South America is one of the most breathtaking continents on Earth. Jaw-dropping landscapes, carnival energy, ancient ruins, and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Yet there is another side to this story, one that guidebooks don’t always highlight boldly enough.
With just around eight percent of the global population, Latin America and the Caribbean accounts for nearly a third of homicides worldwide. That’s a staggering number. And while it’s absolutely unfair to paint every city with the same brush, travelers deserve honest, data-backed information before booking their flights. So here are twelve South American cities tourists consistently flag as places where they feel unsafe, backed by recent reports, crime indices, and official travel advisories. Let’s dive in.
1. Caracas, Venezuela – A City Under Siege
There is no city in South America that tops more danger rankings than Caracas. According to Numbeo’s current crime index, Caracas, Venezuela leads South America with a crime index of 81.5 and a safety index of just 18.5 – numbers so extreme they barely leave room for interpretation. Honestly, this is not a close call.
Large-scale and violent demonstrations frequently occur in Caracas and many other areas across the country, resulting in many arrests, injuries, and deaths. The situation escalated dramatically at the start of 2026. On January 3, 2026, military strikes took place on several sites in Venezuela, including military facilities in the city of Caracas and neighboring states, after which Venezuelan authorities declared a State of External Commotion. The current situation in Venezuela is described as tense and could escalate quickly.
The U.S. Department of State has issued a Do Not Travel warning to citizens visiting Venezuela. With a worrying rate of violent crime and the possibility of political action breaking out at any moment, the department also believes the risk of wrongful imprisonment could carry over to visiting tourists. Since 2024, dozens of foreign citizens have been arbitrarily detained by Venezuelan authorities. That detail alone should give any traveler serious pause.
2. Guayaquil, Ecuador – When a City Goes to War
Few cities in South America have collapsed so fast. Guayaquil used to be a manageable port city. Today it reads like a crisis zone. Ecuador’s murder rate spiked dramatically in 2023, and Guayaquil is the most dangerous city in the country. According to Reuters, the rate of murders has increased several times over since 2016.
In early 2024, a group of people toting guns and other weapons barged their way onto a live TV broadcast in the city of Guayaquil. Things escalated in the months that followed after Ecuador’s president declared war on crime. In March of the same year, nine people were killed in an attack in the neighborhood of Guasmo, and five tourists died after being mistaken for rival gang members. That last sentence is genuinely shocking.
In January 2024, Ecuador declared a state of emergency and declared war on drug gangs after attacks broke out, with that conflict still taking place and cities like Guayaquil remaining areas to avoid. Ecuador experienced the largest regional deterioration and the second largest global deterioration in peacefulness on the 2024 Global Peace Index, with a fall of over twelve percent in score, primarily due to increased drug-related and gang-related violence.
3. Salvador de Bahia, Brazil – Culture and Crime in Collision
Salvador is one of the most culturally rich cities in all of Brazil. Its Afro-Brazilian heritage, Carnival celebrations, and colonial architecture draw visitors from across the globe. Here’s the thing though – the city’s beauty comes with an alarming statistical reality. Salvador, the capital of Bahia, reported one of the highest homicide rates in Brazil, with 66.4 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, highlighting the significant violence that continues to plague one of the country’s most historically and culturally rich cities. Known for its Afro-Brazilian heritage, Salvador faces a troubling contrast between its cultural importance and the pervasive issues of crime and inequality.
With everything from food, music, and religion, most tourists looking to discover Afro-Brazilian culture will visit Salvador and start in the Pelourinho area. Though Pelourinho is popular and on arrival tourists feel welcome, the risk of assault and street robbery is very high. There are many other unsafe neighborhoods to avoid, such as Mata Escura, Palestina, and Baixa do Tubo. Salvador and Natal cannot be placed on the list of the safest Brazilian cities, as they are among the most dangerous. Salvador is even considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world and has been called the murder capital of Brazil.
4. Fortaleza, Brazil – Sunny Skies, Dangerous Streets
Fortaleza is the kind of city that tricks you. Gorgeous beaches, warm temperatures, and a buzzing nightlife scene. Yet the crime data is hard to dismiss. On arrival to this sun-kissed city located in the north of Brazil, it is hard to believe that it could be as dangerous as the statistics suggest. Fortaleza is ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in Brazil for violent crime. Murders and kidnappings tend to be more gang-related, but these acts of crime happen in the streets. Both petty and violent crimes, such as street robbery, are rife here, especially along the public beaches.
