I just got back from Brazil and it completely exceeded my expectations on so many levels. The streets are vibrant and colorful, surrounded by stunning natural landscapes. It’s a lively country with friendly locals and one of the best places in the world to go to the beach. However, before my travels, I was warned (many times) that many places were not safe for solo travelers and that I needed to take certain precautions. This guide is designed to give you all the essential information you need to safely and confidently travel to Brazil alone.
Where is Brazil?
Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth biggest country in the world by area. It’s so big that it actually borders every country in South America, except for two– Chile and Ecuador. That being said, traveling between places in Brazil takes a lot of time. If you plan on exploring more than one city on your solo trip, you will have a lot of transit time. Also, because of its massive size, Brazil has many diverse climates, from the beautiful Amazon rainforest to milder urban areas.
The best time to visit Brazil is the high season, which is between December and March. This is the peak season for the beaches, and perfect for escaping the east coast’s winter months. The end of February to early March is also a great time to go if you’re looking to experience Brazilian Carnaval. The dates depend on the religious calendar, always preceding the week before Ash Wednesday.
October- November is also a good time to visit if you can’t make high season. It’s not as hot, and way less crowded. You may experience some rainy days, but there’s a lot of sunshine as well. If you’re not a fan of the heat, this is a great time to visit.
Brazil Visa Requirements for US Citizens
If you plan to travel to Brazil alone, you want to make sure you have all the right documentation. One of my reasons for traveling to Brazil now is that there are currently no visa requirements for US citizens to enter Brazil. To be honest, traveling to and within the country was surprisingly easy. All I needed was my passport, since there are currently no vaccination requirements at this time. I felt like I was doing something wrong with how easy it was to get around the country. (But I wasn’t– there just aren’t any requirements right now, and their airports are just super organized and efficient).
However, effective midnight on April 10, 2025, a visa will be required for U.S. citizens to go to Brazil, regardless of the purpose of travel. Whether you’re arriving in Brazil by land, sea, or air, you will need a visa starting next year.
Luckily the process of obtaining that visa seems pretty straightforward. You will have to visit this website to apply for the e-visa. It costs $80.90 (USD) and has a validity period of 10 years, which is awesome because you’ll definitely want to go back.
No other requirements are currently listed for obtaining the visa, starting in 2025. But if you’re planning to visit next year, make sure to check here to stay updated on any requirements. If you want to visit Brazil before the visa requirements take effect, there are direct flights to Sao Paolo from EWR in Newark.
What Language is Spoken in Brazil?
Knowing some of the language will make it easier to travel to Brazil alone. One thing that makes Brazil unique is that it is the only country in South America where Brazilian Portuguese is the official language. If you were expecting Spanish, you’re still in luck. Many locals do speak and understand Spanish. But know that this is not their primary language. They speak Portuguese and will be very appreciative if you learn some before traveling there.
Here are some key phrases in Portuguese that will make your life much easier:
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Olá- hello
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Por favor- please
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Obrigada- thank you, if you’re female
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Bom dia – Good morning
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Boa tarde – Good afternoon
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Boa noite – Good evening / Good night
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Quanto custa? – How much does it cost?
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Você aceita cartão de crédito? – Do you accept credit cards?
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Onde fica o banheiro? – Where is the bathroom?
Something that is important to know is that English is NOT widely spoken. In fact, only about 1% of the Brazilian population speaks English. Even in hotels, it’s common for there to be no one fluent in English. Google Translate or chatGPT will be your best friend in these situations.
English is more widely spoken in major cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, so it’s a good idea to learn the basics of the local language before venturing to more rural or remote areas.
If you only speak English, don’t worry. Locals are more than willing to use Google Translate to communicate with you. In the two weeks I was there, I only had one experience where someone was annoyed at having to use translation to communicate with me, and that was at a fancier restaurant. I actually noticed that many locals who were learning English were excited to have someone to practice with.
Getting Around Brazil:
In urban areas like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, public transportation is efficient and very budget-friendly. Cities like São Paulo have a fabulous metro system, which is clean, safe, and almost always runs on time!
Domestic Flights
Given the massive size of Brazil, domestic flights are often the fastest and most convenient way to travel between cities. This is how I opted to travel between cities on my trip since I was only there for two weeks. It’s also relatively cost-effective when you compare it to traveling domestically within the U.S.
Public Buses
Other than flying, you can also travel between cities via public buses. This is the most cost-effective option, but definitely not the most time-efficient considering the massive size of Brazil. I did not take any public buses, so I cannot speak to their safety. But if they’re anything like the metro system, you would have nothing to worry about!
