South America is a popular destination with tourists looking to explore the rainforest and the Inca ruins. While most South American survival issues revolve around surviving the outdoors, it is just as important to be prepared to make it in the urban areas. Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Sao Paolo are among the largest metropolitan areas in the world. Besides being huge, these cities are geographically confusing and bustling with life.
Safety is usually an issue in South American urban areas and my advice to you is: be prepared.
Overall Safety
When you go, make sure you study and carry maps and guidebooks of the areas you plan on visiting. Learn a few phrases in the local language (Spanish or Portugese) and visit a local tourist office to get advice about which neighborhoods are safe and whether it is wise to venture out at night. Keep your family informed of your whereabouts and plans. Call or message them each time you leave a hotel, let them know where you are going and when you plan on coming back. Stay away from Shantytowns and poor neighborhoods.
Theft
Theft is common, especially when it comes to stealing from oblivious North American tourists. The first rule of traveling in South America is that you have to look poor. Do not wear expensive jewelry or flash your phone. Do not carry a camera around your neck. Lock up your valuables in the safe in your hotel. This may sound like overkill, but a hidden pocket inside the front of your shirt works really well for carrying cash and ID.
Abduction and/or Seduction
If you are walking around with a bunch of bling and expensive technology, you are an easy target for not only petty theft, but a kidnapping. Not that it happens often, but it does happen. Dress modestly. If you are a woman, wear a wedding ring and ignore the unwelcome advances from men. You will be getting quite a few of those. There are many cases of guys offering to be guides for tourists with the goal of either seducing a woman they targeted or creating enough romance to cause her to fall in love and marry the guy, whose only goal is a US green card.
Safe and Smart Transportation
It is easy to get lost in South American cities, so unless you are clear on bus numbers, directions, departure times, etc, you should avoid the public buses. Keep in mind that buses service large areas, both inside and outside of town. Take a wrong bus, and you’ll end up in a village 2 hours away (which is especially fun if you catch the last bus of the day.) Tourists are very obvious to cab drivers and are frequently overcharged. You can ask at your hotel or at the airport what the fares should be. South American infrastructure is still developing and transportation is not always safe. So, be smart and don’t get on overcrowded buses or on airplanes with smoking engines. Keep track of government travel advisories. It helps to read a local newspaper printed in English to know what types of events may affect your trip.
Jungle Safety
If you venture out into the jungle, your best friend is mosquito spray, as South American mosquitoes carry all kinds of diseases. Tall hiking boots and long sleeves are recommended as well. Notify your embassy before you go as some jungles are homes to local gangs.
Lastly and most importantly, my advice to you is to be a copycat. Watch the locals. Pay attention to what streets they avoid, how they carry their money, how they shop, what water they drink and so on.
Learning from the locals and following their queues may literally save your life.
To your survival,
Joseph Wilkinson
