South America is a fascinating part of the world to visit. Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Brazil – all of these places are often top of a holidaymaker’s list. They have interesting histories, rich and diverse cultures, good food and stunning architecture – what more could you want for a perfect trip away? They are also destinations that people travel to regularly on business, as the economy is often good and there are lots of worldwide businesses. However, South America has received a lot of bad press due to its safety, which is something to bear in mind before you travel. It isn’t dangerous everywhere, and in fact, you will often find people very friendly. But there are risks of various crimes, especially if you look like you are there on business – you might be at higher risk of kidnapping, robberies and being held hostage. It’s so important you take heed of our South America travel tips before you go. This won’t just ensure your safety – it will also help you to have an all-round better trip and to make the most of the time you have in this incredible part of the world.
Travel safety tips – how to stay safe in South AmericaÂ
These are some of the most important things to bear in mind when you are travelling to South America on business:
- Learn the language. The majority of South America speaks Spanish, with the exception of Brazil, where Portuguese is spoken. Learn the language before you go – it will be easier to talk to people, you will be able to ask for help if you need it and you won’t be such an easy target for criminals.
- Only do business with people you know. It could be easy to become the victim of a scam. If a business deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be cautious when doing business in South America.
- Don’t carry around large sums of money. If you are on holiday, it could be tempted to take as much money as you need for the trip. If you do this, leave some at your accommodation and don’t carry it around at all times. It is not a good idea to have too much money on you that could draw the attention of pick pockets or robbers. Moped crime is common in South America, so keep money hidden.
- Try not to stand out from the crowd too much. If you are in South America on business, you might well be wearing a suit or carrying around a briefcase. This is fine in certain environments, like when you are going for meetings, but if you walk around particular areas of a city like this, you may draw some attention to yourself. Try to wear clothes that are more casual when you are out and about and don’t carry around anything that is too valuable.
- Be careful when visiting cash points. You should be very cautious about asking a taxi to drop you off at a cash point, as this is when robberies or kidnappings could happen. Visit cash points in busy areas and only take out the amount of money you need.