Solo Female Travel in Brazil- Is it Safe?
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Last Updated on April 2, 2025 by Tiffany
I just got done backpacking Brazil alone for one month and WHAT an experience it was! I met such amazing and friendly people, tried delicious food, and saw beautiful sights. Brazil is a country I genuinely think all travellers need to experience at least once in their life. Here are all my tips for safety and security for solo female travel in Brazil or solo travel in general.
Visiting Brazil during carnaval was genuinely an unforgettable memory. Seeing the Sombodromo front row, partying at blocos with locals, and touring around the country? An absolutely divine experience.
However…
Many people miss out on this experience because they’re told this one thing- “Brazil is so dangerous, never go there”. After my trip (and even during) so many people back home were asking if I felt safe.
Truth is, I personally felt very safe in Brazil. There were only a select few times where I felt like a situation was sketchy, but for the most part I felt fine. Part of my feeling of safety could also be from the fact I look Brazilian and spoke some Portuguese. Everyone’s experience may be different.
I kept myself safe in Brazil by hanging around locals, staying vigilant of my surroundings at all times, and always keeping my guard up But, as a Jamaican woman living in Atlanta this is how I always roll haha.
So to answer the question- Is Brazil dangerous? Yes, it can be. But so are NYC, Atlanta, London, Paris, Kingston, Athens, Toronto, and so many other places in the world. It is important to remain cautious and aware when traveling to Brazil but anywhere else in the world as well. Let’s get into it!
Is Brazil Safe?- Solo Travel in Brazil
I was so scared of traveling to Brazil because of all the stories I heard of people getting robbed or unalived. It wasn’t until I visited myself to realise that Brazil can be safe if you move with street smarts.
Brazil can be safe as long as you study the places you visit before hand, don’t wander random places, and are safe with your belongings on the road. For example, in some countries it might be considered fine to have your phone in your back pocket or in your hand while walking.
I always kept my phone away out of eyesight, especially when walking in Rio. Do not walk down the street with new jewlerry, don’t bring valuables to the beach, be mindful when walking into neighborhoods you don’t know.
I do not recommend walking at night in Brazil in unknown areas in most places. Especially as a foreign woman who doesn’t speak Portuguese. However, there were a few places I felt safe walking alone late at night was on the lit streets of Ipanema in Rio.
I also felt fine walking at night in the lit streets of the Centro in Salvador, and Morro do São Paulo which is very safe because it’s a tiny island. Moral of the story? Scope out the scenery before making a decision to walk alone at night. And worst come to worst? Just take uber. It’s affordable and gets you there quickly!
Things to know about- Solo Travel in Brazil
You need a cpf to make a lot of online payments- A cpf is a Brazilian tax number similar to a social security number. This is needed to make a LOT of online payments. It really stressed me out because I had a lot of issues paying for certain things during my stay like bus tickets, the somobodormo, etc. Please keep this in mind before your visit!
Nearly everywhere takes card- When I say basically everyone, and I mean everyone, has a card reader in Brazil I mean it! I was so shocked to see people selling random items asking for debit or credit. I don’t think I had to pay anything in cash during my entire month stay!
USA citizens need a visa- As of April 10, 2025, those holding an American passport will need to obtain a visa in order to enter Brazil. Good news is those can apply for an e-visa online here. My fellow Jamaicans and many other nationalities remain visa free.
It’s a pain to get cash out- After traveling to 28 countries prior to Brazil, my knowledge was that I could go to any bank and take out cash. That’s not the case for Brazil. Most banks and ATMS do not accept international cards. Make sure the machine says 24 hours with the Visa sign. One of the best bets is to take out cash at the airport because they have lots of ’24 Hours’ ATMs.
Type C power plug– Most of South America and the Caribbean have type A or B power plugs. However, Brazil offers type C power plugs which are also used in most European countries. If you don’t have one, grab a universal power adapter here!
English is barely spoken-It is very important to learn basic Portuguese phrases before your trip to Brazil.
