The 10 Safest Countries in Latin America 2022 - and the Least! (2023)

When planning trips to unfamiliar destinations, it's really important that you consider the political, economic and social risks of visiting that particular part of the world. Central and South America are known for violence and civil unrest so I advise you to do some research on the countries you are considering well before you book those flights.

To make things easier, here is a list of the 10 safest countries in Latin America for 2022 (and also the least safe countries at the bottom of this page!). You will see that South America has proportionately more of the safest countries than Central America, but the centrally located nations that do well do very, very well!

For this list I will use the results ofGlobal Peace Index 2022(June 2022), which weights 23 data points including political instability, militarization, terrorism, incarceration effects, homicides, sexual assaults, and ecological threats.

While obviously not statistically perfect (far from it!), this is one of the most accurate indices for estimating which countries in Latin America are currently the safest.

Of course, COVID-19 will have had an impact when this data was compiled. The problem with trying to assess medical safety in developing countries during a global pandemic is that testing is not universally affordable - either by government or by the general population - and the lack of power and money in these countries means it is on the world stage that they are often bad the pecking order to get solutions as soon as they are discovered.

For example, Nicaragua is said to have only suffered163 Corona-Totenationwide from March to December 2020 (with 919 cases per million people versus the global average of 9711), but experts estimated this summer their numbers should be as high20x higheras officially reported. Real-time COVID-19 data must sometimes be taken with caution.

One of the key indicators stopping nations from being crowned the safest countries in Latin America is the level of civil unrest, and although some contenders in 2020 saw their protesters agree to scale back or halt protests, 2021 turned political Perceived abuse and economic strain The many communities living hand-to-mouth during the pandemic have meant some of that unrest has returned with renewed vigor.

And why not just judge by homicide rates which are the safest countries in Latin America,I hear you ask? Well, from a traveler's perspective, that's not a particularly relevant metric. This is because the vast majority of homicides in Latin America are gang/cartel or domestic related.

The chances of a random guy walking up to you and shooting you are pretty slim - but will increase enormously if you decide to go against all advice and visit extremely poor or notoriously dangerous areas and behave obnoxiously on you and/or your money to show (am I not victim accusation, I am stupid - tourist accusation).

After this post about the safest countries in Latin America in 2022, you will also want to read:

• Backpacking in South America: tips and tricks you need to know
• South America border crossing tips
• The best places for your first time in Latin America if you don't speak Spanish

Anyway, let's jump into the list of the safest countries in Latin America to travel to according to the Global Peace Index (now that the vaccine rollout is well underway in most regions of the world, I hope the medical Safety of travel is not far away!). Note that I am sticking to mainland Latin America for this list, so Caribbean islands are not included as they are not often on the itinerary for which readers visit my blog 🙂

And for reference, Canada came in 12th out of 163 in the 2022 GPI report, the UK was 34th and the US fell 7 places129.. And.

Safest countries in Latin America in 2022:

10. Guatemala

GPI-Ranking 2022: 106

A new addition to the top 10 safest countries in Latin America since I started these guides a few years ago! Nice to see Guatemala showing up here.

Since 2021, the homicide rate has improved, but unfortunately the country is still notorious for femicide (usually in domestic relationships).

From a visitor's perspective, caution and a keen eye are required in assessing situations, but outside of the larger cities one doesn't feel too nervous.

9. Peru

GPI-Ranking 2022: 101

I'm glad Peru didn't ranktopoorly on the list of the safest countries in Latin America because it is definitely a must-see for tourists interested in the rich history of this region, but its place has slipped significantly from 7th place in Latin America and 86th place globally in 2021.

Luckily, you can explore all the wonders ofMachu Picchu,CuscoandParacaswithout looking over your shoulder all the time.

Of course, some parts of the towns do get dodgy, so find out about the safer areas before you travel to Peru (or anywhere else).

See my travel guides and travel advice for Peru here.

8. Bolivia

GPI-Ranking 2022: 80

To be honest I was a little surprised at first because while petty crime is rife due to the relative poverty in Bolivia, violent crime is not necessarily a commonplace threat unless you commit to the mass/cartel wrong.

Where Bolivia doesn't fare well is on the militarization indicator, particularly after the 2019 eviction of its cray-cray-turned-con hero Evo Morales and the political turmoil they've plunged into.

But aside from the need to plan around roadblocks and the like, this shouldn't bother visitors too much.

See my travel guides and travel advice for Bolivia here.

7. Ecuador

GPI-Ranking 2022: 79

Although it has climbed from 88th in the rankings in 2021, Ecuador's place as the 7th safest country in Latin America has been heavily influenced by the past few years of protests against everything from oil prices to wages to dealings hence, claim pandemic by the government.

Gang conflicts are known to occur in the north of the Esmeraldas region, so tourists are generally told to avoid this and I was specifically warned about muggingsQuito, especially in the highly touristy areas like the old town where you are a sitting duck.

