Is Brazil Safe for Solo Travel? What You Need to Know

If you’ve been told before that Brazil isn’t safe, then well, join the club. 

Brazil definitely doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to safety, and it’s unfortunate that especially if you’re a woman solo traveler, we have to think about these things. 

So is it true? Does that mean you shouldn’t solo travel in Brazil?

Something I could talk endlessly about is how the media and just general stereotypes perpetuate this idea that Latin American countries like Brazil are scary and unsafe.

And while I wish I could say that it’s totally made up and sensationalized, I have to be totally honest with you — “Is Brazil safe?” is a complicated question, and yes, Brazil does struggle with safety issues. 

I’ve been to Brazil multiple times, and my first trip was a three-week solo trip through a few different cities. Unfortunately, I was robbed, which as you can imagine, definitely put a damper on things.

However, I still fell in love with Brazil, and have returned multiple times since then. 

So I share all this not to deter you from visiting — in fact, it’s the opposite! I want you to know what to expect so you can feel prepared. 

We’ll get into some tips to help you stay safe in Brazil, and everything you should know ahead of time when it comes to safety, like with communication and getting around, but first, let me say this: it is more than possible to have an amazing time, and Brazil is more than worth visiting, despite the risks.

How to stay safe in Brazil

In general, the main risk that tourists have to worry about is theft. Violent crime against tourists is very rare.

While unfortunately sometimes safety is out of our control, and just takes some bad luck, there are some things we can do to stay protected and reduce any likelihood of something happening. 

These are the things I keep in mind every time I visit.

Avoid valuable jewelry

Unfortunately, this was the piece of advice that I disregarded during my solo trip to Brazil. (I share more about what happened here if you’re curious). 

I was wearing a gold necklace that I could swear was subtle and not noticeable — but alas, sometimes I’m wrong.

So with that said, this is now the #1 piece of advice that I offer to other travelers. Leave anything valuable or sentimental at home, and use this as an opportunity to stock up on some cute, but cheap, accessories for your trip instead. 

Be careful with your phone

Later on during my solo trip to Brazil, while I was in Salvador, I was walking by myself while using my phone to navigate (I didn’t learn my lesson, apparently), when all of the sudden a group of construction workers started yelling at me. 

I knew absolutely 0 Portuguese at the time, but with some repetition and gesturing, I gathered they were warning me about walking around in that area, especially with my phone out. 

Unfortunately, especially in places like Rio and Salvador, getting your phone stolen is all too common. I’ve heard of incidents from way too many travelers. 

Take it out only while you’re using it, and then put it away. 

At home I always walk around with it in my hand, and keep it on the table at restaurants, but I avoid doing this while in Brazil.

I’ve even met people who brought an old phone just to use in Brazil, so they had a back-up just in case. While to me, this feels a bit extreme, if this is doable for you, it’s something to consider. I do however have my phone insured, so if something happens, I can easily replace it.

Don’t take more than you need with you for the day 

Just take whatever cash you think you’ll spend, and one card, and leave everything else in your accommodation. 

Some people have differing opinions on this, but I personally never carry my passport, either, unless there’s a specific reason I’ll need it. 

I learned this lesson not in Brazil, but years ago when I had my wallet stolen in Cambodia. 

As a naive 19-year-old with barely any travel experience, I had literally all my cash for a three-week trip in my wallet. I’d purposely brought a purse that zipped close, but a few cocktails in, I had apparently forgotten about this.

This experience is all too common, and I am forever grateful that I was not traveling solo this time and my friend who I was with could cover me for the rest of the trip. 

So especially especially if you’re solo, make sure your money is separated!

Keep an eye on your things

When at a restaurant or bar or just out, always be aware of where your bag is and have it in reach. 

At the beach, I try my best to hide my things or ask someone to watch them if I go in the water (which I rarely do, so it’s not a huge issue for me, tbh). And by watching them, they need to actually be close by to your things to prevent something from happening (my husband once learned this the hard way when he asked a stranger to watch his things in Rio).

When I’m lying down at the beach, I keep my bag looped around my ankle or touching me at the very least.

If you’re with a group, it’s best if not everyone goes in the water at once.

Get travel insurance

Of course, we don’t want anything to happen on your trip, but sometimes, you can do everything right, and it’s out of your control. 

That’s why I always get travel insurance when I leave the country, especially since I know my regular health insurance doesn’t work outside of the U.S.

I personally have always used World Nomads on my international trips, and could not recommend them more. 

Make sure to do your research on the plan that’s right for you, and make sure you understand what’s covered. Theft, in general, is covered, but there are some stipulations. 

🗺️ Find out more about World Nomads here!

In case you were wondering, I didn’t file a claim when I got robbed in Rio, since I didn’t want to bother with going to the police, and my necklace, which was stolen, had sentimental value rather than being something I needed and would have to replace.