Some northeastern cities like Fortaleza, Salvador, and Recife have higher crime rates, even while they remain popular for tourism. The Canadian government specifically lists Fortaleza among Brazilian cities where tourists could become victims of violent crime. Like Rio de Janeiro, the beaches at night are often the most dangerous areas. According to world crime data, Praia de Iracema is the safest part of Fortaleza, but visitors should be extra cautious at night or when traveling alone.
5. Bogotá, Colombia – A Giant With a Rough Edge
Bogotá is a compelling, complex city. There’s no denying it. World-class museums, incredible food, and mountains looming over the skyline. Yet with a population of over seven million people, the scale of the city also means the scale of its problems. Colombia’s capital has over seven million people and is one of the most dangerous South American cities, with murder rates hovering around 26.1 per 100,000. Throughout the area, neighborhood boundaries change quickly, and robberies are pervasive day or night. Bogotá is notorious for drug trafficking and has two particular no-go zones: the Suba and Santa Fe barrios.
Bogotá and other major cities still struggle with crime. Bogotá’s crime rate in 2024 shows a rise in serious offenses such as homicides and sexual crimes. While personal robberies have dropped, theft and street crime still happen in the capital. Tourists should stay alert in crowded areas. The public bus system, TransMilenio, is overcrowded and a favorite spot for pickpockets. If you want to tour Bogotá, taxis or hired car services are the safest ways to see the city.
6. Cali, Colombia – Terrorism Headlines in 2025
Colombia’s third largest city carries a real duality. It’s the salsa capital of the world, beloved for its music, its warmth, its people. It’s also a city that made alarming international headlines throughout 2025. Multiple terrorist incidents took place in the departments of Cauca and Valle de Cauca in 2025, including in the city of Cali. The situation continues to be unstable.
In December 2025, two police officers were killed in Cali while patrolling a sports venue. That same month, the non-state armed group ELN organized an armed strike throughout Colombia, including major cities, from December 14 to 17. During various attacks, ten people died. In August 2025, a bomb exploded near an Air Force base in Cali, killing seven people and injuring more than seventy. Tourists visiting Cali in late 2025 reported feeling constant background tension in the city, and that’s putting it diplomatically.
7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Paradise With a Price
Rio de Janeiro may be the most famous city on this list, and also the most conflicted one to write about. It is genuinely magnificent. The scenery, the energy, the culture – all world-class. Yet the safety challenges are just as world-class. Favelas are prone to gang violence and tourists are easy targets for robbery and other crimes. The United States government has issued a Level 4 highest-risk travel advisory urging visitors not to enter favelas under any circumstances, even on guided tours. Theft is a common crime and can sometimes escalate, so tourists should take care no matter where they are in the city.
According to the Canadian government, armed criminal groups operate in multiple parts of Rio de Janeiro, and armed confrontations with security forces occur regularly in neighborhoods like Complexo do Alemão, Jacarezinho, and Morro do Borel. Express kidnappings, where people are abducted while withdrawing funds from ATMs, are common in major cities including Rio de Janeiro. I think most visitors underestimate just how quickly things can shift once you wander a few blocks off the tourist track.
8. Maracaibo, Venezuela – Rarely Visited for Good Reason
While Caracas grabs most of the headlines, Venezuela’s second-largest city presents its own grim reality. Maracaibo is rarely mentioned in travel itineraries these days, and the statistics explain why. Maracaibo, founded in the 16th century, is located in western Venezuela, sharing a border with Colombia. It sits on the straits near Lake Maracaibo and the Gulf of Venezuela and is home to roughly two million people. With a danger score of 82.57, tourists rarely visit. Maracaibo is a known hub for drug traffickers, with high rates of kidnappings and homicides, especially in the barrios of Santa Lucía and La Chinita.
Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía is described as dangerous, with incidents of violent crime occurring frequently both inside the facilities and in surrounding areas. Kidnappers and armed robbers have targeted foreigners, who are assumed to be holding large amounts of foreign currency. The broader Venezuelan context only deepens the concern. Borders and airspace could close at short notice, and several airlines have already suspended flights to and from Venezuela, reducing options to leave the country.