The hostels in Rio are not that great- This is just my opinion, but a lot of the hostels in Rio were quite expensive despite the rooms being small and dirty. I am 100% a hostel girl, but not in Rio. For those who value cleanliness and good sleep, try to find a nice small, private airbnb in Ipanema or Copacabana. I found my hostel stays in the rest of the country to be fine!
Kissing is considered normal- Expect a lot of PDA. During carnaval, everyone kisses each other, especially in Rio, and its seen as completely normal!
Should you travel as a first time solo female traveler?- Solo Travel in Brazil
While Brazil is now my all time favorite country, I would say no to first time solo travel. Brazil was my 29th country and I’ve visited 5 continents by myself prior. Needless to say, I had a lot of experience under my belt when I visited the country.
There are certain things that must be learned before traveling to certain countries, especially for women coming from sheltered western countries. I would say wait until visiting 3 countries alone before solo female travel in Brazil. In my opinion, Brazil is a bit more of an “advanced” solo travel destination along with Egypt.
Not many people speak English which can cause a lot of people to naturally freak out. When someone is traveling alone, they might feel isolated due to major culture shock, language barriers, and the confusing setup of a new country.
Also due to the “safety” concerns, many westerners find themselves getting Ito trouble because of lack of street smarts.
Its possible to visit Brazil as a first time solo female traveler, don’t get me wrong. But all the other solo travellers I talked to (men and women) both advised it’s probably not best for those with no experience who don’t know the language.
The Language Barrier- Solo Travel in Brazil
As mentioned before, not a lot of people speak English in Brazil. The only way I way able together around as a solo female traveler is because I know Spanish. Due to the similarity in languages, many people can comprehend Spanish, but they will respond to you in Portuguese.
I definitely got smarter and activated different parts of my brain during my trip being able to decipher Portuguese as Spanish and then translating to English haha.
If you’re looking to visit Brazil, it is a must to learn some Portuguese. The numbers up to ten (for uber codes), greetings, “how much is it” etc. You can get along (kind of) with only speaking English, but knowing just a few Portuguese phrases will help IMMENSELY.
Also, be sure to download the google translate app on your phone, this saved me lots of times. Be sure to download English and Portuguese so that you can translate without data or internet.
Itinerary & Where to visit- Solo Travel in Brazil
Hello Bestie?! We’re going to BRAZIL and Brazil is more than just Rio! Let me put you on some of the best places to visit Brazil so you can be exposed to the beauty of this country. This list has a fair share of nature, city, and beach. Let’s get into ittttttt.
Salvador
Easily my favorite city in the entire country. Salvador has a huge African influence due to the large Afro descendant population. This is where capoeira, a self defence dance, was created by Afro Brazilians.
There is so much to do here like touring the centre, learning more about Afro Brazilian dances, capoeira and samba classs, going to the beach in Barra, trying delicious food, Afro cooking classes, museums, and so much more!
Staying in Barra is equally as fun as well, especially during carnaval! Going to the lighthouse during sunset, checking out one of the many 3 story malls, or shopping at markets for souvenirs in the centre all make for a wonderful stay!
Rio de Janiero
Rio genuinely felt like a movie. It was one of the best times of my life. Samba, beaches, Cristo, Sugarloaf mountain, you name it! There is so much to do in this city- I was in Rio for over one week!
I recommend these activities on different days: bloco or club WITH LOCALS (its more fun teehee), Cristo @ 7 am, Sugarloaf mountain for sunset, dois irmaos sunrise hike, botanical gardens, Ipanema & Copacobana beach, helicopter ride, and Escadaria Selaron.
Dois Irmaos sunrise hike- This was a STUNNER! It’s about a 40 minute hike that starts off in a favela. Now, don’t get all uptight and scared just because I said favela. People that live in favelas are human, as long as you’re respectful and not an annoying gringo, all should go well. You can book a guided tour but me and two girls I met on my travels went by ourselves and were fine.