But the couple times I have filed a claim, they’ve really come through for me and ended up saving me hundreds of dollars. I share more about my experiences filing a claim in this World Nomads review.

Research the best neighborhoods to stay in

This is important regardless of where you’re visiting, and Brazil is no exception.

You’ll definitely want to be mindful of booking somewhere close to a lot of sightseeing, and that’s considered relatively safe and more tourist-friendly.

I always look up blog posts and Reddit threads to find out which neighborhoods are the safest/best for first-time visitors when I’m planning a trip.

If you need help deciding, I have neighborhood and budget accommodation guides for São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro , and Salvador, currently, with more to come!

✈️ Don’t forget to apply for your visa, either! All the details are in this Brazil visa guide.

Safety around Brazil

In general, I think it’s best to take extra precautions whenever you’re in a different country, since you’re in unfamiliar territory.

But, with that all said, Brazil isn’t a monolith, and like in most places, there are degrees of safety throughout the country. In Paraty, a small historic city in the state of Rio de Janeiro, I felt super safe. I even had my camera out with me for pretty much the entire time, which is something I can’t often say in Brazil.

In Porto de Galinhas, a beach town in the Recife area in Brazil’s northeast, I remember my husband (a Rio local) being shocked to find out that we could leave our things on the beach unguarded while we went in the water — something you should never do in Rio!

In general, beaches are also not the safest, so be especially careful at night when the beach is empty.

Basically, you want to be extra aware of your surroundings in areas that are super empty (no wandering around in quiet alleyways, please), along with in very crowded places, like street parties or street markets.  

You may have heard of favelas — in case you’re unfamiliar, they’re essentially low-income communities. 

A good rule of thumb is to be careful visiting and do your research ahead of time. Some are more tourist-friendly, but you don’t want to be wandering around on your own or going without any sort of plan.

Getting around Brazil

I 100% recommend Ubering when you can. It’s available in major cities, including Rio, São Paulo, and Salvador, and is definitely considered the safest way of getting around.

Plus, it’s also extremely affordable!

In major cities, public transportation is also available. 

While I wouldn’t say it’s unsafe, you definitely want to be on guard, and I would avoid it at nighttime or if you have all your luggage with you. 

In Rio, the subway does have a woman-only section during peak times, which is great, but personally, I’ve never used public transportation while alone. 

Also make sure you have a local SIM card (I recommend Saily — check out my whole review here) so you can easily navigate, have constant access to Uber, and can contact people if need be, without needing to connect to WiFi.

Safety for solo women travelers in Brazil

To be honest, there’s not any advice I’d give for Brazil that’s different from traveling anywhere, or even just being at home. 

On my solo trip, I encountered hardly any catcalling (way less than in the U.S. honestly), and while as a woman, it’s sadly normal to always be extra-alert and extra-aware, I don’t think Brazil offers any particularly unique risks or things to look out for.

But if you’re a woman traveling solo, I’ll just point out again the importance of Ubering. You can follow along with the route as you’re going, and you can also share your trip with someone. 

This is probably the one thing I do differently while in Brazil. While at home, if it takes less than 30 minutes or so to walk, I’d usually do this while driving. 

But in Brazil, if somewhere takes more than five or 10 minutes to walk, I’d Uber anyway, even if it seems silly for such a short distance. Maybe if I ever get to a point where I’m super comfortable with navigating and fully know where to go, I’ll feel more comfortable walking, but in the meantime, Uber it is!

Communicating in Brazil

During my first solo trip to Chile and Argentina, I met a couple other solo travelers who told me they’d been to Brazil.

“Be prepared to not speak to anyone,” one girl told me — she’d encountered basically no English speakers, so if you don’t speak Portuguese, according to her, you’re pretty much out of luck.

I don’t really agree with this, and this definitely hasn’t been my experience over the course of my few trips. 

I will say that knowing some basic phrases in Portuguese will make your time in Brazil much easier. It’s true that if you’re at a random restaurant or need to ask someone on the street directions, the odds are that they won’t speak English. 

But, as a tourist, it’s likely you’re going to be doing touristy things, and the people that work in tourism, around the world, generally do speak at least some English. 

So, I think you’ll overall be okay. 

I also find it hard to believe that you won’t encounter other English-speaking tourists, at least in major cities. If you go to super underrated spots that are mainly visited by other Brazilians, then sure. 

But in Rio, São Paulo, etc, there are definitely going to be other foreign tourists who speak English.

Also, if you speak any Spanish, this will help. (Before you come for me, yes, I know it’s not the same as Portuguese, and they don’t speak Spanish in Brazil!) 

Many words are similar or the same, so once you get familiar with the Brazilian accent, you can start to pick up at least on the gist of what people are saying. 

I’m not fluent in Spanish by any means, but this still helped me a ton, so I’m sure if you’re actually fluent you’ll be even better off.

What has also helped me a lot has been good old Google Translate.

