More news on this day
Americans planning trips to Brazil are being urged to closely review new safety guidance after the U.S. government updated its Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory, flagging heightened concerns about violent crime, drink-spiking scams, ATM theft and travel in specific parts of the country.
Get the latest news straight to your inbox!
Advisory Updated but Overall Risk Level Unchanged
The U.S. State Department recently refreshed its travel advisory for Brazil, keeping the overall rating at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution but revising the summary of risks and security guidance. Publicly available information shows the latest update was recorded on August 31, 2026, with the advisory continuing to cite crime and kidnapping as key risk indicators for U.S. travelers.
The Level 2 designation signals that visitors should be aware of heightened safety concerns compared with routine international travel. Federal travel guidance explains that this level is used when conditions merit extra vigilance, even though many travelers continue to visit the country each year for tourism and business.
The advisory notes that violent crime, including murder, armed robbery and carjacking, can occur in Brazilian cities at any time of day. It also references recent incidents in which foreign visitors have been targeted for short-term kidnapping or compelled to withdraw money from ATMs or complete bank transfers before being released.
U.S. travel resources emphasize that advisories are updated when conditions or risk assessments change, even if the numerical level remains the same. The latest revisions for Brazil are intended to draw attention to patterns in urban crime, financial scams and specific areas where nonessential travel is discouraged.
Warnings About Drink-Spiking and Nightlife Risks
One of the most pointed additions in the updated Brazil advisory concerns drink safety and social encounters. According to the official country guidance, assaults that involve sedatives or other drugs placed in beverages are reported as common, particularly in Rio de Janeiro’s nightlife districts.
Public advisories describe schemes in which criminals approach foreigners at bars, nightclubs or via dating apps, build quick rapport and then allegedly drug the victim’s drink. Once incapacitated, the traveler may be robbed of cash, phones, cards and other valuables, or coerced into conducting high-value electronic transfers. In some cases, victims do not realize the full extent of the loss until well after the incident.
Travel information platforms recommend that visitors maintain physical control of their drinks at all times, decline beverages from strangers and avoid leaving glasses or bottles unattended on tables. Guidance from multiple governments also stresses the importance of being cautious when meeting new acquaintances, particularly if a proposed meeting takes place in an unfamiliar venue or more isolated neighborhood.
The advisory suggests travelers consider going out with trusted companions rather than alone, limiting the amount of cash and cards carried on a night out and securing copies of travel documents separately from wallets and purses.
ATM Security, Robbery and Financial Scams
Another emphasis of the revised guidance is the risk surrounding ATMs, card use and financial crime. The State Department’s Brazil advisory notes that credit card fraud and ATM scams are widespread, with incidents ranging from card skimming to armed robberies near cash machines.
Travelers are urged to favor ATMs located inside secure facilities such as airports, large hotels, hospitals, banks or government buildings, rather than machines on streets or in lightly monitored areas. Public information highlights that criminals often focus on early morning or late-night hours, when there are fewer bystanders and slower response times.
Reports from both U.S. and Canadian government sources describe cases in which victims are forced, sometimes under threat of violence, to make repeated withdrawals or complete high-limit transfers in a short period. This pattern is sometimes referred to as an “express kidnapping” or short-term abduction and has been documented in multiple Brazilian cities.
Travel guidance recommends that visitors monitor their bank and card accounts frequently while abroad, keep transaction alerts active, and limit daily withdrawal and purchase limits where possible. Using contactless or chip-and-PIN payments in well-known establishments, and keeping cards in view during transactions, are also cited as risk-reducing steps.
Areas With Elevated Risk and Places to Avoid
In addition to countrywide cautions, the Brazil advisory identifies specific geographic zones where travelers are encouraged to avoid nonessential trips. According to the published guidance, U.S. travelers are advised not to visit informal housing communities often referred to as favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados, even if these areas are included on informal tour itineraries.
Travelers are also advised not to travel within roughly 100 miles (160 kilometers) of many of Brazil’s international land borders, including those with Bolivia, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana and Venezuela, due to a mix of crime, smuggling and other security concerns. Notable exceptions highlighted in the advisory include Foz do Iguaçu National Park and Pantanal National Park, where visitors typically travel on organized itineraries.
Guidance for the capital region calls for extra caution in some of Brasília’s outlying “satellite cities” at night. Advisory text cites Ceilândia, Santa Maria, São Sebastião and Paranoá as areas where U.S. government personnel require special authorization after dark, a signal that private travelers may wish to avoid these districts or limit visits to daytime hours.
Across major urban centers, travelers are encouraged to avoid walking alone after dark, stay off beaches at night, minimize visible displays of wealth such as expensive watches or jewelry and remain alert when using mobile phones in public, as phones are a frequent target of opportunistic theft.
What Level 2 Means for U.S. Travelers Planning Trips
For Americans with upcoming trips booked to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador, the Amazon or popular beach destinations, the updated Level 2 advisory does not amount to a blanket recommendation against travel. Instead, it signals a need for more detailed pre-departure planning and heightened situational awareness on the ground.
Official U.S. resources encourage travelers to review destination-specific safety advice, consider enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates, and share itineraries and contact information with family or trusted contacts at home before departure.
Standard urban precautions are heavily emphasized. Guidance underscores using registered taxis or reputable ride-hailing services arranged from secure locations, keeping car doors locked and windows up in traffic, and remaining cautious at major transportation hubs. Travelers are also reminded that local demonstrations can occur with little notice and may disrupt movement in central districts.
Health and infrastructure considerations are folded into the broader risk picture. Government travel pages direct visitors to review the latest health notices for Brazil, confirm that travel insurance includes medical evacuation coverage, and plan for potential power outages in large cities, when crime rates can temporarily rise and street lighting or traffic signals may be affected.
Overall, the refreshed advisory paints a picture of a high-energy destination that remains a major draw for international tourism, while underscoring the need for Americans to stay alert, guard against targeted scams, and carefully choose where and how they move around the country.
U.S. Department of State – Brazil Travel Advisory
USA.gov – Understanding U.S. Travel Advisory Levels