Rio Carnival: 5 Travel Safety Tips in Rio de Janeiro

The Brazilian city, Rio de Janeiro is always high on a traveler’s travel bucket list – including the Rio Carnival. Brazil’s second largest city and the Carnival Capital of the World attracts half a million tourists from around the world each year.

Rio is an appealing destination with gorgeous people, white sand beaches and amazing food accompanied by exotic night scenes. A flight from Miami to Rio takes about 8 hours 50 minutes and a time difference of only three hours.

Rio Carnival is just one of the many festivities happening in Rio de Janeiro. The city is also preparing to host the World Cup 2014 and Olympic Games in 2016. Rio is definitely one of our favorite cities in South America. While there are many great sites and things to do, there are some unpleasant ones in Rio just like many other great destinations of the world.

Despite the many measures by the local government in cleaning up the crime rate, petty theft, pickpocketing and mugging are still happening around the city.

Here are Travelmath’s 5 travel safety tips in Rio de Janeiro:

One: Look like a local
Rio is not the place to show off your expensive jewelry, suits, dresses or shoes if you want to walk around town without a local guide. You will be an easy target if you stand out too much. Since Rio is a multi-cultural city, anyone of any race can look like the Cariocas (people in Rio are known as Cariocas).

Study the locals or find out from your travel agent what are the best ways to dress in different locations throughout the city. If you are going to the beach, bringing your hotel towel will make you an easy target. The Cariocas are casual.

Two: Be aware
An Australian couple we traveled with told us a story where a well-dressed man on a motorcycle near the beach of Ipanema snatched the wife’s necklace in broad daylight just when she let her guard down.

First off she said she shouldn’t have worn the gold necklace and secondly even if the place looks chic and serene – you will never know.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover” applies to the people you see on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. Kids, women, chic or a scruffy looking person may be targeting you on a street corner or at the beach. Please remember the majority of Cariocas are friendly and great people. There are always the few that we have to be aware of.

Another couple was at the Copacabana beach taking turns to dip into the water. Just when the wife was unaware, her belongings of money, credit cards and small camera were gone in a second.

Three: Avoid certain places
During Rio Carnival, each neighborhood has its street bands, parades and parties. There are now over 300 such events throughout the city and the number is increasing. While you are partying and learning about the Brazilian culture and indulging in Carnival’s activities, avoid getting drunk.

According to Rio Carnival’s website, the street band of Ipanema is the most famous and flamboyant and the parties are the biggest in Cordão do Bola Preta. While partying, don’t bring expensive belongings like a camera, passport, credit card or lots of cash.

Try not to take the metro and public buses or walk in downtown Rio alone at night. Travel in groups. Meeting strangers or fellow travelers is a fun part of traveling. But be careful. What if the one you just met and trusted is violating your trust?

Four: ATM, camera and cash
Brazilian local currency is the REAL. One US Dollar is 2.35 real. While credit cards are widely used in Brazil, there are still some places that prefer cash. Technology advancement in Brazil has made it easy for travelers to get cash from any ATM machine throughout Rio.

You can use credit or debit cards but let your credit or debit card companies know of your travel plans to save you from running into trouble. But there is one trouble you must avoid in Rio, that is don’t use the ATM when you are alone or at night in a deserted place.

Use the ATM with caution and don’t carry a large amount of cash when partying during Carnival or anytime of the year in Rio. Your expensive cameras will be another attraction to the thieves in the streets of Rio.

Five: Watch your bags
Don’t leave bags and cameras unattended or on tables in restaurants. Keep a watchful eye on your belongings. Better yet, wear a money belt and conceal your cash and credit cards. If you must travel with expensive cameras and gadgets – hire a private guide and driver and make sure you have the right travel insurance with you.

They say, “Better safe than sorry” – according to OSAC, “Street robberies continue at a high rate even in affluent neighborhoods in Rio. Cell phones and electronic items--personal laptop computers and electronic tablets--are specifically targeted.” (Source: OSAC)

Don’t let fear deter you from visiting one of the most fascinating cities in the world – Rio de Janeiro. There are just a handful of “bad” people compared to the many beautiful people in Rio.

More information on Rio’s Carnival visit Rio Carnival’s official website.