between law enforcement and alleged criminals occur regularly. There is a risk that violence may spill over into neighboring areas, including affluent neighborhoods and tourist destinations.
Gangs strictly control access to these neighborhoods. Tourists have been killed after accidentally entering them on foot or by following GPS directions while driving. These neighborhoods are not safe for foreigners, even when accompanied by a local guide. Access to and assistance from emergency services are very limited.
In Rio de Janeiro, Complexo da Maré and Complexo da Penha are particularly dangerous.
The crime rate is high throughout the country, particularly in:
Belém;
Fortaleza;
Manaus;
Recife;
Rio de Janeiro;
Salvador;
São Paulo.
Tourists are primarily victims of theft, but they can also be victims of violent crimes, which often occur in the following areas:
São Paulo:
around São Paulo Cathedral;
Luz Station.
Ceilândia;
São Sebastião.
Paulista Avenue;
the historic downtown area;
the Municipal Market;
the Pinacoteca (Pina) of the State of São Paulo;
Princess Isabel Square;
Satellite cities of Brasília:
Estrutural;
Paranoá;
Santa Maria;
Rio de Janeiro:
Cidade de Deus to Gardênia Azul and their surroundings;
Complexo do Alemão;
Complexo do Turano;
Jacarezinho;
Morro do Borel to Morro do Andaraí and their surroundings;
Morro do Juramento and its surroundings;
Morro do Urubu and its surroundings;
Vila Kennedy to Vila Aliança and their surroundings.