Dangerous South American Destinations To Skip On Your Next Trip

Correction 10/13/2023: A previous version of this article referenced the kidnapping of a U.S. Embassy security chief in Guyana. This event happened in 2003, not 2023.

South America is a vast continent filled with diverse landscapes, attractions, and beauty. It's a land with tropical paradises to the north and penguins to the south. The Amazon Rainforest spreads across the continent's center, while the Andean Mountain Range lines the west. Unfortunately, South America isn't all beauty. There are several places between the continent's picturesque coastlines and within its wild jungles, tranquil mountains, and lively cities hiding dangers that could make a visit less than ideal. Or worse, outright deadly.

When thinking of dangers in South America, many minds have a tendency to float to the exotic fauna and flora or hidden Indigenous tribes tucked into the undiscovered corners of the world. We watched documentaries about these exact things growing up. But the reality is that few, if any, places lay undiscovered in this world of globalization. The animals and plants in South America's national parks may pose a slight risk, but these dangers aren't typically in the areas where visitors crowd. As you'll learn from this list, the most dangerous South American destinations are prone to high crime rates, political unrest, corruption, and other systemic issues that might make you think twice before adding them to your vacation itinerary.

Colombia has a lot going on for itself in the way of beauty and culture, but thanks to the entertainment industry's obsession with portraying the country as a land controlled by wealthy drug kingpins, that's the only way many people view this South American gem. Unfortunately, there's a little bit of truth to Hollywood's portrayals of Colombia; the country really does have some dangerous criminal organizations, and one of them calls the northwestern provinces of Colombia home.

The notorious paramilitary organization and drug gang known as the Gulf Clan operates in the Antioquia, Chocó, and Cordoba provinces of Colombia, where, according to a member of the Special Jurisdiction of Peace (via Al Jazeera), they exert more control than the local government. The gang proved this control in a dangerous fashion when armed members swarmed the cities of 11 provinces and occupied them as the prime authority for five days in early May of 2022.

The Gulf Clan warned citizens to remain in their homes under threat of deadly force. They blocked roads and effectively laid siege to the country. Why? Because their leader had been arrested and extradited to the United States, where he was sentenced to 45 years in prison. If you're wondering what that means for American tourists, well, there's a good chance the Gulf Clan isn't too happy with them right now.

Murder rates in the province of Rio Grande do Norte, located in the northeast of Brazil, have risen substantially since the early 2000s. While the province has some fairly high violent crime rates as a whole, two cities stand out as the most dangerous: Natal and Mossoro. On March 14, 2023, Natal, the capital of Rio Grande do Norte, saw masked gangs terrorize its streets, forcing people from their homes at gunpoint. The criminals — more aptly called "terrorists" — did some terrible things that ended in death and destruction. This run of violence swept the entire province. Busses were flipped and burned, stores and banks were attacked, homes were razed to the ground, and the night became a mark of chaos and terror in the province's history. According to The Brazilian Report, authorities believe these attacks were coordinated, so there's evidence that a seriously dangerous organization is operating in the area.

Like Natal, Mossoro is a dangerous place that visitors should avoid. While it didn't have as much destruction on the tragic March night that hit Natal so hard, Statista ranked Mossoro as the city with the most murders per capita in all of Brazil as of 2022. The city averaged over 60 murders per 100,000 people, which is insane.

Nicaragua, along with Venezuela, is the only other country on this list that visitors might want to avoid entirely. Where it's not an "avoid at all cost" country, the trouble here is problematic. The U.S. State Department has issued a "Reconsider Travel" warning for Nicaragua because it believes U.S. citizens are at risk of being wrongfully detained. Now, you might think the United States is so big and powerful and could never have its citizens arrested without due cause. That's simply untrue. There are a ton of cases of U.S. citizens being wrongfully detained around the world. And the U.S. government knows there's a real cause for concern here, in particular, due to historic trends pertaining to the current Nicaraguan regime.

If a visitor were wrongfully arrested tomorrow in Nicaragua, it wouldn't be the first time. In fact, in February 2023, 222 political prisoners were released after a negotiation with the U.S. Now, these prisoners weren't of U.S. origin — the country was simply granting them asylum — but that doesn't mean there's no danger for U.S. nationals. In 2010, American Jason Puracal was arrested and wrongfully imprisoned for two years under terrible conditions until finally being freed. Under Daniel Ortega's control, the current regime is suspected of committing multiple atrocities, including torture, wrongful executions, and more. At the end of the day, visiting Nicaragua could turn into a genuinely horrific living nightmare.

Guyana is a small country in South America nestled between Venezuela to the west and Suriname to the south. It hasn't garnished as much popularity in Western media, so it wouldn't be surprising if you knew little about it. Being a coastal country, it has gulf beaches as beautiful as any other. Unfortunately, it also has crime issues. You might notice a trend in countries along the Gulf Coast and criminal activity, and for good reason. The open water between North and South America provides an effective route for smuggling contraband.

In particular, the city of Georgetown, which the U.S. Embassy has determined to be a critical danger, is heavy with criminal activity that would likely keep astute visitors far and away. They list from murder to assaults, robbery, and property crimes. The criminals of Georgetown historically haven't been particularly shy either. Back in April 2003, two armed men made international news when they kidnapped a security chief of the U.S. Embassy from a golf course. The embassy worker was later released, but the event remains infamous.

Frequent travelers have mixed opinions on the area's safety, with many saying that Georgetown has improved over the last two decades. Redditors seem to agree, however, that it's still smart to stay vigilant and keep an eye on your belongings.

Bolivia is typically a decent place to visit under normal conditions. Tourists can enjoy the views from the Andes and smaller mountain ranges, visit the Uyuni Salt Flat, and experience the culture while touring through the countryside. Unfortunately, Bolivia is in the middle of political tensions that make it potentially dangerous for visitors wanting to sample everything Bolivia has to offer. At the center of these tensions is the Bolivian capital city of La Paz.

It's believed that the political system in Bolivia is subject to fraud and candidate stacking, according to Human Rights Watch. Judicial candidates are fed to the masses on a set ballot, forcing voters to pick from a predetermined list. Well, this sort of system has a way of breeding political corruption if one doesn't already consider the stacking of candidates to be corrupt. Anyway, one of these judges had Luis Fernando Camacho, a Bolivian governor, held on charges of terrorism, and members of the governor's political party have been countering this action with protests and violent riots. Why is La Paz specifically dangerous? It's the seat of governmental power, much like Washington, D.C. in the United States, and political actions can break out at any moment.

More general protests against corruption and the need for judicial independence have been breaking out around the country as well. Since it doesn't look like things will cool off until things change in Bolivia, La Paz might not be the safest place to visit for a while.