Is Manaus safe to visit right now? (November 2026)

Travel advisories for Brazil

What the advice says

• The US Department of State advisory for Brazil is Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution, dated August 31, 2026; this advisory is issued at the country level, not specifically for Manaus.
• The UK FCDO advisory, last updated October 28, 2026, is also issued for Brazil as a whole and notes a high threat of terrorism globally and in Brazil, including the possibility of attacks in crowded places and at major sites in large cities; travelers should stay aware of their surroundings and follow local authorities' instructions.
• The FCDO warns that protests and demonstrations can occur in Brazilian cities and may turn violent, with police sometimes using rubber bullets and tear gas; it advises avoiding political rallies and leaving any crowd that feels unsafe.
• Favelas exist in all major Brazilian cities and the FCDO advises avoiding all favelas, including favela tours and any accommodation or venues advertised as being within a favela, since the security situation there is unpredictable and tourists have been shot after accidentally entering them.
• Theft and robbery are described as common, particularly on buses and at beaches, with thieves often targeting mobile phones between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.; if confronted, the guidance is not to resist and to hand over valuables. If you are a crime victim, the local police number given is 190.
• The advisory mentions short-term 'express kidnapping,' where victims are forced to withdraw money from an ATM before being released, as well as scams involving cloned cards, rigged payment machines, and dating apps used to facilitate robbery or drink spiking.
• There have been cases of sexual assault, drink spiking, and methanol poisoning from spirit-based drinks in Brazil; the FCDO advises buying and watching your own drinks, seeking help if you feel unusually unwell after drinking, and getting urgent medical attention for suspected methanol poisoning.