Dangerous South American Destinations You Might Not Want To Visit
By Kate Prince
VACATIONS
Medellín, Colombia
This city was the stomping ground of cartel leader Pablo Escobar, and even today, it can be a dicey place. In 2022, a Colombian DJ was murdered in the city.
Many other crimes continue to plague the infamous hotspot. Political Science Professor Pedro Piedrahíta Bustamante said, "Medellín is a nucleus of transnational crime networks."
Caracas, Venezuela
This prominent city has a dark underbelly, and many use armored vehicles to travel safely after sunset. Armed robberies, pickpocketing, and power cuts are common.
The Favelas, Brazil
There are incredible places in Brazil, but visitors should avoid the favelas. Conflict zones within them have much higher homicide rates due to drug trafficking.
Santiago, Chile
Santiago is a busy area with volatile civil unrest. Due to the unbalanced political state, crime, scams, violent protests, and other illegal activities are rife.
Da Bahia, Brazil
Salvador da Bahia has lots of attractions, but scammers and pickpockets abound as well. Also, visitors could get caught in the crossfire of rival criminal gangs.