Here’s the itinerary for sunrise hike: take an uber to Praca do Vidigal and be there by 3:15-3:30 AM. There you will find signs to line up for Moto taxis up a hill, bring cash for this! ($7 reis) You MUST take a Moto taxi to get to the start point of the hike and Ubers aren’t allowed in favelas. If you’re not a fan of motorcycles this isn’t the hike for you, sorry babes.
It costs about $10 reis to enter the hike, they take card or cash. Be SURE to bring a jacket or blanket because up top of the rock is ice cold with lots of wind. Bring snacks and grab a good seat because once the sun everyone is on a mission to grab a nice picture and it gets hecka crowded FAST!
Where to stay in Rio?- Ipanema, Copacobana, Leblon, Botofogo, Centro, Santa Teresa. For those who don’t have much experience traveling outside of their home country, I would highly recommend staying in Ipanema or Copacobana. It’s safer, right by the beach and there are lots of tourists. I loved staying in Ipanema because of the location and the vibe! Plus who doesn’t love waking up and having a quick morning beach swim?
Sao Paulo
GRU Sao Paulo is where I flew in from Lima Peru and it was a pretty smooth experience. While this city was admittedly not my favorite, it’s still worth a visit of exploration.
There are plenty of museums and local markets to check out, parks to chill out at, and a v very active nightlife in São Paulo.
Morro de Sao Paulo
Not to be confused with the busy metropolitan city of Sao Paulo. I absolutely loved my stay on this island! A place with no cars or uber, I took a catamaran ferry from Salvador and absolutely loved my stay. This was more of a relaxation section for me so I basically went to the beach everyday and enjoyed the town center. During my month of travel to Brazil, I felt the most safe here!
Fernando do Noronha
Gorgeous tropical island with crystal clear waters and sunny days, yes please! There are plenty of places to hike on this island and beautiful beaches as well.
For those who love stunning sunsets and snorkelling, a visit to Fernando is a must. There are also plenty of places to view dolphins and turtles so bring your water camera! Since this island is so far, it’s only accessible via flight.
Foz do Iguaçu
Such a magical and beautiful place, many call this the Niagara Falls of South America. Nestled in between the border of Argentina and Brazil, Iguacu consists of over 200 waterfalls!
To visit, you can either take a 26 hour bus ride from Rio (which is crazy but more respect to you), or a 2 hour flight. If booked in advance, flights with GOL can go direct and range around $50. Feel free to cross the border and explore a bit of Argentina or you can take a cheap flight to Santiago, Chile and explore more of South America!
Manaus
This city is the point you fly to access the Brazilian amazon rainforest. It is a bit pricey so I would say to plan ahead and not decide to go spontaneously. There are good hostels to choose from so no worries if you’re on a budget. Here you can go on Amazonian jungle tours and view gorgeous waterfalls and lawn more about indigenous culture.
How to get to Brazil- Solo Travel in Brazil
I flew from Lima, Peru to São Paulo so getting from Brazil was not too difficult for me considering I was already in South America. But for those coming outside of the continent, it’s important to note Brazil is a huge country. Like, basically the size of the USA huge.
For most people coming from North America or Europe, it’s going to be a loooooong travel day. People in the USA or Canada most likely have to fly to Florida or somewhere else first.
My travel journey going back to Atlanta from Rio was about 18 hours with 2 stops. Be sure to bring a nice pillow, load up on snacks, wear your favorite socks, and download a good book.
Best time to visit Brazil
February and March are probably the busiest months Brazil sees due to carnaval falling between both months. During this time, expected accommodation prices to be at least 5x.
If you want to visit Brazil during this time, it is SO much fun but plan ahead. Otherwise you risk spending $150+ per night for a HOSTEL bunk with 5 other people (crazy, I know but thats carnaval prices!).
If you want to visit during a time thats less crowd and a bit cheaper, end March – June are also great. Just be aware that this is beginning autumn in the southern hemisphere so Rio might not be as sunny every day.
