Rio de Janeiro Warnings Or Dangers Tips by nickyte

Safety in Rio de Janeiro

It is quite safe to walk around in Rio. I was staying in Copacabana for 2 weeks during the Carnival, went around Rio but had no unfortunate incidents. Contrary to what I have read, searched and gathered from asking tourist forums Rio is quite safe in my opinion. I blended with the people in the street (the Cariocas) so that didn't separate me from the crowd. I have my still camera in my pocket and my video camera was wrapped in a thick plastic bag then I put it inside a grocery bag. I went around with the grocery bag and when I wanted to take a picture or videotape I looked for a crowded spot most of the time near, beside or across from the police at the street corner. Almost every corner in town, on the beach side there is a presence of police. Military police or police in short, men and women. When I need to take a picture I just quickly snapshoot it or videotaped then put it back into my pocket or bag. Places like Corcovado, Sugar Loaf where there are a lot of tourists are good places to expose camera.

Take this advise: do not carry a lot of cash and be on constant watchful eye of your belongings. I would say that in Copacabana, Leblon and Ipanema, tourists are safer than anywhere else, but there is no guarantee that anywhere in Rio is the same.

Try to use your credit card as often as you could. Take note a cash advance from the bank machine or any banks can cost you hefty cash advance charges.
For cash advance I used HSBC as it carries Cirrus, Visa and Master Card, Visa Plus symbols. Local banks like Bradesco, Banco do Brasil do not entertain foreign debit and credit cards.

As much as possible use these machines daytime to avoid any temptations from muggers that lurk from the dark (although I never encountered any of this sort). Take precautions to cover your fingers when keying PIN. Keep your machine receipt and reconcile with bank statements when you arrive home from vacation. Your balance may not be available right away after withdrawal in the machine.

Website: http://www.tenhon.ca/rio/safety.html

Danger in Rio de Janeiro?

I guess there is a lot of overreaction about crimes in Brazil that really hurts that beautiful country. There is just too much exaggeration.

Blame it on vitriolic press reports and the movies. The controversial film City of God which earned a nomination for the best foreign film in the Oscars three years ago depicted the slums of Rio and the crimes perpetrated by the drug lords. Was it ever that scary!

It sent a wave of alarm to many tourists and quashed a multimillion dollar tourism campaign by the government of Rio to project it as a vital tourist destination.

Who are the victims? The poor people of Rio. In reality the level of crimes is nowhere different from the Bronx in New York, the underbelly of downtown LA and the ubiquitous Medellin cartel etc.. Crime is everywhere in this world and no nation should be pinpointed as the cradle of poverty and crime. Every nation, every city has its own share.

The danger that I find persistent in Rio is perhaps being hit by a car than being a victim of robbery. One evening during the carnival night I was in Ipanema at a street corner in a curve. I had my green pedestrian light when I put my foot on the pavement to cross the street, a cab just went by in front of me followed by a bus. It was just about 2 feet from me. I was confused and really found out that it was green for me and red for the passing cars. Carnival madness? Maybe, but watching your steps prior to crossing streets are your best shots. Most pedestrians do what they feel when they are in a rush and so many motorists do feel the same way oblivious of any traffic violations.

Story lines herein are truncated due to space limitations. For full coverage pls refer to the website link below.

Website: http://www.tenhon.ca/rio/riodanger.html