9. Recife, Brazil – Postcard City With Sobering Numbers
Recife is one of Brazil’s most architecturally striking cities. Canals, bridges, colonial churches, and a coastline that belongs on a poster. It also sits on a list nobody wants to be on. Recife’s streets hold centuries of history, but the challenges of today cannot be ignored. The city struggles with a homicide rate of 44.7 per 100,000. Crime has taken a toll on daily life, leaving many residents feeling unsafe in their own neighborhoods. Organized crime dominates certain areas, where gangs compete for control of drug distribution and extortion rackets.
Express kidnappings, where people are abducted while withdrawing funds from ATMs, are common in Recife. The Canadian government travel advisory specifically flags Recife as a city where tourists could become victims of violent crime, even in tourist areas. It’s hard to say for sure how much that deters visitors, but it’s information that deserves attention before making any travel decision.
10. Manaus, Brazil – Amazon Gateway With Hidden Dangers
Manaus is the obvious jumping-off point for Amazon adventures, and tourism has been growing here steadily. However, the city’s crime data has long been a cause for concern among travelers. Manaus, the capital city of the state of Amazonas, is located in the heart of the Amazon Rainforest at the meeting point of the Solimões and Negro rivers. Despite being a thriving economic hub of Brazil, this gateway to the Amazon has a grim reputation as one of the world’s most dangerous cities, largely because of high murder rates. The Mexico City-based Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice named Manaus as having the 21st highest murder rate globally in 2022.
Manaus, the capital of Amazonas, reported a homicide rate of 47.87 per 100,000 inhabitants. As a key gateway to the Amazon, the city faces growing violence linked to organized crime and drug trafficking. Drug trafficking is the main cause of violence in Manaus, as the city’s strategic location near major rivers makes it a transit point for narcotics, and criminal groups fight over these routes, leading to frequent clashes. The most common incidents for tourists remain theft and robbery, particularly in high-traffic tourist spots.
11. Lima, Peru – An Ongoing Recovery With Caveats
Lima is a genuinely captivating city. The food scene alone is reason enough to visit. Peru’s capital has been working to improve its image, and in some ways, it’s making progress. Still, the country ranks poorly on regional safety indices. According to Numbeo’s 2025 Crime Index by Country for South America, Peru holds a crime index of 67.1 with a safety index of just 32.9, placing it second most dangerous in the region behind Venezuela.
Tourists are advised against going out alone once the sun goes down in Lima, although incidents of crime during the day are not uncommon. The British Government advises against all travel to the Loreto Region on the border with Colombia, as well as the Valley of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers, primarily because of terrorism, organized crime, and the narcotics trade. It is here that Shining Path, the far-left terrorist group that controls most cocaine production and has a well-documented history of brutality, are most active. The situation seems to be settling, and Lima is on track to become a safer destination, but tourists may want to consider alternative destinations for the time being.
12. Natal, Brazil – A Beach Town With Brutal Statistics
Natal sounds like a dream destination. And in many ways, it is. Pristine beaches, warm ocean water, and a laid-back coastal vibe. Tourists absolutely love the idea of this place. The crime data, however, tells a far more complicated story. The most dangerous cities in South America include Fortaleza, Recife, Salvador, Manaus, and Natal in Brazil. Natal has appeared on international homicide rankings for years and continues to be flagged by travel safety organizations.
Its name means Nativity or Christmas, and the famous nearby beach town of Pipa is a popular tourist destination. However, there is safety in numbers throughout the city, and situational awareness is essential. If you want to tour Natal, the safest area is Ponta Negra, the city’s business district. Violence and crime are among the most pressing problems in Latin America. More than forty of the fifty most dangerous cities in the world are located in this region. Natal has, at various points, been listed among them – which is a sobering fact for a city that markets itself almost entirely on its natural beauty.
Final Thoughts: Know Before You Go
South America is not a continent to be afraid of. Millions of tourists travel here every year and return home with unforgettable memories, not horror stories. But ignoring genuine safety data doesn’t make anyone braver. It just makes them less prepared.
The cities on this list all offer something remarkable, whether it’s culture, nature, food, or history. The risks listed here don’t cancel out the rewards. A significant gap exists between South America’s safest cities and its most dangerous. Even in less safe countries, tourist resorts often employ extra security, which helps deter criminals. Staying within established tourist zones, avoiding walking alone at night, using vetted transport, and monitoring local advisories genuinely changes the experience.
The question is simple: would you rather be pleasantly surprised by how smooth your trip went, or caught off guard by something a quick search could have warned you about? What do you think about it? Share your experiences or questions in the comments below.
