Fortaleza and Recife Crime and Poverty reality

Personally, I would not choose to live in any large city anywhere in Brazil - unless I had to for work purposes. There are literally dozens of small coastal cities and towns between Salvador and Fortaleza that are quite safe, although (like every other place in the world) crime does exist.

As a relatively frequent visitor to Recife (I have lived on an island an hour to the north for 16 years), I have never experienced problems myself, but certainly there are some areas in the city I choose to avoid. But that could also be said for most large cities in N America and Europe...

I think it is also to have a balanced view of Brazil - while the climate is fantastic, it has a very low cost of living, cheap property, friendly locals, etc, there can be downsides such as high levels of bureaucracry, crime in cities, poverty and so. But if everything in Brazil was perfect, none of us could afford to live here...!

10/08/23 @Zug.  Crime in Brazilian cities is complicated, being a foreigner makes it more complicated yet.  It's important to remember -- although it's easy to forget because Brazilians are generally so pleasant -- that a foreigner always stands out in Brazil.  Everybody within eyeshot "makes" you everywhere you go, 24 hours a day.  The assumption often is that foreigners are rich, naïve (which makes them an easy touch), and distracted (which makes them an easy target).  So, as I'm sure people have already told you, don't be distracted.  No walking around with your eyes glued to your phone.  Don't wear expensive jewelry, or have expensive gear hanging off you.  Eating or drinking, don't take the table near the sidewalk, and don't leave bags, phones, and so on in places where someone can easily grab them and book.  Be aware of your surroundings, including behind you.  And of the street -- armed robberies of pedestrians by gunmen on motor bikes who then speed off are pretty common in São Paulo and Rio, and not unknown elsewhere.  It's not necessary to look like the biggest badass on the street, but it helps to look like you might be more trouble than you're worth.  The police often will pursue crimes against tourists more vigorously than crimes against locals and the bad guys know that, so it tends to even the score some for people who are careful.  With that level of care, I'm willing to take most Brazilian cities on, although I too like smaller cities better.

Violent crime is most often local and situational, so avoiding the parts of town where it happens will keep you out of most of it, although it's still possible to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Uber drivers, cab drivers, cops, and desk clerks can all tell you where not to go.  Listen to them.  Thrillseeking foreigners who seek out those places for a walk on the wild side are taking a big risk, and one that they probably can't afford to lose.  Even if they get lucky once or twice, they shouldn't repeat it.

Last week the country was shocked by the early morning murder on a beach in one of the most elite areas of Rio de Janeiro of three orthopedists from São Paulo who were in town for a medical convention.  Theories abound, including that it was a political hit, or that one of the docs had the misfortune of looking like a local gangster.  This one is going to be solved:  the Federal Government became involved immediately at the highest levels.  Others will certainly disagree, but I identify this type of violence specifically with Rio de Janeiro, city and state, and won't be spending any time there for the foreseeable future. 

The shooters in that crime in Barra were apparently killed by their gang for screwing up.

Like I said before, in Rio we have Bangu 1......Bangu 2.......and Bangu Rico (Barra de Tijuca)........where a lot of the crime now occurs against those who dwell in their prison condos.

30 people a day are shot in Rio........look at US cities statistics before you judge. If we added a zero to the crime stats in my Canadian city, people would be nervous here.

@abthree

Hugely appreciated for your effort in writing this reply. This is one of the best opinions I had bout this point.

@Zug l have been to Recife twice,  albeit 15 years ago. Even at that time it was quite dangerous.   I  was advised:

1. Never venture out with anything you don’t mind losing.
2. If you are robbed don’t resist. They will kill you.
3. You will be recognized immediately as a gringo everywhere you go, and as such might be targeted.

I would say these points hold true for just about anywhere in Brazil. l must add that l have been traveling to Brazil about 20 years in all and l have never had anything bad happen to me.

yeah, in terms of violent crimes in that aspect, if anyones going to rob you in recife the goods are not that valuable and also easily replaced, abthree really coined the safe travels aspect of it as well, if your wanting to be adventerous in brazil, not something I would recommend doing solo without a local native to point you in the right direction.

One neighborhood we lived in, was the unfortunate event of someone having their head chopped off and hung out in the street for everyone to view, as unfortunate as it was, it was a gang related issue.

So always keep your wits about you!

10/08/23 One neighborhood we lived in, was the unfortunate event of someone having their head chopped off and hung out in the street for everyone to view, as unfortunate as it was, it was a gang related issue.
So always keep your wits about you!   

    -@Mikeflanagan

That's an aspect of Brazilian culture that's seldom discussed in Portuguese and almost never discussed in English, but that I've run into often enough in my historical studies to not find it too shocking anymore:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lampi%C3% … A3o_MB.jpg

Perspective.......

More Canadians get killed in Mexico than Brasil. In fact, I cannot remember the last time our media reported someone dying in Brasil as a victim of crime. We have two full 787 flights direct to GRU every day, not counting flights connecting thru the US.

The gory murders and executions of the constantly warring Mexican narcos and civilian authorities are all over the news however, and yet, this has no apparent impact on their tourism from Canada.

First time I flew to Rio de Janeiro I was concerned simply because I let everything which I had read online affect me. Turns out it is just like all the big cities in the various 50 countries I have been to.

I find Brasilians in general to be extremely naive regarding crime, and prone to overstatement, self instigated fear, and embellishment. Which is why real estate developers succesfully built and sold "Bangu Rico".........

@Gasparzinho 777

Good point. It is very true that Brazilains are guilty of "bad-mouthing" their own country - often because of hearsay and gossip, rather than hard facts. Combine this with a general lack of travel to, and experiences of, other countries, and they form the concept that Brazil has to be the most dangerous country in the world. Then they go to Miami, or Detroit, or Las Vegas or Los Angeles or San Francisco, or London, or Paris, or Rome, or Naples, etc, etc. Then they start to become a little less critical of their own country...

While not having the money to travel is certainly an impediment for many citizens, I'm going to give them credit for hopefully having the ability to use critical thinking. Then again, maybe not kkkkkkkkk

@Peter Itamaraca I have the good or bad fortune to be connected to almost everything in the U.S.A. in real time. So I certainly agree. My apps with the local news alerts in DC / MD / VA as well as the NBC Nightly News and our Neighborhood News gives me the opportunity to warn my daughter about the Kia Boyz from Tik Tok inspiring Kia and Hyundai thefts in her neighborhood. She now has a steering wheel lock on her new Hyundai SUV. I was also able to let her know about the patron at her old Top Golf Germantown job that shot two employees who dared to ask him to leave at closing time.

Of course every Mass Shooting at Night Clubs, Churches, Walmart's, Festivals, High Schools etc., comes across my feed.

Roddie in Retirement

P.S. I would still stay clear of Fortaleza. I first came their 20 years ago when my wife had a house behind the soccer stadium. It is not the same anymore.