Which Are The Safest Countries To Visit In South America In 2024?

While South America hosts striking colonial towns, delicious cuisine and gorgeous and rich biodiversity, it isn’t known for being the safest place to visit. The region is plagued with instability, urban violence and underdevelopment. However, this doesn’t mean that South America has no safe places to visit. These four countries are the safest to visit in 2024, according to US State Department travel advisories.

Peru is one of the safest countries in South America

Those travelers seeking beautiful landscapes, fascinating historical sites and more can safely travel to Peru, home to the stunning Andes and the rugged Pacific coast. There was a moment in early 2023 when waves of protests temporarily grounded flights here. At that time, the closure of the iconic Machu Picchu was devastating to visitors. However, since then, the situation has improved and Peru has reclaimed its status as a safe tourism hub.

Meanwhile, travelers’ primary concerns here are pickpocketing (which can happen anywhere in the world) and the occasional social unrest. However, it is easy to guard against these situations and violence is rarely heard of these days.

Peru has now been officially reinstated at its Level 2 status by the State Department, which denotes “Exercise Increased Caution.”

Safe travel in gorgeous Chile

Chile is one of the most developed countries in South America and is also considered the safest when compared to Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and more. While economic inequality is higher than it should be, it does have economic freedom and corruption is rare, with a higher income per capita. This has made the country an all-around safer destination.

Meanwhile, the only thing travelers should worry about is getting pick-pocketed in the vibrant streets of Santiago de Chile. What also makes Chile remarkable is that there are no areas where travel is discouraged – something truly rare for a South American country. There may also be the odd demonstration, but that is a common sight these days all over the world, as people stick up for their rights. Like Peru, Chile is listed as “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.”

Uruguay is a safe bet in South America

Uruguay is a lesser-known travel destination, nestled between Argentina and Brazil and with a shorter Atlantic coastline. The country has a long-standing reputation for being a low-risk location, with crime involving pickpocketing and bag-snatching at worst. Meanwhile, exercising caution can reduce the risk of crime.

When visiting Montevideo, the country’s capital, or exploring the luxurious resort zone in Punta del Este, ensure you are not displaying valuable items, or leaving anything unattended. Moreover, the US State Department tells US citizens to always be vigilant when drawing money at an ATM and to stick to well-lit, busy areas after sundown. Meanwhile, like the previous destinations, Uruguay is listed by the US State Department as “Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution.”

Visit Argentina in South America

Home to the fantastic Tango and the global capital of soccer, Argentina’s Buenos Aires is a must-visit city. Inspired by Europe, the capital features leafy boulevards for strolling on hot days and boasts beautiful, palatial buildings. Here, visitors can eat the most delicious steaks, with only moderate to low levels of violent crimes.

Here, again, pickpocketing and minor crimes do occur, if you are not careful. However, despite limited crime, the US State Department has Argentina listed as “Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions,” the safest level possible.

Have fun on your South American vacation in 2024! However, always check in with the US State Department’s website to confirm the safety of your chosen destination.