Taxis and Ride-Sharing
Uber is available in major cities and is a safe and convenient way to get around. They are also relatively budget friendly depending on how many you take. In Florianopolis, an Uber across the island would take about an hour, and cost around 15 USD with surge pricing. In all cities I visited, I noticed that if I chose Uber X, I would have to wait significantly longer than if I chose the comfort option. The comfort option usually isn’t too much more expensive, so I usually picked that.
Taxis are also very easy to get, but they are metered and sometimes cost twice the amount of an Uber. They look like typical yellow cabs and are very easy to spot. I did use just one taxi because my phone wasn’t working for a bit. You are able to pay by credit card for the ones in Rio. If you do use a taxi, make sure the meter starts at the same time that your trip does, so you have no issues with the fare when you’re done.
For solo female travelers, I think it’s best to opt for the metro (when available) during the day and Uber when heading out at night, especially in big cities.
Is Brazil Actually a Dangerous Country?
It’s essential to understand the safety concerns that come with visiting Brazil. According to the Global Peace Index, Brazil ranked 131 out of 163 ranked countries. That definitely does not sound reassuring. But just for some perspective, if you’re from the United States (like me), just know that we ranked 132.
Brazil has a reputation for being unsafe, as it faces high rates of violent crime, particularly in major urban areas. The country has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, with around 45,000 murders annually. Some regions, specifically in the North, experience disproportionately high violence, driven by gang activity and income inequality.
From speaking with people in the US who are from Brazil, and with the locals themselves, they also do not consider Brazil a safe country. I was told not to bring any jewelry with me, not to walk around at night by myself, and not to have my phone out in certain areas due to gang activity. It seems like petty theft is pretty common, although I did not experience any of that while I was there.
How did I personally feel while traveling in Brazil?
From my personal experience, I almost always felt safe when traveling alone in Brazil. I took Ubers mostly everywhere, and except for one crazy driver, I never felt unsafe. No one ever bothered me, and I did not ever feel like I was being targeted while I was alone. I would say, that as long as you are alert, use your common sense, and exercise any normal precautions you usually would to keep yourself safe, then you would be just fine traveling alone in Brazil.
That being said, I do not believe that Brazil is a good idea for your first solo trip. It’s a place where you want to have some experience in getting around an unfamiliar place on your own.
One thing that did happen to me, which was unfortunate, was that my bank card was compromised almost immediately as I got off the plane. I tried to withdraw money from an ATM at the airport, and there was apparently a skimmer on the machine. So my card’s info was compromised and I couldn’t use it for the rest of the trip. If I could do it over again, I would have just withdrawn money at the ATM at my hotel, which probably would have been safer.
Favelas
The one exception regarding safety concerns would be visiting the favelas. You will need to exercise different precautions here, than in the rest of the city. There is a lot to say about the favelas, which I can’t really do justice to in a short blog post. There is no direct English translation for the word, but many conflate it with the word “slum”. In short, they are towns that are not subject to central regulations (historically run by gangs and drug dealers), so every single one is unique. There are over 600 in Rio alone, and all of them operate differently. I would not recommend going to a favela alone, especially if you are an inexperienced traveler. If you want to see one, you must book a guided tour. There are many tour operators offering day trips to the favelas.
Although the US State Department advises against visiting a favela even on a guided tour, I believe it is part of the cultural experience of visiting Brazil. Some favelas actually welcome tourists, and a local guide will be able to walk you through safely while explaining the local customs. It’s an incredible experience when done the correct way.
I visited the Santa Teresa favela alone during the day and exercised all the precautions I was told by a local. Still, although I did not feel unsafe, I definitely felt like I was intruding in an area that I was not meant to be in alone. There are a lot of locals and no tourists in the area. I definitely stuck out and was attracting some pretty curious stares. No one gave me a hard time, probably because I followed all the rules the local guide gave me. I only went by myself because my schedule did not allow for a guided tour of the area. If I did have the time, I would have booked this guided tour.
What is the Safest Place to Stay in Brazil?
On my trip, I visited São Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, and Florianopolis. Here’s how I would rank them for safety:
1.) Florianopolis
I felt the safest in Florianopolis, probably since it’s the smallest and quietest of the three cities I visited. Located on the southern coast, many people recognize it as one of the safer cities in the country. It’s a vibrant island city, famous for its stunning beaches and laid-back atmosphere. While petty crime, such as pickpocketing, can still occur in crowded tourist areas, violent crime is relatively rare in Florianopolis. Many visitors find the city to be a safe place for exploring, especially in the more tourist-friendly neighborhoods like Lagoa da Conceição and Santa Catarina. There’s also a fairly large population of digital nomads in the area I stayed in.
