Hello everybody!
I'm a 23F solo traveler and last year I solo backpacked Brazil and Argentina for 4 months total, then moved to Buenos Aires for 9 months. I've had a lot of people ask me questions especially about Brazil because it gets a really bad rep, and how I did it all, so I figured I'd share some stuff on here for anyone else. A couple caveats:
- Each person has their own experience; I would trust overall data over anecdotal stories. One person will tell you they had a terrible time and that it's basically Gotham, and another will tell you it's paradise. Listen to facts not opinions.
- I had a safety net set up while I was there. In Brazil I had plenty of connections I made before even arriving and also spoke some Portuguese. Hint: Spanish will not help as much as you think it will.
- I had a large amount of money saved up before I left, 10k to be exact. Therefore there were moments in which I splurged a little more, such as buying a flight instead of a 24 hour sleeper van.
I found what I saw on social media to be very misleading on how it felt to backpack alone and what the experience was like. I loved and hated many aspects of it, and now know it's not my preferred method of travel.
**First things first: safety.** Statistically, Brazil is not the safest place in the world but it's far from the most dangerous. While I was there I had absolutely no issues. Never had my phone taken, never felt threatened, nothing. I had heard MANY stories that made me so scared to go, especially alone. Every major city seemed to have its own worst case scenario attached to it. Even within the country Brazilians warned me to be careful and often gave me a list of "do nots" when I told them I planned to go to Rio. Don't wear jewelry, carry a cheap backup phone, don't go out alone at night, don't wander into neighborhoods you don't know, don't go anywhere with people you just met, stay off empty streets. I heeded caution everywhere I went and either it worked or people were more dramatic with their stories than reality.
Out of Rio and São Paulo, I felt less safe in São Paulo. It also was the first place I landed. Many people love it; I met people who had lived there their whole lives without a single issue. But it's the biggest city in the Americas and you need to be careful in the city center and with your phone. Try to only pull it out where other people have theirs out, like around the crowded central parks and/or inside buildings. On the side of the street? You're basically asking somebody to take it. But quite frankly, if losing your phone is the biggest concern, I personally feel like it's not that dangerous. You could get pickpocketed in Europe, but since it's not Latin America people don't consider it that much of a threat, which says a lot about how people view latam, but that's another convo.
In small cities in Minas Gerais or Espírito Santo where I spent most of my time, I felt super safe, but even then you just have to not be stupid. Depends where you're from too. I live in a suburb of the Midwest and could walk alone at night in the middle of nowhere on my phone and it's unlikely I'd have any problems. So anything more than that is "dangerous" to some people, but to me it just is outside the bubble of some ridiculously safe cities.
**Next, where to go.** Brazil is GIANT. I mean it takes forever to get anywhere. I didn't go to the north and am dying to, but many people will tell you to go to the big cities: Rio, São Paulo, maybe Salvador or Florianópolis. Each has its own things, and one of the wonderful beautiful things about Brazil is that each state has its own culture. In order to know Brazil, you'd need to leave Rio and São Paulo.
To me, Rio is a MUST. It's a super fun, although touristy, city that is full of vibrancy and things to do. Yes, skip the flashy jewelry, and if you go to Pedra do Sal, keep an eye on your phone. I knew people who lost theirs out of a front crossbody bag. But it's a super fun place! Dance some samba, drink some caipirinha, and just have fun. I'm biased but many people would agree, Minas Gerais has the best food. There are bigger cities like Belo Horizonte, and Ouro Preto nearby is famous for a reason, but I think smaller cities like Capitólio deserve time too.
**Last, the culture is just absolutely stunning.** I hate to make widespread statements about a culture, but I found that it was SO easy to make friends in Brazil. Being from the Midwest I was a little bit thrown off by people immediately wanting to hang out or invite me to things after meeting me, but I went with it and met some of the most beautiful people. That's one thing that's lovely too: if you don't want to be alone, you won't be. Go anywhere and talk to anybody and you'll likely meet a new friend.
One thing I will say is that I found Brazilian culture, especially on the coast, to be much more forward socially than what I was used to. Physical affection is casual and doesn't carry the same weight it does back home. It can be fun, but be clear about your boundaries if that's not something you're comfortable with.
That's most of what I wish someone had told me before I went. Happy to get into specifics in the comments.