Rio de Janeiro is really dangerous for tourists ? Why ?

I've been horrified by the news I've heard about the crimes which happen there. Not only in the favelas, but even in Copacabana beach !!! I can't believe it ! Where is the police ?

I wanted to go there too, but now I'm scared because of the terrible news concerning tourists robbed,raped or killed...

White sand, blue sea,beautiful girls,sweet music, all that is just a trap...And the gansters use this clich茅 to catch the tourists...And then the paradise has turned into hell...
The magic of Copacabana is away...

Because the grinding poverty of the city (same in Sao Paulo) has led many people to have all these kids and then just let them rove the streets existing as best they can. This leads to them going into prostitution or crime or a mix of both.
I have read several times of masses of these teens and even younger kids descending on the beach, robbing people in broaddaylight surrounded by crowds who jsut dont resist at all as that would certainly mean instant death.

Some areas are. Im from Rio, now live in a small town, about 1 hour from the capital. I go there a lot, but yes, its good to be weary. Copacabana is a tourist trap. Look for acomodation in either Leblon or Ipanema, much better. And avoid carrying cash, cameras etc. The option, if you can, is hire a tour guide recognized by Embratur. The price can be reasonable.
Also taxis are reasonably priced and Radio Taxis wont cheat, you can always call and book them and know in advance the price of the run.
Dont rent cars.

Brazil has more than 5000 km of white sand, topical beaches, rich and beautiful and SAFE cities. I recommend the declaration of independence of Rio de Janeiro: Let's clean the image of Brazil!!!!

You should take the same precautions in Rio de Janeiro as you would in any other big city around the world. That includes being especially careful in tourist areas like Copacabana and Ipanema.

I've been wanting to visit Brazil and everyone keeps asking me why. I am a little concerned about the crime and may decide to visit somewhere else. The State Dept also warned about kidnappings. Peru, Spain or France sound like fun.

It sucks because I've been studying Portuguese and was enjoying it. I guess I will start studying French or Spanish. It's easier to find Spanish speakers to study with in Vegas anyway.

Oh, and don't even compare the crime to NYC. If gangs starting attacking tourist in an American city the police would crack down on them immediately. Review what happened after the Puerto Rican Day Parade a few years back. And Vegas refuses to have another NBA All-Star game here after the crime wave during this year's events.

If Rio de Janeiro is dangerous, it is, first, for the brazilians (best: for the cariocas) what lives here.
Tourists has not sufficient money to support brazilian gangas 12 months a year. So, brazilians are the main victims.

There is not a special risk for some nationality or the citizenship, because there's no special peoples, better than others or more aimed than anothers - this equality includes the citizens of U.S.A. that many people insist on calling Americans.

Brazil is a so safe place as the United States is.

Many Brazilians had been assassinated in U.S.A. and the Brazilian press never showed that country as a dangerous place. Despite the attacks to the high schools , despite the robberies the Brazilians, the deaths of Brazilians and, even, the terrorism.

I must to repeat what I answer some day ago: Many Brazilians had died in the September 11th, and the Brazilian media did not say "avoid to travel to U.S.A., because it is very, very dangerous and, definitively, is not a safe place".

Well, you have a few questions here.

Yes, Rio de Janeiro is dangerous for tourists. Why? Well, because there remains a lot of poverty and this poverty is also located very near the main tourist areas (Copacabana, Ipanema). Tourists are prime targets for petty theft (muggings) mostly from what I have read.

There is also a problem of corruption within the police department and, I believe, government as a whole. So, where there is corruption you will find ongoing problems in numerous ways.

By the way, I don't think the crime in Rio warrants tourists abandoning Rio (and certainly not Brazil as a whole!). People just need to be careful and use common sense.

The uneven balance of wealth causes people to do crimes and join gangs, but rember the people that do these crimes are not all heartless gangsters often they are parents or siblings that have family that is sick or injured and they despreatly need the money to afford the medication or health care that their family member needs. Yes the crime rate in Rio is quite high but it has fallen from what it use to be. If you are planning to go to Brazil go! Chances are you won't get robbed, mugged, or raped! I know of Cariocas who have lived in Rio for all their life and never have gotten robbed or raped once, its a matter of timing and street smarts.And trust me if you are mugged they will only take your money and not harm you if you do what they want which is most likely your money.