Exercise Increased Caution
“Exercise increased cautionin Brazil due to crime and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk.”
Updated Mon, 31 Aug 2026
Full advisory →Personalize report nowTailor this report to you.Next: age, gender, group size preference…Next: the latest news and insightsNext: one click, 5 seconds, no costStart now8 districts
Is Paraty safe? 🇧🇷
Brazil · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Paraty scores 66/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. Yes. Paraty is one of Brazil's safer destinations for visitors, with low violent crime but notable petty theft and scam risks. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and tourist-targeted scams. The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Paraty 🇧🇷
Brazil · Assessed 18 October 2026
66
/ 100
What drives this score
Crime57/100FairCrime index 63.6 / 100
Sentiment82/100GoodGenerally positive
Advisories75Good
Stability64Fair
Health76Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against all but essential travel Amazonas State FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the following river areas towards the west of Amazonas State: along the Amazonas (Amazon) River and its tributaries west of the town of Codajás and east of the town of Belém do Solimões in Amazonas State along any part of the Itaquaí River in Amazonas State along any part of the Japurá River or its tributaries in Amazonas State along the Rio Negro (Black River) and its tributaries north or west of the town of Barcelos in Amazonas State Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel.”
Updated 2026-10-07T10:46:57Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Brazil: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-10-14T08:35:00.8146147-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Fair
Urban scale factor
15k residents
94
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
19.3 / 100kHomicide rate · per 100kJapan0.2Switzerland0.6World avg5.2United States5.8Brazil19.3South Africa43.7
27
Robbery / mugging
LowMugging and armed robbery are infrequent, mainly reported on isolated forest paths or beaches after dark
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded tourist spots, especially during festivals and market days
▸ 4 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Stable
Traveller sentiment score
Generally positive
82/100
Reported feel72Generally positive
Robbery risk92Low risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
Visitors report feeling safe in Paraty's historic center and main tourist zones, particularly during daylight hours, with standard precautions sufficient for most
Yes. Paraty is one of Brazil's safer destinations for visitors, with low violent crime but notable petty theft and scam risks.
Paraty's historic center and main tourist zones experience minimal violent crime, though pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded areas, especially during festivals. Visitors report feeling secure during daylight hours but should avoid isolated beaches and forest paths after dark. Standard precautions against petty theft and tourist-targeted scams are sufficient for most travelers.
Recent developments
- Jun 2024Indigenous rights protest in Paraty turned confrontational when territory was attacked— Mongabay
- Aug 2017Favela attack in a Brazilian city that needs tourists took heavy toll on a UK family— The Guardian
Common scams
- Drink spiking in bars and restaurants
- Phone snatching by motorbike riders
- Fake tour guides offering unauthorized excursions
- Taxi overcharging on fixed routes
Full briefing
Paraty’s historic colonial center remains the safest zone for visitors, with regular police patrols and well-lit cobblestone streets that are car-free at night. The town experiences significantly lower violent crime than major Brazilian cities like Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, though petty theft increases during crowded events such as the FLIP literary festival or Carnival. Visitors should avoid displaying valuables and remain alert in busy beach areas and commercial districts where pickpocketing occurs.
Isolated forest paths and remote beaches like Praia do Sono and Cachadaço present robbery risks after dark, and swimmers must heed current warnings at unmarked beaches due to strong surf and rip currents. The Rio-Santos highway (BR-101) becomes hazardous at night or in heavy rain due to its winding, narrow layout and landslide potential, so plan coastal travel for daylight hours and check weather before departing. Standard precautions — using hotel safes, avoiding night walks alone, and declining unsolicited tour offers — mitigate most risks.
Scams targeting tourists include drink spiking in bars, phone snatching by motorbike riders, and overcharging by unlicensed taxis; always verify tour operators and use official taxi stands. While the UK FCDO and Canadian advisories exercise caution for Brazil nationally, they do not single out Paraty for heightened risk, and no active disaster alerts affect the town as of October 2026. Travelers consistently report feeling secure in the historic center during the day, with safety diminishing only in poorly lit or remote areas after dark.
Was this Paraty, Brazil report helpful?
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 8 Paraty districts for visitors: 3 safer, 3 needing caution and 2 best avoided. See them plotted on the Paraty safety map.
Rio-Santos Highway (BR-101) at night/in rainavoidSinuous, narrow, landslide-prone in storms; avoid driving after dark or during heavy rain due to accident risk.
Isolated forest paths/beaches after darkavoidMugging and armed robbery infrequent but reported here; avoid unlit, remote areas after dark.
Praia do SonocautionRemote beach accessible by trail or boat; strong currents and limited patrols increase risk after dark or in bad weather.
CachadaçocautionIsolated beach with rough surf and strong currents; no lifeguards, swim only when flags indicate safe conditions.
Quieter residential areas away from centercautionLess foot traffic at night; increased risk of petty theft, avoid walking alone after dark.
Centro Histórico (Historic Center)saferUNESCO colonial core, well-patrolled, car-free cobblestone streets, low violent crime; watch for uneven surfaces and petty theft in crowds.
PontalsaferMain beach area with regular police presence, beachside restaurants; generally safe by day, avoid isolated stretches after dark.
Main commercial district outside historic centersaferGood lighting and foot traffic during business hours; safe for shopping/dining, remain alert for pickpocketing in crowds.
07 · After Dark
Is Paraty safe at night?
48% of people in Brazil say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2021).
Mugging and armed robbery are infrequent, mainly reported on isolated forest paths or beaches after dark
After dark, be most careful around Rio-Santos Highway (BR-101) at night/in rain, Isolated forest paths/beaches after dark, Praia do Sono, Cachadaço. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Paraty safety FAQ (2026)
Is Paraty safe right now (2026)?
Yes. Paraty is one of Brazil's safer destinations for visitors, with low violent crime but notable petty theft and scam risks. Paraty's historic center and main tourist zones experience minimal violent crime, though pickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded areas, especially during festivals. Visitors report feeling secure during daylight hours but should avoid isolated beaches and forest paths after dark. Standard precautions against petty theft and tourist-targeted scams are sufficient for most travelers. (Assessed 18 October 2026.)
Is Paraty safe for women, families and solo travelers?
Safety is not one number, and this Paraty report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
Which areas of Paraty should tourists avoid?
Field research flags Rio-Santos Highway (BR-101) at night/in rain, Isolated forest paths/beaches after dark as best avoided. See the district-by-district safety map.
What are the most common scams in Paraty (2026)?
- Drink spiking in bars and restaurants
- Phone snatching by motorbike riders
- Fake tour guides offering unauthorized excursions
- Taxi overcharging on fixed routes
How does Paraty compare with other places in Brazil (2026)?
Paraty ranks #2 of 9 Brazil destinations we've assessed, scoring 66/100. See the Brazil safety overview for the full list.
How is this paraty safety score calculated (2026)?
The score blends 13+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
More Brazil reports
6 reports
Nearby destinations
4 reports
Similar safety profile
4 reports
Keep exploring
Raw data: paraty.json (CC BY 4.0).