Rio -- How Safe/Unsafe?
 

I probably shouldn't read things like this https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=80367 at 1 am before I go to sleep!

We have 2 nights in Rio pre-cruise. We're staying at the Sofitel. I know the Copacabana Palace is higher rated, but we really got a great price at the Sofitel and it seems to be a decent property as well.

We're planning on having a driver/guide and not venturing out at night or alone during the day. We'll take the recommended precautions of carrying very little cash, dressing very casually, and not wearing jewelry. Still, I'm a bit freaked out by the government report.

For those of you who have traveled to Rio, what were your experiences? I almost feel like I should hole-up in the hotel room for the whole time, but that's stupid too. We're a well-traveled couple in our early 40s--I've never been so anxious about a destination before.

I'm also in my early 40s (well, 44 now) and have been to Brazil 5 times and to Rio on four of those trips. I don't want to make you complacent - I gather from your post that are not as you note the obvious precautions - but I think the dangers are over-hyped. I have stayed at the Rio International which is just 2 blocks form the Palace and never had any trouble. The one crime I saw - apart from discreet recreational drug taking in a club and on the beach - was two guys on bikes nicking a young girl's (age 11 say) mobile phone in broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon when Avenida Atlantica was closed to traffic.

Might I suggest the biggest danger you will face is in the car. They drive like madmen and if your driver is more placid that probably increases the risk that you will be taken out by an 80kmh bus. The buses have manual gear boxes and the drivers all fancy themselves as Ayrton Senna's love child - they are at max revs in fourth gear just aching to shift up into fifth when some old dude in a Fiat Sienna decides to stop a pedestrian crossing of all places. Carnage ensues, unfortunately.

Seriously tadive, get out and about, Rio is amazing and beautiful and sexy and alive - you will be fine if you are as sensible as you sound.

James

Not been to Rio yet so can't comment on first hand experiences.

What I will say though is according to some guide books (mainly USA publications) I have read concerning safety in Buenos Aires. If I were a tourist, I would never leave my hotel room if I believed all what they said. :td:

I do believe that Rio has worse crime statistics than BA but I guess most of it centres round it's own citizens and a very small percentage concerning tourists and most of them might have been caused by carelessness and not taking the necessary precautions.

I agree with James S, enjoy. ^

You should be fine as long as you don't dress flashy and stay within 2-3 blocks of the beach in Copacabana and Ipanema. Use your common sense, don't get stupid drunk and separated from your friends hitting on strangers at 4am. If you stay holed up in your hotel you will really miss out on what Rio has to offer.

Be sensible, don't miss Sugar Loaf and Corcovado
 

Go during the day to the beaches, to Sugar Loaf, and to Corcovado. Nothing in the world as breathtaking as the last two. Get a driver to Corcovado, because you have to go thru a dodgy neighborhood. Wandering among the crowds in Rio is about as dangerous as wandering among the crowds in midtown Manhattan or at Dodger Stadium or Fenway Park

I was a little nervous pre-Rio too, but I really really loved my time there. I felt fine at the beaches, walking around town during the day and on the busier streets at night, and I was alone (granted people think I look Brasilian, and being 6'4 215lb probably helps too).

Plus, if you don't go out at night you'll miss the amazing samba music in Lapa!!!

Even being God himself does not give a guarantee of safety.

As others have said, essentially just be "street smart" and you'll be fine.

(1) no visible jewelry at all, except a plastic watch or such.
(2) nothing in back pockets, and nothing bulky in front pockets.
(3) the cash/credit card you'll need for the outing, and not much more.
(4) look like you know where you're going.

You should be fine on the main street(s) in Copacabana and Ipanema at night, and I can't imagine being cooped up in a hotel room eating room service when I should be out having a lovely dinner where piles of dead livestock keep coming to the table until you just can't take another bite ... but you do anyways.:p

I was in Rio in Nov. 2006. On Nov. 2 a friend and I went into downtown from Copa and did not realize it was a holiday until we were in the downtown area on the bus (All Souls Day) The guide books said not to go downtown on Holidays but they did not say Nov. 2 was a Holiday!!!???

We wre mugged on a Pedestrian area, by a group of teens. Most did not have shoes or even shirts. I lost about $20.00
Not injured but shaken up.

I am going back to South America this Sept. but not going to Brazil!

I went by myself for a weekend to Rio and as a mid-30's female still did not have any issues. You just have to use all your common sense as you would at any tourist destination, or in fact in any big city. Especially at night.

I had a guide for a full day that took me to all the major sites, and we made many, many stops - it was awesome. This was for ease of touring instead of doing it all on my own primarily, safety, and it was not too much more expensive than a giagantic bus tour and I got to do a lot more activities too. The next day I walked miles from one end of Copacabana beach all the way through Ipanema beach and back, relaxed on the beach some, ventured off a couple of side streets to look into some shops and had no issues and did this by myself. I think one person approached me asking for $$, I just said no and continued walking, and that was it. I only had id, some $$, and a small camera that slipped into my pocket.

Ask at your hotel about any areas at night that you should not venture out into, or better yet, take a taxi. Likewise, you should be 100% fine if you do not shout in your appearance, 'I have money, come and rob me!'

As a number of posters have said, just use common sense. Use taxis at night. Try the restaurants Marius in Leme for seafood, or Porcão in Flamengo or Ipanema for great Brazilian steak. These are don't miss. If you are there on a weekend, go to the Hippy Fair (Feria de Hippi) in Ipanema. Don't wear jewelry, and carry only as much cash as you need, and you will be fine. The vast majority of Brasilians are wonderful, and have a great outlook on life. Just don't expect them to be on time.

All good advice.

I agree it's best to stay close to Ave. Atlantica as possible but the rest I do all the time and have to yet to come to grief. Even at night Carioca men dress very casually so it's easy to be flashy in comparison. I personally don't bother dressing down as there is no way I'll blend in. It's doubtful most tourists will be confused with a local even if they have a dark complexion, are in flip-flops and head to toe in Osklen.

IME there is relatively little petty tourist crime in Rio e.g. scamming by taxis, padded bils etc. What I would say is that if crime happens it can happen BIG. That means knives, guns and people willing to kill you. So don't bring out anything you don't want to lose and be 100% prepared to hand it all over without question. I usually go out with R$120 or so and by the end of the night might have R$20 or 30 left. Not worth playing tough guy and risking my life over.

I was in Rio with two other older women (in their late 70's) a few years ago and we had no problems. We were careful, but didn't have any trouble walking to restaurants and events in the evening. We used busses and the subway to get around, but didn't dress flashy and were careful when carrying around purses and cameras.

We did get sprayed with some yellow "mustard" when we were shopping downtown, but just ignored the incident and kept walking with purpose. We were able to wash the stains out of our clothing when we arrived back at the hotel.

I've traveled throughout South and Central America with fellow women travelers and have not had any problems. I think if you travel "smart," you won't have difficulity. Besides...I would never give up the experiences I've had traveling to "potentially less than perfectly safe countries."