I keep getting messages, mostly from Brazilians, warning that Brazil is dangerous...and more dangerous as you get north. Does nayone out there have any advice?
simon

Good question. I travelled south from Venezuela to Manaus, Belem, over to Recife, Salvador and Rio in April and May this year. I was travelling alone, stayed in cheap hotels ( all with reasonably secure parking)- no camping - no night riding and had no encounters of any kind. On the contrary, I felt strangers went out of their way to make me feel welcome and showed concern for my safety. And that's the rub - Brasilians here in Toronto and in Brazil were unaminous about the danger of violence and robbery. But they also agreed it was a very random crime that can happen anywhere at any time. The exception would be the favelas - just stay out. Salvador and Rio didn't feel safe in the touristy areas and probably no tourist area in Brasil is - just take your "mugger wallet" and don't carry a camera or other electronics.
My favourite theory is that motorcycle travel is the safest possible way to visit Latin America. All other modes of travel; buses, trains, etc attract thieves and take you to the areas where tourists and thieves congregate. Don't wash your bike and conceal the GPS. Be open and friendly but not too chatty and keep moving. Rather than go to bars I would take my well-earned evening brew in a local restaurant and be off the streets by 10:00PM. Finally, I thought truck drivers were my best friends - I would ask about road conditions and routes and they consistently gave good advice ( I know because sometimes I ignored it!). They also were the best drivers on the road - the worse were private cars and buses. Sorry for the long post.

__________________
Ross Alan Davidson, 72, of Mississauga, Ontario died in the wee hours of July 9th 2018 surrounded by his loving family at home.

Thanks for the post. Agreed. I am a little delayed as got hit by three trucks on Tuesday see blog at home
take care, simon

Hi Simongandolfi,

I hope you be better soon from the accident.
About the bandits in Brazil:
As a brazilian I feel worried to invite someone to visit Brazil and any bad thing happens to this person. Because everyday on the news we watch only bad things, people dying for stupid things, etc.
But in opposite I see many people travelling here and there is no problem.

You can see:
Salvador Carlucci at:
A Journey for Healthcare Access
He had a problem, but it was with Highway Patrol Police.
Try to talk to Paulgthomson HU member, he stayed some months in Brazil and some days at my home.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...s/paulgthomson

I disagree with people who say that northern Brazil is more dangerous.
Southern brazilian people have a prejudice against northern brazilian people!!!

Last year I have gone from my town to Ushuaia, I felt too much safe in Argentina, but even argentinian people say that their country is not safe!!!
I think in big cities, always we have to take care anywhere in the world.

If you decided to come to Brazil, you and your Honda Cargo are invited to stay at my home.
I have a thread about free home stay at HU.
I live at Rio Negro town, southern Brazil.
Coordinates:
S 26° 06.006'
W 49° 47.583'
During all october I´ll be on vacation riding by motorbike to Atacama desert and Uyuni Salar, but in the beginning of november I´ll be here.
Anyway contact me!!!

Reginaldo Rohden.

__________________
Ushuaia - 12.000 km - nov. 06.
Atacama Desert & Uyuni Salar - 8.000 km - oct. 07.
Carretera Austral - 10.000 km - apr. 09.

http://www.rohden.smugmug.com/

Don't worry too much, i was there for 14 month and had no problems at all!
Travelled all over the country and miss just 2 states of Brazil!
In every state they will tell you the next one is really dangerous, but you will get used to it!
I think Miami is more dangerous, but that is like everywhere, as soon you are in a big city you will have to watch out a little where you go and what's the time of the day!

Have fun and enjoy your life mate!

Great Simon,
Don't worry about this notices.
The way is taking care of yourself, and don't stay near dangerous places.
All the Brazilians likes the travelers from another countries.
If you pass here, keep in touch.
One big hug,

__________________
----------------------------------------
Robson Giovanni Parisoto.
Fortaleza dos Bruxos Moto Grupo
Visite: http://fortalezadosbruxos.blogspot.com
-----------------------------------------
Jaborá, SC - Brasil
Fone: +55 (49) 9104-5536
GPS: 27° 10.445' S 51° 44.107' W

That's the way friend...

The basic is take care on the big cities, like São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, etc. But, if you leave your motorcycle with the keys in a easy place for the bad people get it, they'll get...

Come to visit us, Brazil is so beatifull...

__________________
----------------------------------------
Robson Giovanni Parisoto.
Fortaleza dos Bruxos Moto Grupo
Visite: http://fortalezadosbruxos.blogspot.com
-----------------------------------------
Jaborá, SC - Brasil
Fone: +55 (49) 9104-5536
GPS: 27° 10.445' S 51° 44.107' W

Brasil like Colombia have a pretty bad reputation and like many other places in the world its based on few real stories, I have been arround SA twice for many month ( 6 month a time ) and never had any problem with thief or kidnaping. I live in the US ( close to Miami) and here too we have very bad area where I can warranty you that you will get mug at night and maybe during the day. Don't be paranoiac , don't show too much money at the time, stay in half descent hotel , avoid place with drug ,prostitute or too much alcool and you will be fine.Don't forget that most of the people which will try to scare you never travel to the actual destination .

have a great trip( but watch for banditos)

Even bandits know that tourists mean money to everybody in an area, if you have pocket change given them that and share some food, pose for a picture with them and be on your way UNMOLESTED. They know that if they screw with a tourist that it means Government trouble of a big kind, ok some really desperate ones will want your kit, so give it to them walk away it's not worth your life.

Now let's put things into context: Think of all of the people backpacking or on package holidays or just touring and then think of all of the people that YOU have personally met that have had holiday trouble! and I don't mean drunken fights or romance gone wrong.

What's that oh you only know of 1 or none so that's Millions to one odds with anything going wrong, we even saw it in the WrongWayDown scare mongering Africa oh 'when things go wrong they go wrong quickly' and after 911 we get spoon fed it all the time don't we 'Don't trust your brother man' is what we are being told time after time after time.

Smiles mean a world of hope and love and greeting to everybody, it's built into us like a reflex action, so with everyone you meet do so with a big cheesey sh*t eating grin, works for me everytime Especially at borders or when dealing with the authorities.

Just like this little fella, but then again it could be coz I just look a little retarded.

Very Good Hendi,
In all the places you go, if you don't take care with the people, you can have problems with then.
Everything is going to be OK.

__________________
----------------------------------------
Robson Giovanni Parisoto.
Fortaleza dos Bruxos Moto Grupo
Visite: http://fortalezadosbruxos.blogspot.com
-----------------------------------------
Jaborá, SC - Brasil
Fone: +55 (49) 9104-5536
GPS: 27° 10.445' S 51° 44.107' W

Brazil is a great place don't worry about it just be sensible like back home,don't miss the pantanel and iquazzo falls,great wildlife and awesome falls,great people especially Carlos.