 I’d definitely recommend downloading Portuguese on GoogleTranslate before your trip, so you can use it regardless of Wifi or cell service. 

It has a lot of cool features like talking directly into your phone microphone (just keep it short, as it tends to cut you off), or using the camera to translate menus and other signage. This has been a life saver for me!

Best Activities for Solo Travelers

Anything you want to do is a great activity for solo travelers!

Museums and going to the beach are two of my favorite travel activities, solo or not.

I also love going on free walking tours. Not only are they super budget-friendly, obviously (just make sure you tip at the end), but they’re usually a great way to meet other travelers.

If there’s a lot of sightseeing you want to do, sometimes going on a paid tour is the easiest option. When I was in Rio my first time, I did a full-day tour that included the Christ the Redeemer statue, Escadaria Selarón, Santa Teresa, and Sugarloaf Mountain. Having the transportation all dealt with definitely made everything super easy.

The only things I personally wouldn’t do alone (your comfort zone may also be different than mine though!) are hiking or going out to a nightclub — but when I’ve wanted to do those things, it’s always super easy to find a tour through Viator or GetYourGuide, or find a group from my hostel. 

I haven’t tried this, but you could also connect with other travelers through Facebook groups or other apps.

Brazil solo travel itinerary

If possible, spend at least a week in Brazil — this is the perfect amount of time to spend in one or two cities. 

If you have even more time though, even better. 

Like I said, I spent three weeks on my first trip to Brazil, and I got to visit a few different places. 

I saw a lot, but it still left me wanting more from Brazil — it’s a huge country, and even a few visits later, I still have so much to see!

If you’ve never been to Brazil, I think Rio de Janeiro is a must. There’s a reason it’s known as one of Brazil’s most iconic cities, from its gorgeous beaches to its beloved sights like the Christ the Redeemer statue and Sugarloaf Mountain.

There’s a ton to do here, it’s super social, and I just could speak endlessly about how amazing Rio is.

Sao Paulo is another awesome city that makes it onto most Brazil itineraries, that’s also super solo-traveler friendly. 

Personally, I’d just spend a couple days here (and that’s exactly what I did).

It’s an amazing city, especially when it comes to restaurants and museums, and there’s all around a ton to do. But assuming you don’t have that much time to spend in Brazil, I’d dedicate more time to some of the other places in this guide.

Iguazu Falls is one of the most special places in Brazil (and Argentina, technically). It’s a natural wonder and is really unforgettable. 

You can visit really easily on your own, while going on a tour to visit the Argentina side. For that reason, I’d recommend giving yourself two full days here.

I visited as a solo traveler and befriended a Brazilian mom on my tour to the Argentinian side. We didn’t speak each other’s languages but we both spoke some Spanish, so we made it work, and hung out together for the day. Experiences like this are part of what I love about solo travel!

Specifically for Afro-Brazilian culture, there’s no better place to visit than Salvador. Not only does it have a ton of culture and history, but it also has some of the best food in Brazil. Plus, it’s super beautiful, with amazing beaches as well. 

This three-week itinerary lays out all of these destinations (plus Recife, another one of my favorite places in Brazil) and what to do!

Final thoughts: Is Brazil safe for solo travelers?

Although it’s important to keep the risks in mind, that doesn’t mean that Brazil isn’t solo travel friendly.

If you’ve never traveled before or have never traveled solo, yes, it may not be the easiest destination to visit.

But with that said, I still think it’s an amazing place to travel solo, if you’re willing to get a bit outside your comfort zone and be challenged at points.

Let’s be honest, one of the best parts of solo travel is that you get to do whatever you want, without answering to anyone else. And in Brazil, there’s so much to do depending on your interests, from beach-hopping, to hiking, to visiting museums, trying new foods, and enjoying nightlife. 

On my first solo trip here, I encountered so many other solo women travelers from around the world, and just solo travelers in general, which definitely felt comforting.

I was 25 during my solo trip to Brazil, and I met plenty of women that were younger than me too, which I was definitely impressed by — I would not have had the confidence when I was younger!

Of course, I can’t generalize an entire country and group of people, but I’ve also encountered so many welcoming, warm locals while in Brazil.

Brazil is really so much more than its reputation for safety, and I hope you have a chance to experience it. 

If you’re ready to get to planning, head to one of these guides next:

• 5 Best Places to Visit in Brazil for Your First Trip
• Three Weeks in Brazil Itinerary
• Is Brazil Expensive to Visit? A Budget Breakdown
• One Week in Rio de Janeiro Itinerary
• How to Visit Salvador, Brazil: A Complete Guide
• Best Things to Do in Recife, Brazil: Beaches, Food & History
• Top Things to Do in Porto de Galinhas, Brazil
• 15 Best Things to Do in Sao Paulo, Brazil
• Brazil Side of Iguazu Falls: What to Know Before You Go