Safest Countries in South America Right Now

How the Advisory Ranking Measures South American Travel Safety

This ranking reflects the official travel advisories published by three governments rather than police crime statistics or private survey scores. We review travel guidance issued by the US Department of State, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and the Government of Canada every single day.

The scoring hierarchy evaluates national advisory levels first, followed by specific regional travel warnings. A country where no government advises against travel anywhere within its borders ranks higher than a country where consular officials advise against visiting specific provinces or border corridors.

Travel advisories do not measure total reported crime rates, judicial conviction ratios, or economic stability. Advisories measure specific traveler-facing security conditions, including violent crime, kidnapping threats, political demonstrations, and infrastructure emergencies that directly affect foreign visitors.

Leading Nations at the Top of the South American Ranking

Argentina and Suriname lead the ranking as the destinations with the lowest travel friction from international governments at the time of writing. For Argentina, the United States advisory summary notes that it is generally a safe destination for travelers, while the UK lists no areas advised against and Canada recommends normal security precautions.

Travelers heading to Argentina should note that the US advisory references a Travelers’ Health Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for Andes virus (Hantavirus) in the region, while pointing out that the risk for most travelers is extremely low. You can read the specific guidance in the US advisory for Argentina.

Suriname shares the top tier with Argentina, carrying identical baseline guidance across all three foreign ministries, as detailed in the official US advisory for Suriname. Paraguay follows, with the US advisory for Paraguay at the calmest setting and the UK listing no areas to avoid, though Canada asks visitors to exercise a high degree of caution.

Why Uruguay and Chile Rank Lower Than Expected

Uruguay sits fourth on our list at the time of writing because the United States warns visitors to exercise increased caution due to crime, even though the UK maintains no regional warnings and Canada advises normal precautions.

The official US advisory for Uruguay reports that violent crime occurs across the country, naming homicide, armed robbery, carjacking, and theft as crimes that have affected U.S. citizens. That advisory identifies Montevideo, Canelones, Maldonado, and Rivera as departments where crime is most common.

While the UK lists no excluded zones, Canada advises a high degree of caution, and the US advisory for Chile urges increased caution due to crime, civil unrest, and health risks. The alert notes that common petty crimes include pickpocketing, mugging, and theft, alongside violent offenses like assaults, carjackings, and home break-ins, while large-scale demonstrations in Santiago and other cities can occur with little notice. For broader planning details, see our review on whether Chile is safe.

Regional Warning Zones in Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru

In Brazil, which ranks seventh at the time of writing, the UK advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country, Canada advises a high degree of caution, and the US advisory for Brazil cautions travelers regarding crime and kidnapping. Consular notes report widespread gang activity tied to the drug trade, daylight violent robberies, and assaults involving drinks spiked with sedatives, especially in Rio de Janeiro. Travelers can check our breakdown on whether Brazil is safe to evaluate specific city risks.

Ecuador ranks eighth at the time of writing, with the UK warning against non-essential travel to parts of the country and the US advisory for Ecuador citing crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. US government workers in Ecuador are barred from traveling to specific high-risk districts: Huaquillas and Arenillas in El Oro province, plus Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo in Los Rios province. In Guayaquil, the limit covers the Nueva Prosperina and Pascuales districts and all areas south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue.

Peru sits ninth at the time of writing, where the UK maintains regional warnings and the US advisory for Peru highlights risks from crime, unrest, kidnapping, and terrorism. Official personnel require special authorization to enter the Colombia-Peru border area in the Loreto Region and the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM). Review our guide on whether Peru is safe before finalizing Andean excursions.

Severe Advisory Notices for Colombia and Venezuela

In Colombia, the UK advises against all but essential travel to designated sectors, Canada advises a high degree of caution, and the US advisory for Colombia recommends reconsidering travel due to crime, terrorism, unrest, kidnapping, and natural disasters.

The United States alert for Colombia states that violent crime such as murder, assault, and armed robbery is common in many areas, while drugging, extortion, kidnapping, and armed break-ins, including at hotels and other places tourists stay, occur frequently in some regions.

Venezuela ranks last among South American nations on our advisory index, with Canada instructing travelers to avoid all travel, the UK advising against all travel to some areas and all but essential travel to others, and the US advisory for Venezuela advising to reconsider travel due to crime, kidnapping, terrorism, poor health infrastructure, and natural disasters. The US advisory records that on June 24, 2026, Venezuela suffered a powerful foreshock and earthquake that caused extensive damage to transportation, infrastructure, and emergency services. You can read our detailed report on whether Venezuela is safe for additional context.

Using South American Safety Rankings for Trip Planning

The ranked table above shows today’s order. When you prepare for your journey, check whether your route crosses the areas listed above for Ecuador and Peru, where US staff face travel limits, and download our free travel safety checklist to organize your personal emergency contacts before departure.

This ranking is not for travelers who want crime statistics, because it orders countries by government advisories only. It is also a rough guide to any single city: the US names Montevideo, Canelones, Maldonado, and Rivera as the departments in Uruguay where crime is most common. Guyana shows how one government moves the order, ranking below Peru although the UK lists no areas to avoid there, because the US advises more caution for Guyana. The order would change if any of the three governments changed its level or added areas to avoid, which is why the table redraws daily.