However, popular with visitors in much of the country, such asotavalo,toiletsandCuenca, things feel pretty safe.

See my travel guides and travel advice for Ecuador here.

6. Paraguay

GPI-Ranking 2022: 77

I feel like Paraguay is one of those countries that just keeps your head down and gets on with things. One thing I noticed while visiting Paraguay was that the wealth gap is HUGE, so people in São Paulo are either elite or richFriedenhill poor.

Paraguay does not fare too well on the economic cost of violence, which examines indicators such as armed conflict and internal displacement.

I definitely felt a bit nervous in some parts of Asunción as there are several shanty towns right in the centre, but it didn't help that we arrived during a protest against political corruption. In the more affluent parts of the city, however, people party like they're on a NYC rooftop and drive up carefree in their Range Rovers. Choose your areas carefully!

5. Argentina

GPI-Ranking 2022: 69

Argentina is better known for its political and economic instability, so as a tourist you don't have to worry too much about the risk of violent crime.

Most crimes against foreigners are small things - there I was the victim of a credit card copy in a restaurant inBuenos Aires, and then accused of being the thiefRosariowhen cash was stolen from someone's bed in a hostel (Spoiler alert: it wasn't me).

Protests can break out here too, and filing for bankruptcy every 5 years is a ploy the Argentine government loves and can make money hard to appreciate and get. COVID-19 may have accelerated this pattern, so keep the economic situation in mind before you travel.

See my travel guides and travel advice for Argentina here.

4. Panama

GPI-Ranking 2022: 61

Panama is just...I don't know how to describe itPanamawithout sounding negative, but… neutral? Relax? Easy?

Anyhow, a key reason Panama remains in the middle of the top 10 safest countries in Latin America is that in recent years it has suffered unrest over reforms the government was trying to push through, which should have a significant impact on marginalized groups .

These protests are largely taking place in Panama City, so they are unlikely to affect travel in the rest of the country.

Needless to say, theSan Blas Islandsare a very safe bet and a great detour when traveling from South America to Central America!

Here you will find my travel guides and travel advice for Panama.

3. Chile

GPI-Ranking 2022: 55

In themGPI 2019, Chile ranked 27th, the highest ranking of any of the safest countries in Latin America^thworldwide. However, ongoing civil unrest in response to a very unpopular government has seen it slip from its pedestal in recent years.

Away from the big cities, Chile's most beautiful areas are still very peaceful, so keep an eye out for protests and plan your trip to what used to be the safest country in South America accordingly.

See my travel guides and travel advice for Chile here.

2. Uruguay

GPI-Ranking 2022: 46

One of the safest countries in South America, Uruguay is famous for its political stability and relative lack of violent crime.

GDP per capita is much higher than that of some of its neighbors, making people less dependent on desperate means to survive. The level of education is high and the climate is mild.

Funnily enough, as this was my first time stepping onto South American soil after arriving in Uruguay, I remember being trapped by the continent's bad reputation and feeling totally nervous for the first 2 weeks, even though it's technically safer than my home country. lolls.

See my travel guides and travel advice for Uruguay here.

1. Costa Rica

GPI-Ranking 2022: 38

Costa Rica has long been a safe haven for tourists looking to dip their toes in Latin American travel without exposing themselves to too many of the perils associated with this region's rankings as of last year.

He has managed to obtain this title despite an annual increase in violent demonstrations and an influx of refugees from his neighboring country.Nicaragua.

The biggest crime against tourists in Costa Rica is the price of tours + expectation for fat tips at the end.@me not, bruh.

See my Costa Rica travel guides here.

And what about the most unsafe countries in Latin America?

For the nations that didn't make the top 10 safest countries in Latin America, let's look at how they fared in the 2022 GPI:

Guyana107

The saviour114

Honduras117

Nicaragua124

Brazil130

Mexico137

Colombia144

Venezuela148

What I'm most disappointed with is that it's so low in the ranking of the safest countries in Latin AmericaColombia, as it obviously has a special place in my heart. Please don't let that put you off traveling there though: guerrilla violence and cartel activity is heavily concentrated in certain regions that tourists would/should never visit, and much petty crime can be avoided by paying attention to your surroundings are aware and do not draw attention to themselves as tourists.Here are safety tips for Colombia.

However, Venezuela is at the bottom of the list of safest countries in Latin America in 2022 for a very solid reason; Unfortunately, due to the immense political unrest and the displacement of millions of people, it will be at least a few more years before a trip there is recommended.

Now you are at the end of this post about the safest countries in Latin America in 2022, don't miss:

• Backpacking in South America: tips and tricks you need to know
• South America border crossing tips
• The best places for your first time in Latin America if you don't speak Spanish

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Last updated on November 9, 2022 byCuppa to Copa Reisen