Is It Safe to Travel Around Latin America by Car?

My Real Experience — One Year, One Incident (Involving a Monkey)

People often ask: “Max, is it actually safe to road trip through Latin America?”

Here’s my experience (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Ecuador): In a full year of travel, I had exactly one run-in — jungle monkeys raided my snack bag and stole my chips. Be vigilant.

Rule #1 — Steer Clear of Tourist Zones in Big Cities

🌃 Avoid tourist-heavy areas in major cities. Locals know that’s where the gringo money is. We stand out, and the chances of your phone or wallet getting snatched are higher. In big Brazilian cities, it can be straight-up dangerous.

Mountain Villages Are Shockingly Peaceful

🗻 In highland villages, people often don’t even lock their doors. No bars on windows, fences are waist-high - total opposite of city paranoia.

Common Sense Still Applies — Don’t Get Lazy

😎 And the obvious stuff:

Don’t talk on the phone in the street,

Don’t leave valuables on café tables,

Don’t drive into favelas after dark,

Make sure your hotel has parking (in Cusco, even 5-star hotels don’t),

For long stays, pick gated neighborhoods with security.

Latin America Is Safer Than Its Reputation

In my experience, the danger is way overhyped. Your odds of getting robbed in London, Barcelona, or San Francisco? About the same.

What’s Safety Like in Your City?