Share the article
As beautiful as it may be, with its rich biodiversity, ancient colonial cities and delectable cuisine, South America is not exactly known as the safest continent compared to Europe, Asia and even its northern counterpart.
Because it is plagued by higher levels of underdevelopment, regional instability, with the occasional military coup that accompanies it, and staggering levels of urban violenceIt is not uncommon for cautious travelers to be put off by paying attention to the news.
While we won’t be ones to downplay the risks associated with traveling in South America, especially if it’s your first time there and you don’t yet have the knack for perceiving immediate threats, we think it’s important to say not all South American countries are dangerous.
It’s true that you shouldn’t let your guard down in Medellin, Colombia, and you could certainly get into big trouble if you go off the tourist path in favela-lined Rio, but that shouldn’t be the case. overdone you are concerned about safety if you are a tourist in four specific destinations.
Based on the travel advisories of the US Department of State, these are currently the safest countries for American tourists in South America:
Peru
We have great news for all culture vultures: Peru, home of the Incas, birthplace of ceviche, and home to diverse landscapes from the towering Andes to the rugged Pacific coast, is one of the safest countries in the northern half of the country. America.
It may have been going through a rough patch recently, especially in early 2023 when a wave of protests broke out, leading to the temporary grounding of flights, and even more stunningly, the closure of the world-famous Machu Picchu to tourists.
The situation has since normalized, and fortunately for Machu Picchu hikers: Peru has taken the reins again to regain its status as a safe tourist hub, a status it has held for decades now as a fairly peaceful state on a continent that seems forever in a state of unrest.
Pickpocketing and social unrest are now two of your main concerns while vacationing in Peru, unlike violence.
Washington has officially restored Peru’s historic Level 2 status, indicating moderate security levels.
Chili
The country with the unusually long, narrow shape that blocks access to the Pacific Ocean from most of its neighbors, and the most developed country in the south: Chile is a safe haven when paired with Colombia, Brazil, Venezuela and the like, even though it isn’t. on everyone’s radar.
Economic inequality remains higher than it should be, a common problem shared by South American partners, but the country enjoys high economic freedom, low perception of corruption – this clearly makes Chile an outlier – and higher income per capita.
As boring as they may sound, these are factors that have certainly contributed to Chile’s development significantly lower levels of violence in recent years: when walking the lively streets of Santiago de Chile, the national capital, or vacationing in a coastal town like Valparaiso, you should be on the lookout for petty theft.
There are no areas in Chile where travel is discouraged, a quite rare achievement to a South American destination, and travel stress mainly arises from occasional politically charged demonstrations, despite the fact that these have not taken place for more than three years.
Uruguay
The lesser-known gem of the quartet, Uruguay, is a small country sandwiched between Brazil and Argentina, with a shorter coastline on the Atlantic Ocean and a long-standing reputation as a low-risk destination where reports of violent crime are sporadic. best.
As in the two other articles above, bag snatching and robbery are the most common offences, although it is far from the majority of tourists who suffer from these.
Anyway: exercise general safety advice significantly reduces the chance of becoming a victim.
When you explore Montevideo, Uruguay’s architecturally eccletic capital, mixing modern high-rises and colonial mansions, or stroll through the luxurious resort zone in Punta del Este, also known as the Monaco of the South, make sure you don’t visibly carries valuables, or leaves items unattended.
Most incidents occur in Montevideo, but as the U.S. Department of State reiterates, U.S. citizens should always be vigilant when withdrawing money from ATMs, avoid showing signs of wealth, and stick to well-lit, high-traffic areas after sunset : do you know, the usual things you do at home.
Argentina
Not only is it the birthplace of tango, it is the global capital of football, and home to what is perhaps the most beautiful city in the global South: Buenos Aires, a European-inspired metropolis crisscrossed by leafy boulevards and flanked by palatial buildings, but Argentina is remarkably safe.
It’s a mandatory stop on any extended South American itinerary, and you’ll be relieved to learn the most tender steak you’ll ever try, and marvel at the grandiose monuments reminiscent of the French Belle époque do not incur any personal costs:
Argentina is the safest country in South America by a mile, with moderate to low levels of violent crime in all major conurbations, including Buenos Aires, where budget cuts and scams are your main concerns, unlike armed robberies and violent encounters.
As the U.S. State Department has ruled, Argentina is a Level 1 destination, the safest country in the world.
It is one of the few destinations currently granted this status, alongside Canada, Iceland, Finland, Japan and other traditionally low-risk countries.
In short
Once again the fact that these countries are safer does not mean they are crimefree.
Steve, we see you scrolling to the comments section to furiously type out how inaccurate this advice is, and Karen, don’t even think about bringing up that one bizarre incident in Buenos Aires when your bag was snatched because you left it on table while dining outside.
Crime can and does occur, but it will occur on a much smaller scale and generally does not affect foreign visitors as much as in other violence-ridden South American countries. But it would help if you made sure you didn’t stand out like A gringo estupidoor at least follow local safety protocols.
If you travel anywhere, make sure you take the usual precautions you would at home, as no place is completely safe, including the four countries mentioned above: keep an eye on your personal belongings, share your location with friends and be aware of your surroundings.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to the latest Travel Off Path breaking travel news, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
