This underrated country is declared the safest country in Latin America

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Security remains a primary concern for Americans traveling abroad, especially in today’s geopolitical climate where security alerts are issued with little to no warning and wars are breaking out left, right and center.

It may not exactly be a battlefield right now, but Latin America has never exactly been known as the most stable region.

Due to widespread corruption and above-average crime rates, extra caution is advised when traveling in LatAm. That being said, there are a handful of countries where safety problems are less pronounced:

An obvious example is Argentina, which has been considered a safe haven in the South for decades – but this is not yet another story about Buenos Aires’ European flair.

According to a new report from Solutions for global citizensthe safest country in Latin America is not the birthplace of tango, but Uruguay, a much smaller neighbor often overlooked by tourists:

Uruguay crowned the safest country in Latin America

Before we delve into some of the reasons why Uruguay is so safeLet’s first look at the methodology used.

To rank the safest countries in Latin America, Global Citizen Solutions analyzed safety data from numerous sources, local crime statistics, and official travel advisories, such as those issued by the U.S. Department of State, to arrive at the wider, most accurate image possible.

In this context, the Global Peace Index (GPI) was particularly relevant, as it measures the level of peace, political stability and societal security, including crime rates, especially when it comes to violent crime and petty theft in major urban centers.

Political stability was then taken into account, including the risk of possible civil unrest, an issue that occasionally affects tourism in countries such as Peru and Ecuador.

Finally, they also looked at the creation of expat communities. As they stated, countries with an established presence of foreigners, and Americans in particular, tend to ‘improved security measures‘ and better access to basic services.

Why Uruguay won big this time

Taking all these factors into account, Uruguay is ranked as the number one safest country in the Latin American group 50th safest worldwide.

If you thought Argentina would be at the very top, it is actually in third place, behind Uruguay of course and Chile, but this is not a comparison piece. Back to Uruguay:

According to figures from Global Citizen Solutions, the number of murders in Uruguay is the same about 8 per 100,000 (which is remarkably low for the region) and the level of political stability is ‘high’. In other words, tourists can expect minimal unrest on the spot.

We’ll touch on some of the main safe cities in a moment, but overall Uruguay is considered a completely stable country, with a strict rule of law and effective police enforcement. These factors have directly contributed to a more trusting society and a lower number of serious, violent incidents.

They noted that pickpocketing can still occur in “busy urban areas,” but that overall Uruguay is safe for tourists.

Where is crime most common in Uruguay?

The US State Department informs Americans that crime in Uruguay is ‘most prevalent’ in the following departments:

• Montevideo (including the country’s capital of the same name)
• Canelones
• Maldonado (including Punta Del Este)
• Riviera

Those are two major tourist destinations: the national capital and the main coastal (and casino) destination in Uruguay, but according to Global Citizen Solutions: they are two of the three ‘most important safe cities’.

Montevideo is a kind of mini-Buenos Aires, known for its beautiful colonial-era architecture, covered markets and vibrant social scene.

Punta del Este, on the other hand, is intended for luxury hotels on the Atlantic Ocean, nightlife and yachting. It is also home to ‘Uruguayan Santorini’, known locally as Casapueblo, a chalk-white coastal complex that resembles the famous Greek island.

As for the third and last important cityis the Colonia del Sacramento, a picture-perfect town characterized by its cobbled alleys, lined with pastel-hued houses and Portuguese-era colonial buildings. Yes, before the Spanish took over, their Lusitan ruled Colonia.

Stay safe abroad with our Travel Advisory Checker

If you’re flying abroad in the coming months and aren’t sure what safety advisories apply to your destination, be sure to check out our US Travel Advisory Checker:

Just type the name of the country into the gadget’s search bar and up-to-date information on safety risks will appear.

The best part is: it is free use, and far less complicated than long-winded, complex government websites.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior head writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60 countries to his name (and is currently weaving stories from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.