Is South America Safe to Travel? My Honest Take After a Year of Backpacking

Is South America Dangerous to Travel?

Honestly: No. At least, if you stick to the tourist routes.

In a year of backpacking through South America, nothing ever happened to me. And I traveled through Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia.

That said, I don’t want to downplay the high crime rates in South America. Not at all — that’s the harsh reality of the continent.

But of everything you hear about in the media — shootings, drug trafficking, all of that — you’ll barely encounter any of it as a tourist.

Of course, it also depends a lot on the country. South America is a huge place, after all.

Find out which country in South America is right for you

Which Are the Safest Countries to Travel in South America?

The safest countries in South America right now are Uruguay and Chile — and I can back that up from personal experience.

I found Uruguay to be almost as safe as Europe. Though I was only there briefly.

In Chile, the south of the country is especially safe — Patagonia above all. The Argentine side of Patagonia is the same story, by the way.

In general, every country in South America has unsafe and safe regions. Tourist destinations are usually in the safer ones.

Which Are the Most Dangerous Countries to Travel in South America?

In my experience, Ecuador and Brazil were the most challenging for South America travel safety. Venezuela is probably even more dangerous — but I didn’t dare go there at all.

In Brazil, theft is extremely common, especially in large cities, and tourists get robbed regularly. You really need to be careful about which neighborhoods you walk into.

Read my full safety tips for Brazil

Ecuador is currently dealing with serious criminal gangs. When I was there in 2023, a presidential candidate was shot. And in January 2024, a TV station was stormed on live camera.

Always check the latest travel advisories from your government before you go — situations can change fast.

What You Need to Watch Out for to Stay Safe in South America

To stay safe in South America, there are a few things to keep in mind. I was never in a truly dangerous situation myself.

But I did meet tourists who had been robbed or pickpocketed. Honestly, in many cases, they’d made it easy for the thieves.

Sitting on the beach at night. Walking alone through deserted neighborhoods. Leaving your backpack unattended at a restaurant. Wearing an expensive watch.

That’s basically asking for trouble. You might get away with it in other parts of the world, but not when it comes to how safe South America is in practice.

So my most important piece of advice:

Adapt your behavior to the situation on the ground!

Here are my most important tips for staying safe in South America:

• Always take Uber or a taxi at night — don’t walk.
• Avoid deserted areas and poor neighborhoods.
• ALWAYS and EVERYWHERE keep an eye on your bags.
• Keep your valuables close to your body.
• Leave important documents like your passport at your accommodation whenever possible.
• Leave expensive jewelry at home.

That’s the quick version. For some countries, I’ve written full articles on safety with much more detail.

Safety tips for Brazil
Safety tips for Colombia
Safety tips for Chile
Safety tips for Argentina
Safety tips for Peru

Dangerous Animals in South America

There are quite a few dangerous animals in South America: snakes, spiders, predators, scorpions. The list is long. But the chances of actually running into them are slim.

The thing you should really watch out for is mosquitoes.

There are more than enough of them, and they can transmit serious diseases. Make sure to visit a doctor before your trip and ask about recommended vaccinations for your destination.

I personally got vaccinated against rabies and yellow fever and got my hepatitis A and B boosters. Next time, I’d also get vaccinated against dengue fever.

If you’re traveling to malaria zones — primarily the Amazon — you’ll want to take precautions for that too. I didn’t need to for my trip.

The most dangerous animal I actually encountered in South America was an aggressive dog. It bit me in the leg twice. Afterward, I was genuinely grateful for my rabies vaccination — even though the disease is very rare in South America.

Are Overnight Buses in South America Dangerous?

Overnight buses in South America are a mixed bag. I’ve heard everything from “way too dangerous” to “totally fine.”

I took overnight buses constantly throughout my trip, since I wanted to avoid domestic flights as much as possible. I never felt unsafe and always arrived in one piece.

That said, overnight buses do come with real risks you need to know about. Narrow, winding roads in poor condition are the norm in South America — and at night, they’re even more treacherous.

On top of that, bus drivers can be exhausted, and robberies on buses do happen.

My tip: Spend a little more on a ticket from a reputable bus company rather than going with the cheapest option. Safety standards vary enormously.

I did have one accident on an overnight bus. In the middle of the night, a cow was standing in the road, and when the driver swerved, a car slammed into us.

Other than two wrecked vehicles and three injured people, nothing worse happened — even the cow survived.

Other than that, I had no problems at all.

Solo Travel in South America

When traveling solo in South America, you need to be a little more careful — simply because you’re easier to target alone than when you’re with a partner or a group.

Pay particular attention to avoiding deserted areas. If something goes wrong there, you’re on your own.

Also important: think carefully about who you go along with. When you’re traveling solo, you’ll constantly be meeting new people. You can never know in advance whether they’re trustworthy.

My tip: Don’t be too naive, and trust your gut. If something feels off for whatever reason, listen to that feeling.