2.) São Paolo
I gave São Paolo the number two spot since it felt a lot like home to me. It reminded me so much of New York, especially the Avenida Paulista area. São Paolo is Brazil’s largest city, and just like New York, it presents both opportunities and challenges when it comes to safety and solo travel. As a bustling metropolis, it experiences high levels of petty theft. I saw many homeless people just sleeping on the sidewalks, and there was a strong police presence in the streets.
If you are visiting alone, the best areas to go would be Jardins or Vila Madalena, which see the most tourists. There are many hostels in the area, and lots of restaurants and things to do. It’s also got some of the best street art I’ve ever seen. Make sure to stop by Beco do Batman to see for yourself!
Sao Paolo is where I took the most public transportation, and it was among the safest and cleanest I’ve taken anywhere in the world. There was a slight “disturbance” on the train, and the police officer came on and handled it professionally and calmly. The train service didn’t even stop while it was happening, which I was very impressed with.
3.) Rio de Janeiro
Although I felt safe in Rio, I gave it the number three spot on the list of places I visited. This is just because of the large number of favelas, where you must take extra precautions. On one of our tours, our local guide told us that we only had permission to walk through the favela, and made sure that all of our phones were put away before walking us through. It is not something I would have known if I was without a tour. I am thankful that I booked a day tour to get a bearing on the area before exploring on my own.
I was advised that Ipanema was a safer area to stay in than Copacabana, although they are very close together. Ipanema has more of a bohemian vibe, while Copacabana has more of a party vibe. They’re both great, and they are both safe as long as you are vigilant and use common sense. Either would be fine to stay in, but I preferred the Ipanema beaches much more!
Solo Female Travel Safety Tips to Visit Brazil Alone
To sum it all up, here’s a list of safety precautions that I took, which kept me safe the entire time I was in Brazil (even in the favela!):
Regarding Money and Valuables
- Carry multiple cards, but not at the same time- keep one credit card on you and a small amount of cash. Leave everything else back in your hotel/ hostel. This way if you get pickpocketed, you don’t lose everything.
- Never carry your passport on you, unless you know you’ll need it– Brazil isn’t a place where you’ll need your passport unless you’re at the airport, so just leave it at your accommodation.
- Consider getting a wrist wallet: these are way more discreet than a money belt, and you’ll always be able to see and feel that you have your cash and card on you.
- Don’t bring valuables to the beach– and if you do, make sure to keep them close by. I went to Joaquina Beach and had to bring my cash and cards with me since I was by myself. I kept everything within my line of sight while I was in the water. No one went near my things, but it’s best to be cautious.
- Don’t wear jewelry: to be fair, I saw a lot of people wearing their jewelry. But this was the one tip I was given over and over by my friends from Brazil. So I left all mine at home.
Regarding Personal Awareness
- Make sure you have service at all times: I use T-Mobile and usually never have an issue getting service abroad, but for some reason, I did in Brazil. I got an e-sim through Airalo, and it worked great. They send you a notification when you’re low on data so you know to refill it.
- When in Rio, stick to tourist areas when alone: favelas are usually up in the mountains, and not easy to just enter without knowing. The vibes will be noticeably different. But always keep your wits about you when exploring Rio alone. If you don’t see many tourists, you’re probably in an area where you need to be more vigilant. When in doubt, put your phone away, since it’s typically not ok to take photos in a favela as an outsider. If the wrong person sees you do it, they will take your phone from you.
- Only use the ATM at a hotel: I thought I was safe at the airport, but apparently I wasn’t. I think it would be much harder to put a skimmer on a hotel’s ATM, so when I go back to Brazil, I would specifically only get money from an ATM. You could also bring cash and do a money exchange, but I hate doing this because the exchange rate is always worse.
- Always look confident— even if you don’t feel it! Don’t look lost in the streets. If you need to check directions, do so discreetly, inside a restaurant or well-lit area. When possible, do not let people know that you are traveling alone.
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With all the safety tips listed about, the adventure may seem a bit daunting. But remember that every journey has its own unique challenges. With its breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and vibrant cities, Brazil offers an unforgettable experience for any solo female traveler willing to explore. The Brazilian culture is worth it!
For more tips and insights on solo travel, be sure to check out my other blog posts. Happy travels! 🌍✈️
