Is Belo Horizonte safe to visit right now? (November 2026)

Travel advisories for Brazil

What the advice says

• The US State Department rates Brazil as Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution (dated August 31, 2026). This is a country-level advisory, not specific to Belo Horizonte.
• The UK FCDO advisory, last updated October 28, 2026, is also issued at the country level for Brazil rather than for Belo Horizonte specifically.
• The FCDO notes a high global terrorism threat and warns that attacks in Brazil could be indiscriminate, including in crowded places and public gatherings; travelers should stay alert in major city centers and follow local authority instructions.
• Protests and demonstrations can turn confrontational, with police reported to have used rubber bullets and tear gas; the advice is to avoid political rallies and leave any crowd that feels unsafe as soon as possible.
• Favelas border some tourist areas and the FCDO advises avoiding all favelas, including organized favela tours and any accommodation or venues advertised as being inside one, and checking GPS routes do not lead into them.
• Theft, robbery, and pickpocketing are described as common, especially on buses and at beaches, with mobile phones a frequent target between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.; the FCDO advises avoiding city beaches after dark and not resisting an armed attacker.
• The FCDO also flags risks from short-term express kidnapping, ATM and card-cloning scams, drink spiking (including through dating apps), and methanol-contaminated spirits, recommending travelers keep drinks in sight, watch card transactions closely, and seek urgent medical help if poisoning symptoms appear.