Rio de Janeiro is well known for its beautiful beaches, the gorgeous well built bodies of women and men, for the Christ, the sugar loaf and… insecurity.
One of the first questions that pops into a traveller’s mind is “How (un)safe Rio is?”.
Rio de Janeiro, as well as every other larger city in Latin America, has security issues, and the media doesn’t help. Here you won’t read that Rio is the safest place in the world, you’ll ready some tips to make your stay in Rio as safe as possible.
1. Common Sense. I bet you’ve read this in every article about safety. And it’s ok, since common sense has a great deal to do with safety. Don’t do anything you wouldn’t do at home. If you usually don’t come back home walking at night , don’t choose to do it in Rio. If some area doesn’t seem nice, turn around and come back, or stop a cab or a bus. Don’t push a situation. If something doesn’t feel right, just don’t do it!
2. Moving around. Public transportation in Rio is easy to understand. The buses have signs that indicate their routes. Subway is always easy to follow. And taxis are usually safe. Walking around touristy places doesn’t seem to be a problem. And vans always seem to be a cheap and quick way to travel. So, what do you need to have in mind? Having a map it’s always useful. But try always to analyze your map before going out, try to remember where are you going and avoid open your map in public places. It never looks good. Having a glance at google maps, it’s always a good idea, and searching for nearby major points also is.
2. Moving around. Public transportation in Rio is easy to understand. The buses have signs that indicate their routes. Subway is always easy to follow. And taxis are usually safe. Walking around touristy places doesn’t seem to be a problem. And vans always seem to be a cheap and quick way to travel. So, what do you need to have in mind? Having a map it’s always useful. But try always to analyze your map before going out, try to remember where are you going and avoid open your map in public places. It never looks good. Having a glance at google maps, it’s always a good idea, and searching for nearby major points also is.
Taking cabs from the street is usually ok, but if you can ask someone to call one from you, it’s even better. Travelling by bus, it’s usually safer, since it has a fixed route. But be aware of pickpoketeers.3. You have the look! Ok, so you look like a gringo (for cariocas, a gringo it’s not only someone from USA but every foreigner), so you’ll have to be extra careful. Because it doesn’t matter how much in a budget you are if you are blonde and 2 metres tall. In Rio seems impossible to blind in, but try to get along with local way of dressing.
4. Money, money, money. Do you really need to go to the beach with big notes? I don’t think so! Paying a R$ 2.5 coconut with a 50 note…you’re really nuts! Try to have always small notes, and don’t put all your money in the same place: some in your wallet, some in one pocket, and some in the other. Also, about credit/debit cards: take them with you only if necessary; don’t move around Rio with everything you have on you.
5. Electronics. You want to record memories of your travel, I understand. But be clever and learn to choose the place and the time. Going to “Escada Colorida” at night, and display your very very expensive camera to take a couple of photos with your friend, may make you end up with no memories of the Escada and of the rest of your trip. Be smart, take a look around first and then decide if it’s safe.
6. Lapa. If you’re coming to Rio, and you stay here for the weekend you will go to Lapa in the night. Take with you only the necessary, it’s not an expensive place to spend the night, but the amount of tourists it’s directly proportional to the amount of people ready to put their hands in your purse or pocket. If you’re crossing the arches, be very careful, especially if you see a lot of kids around. Trust me: been there, suffer that.
7. Into the sea. Are you roast beefing at the sand and you’re dying to go and have a refreshing bath but you’re afraid of getting your stuff stolen? Ask someone nearby to take a look at your stuff while you’re at the sea. If you have a small bag or backpack you could even move it to someone else’s area. It won’t only allowed you to go to the sea but it could be an ice breaker and you may end up having company for the rest of the day!
8. Paranoid Android. Being paranoid never works. In fact, sometimes seems to have the opposite effect. If you walk holding your purse or small backpack as if you had 1 million dollar in it, most likely some people might think that you have 1 million dollar in it, and you’ll end up loosing your 50 reais and your cheap cell phone.
This doesn’t mean you can walk around as if you were in heaven (although sometimes Rio gets really near to that), be alert, be aware, but try to relax and enjoy the scenery! You didn’t come all the way to Rio to stay at your room afraid of robberies, right?!
