US government issues major travel advisory for much of continent | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

While the South American continent is home to 12 separate nations, Brazil is by far the largest and most populous.

The country commonly associated with Carnival and samba dancing among foreign tourists has a total territory of over 8.5 million square kilometers and is home to more than 212 million people.

This comprises approximately 49% of South America’s total population, since the second-most-populous country, Colombia, has just 52 million residents.

Brazil is also extremely popular as a tourist destination. At the end of last February, over 53 million both domestic and international traveled to different cities across the country to both watch and partake in the elaborate Carnival celebrations that traditionally mark the start of Lent.

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“Some areas have increased risk”: new Brazil travel warning

While not a subcontinent like India, Brazil is often also treated as its own world due to both its massive size and separate culture as South America’s only Portuguese-speaking nation.

In a travel advisory reissued on Aug. 8, the U.S. State Department reminded travelers to remain vigilant while traveling in the country — while main areas and areas commonly frequented by tourists in large cities such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paolo are generally extremely safe, crime rates can vary greatly if tourists go into certain impoverished urban towns known as favelas or travel to remote destinations without an official tour.

”Exercise increased caution in Brazil due to crime and kidnapping,” the updated warning reads. “Some areas have increased risk.”

With the exception of two popular national parks bordering Venezuela and Bolivia, the advisory singles out areas with 100 miles or 160 kilometers of borders with countries like Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, and Paraguay, as well as satellite cities like Sao Sebastiao, Ceilandia, and Santa Maria due to higher rates of drug trafficking in these areas.

Despite a reputation for crime, Brazil is a popular and generally safe destination for travelers.

Image source&colon; Shutterstock

Crime in Brazil “widespread and often tied to the recreational drug trade”

“There was a kidnapping for ransom of U.S. travelers,” the advisory says in reference to a kidnapping that occurred last May. “Gang activity and organized crime are widespread and often tied to the recreational drug trade. Assaults, including with sedatives and drugs placed in drinks, are common, especially in Rio de Janeiro.”

“Informal housing developments such as favelas, vilas, comunidades, or conglomerados” are also singled out as areas that are best avoided by tourists who are traveling on their own and unfamiliar with the country.

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Travelers who come to Brazil are advised to remain aware of their surroundings, avoid being in beaches or other isolated areas alone at night, and stay vigilant in nightclubs and with people met online — some of the recent kidnappings occurred when travelers met with someone who made a fake profile on a dating app for what they thought was a date.

“Develop a communication plan with family, employer, or host organization so they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas,” the advisory reads further. “Specify how you’ll confirm you’re safe , how often, and who you’ll contact first to share the information.”